Jay Reatard and No Age

Supported by Naked on the Vague and the Disbelievers.

It's a thursday and it was late so everyone was pretty muted for this show, but both bands were awesome.

Jay Reatard was first of the headliners, saw him the previous day at Red Eye doing an acoustic set which was interesting. Pretty fun. Lot’s of energy. Too bad you can see right through his act. Bassist is fucking awesome though. The bassist is a total dude.

Jay Reatard - Gaelic Club, Sydney, 29/01/2009 - 42.7mb - 39 minutes

I really liked No Age at the time, but I've come to appreciate them so much more since, I have attempted to record them a total of 6 times this year and this is the only one that's turned out. Great show though. Muddy sound.

No Age - Gaelic Club, Sydney, 29/01/2009 - 49.8mb - 42 minutes

TV on the Radio

Supported by Wolf & Cub.

I don't like wah-pedals so I skipped Wolf and Cub.

After the disappointment of Big Day Out, TV on the Radio totally blew me away at this show, set list was awesome, band was tight, energy was high and they had two guys playing sax with them. Crowd was pretty atrocious though.

Setlist
Young Liars
The Wrong Way
Dreams
Crying
Golden Age
Wolf Like Me
Dirtywhirl
Stork & Owl
Shout Me Out
Dancing Choose
Red Dress
DLZ
Satellite
Encore
Love Dog
Blues From Down Here
Let the Devil In
Staring at the Sun

TV on the Radio - Metro Theatre, Sydney, 24/01/2009 - 106.7mb - 1 hour 30 minutes

Big Day Out 2009

Featuring Neil Young, Arctic Monkeys, The Prodigy, The Ting Tings, TV on the Radio, Hot Chip, Bullet For My Valentine, Cut Copy, Dropkick Murphys, My Morning Jacket, Pendulum, Simian Mobile Disco, Lupe Fiasco, Black Kids, Serj Tankian, The Living End, Youth Group, Fantômas, The Grates, TC, Sneaky Sound System, The Butterfly Effect, Infusion, DJ Z-Trip, Cog, The Drones, Birds of Tokyo, The Getaway Plan, Holy Ghost!, Children Collide, Sparkadia, Mercy Arms, I Heart Hiroshima, Son Of Dave, Little Red, T-Rek, Mammal, WOW, TZU, Died Pretty, Ajax, Horrorshow, The Scare, quan, The Bang Gang Deejays, Tiki Taane, The Jezabels, The Reels, theredsunband, Eddy Current Supression Ring, Barrence Whitfield, Dj Jem, Vaudeville, Pee Wee Ferris, Kate Bradley & The Goodbye Horses, Andee Frost, Rockwiz Orkestra, Purple Sneakers DJs (PhDJ & Vivienne Kingswood) and Mixed by Sasha Vatoff.

Whinge whinge whinge fuck Big Day Out. Yes I know it was hypocritical of me to go to both this and Decolonise but I ended up having a solid day of music and Neil Young mother fuckers. Also I took my mum to see Neil. Awesome.

Day started with Eddy Current Suppression Ring, had to abandon this recording after being punched in the face and bleeding everywhere. Big Day Out yo.

I can't remember what was next but I ended up at Black Kids eventually, they surprised me, pretty tight live and a lot of fun. I was way stoked on that EP when it came out in Year 12 but the album was a bit iffy with all the re-recordings. But they seemed pretty damn cited to be in Australia.

Setlist
Look at Me When I Rock Withcoo
Hit the Heartbreaks
Partie Traumatic
I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)
I Wanna Be Your Limousine
Listen to Your Body Tonight
Hurricane Jane
Love Me Already
I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You

Black Kids - Big Day Out, Sydney, 23/01/2009 - 48.4mb - 39 minutes

TV on the Radio next, one of the main reasons I went and here's what I said at the time:

Incredibly disappointing after the 2006 tour. The performance was energetic and tight, but the sound was just terrible and the crowd even worse. Set list wasn’t too good either. Not that the show is bad, but it didn’t live up to the incredibly high standards that they set themselves.

I am totally amazed that I am barely able to keep up 3 minutes of interesting conversation at the best of times, yet others are bursting at the seams so much with conversation that it requires them to talk through out the ENTIRE set. Please stop talking about your new oven or how Tom fingered Jane and watch the band for 50 minutes.

HOWEVER. Listening back on the recording the sound ain't so bad, and you can totally hear the energy. Good set list as well though its hard to disappoint when you're TV on the Radio.

Setlist
Young Liars
The Wrong Way
Dancing Choose
Golden Age
Wolf Like Me
Red Dress
Shout Me Out
DLZ
Let the Devil In
Satellite
Staring at the Sun

TV on the Radio - Big Day Out, Sydney, 23/01/2009 - 63.3mb - 51 minutes

Died Pretty next, finally got to see them, were fun, then My Morning Jacket, had I known what I knew today I'd still have a recording of this. I sat in the shade during the Ting Tings at one point, woeful but everyone else was having fun.

The Drones then did what the Drones always do, kicked everyone's asses, another highlight for the day.

Setlist
Nail it Down
Oh My
Shark Fin Blues
The Minotaur
Luck in Odd Numbers
River of Tears
I Don't Ever Want to Change

The Drones - Big Day Out, Sydney, 23/01/2009 - 58.5mb - 47 minutes

I wander around for a little bit a caught a few glimpses of a few bands then saw Arctic Monkeys, here's what I said at the time:

I never really dug this band and thought they were going to be a complete bore, but they were alright I guess. They played the one song I like of theirs early so I did end up getting quite bored. Also the cover of Red Right Hand was cringe worthy. Alex Turner keeps trying to say turbo heaps but it falls flat considering he has absolutely no personality. Set also reminded me of just how many singles these guys have.

Sound goes a bit in and out because that’s what happens when you’re 120 metres away from the speakers in a windy stadium.

Arctic Monkeys - Big Day Out, Sydney, 23/01/2009 - 77mb - 61 minutes

Neil Young, Neil Young is god. So amazing, once again very far away because I didn't have the balls to go past security with all my microphones (mumsy was like second or third row) but this was amazing. Also seeing generic shirtless Shire bogan with a huge smile on his face singing every word and proclaiming every song to be the highlight of his day, and then shitting his pants he covers the Beatles was an awesome sight.

Setlist
Love and Only Love
Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
Spirit Road
Cortez the Killer
Cinnamon Girl
Mother Earth
The Needle and the Damage Done
Heart of Gold
Old Man
Cowgirl in the Sand
Just Singing a Song
Rockin’ in the Free World
Encore
A Day in the Life

Neil Young - Big Day Out, Sydney, 23/01/2009 - 108.8mb - 1 hour 30 minutes

Melvins perform Houdini

Been wanting to see Melvins since I was 13 and they were awesome. Played most of Houdini and Spread Eagle Beagle turns out to be awesome live since I was dreading it so much.

Setlist

Hag Me
Pearl Bomb
Hoosh
Honeybucket
Night Goat
Lizzy
Joan of Arc
Set Me Straight
Sky Pup
Teet
Goin Blind
Copache
Spread Eagle Beagle

Melvins - Annandale Hotel, Sydney, 22/01/2009 - 78mb - 65 minutes

All Tomorrow's Parties - Cockatoo Island

Curated by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Featuring Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Saints, Spiritualized, Fuck Buttons, Harmonia, The Necks, Laughing Clowns, Robert Forster, James Blood Ulmer, Michael Gira, Afrirampo, Silver Apples, Bridezilla, The Stabs, Dead Meadow, Rowland S. Howard, The Reels, Psarantonis, Conway Savage, Beaches, Hunter Dienna, Passenger Of Shit, Sounds Of Seduction, The Holy Sea and Hoss.

All Tomorrow's Parties finally makes it to Australia after a few years of Don't Look Back shows and it is amazing. Held on Cockatoo Island in the middle of Sydney Harbour, only accessible by Ferry (Which I had to sit awkwardly next to J. Spaceman) for, it was just great concept very well executed. The Barracks Stage was just an amazing setting. What started out as a cloudy day ended up in everyone being trapped on an island in incredible heat without sunscreen, what ended up happening that my jack to jack cable actually melted a bit and ruined quite a few of my recordings and many others I didn't end up releasing for 7 months. But here is what I could salvage.

The Stabs and Beaches were the first two bands I saw, a slow start to the day and both recordings ended up being ruined, before Afrirampo blew everyone's minds again.

I then made the trek up to the Barracks Stage to see M. Gira. He did a pretty sweet set but this was on the highest point of the island so it was windy as fuck.

M. Gira - All Tomorrow's Parties, Sydney, 17/01/2009 - 78.6mb - 48 minutes

Saw a bit of Harmonia afterwards before heading off to Laughing Clowns to see Ed Kueppers first set of the day. It was alright, was a bit quiet but it was good to finally see them. Windy again as this time the stage fronts on to the harbour.

Setlist
The Flypaper
Come One, Come All
Everything That Flies
Nothing That Harms
Collapse Board
Eternally Yours

Laughing Clowns - All Tomorrow's Parties, Sydney, 17/01/2009 - 75.1mb - 46 minutes

Can't remember what exactly I did after this, saw Robert Forster, The Necks, Conway Savage and some others at some point during the day, so I'm assuming it was here.

The Saints then come on stage (to a very quiet PA) and perform all of (I'm) Stranded as well as Know Your Product. The show starts a bit slow and with a few recording glitches, but over all a fucking awesome set. "This song is sung in fluent Queenslander" spoken by Chris Bailey in a thick British accent has to be a pisstake though.

Setlist
This Perfect Day
One Way Street
Swing For the Crime
The Chameleon
No Time
A Minor Aversion
(I’m) Stranded
All Time Through Paradise
The Prisoner
Messin’ With the Kid
Know Your Product

The Saints - All Tomorrow's Parties, Sydney, 17/01/2009 - 69.3mb - 57 minutes

Spiritualized played a decent set, included a very abridged version of I Think I'm in Love and it seemed that all the British hooligans seem to come out for this set, so the recording just has a shit load of talking the entiiire way through it. I enjoyed it in the end but nothing on their sideshow.

Setlist
Amazing Grace
You Lie You Cheat
Shine a Light
Walking With Jesus
I Think I’m in Love
Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space
Come Together
Take Me to the Other Side

Spiritualized - All Tomorrow's Parties, Sydney, 17/01/2009 - 76.7mb - 50 minutes

Homg Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, finally, here's what I had to say at the time:

“We want to have a party at Nick Cave’s house in Melbourne with family.” - Oni and Pikachu.

Probably one of the greatest festival sets I’ve ever seen (It was no Mogwai at Splendour in the Grass or Sigur Ros at the Great Escape though). Nick Cave seriously just makes everything he touches cooler, it was like receiving a sermon, Al Green style with growling, kicking and died moustaches. All Tomorrow’s Parties as a whole was a perfect festival with an awesome line up. Nick Cave set topped off the perfect day. Recorded full sets by Beaches, The Stabs, M. Gira, Laughing Clowns, Spiritualized and the Saints. If you want any of these please contact, they were all awesome. Also recorded many half sets.

Due to some fat fuckwit tampering with my microphones during Spiritualized’s set there were some major glitches coming from my right microphone. So to stop them from bursting your ear drums I have to mute the right channel for a split seconds every now and then. Stops happening after half way through the set. I would make it mono but I can’t be fucked and fuck you.

Setlist
Night of the Lotus Eaters
Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Tupelo
The Weeping Song
Red Right Hand
Midnight Man
Love Letter
Moonland
The Mercy Seat
Deanna
We Call Upon the Author
Papa Won’t Leave You, Henry
Encore
Straight to You
Stagger Lee

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - All Tomorrow's Parties, Sydney, 17/01/2009 - 100.75mb - 1 hour 25 minutes

At the end of the day, we were all fucked, I didn't record Fuck Buttons due to this and basically it turned into a zombie like dance party, probably the best ending to the day, apart from sizzling from severe sunburn in a McDonalds.

Spiritualized ATP Sideshow

Support by Silver Apples.

I really enjoyed Silver Apples, a shame I botched the recording, and I came to this show directly from St. Vincent who I didn't even bother to record at all, sitting in the front row makes that awkward.

I didn't know Spiritualized had a reputation for being loud but fuck, come on guys. Was a pretty long show with two gospel singers, starts out with a very quiet version of Waltzing Maltilda which can barely be heard.

Setlist
Amazing Grace
You Lie You Cheat
Shine A Light
Cheapster
Soul On Fire
Sweet Talk
Sitting On Fire
Walking With Jesus
Oh Baby
Rated X
I Think I’m In Love
Lay Back In the Sun
Death Take Your Fiddle
Life Is A Problem
Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space
She Kissed Me (It Felt Like A Hit)
Come Together
Take Me to the Other Side
Encore
Lord Can You Hear Me

Spiritualized - Metro Theatre, Sydney, 16/01/2009 - 145.8mb - 2 hours 2 minutes

Fuck Buttons/Dead Meadow/Afrirampo ATP Sideshow

Seriously, what a fucking line up. Won't see anything like this again.

Afrirampo were really an interesting bunch, had I written this the night afterwards I would have more to say, but currently it's 9 months after this show happened, but between this show and the ATP set they provided some very memorable moments.

For just three guys, Dead Meadow put out an awesome sound. This show had some genuinely awesome moments, while the rest were just damn solid moments.

Dead Meadow - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, 15/01/2009 - 61.2mb - 51 minutes

Despite the terrible reviews I had been hearing, I really really enjoyed Fuck Buttons. Everything you've heard about their live show is totally wrong. And that last song (which now I think was an early version of Surf Solar) is fucking awesome.

Fuck Buttons - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney, 15/01/2009 - 62.4mb - 52 minutes

Days Like This! 2009

I saw The Dodos, Killa Queenz, Flying Lotus, Yo! Majesty, Platinum Pied Pipers, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings and Public Enemy.

This was actually a great festival and I had an awesome time. The Dodos were better than at Fleet Foxes, didn't record because there was only 15 or so of us watching. Killa Queenz was new to me. Flying Lotus killed it, botched the recording though. Yo! Majesty had high expectatiosn and failed to meet them. Was stoked to finally see even just a few members of Slum Village in PPP.

As for Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, I wish I could get the visuals of this show, because Sharon Jones is an amazing performer. One of the most feel good shows I have ever seen. Included the amazing sound check as well.

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - Days Like This!, Sydney, 04/01/2009 - 84.5mb - 1 hour 10 minutes

Now for Public Enemy, this time with Flavor Flav. After seeing them last Saturday I had convinced myself that they didn’t need Flavor Flav. I was wrong, he adds so much more to the performance it’s insane. They performed all of It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back again, and due to various curfews and sound restrictions, the set is cut short and they end with a rush medley of songs. After about the 40 minute point the sound starts getting quieter and quieter as the sound at the venue was being turned down.

Also I recorded this from the second row and it seemed to work out absolutely fine, and I got to high five Flavor Flav.

Public Enemy - Days Like This!, Sydney, 04/01/2009 - 93.1 mb - 1 hour 20 minutes

Apparently it's def coming back next year. I will be there.

Fleet Foxes

Supported by the Dodos.

The Dodos were great, unfortunately I botched the recording.

Fleet Foxes were beyond great, and the crowd went mental for absolutely every song played. There are two covers done and one song that was done completely acoustic with Robin standing in the crowd. This was the best set I ever saw Fleet Foxes play. The drums sound shitty though.

Setlist
Sun Giant
Sun it Rises
Drops in the River
English House
White Winter Hymnal
Ragged Wood
Your Protector
Crayon Angel
Oliver James
Quiet Houses
He Doesn’t Know Why
Mykonos
Encore
Katie Cruel
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
Blue Ridge Mountain

Fleet Foxes - Metro Theatre, Sydney, 03/01/2009 - 84.7mb - 1 hour 12 minutes