Mrs Pop, Poleski, Gemdilem and Carlsberg – this time are at Soundwave in Eastern Creek, Sydney. They are at the festival first and foremost for Mrs Pop. It is the day she has been waiting for all her life. The day she will see Jimmy Pop (lead singer of Bloodhound Gang) for the first time in real life.
On the way to Eastern Creek…
Poleski: Mrs Pop and I meet for breakfast. Mrs Pop is too nervous to eat, but I demand she has some protein as she will need energy. Mrs Pop agrees. She will have to have strength to withstand the rioting that will come at Bloodhound Gang. Jimmy has that effect on people apparently.
Gemdilem: Carlsberg picks me up in Penelope (her hybrid car). We set off on a mission to go from the Shire to Eastern Creek. I’ve come prepared with a packed lunch for the journey. I’m sure Eastern Creek is 2 hours away.
Carlsberg: Epic drive to Eastern Creek begins. GPS says its 48 minutes to Eastern Creek. We are doubtful. Do I really need to rant about this festival being at Eastern Creek? You get that it’s far away and hot and a catchment, right? So let’s discuss more important things like whether we have enough eyeliner on…
Gemdilem: And how my outfit is more hardcore than Carlsberg’s…
Carlsberg: We arrive at Eastern Creek nice and early. I take back some of the ranting I did in the car. It turns out Penelope is right and Eastern Creek is only 48 minutes away! I park the car with help from an awesome parking attendant who is yelling at me to move ‘forward’ while wildly gesticulating that I go ‘right’. Confusing? Yes.
Gemdilem: I am excited that we have arrived with plenty of time to get into the festival and see The Subways. Who knew that Eastern Creek was really not that far away? I barely had enough time to eat my packed lunch! There are two entrances to the festival. We arrive at the Southern Entrance and there is no line. Awesome!
Dramas at the entrances…
Carlsberg: My ticket is suppose to be at the box office. The girl in box office is clearly on Valium, Morphine, or some other drug that causes her to slur her words and do everything in slow motion. A lifetime later, when she has gone through every list and every envelope, she decides my name is not there. I phone Poleski who informs me that there is ‘a slight problem with the tickets.’
Poleski: Carlsberg calls me. I’m at the Northern Entrance, Carlsberg is at the Southern Entrance, and the tickets are in Brisbane. Problem. We must wait for the tickets to get here with No Pants (a friend).
Gemdilem: Unlike Carlsberg I have my ticket on me. And after waiting with Carlsberg for an hour at the entrance I am bored and The Subways are just about to start. I ditch Carlsberg (my friend since 1995 and maybe for not much longer) and enter the festival (still no line at the Southern entrance – winner!).
Poleski: The line at the Northern Entrance is massive. Waiting in line is awesome. Not!
Long line at the Northern Entrance
Carlsberg: The ‘slight problem with the ticket’ turns into a 2+ hour wait at the gate. I amuse myself with tattoo watching, placing bets on which of the potential fence jumpers will be successful, and seeing every person who goes to the box office swear as they walk away at the incompetence of our drug-addled friend.
The Subways
Gemdilem: I’m the only Festival Lady inside the actual festival. I make my way right to the front of the stage. The Subways is one of the main bands I want to see today. I’m excited.
Gemdilem: I feel old watching The Subways. Everyone around me is under 18. But I am loving it. They play a lovely mix of songs from both their albums. Despite the contrast between the albums (their more recent album, All or Nothing, is a LOT heavier than their first album Young for Eternity) it surprisingly works.
Poleski: The Subways sound awesome from the line.
Gemdilem: Circle pits pop up everywhere as the kids loose their shit. The song Girls and Boys (off their new album and offered as a free download) sounds great and is a clear highlight. They end with Rock and Roll Queen (aka The OC song). During the song Billy (lead singer) jumps into the crowd and crowd surfs. The crowd goes crazy. Fantastic performance.
The kids go crazy in the circle pit
Billy crowd surfing
Back at the Southern Entrance…
Carlsberg: The tattoo representation so far is disappointing. Not much in the way of fishnets, beehives or leather either. Come on kids, I know it’s hot and we are in western Sydney but even I’m wearing black tights and black shoes, would it kill you to put some effort in?
Back at the Northern Entrance…
Poleski: The ground is squishy and muddy. I hate mankind. Why do lines bring out the worst in people?
Mrs Pop: I spot a chick in the line with tattoos of a care bear on each foot – one is of bedtime bear, the other is of cheer bear. Worst tattoos ever!
Poleski: No Pants finally arrives. I want to strangle him. I get our tickets. Mrs Pop and I are finally in. Now to rescue Carlsberg over at the other entrance.
2:40pm
Carlsberg: I’m in! I have never been so glad to see Poleski in my life. I am pleased to see Mrs Pop has not imploded with Jimmy anticipation as yet. But it’s still early. I have missed the Subways. But have arrived just in time to see someone being ambulanced away, and the last song from Evergreen Terrace. Score!
Gemdilem: Finally we are all inside the festival and united at last. We celebrate with orange crush and smuggled in gin. Nice work Poleski getting the gin in down your rack. We discuss who has the best rack for alcohol smuggling.
Mrs Pop: You guys… guess what? It’s only 3 hours until BLOODHOUND GANG!!!
Carlsberg: The bar areas are like fenced-in leper colonies. I am glad I am not drinking today. Roast beef roll and orange crush (plus gin) go down a treat after food, water and toilet deprivation at the gate.
Poleski: Gin o’clock! I wonder if there is security? We see a group of guys open up the fence into one of the bar areas and race through. Turns out we don’t have to worry about security. Ginzz we pour.
Gin and orange crush goodness
Blogging…
Conversation while consulting the timetable…
Gemdilem: Who do you want to see?
Poleski: I want to see Minus the Bear, Say Anything and Nine Inch Nails… and (while looking at Mrs Pop) of course Bloodhound Gang.
Gemdilem: Yeah I want to see Minus the Bear too. And maybe a bit of Billy Talent.
Carlsberg: I just wanted to see the inside of the festival, so I’m happy with whatever.
Mrs Pop: I want to see inside Jimmy’s pants.
Hello Goodbye
Carlsberg: I no longer feel bad about missing The Subways, as this band surely featured on the OC also? No? Well they sound like it.
Poleski: Yay they played that song that I know!
Mrs Pop: Now see how he just said ‘Fuckface’. That is an example of highbrow humour.
Gemdilem: Hello Goodbye sound pretty good although I am missing a lot of their performance since I am in deep discussion with Mrs Pop about highbrow humour and I am trying to get gin soaked orange pieces out of my cup.
Mrs Pop: To get the orange pieces out just use your fingers. Ohhh that’s the name of a Bloodhound Gang album. I rate it.
At the signing tent…
Gemdilem: We have missed the Bloodhound Gang signing by 20 minutes. Mrs Pop is distressed and close to tears. We try to cheer her up.
Poleski: Mrs Pop is in shambles. Shambles. She starts analysing the universe. This is just not meant to be. She is distraught. I try to distract her with shiny and pretty emo tees at the merch tent. Nothing helps.
Mrs Pop after hearing the news that she has missed the Bloodhound Gang signing
Poleski: Let’s get gozleme after Bloodhound Gang and before Say Anything.
MrsPop: Yeah, not before Bloodhound Gang in case I vom from nervousness.
Carlsberg: We can get it en route, and we can also get it on the way!!!
Minus the Bear
Mrs Pop: Is this the band that tried to hit on me once?
Poleski: Yes.
Carlsberg: Does every band here sound like they are from The OC?
Poleski: Yes. Or they are angry, very angry.
Gemdilem: Minus the Bear are playing on a really little stage which is a shame. The vocals are a bit muffled but the guitar riffs and melodies sound great.
Poleski: How good are the lyrics? “Hey, lets cross the sea and get some culture. Red wine with every meal and absinthe after dinner. We’d look good side by side walking back to the hotel.” Amazing.
Carlsberg: I am not a fan. Not sure if it’s the tiny stage, or the bad glasses one of them is wearing, or their dodgy lyrics, but they grate on me.
Every Time I Die
Carlsberg: I am thrilled to be distracted away from Minus the Bear by bottle throwing at the stage where Every Time I Die are playing. Bottle throwing is something I have heard of before – go my extensive knowledge of hardcore bands. I very much enjoy the last half of their set, the bottle throwing and crazy circle pits are a definite bonus.
Poleski: It is raining plastic bottles. WTF are the kids up to?
Bottle throwing!
Gemdilem: Watching the Every Time I Die set is very entertaining. There is literally a constant flurry of bottles being thrown at the band and there are hundreds of them scattered on the stage. They announce the next song with the following “You might know this next song. It’s from our video game.” HA! Hilarious! Then they stop playing because the crowd is not doing the circle pit right (I’m not sure how you do it wrong but anyway). Gold!
Bloodhound Gang
Poleski: We head to Bloodhound Gang. Within 10 steps we have lost Mrs Pop. Thank God she is blonde and in bright blue, unlike the majority of festival goers who have dark hair and are wearing black. We quickly track her down.
Gemdilem: Ok this is the big one. The one Mrs Pop has been waiting all her life for. Mrs Pop is half skipping, half running to the stage. She is beyond excitment.
Mrs Pop: Bloodhound Gang, Bloodhound Gang, Bloodhound Gang, Bloodhound Gang! I’ve waited all my life for this!
Mrs Pop – excited!
Gemdilem: Ear plugs in. Not so much to block the music but to block out Mrs Pop’s constant squeals of ‘Bloodhound Gang’.
Carlsberg: Sadly I will miss Funeral for a Friend due to timetable clashes with the ‘headliners’ Bloodhound Gang, but such sacrifices must be made. We make our way to main stage with the constant chanting of ‘Bloodhound Gang’ in my ear. The main stages are really well set up, I can see why Eastern Creek has been used as a large-scale venue before (minus rioting and flooding issues). We make our way as close to the front as we can without Mrs Pop passing out.
Poleski: Mrs Pop is getting very frustrated with Dillinger Escape Plan. She needs them to stop playing and to shut up NOW. Time for Bloodhound Gang!
Gemdilem: Bloodhound Gang enters the stage. Mrs Pop goes crazy. Everyone goes crazy.
Poleski: Carlsberg and I cannot hold it together. Mrs Pop has lost it. My stomach is hurting from all the laughing.
Mrs Pop: They open with some Fire Water Burn action. Epic way to start. It’s kinda hard to see the stage through the tears.
Gemdilem: Mrs Pop’s reaction to seeing Jimmy is priceless. People standing near us are both scared and impressed by Mrs Pop’s devotion to Bloodhound Gang and in particular to Jimmy.
Mrs Pop: During the song Along Comes Mary Jimmy does his infamous de-shirting of Jared. Best thing I have seen in my life. BEST. After so many years of seeing it on YouTube to see it in real life is just beyond anything I can put into words.
Mrs Pop: The next song Uhn Tiss also does not disappoint. Although the crowd could have sung along better in the specific parts where they were supposed to. Hopefully Jimmy does not think less of us. After this evil Jared in all his shirtless hotness sculls a jug of Toohey’s New (poor guy) and then voms it half back up. Amazing.
Poleski: Jimmy Pop really hasn’t aged a day.
Carlsberg: I am pleasantly surprised by Bloodhound Gang. Though somewhat of a novelty act, they are so entertaining I can’t help but bop along. I can’t decide what is funnier, their cheeky antics or seeing Mrs Pop freaking out.
Poleski: I continue to be amused by the situation.
Beautiful Jimmy
Gemdilem: Bloodhound Gang are totally exceeding my expectations. Really enjoying it. If anything there is not as much smut as I thought there would be.
Mrs Pop: They play Ralph Wiggum. It is sooooo awesome. It is followed by the “Jimmy Pop is a homosexual” chant. Again after seeing it on YouTube so many times, to actually participate is just amazing. Ballad of Chasey Lane follows and Jimmy introduces us to his lovely, lovely parents! How niiiiiiice. Total swoon. He is SOOOOO funny – seriously just beyond multi talented. I am in hysterics.
Poleski: His parents are delightful.
Mrs Pop: The oh soooo smutty and awesome Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo is always a crowd pleaser and does NOT disappoint. Jimmy does some awesome twirls. Love love love his twirls. Then Jimmy announces that this is the last song. Devastating! It feels like only 5 mins had passed since they started. They finish with Bad Touch. Just brilliant. Words do not do it justice. In between swigs of VB Jimmy bids us goodbye and is gone. More tears.
Jimmy says they have one song left.
Gemdilem: Mrs Pop is clearly distressed that it’s over. She screams “more” at the stage.
Poleski: We fear suicidal tendencies.
Mrs Pop: After about 15 minutes I accept that there will be no encore. I’m sure they would have if people had actually cheered and yelled for it like I was instead of walking off. Losers.
Mrs Pop: To summarise the Bloodhound Gang performance – EPIC. Totally worth a life time of waiting. They have not aged a day any of them. Jimmy is officially the hottest man alive. Best 45 minutes of my life!
Billy Talent
Gemdilem: So much screaming. I love it. “Friday night for the rest of my life… Friday night for the rest of my life!”
Poleski: Polish-Canadian! Polish-Canadian! RRrraaaaaaaa!!!
Rival Schools
Gemdilem: Rival Schools are described as from the post-hardcore genre. Which I think means that they were once hardcore and now are not. There is a lack of screaming and heavy drums and guitars, which actually makes a nice change. Time for chill outs and slurpees.
Gemdilem: Mrs Pop is contemplating killing herself as she has nothing left to live for now that she has seen Bloodhound Gang live. She is helping us relive the entire set, blow by blow.
Mrs Pop: If I had to give Bloodhound Gang a performance appraisal I’d say they ‘exceeded expectations – give them a promotion’.
Carlsberg: After food, slurpees, sitting, and Jimmy come down, Gemdilem and I decide to head to Alice in Chains. Mrs Pop and Poleski decide to head off to watch Say Anything.
Alice in Chains
Carlsberg: I wasn’t sure what to make of them, as they don’t look anything like the line up I remember. We were give a heads up earlier in the day about them being a highlight for a lot of people. It totally rings true, they sound fantastic. Someone who definitely agrees is the girl singing every word, dancing and acting out the words in front of us. When Jerry Cantrell sings “and then it hits me” she slaps herself across her own face. Gold!
Gemdilem: My love for Alice in Chains stems from my childhood when I use to wake up early to watch Rage. I am very excited about seeing them live. They do not disappoint. They play my favourite song Nutshell and it sounds great. I’m so glad they played it.
Gemdilem: Some of the high vocal notes sound a bit off but otherwise the vocals sound really good. I was surprised. I would of thought drugs and rock n roll would of killed them by now. The music overall
sounds amazing. Definitely a highlight of the day.
Carlsberg: We see one of my favourite tattoos of the day during this set: ‘I wish I was in Tijuana eating barbecued Iguana.’ OK!!!!
Say Anything
Poleski: How good are the lyrics? “I called her on the phone and she touched herself. She touched herself. She touched herself.”
Mrs Pop: Say Anything mix pop music with smut. Delightful. Absolutely delightful.
Nine Inch Nails
Gemdilem: We are sitting on the hill watching NIN. I love that you can sit down and have a perfect view of the main stage. Who would of thought Eastern Creek would make such a good festival venue?
Carlsberg: NIN close the festival on the main stage. They start strong and have me enthralled. Then, as they did at the Hordern 18 months or so ago, they go off into Trent-land where he plays the keyboard and carries on for ages, boring the crap out of me.
Gemdilem: We entertain ourselves during the boring piano bits in the middle of the set with discussions about Jimmy Pop’s parents, the book The Emperor Wears No clothes, Wolfmother hatred, is it possible to clap and cheer in a hardcore way? and if Mrs Pop makes Carlsberg’s wedding invitations can you she put a wang on them?
Gemdilem: Finally the boring piano bits are over. They play The Hand That Feeds and it sounds so awesome that I am thrown out of my daze. Definitely a highlight! Loving the strobe lights too!
Poleski: Pretty lights…
Carlsberg: NIN finish with hit after hit, and thoroughly redeem themselves. Trent, the man of mystery he is, goes further with his ‘last time you will see us for a while’ taunts. He admits he is in a very strange place right now, evidenced by his recent Twitter updates. Poor Trent. I wonder if he needs a hug?
Summary
Gemdilem: So many highlights – great bands, bottle throwing, and circle pits… and I ate the best Dagwood Dog ever. Awesome day.
Carlsberg: Overall the crowd was below expectations. Very few shocking and crazy tattoos and outfits sighted. Perhaps hardcore kids don’t do heat? I was surprised at how good Eastern Creek is as a venue. Sitting down during the headline set was an unexpected bonus for a geriatric such as myself.
Poleski: For a long time the festival had no venue. We doubted it would actually happen. We spent 174 days hearing all about Jimmy. 174 days! And it was all worth it just to see Mrs Pop’s face when Jimmy stepped onto the stage. Priceless.
Mrs Pop: Best day of my life. I love you Jimmy.
Dagwood Dog goodness
The hill at the main stage
Hard core
Censored: too hard core
Just in case we forgot what time Bloodhound Gang were on, Mrs Pop wrote it on her hand!
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