Groovin The Moo 2013 @ Bendigo Showgrounds, Bendigo (04/05/2013)
To start off the day, there were dinosaurs grazing the channel V Udder stage, not cows. The Last Dinosaurs put on a number of cheerful indie rock tunes to warm up the crowd and had everyone in good spirits. Frontman Sean Caskey warned the crowd not to steal his boat shoes like they did at the last GTM. They played some covers from the 00’s including Modjo’s Lady (Hear me Tonight). Andy has been featured on Triple J pretty heavily during last year and was definitely the highlight of the set.
I managed to catch about three songs from Hungry Kids of Hungary, but they were awesome from what I heard and I have very high hopes for their new album which will be coming out in August.
Returning back to the Udder Stage, I don't think anyone in the crowd expected the next act to put on such an entertaining show so early during the day.
Matt and Kim ran onto the stage and danced before taking their places behind their instruments. After the first song Matt introduced Kim as his "partner in crime and partner in sex" and Kim looked like she may have had a bit to drink before coming on stage, but they played with an energy that no other indie band could compete with.
Kim would frequently stand on her drums and play while performing. Between songs they would dance some more to sampled dance tracks (one sounded very similar to the Harlem Shake) that ended with an explosion sound effect. Alternatively they would just say dirty things that would almost cross the line.
For example Kim told the crowd that she usually shaves her downstairs before she comes to Australia but didn't have time and that her has a racing car flames tattoo now looked like a burning bush; a bush fire.
Their entertainment factor also came from their use of crowd participation. At one point they got the crowd to blow up 'Matt and Kim' balloons and throw them into the air at once and another point Kim walked out onto the crowd's hands and danced, again. They Finished off with Daylight and were my highlight of the day, such an entertaining show.
Groovin' the Moo provides a great combination of awesome bands from different genres of music. The Amity Affliction did their job and put on a heavy energetic performance for all the hardcore kids. The set began with the title track from their latest album chasing ghosts. The circle pit started instantly and it took many girls near the front by surprise. Before they played anchors, Joel split the crowd in half for a wall of death.
He often came to the fence and put the microphone to the crowd for the fans to sing. It was a pretty short set with only seven songs, but it was a really solid performance (although a little held back compared to heavier festivals) and Amity continue to show why they are the best hardcore band Australia has to offer.
I caught the end of Alpine and really enjoyed their stage presence. The girls were very bubbly and moved around well while the sun was still shining in the late afternoon. Gasoline was definitely the highlight of the set.
After interviewing Scott Hutchinson earlier this year just a day after Frightened Rabbit were announced on the lineup, I was really excited to see them play. Scott plays music like he speaks; confidently with a unique Scottish charm (I wonder how many Scottish people are named Scott, on a completely irrelevant note). Although Frightened Rabbit don't move around on stage with much energy, I found myself still thoroughly entertained.
I arrived to They Might Be Giants a little bit late and stood in the crowd awaiting the song Dr Worm and was very disappointed when they didn't play it. Later I found out they played it earlier in the set when I wasn't there. Surely such a great song would be a worthy encore. Despite this, they were really musically talented and funny.
Tame Impala wasn't enjoyable, for me anyway. I was stuck in between four really tall guys smoking weed. The crowd was huge and I was only about half way and it was super squashy, I heard from friends at the front that it was worse up there. I left when they started playing elephant and all their well-known songs. With all that in mind, Tame Impalas rise in popularity over the last two years is extraordinary both in Australia and internationally; many big fans told me they really loved the set.
I left Tame Impala early to meet my friends in the Flume mosh. For about twenty minutes before Flume came on the crowd pushed back and forth. It was the second worst crowd I've been in (Blink-182 at Soundwave taking the number one spot). When the pushing was at its worst, they played Killing in the Name Of on the speakers, like the most passionately angry song in existence would diffuse the pushing.
When Flume came on stage the crowd settled down a little and listened intently to his ambient vibes. As a lover of Flume's mixes I was a bit disappointed with his live show. He walked around his table and Apple laptop, while pressing buttons that didn't seem to change anything and occasionally making a gesture to the crowd. I don't understand what he actually does behind the table, seeing all the songs are already mixed. I checked one of his live shows from behind the table on YouTube and saw nothing to prove me wrong. Flume is a great artist, but I feel he shouldn't pretend like he is making music and should maybe move around a bit like Matt and Kim and embrace that his songs are premixed. A smile here or there wouldn't go astray either.
The Kooks were the band that most the goers in the showground were waiting for. They played an awesome set with a great combination of songs from all their albums including How’d you like that and Always Where I Need to Be. Luke alternated between playing guitar and singing while using a platform to stalk around the stage. They played their breakout song Naïve last and almost every second person had another person on their shoulders.
After seeing them at the AFL grand final, I still contend that The Temper Trap shouldn’t of headlined GTM. I just don’t think they are very good performers. Dougy Mandagi has an awesome vocal range and their music is catchy, but they are just a bit underwhelming on stage. I am not saying they shouldn’t have played GTM, but I think the festival peaked during the Kooks set. Notable songs include Love Lost, Trembling Hands and Sweet Disposition.
Groovin’ the Moo proves to be one of the best days out during the year. The guys behind the scenes always manage to consistently provide an awesome line-up, it’s not as crowded as other festivals and feels like a mini holiday out in the country. Everybody left the showgrounds full on awesome music.
Ryan Hyde
I managed to catch about three songs from Hungry Kids of Hungary, but they were awesome from what I heard and I have very high hopes for their new album which will be coming out in August.
Returning back to the Udder Stage, I don't think anyone in the crowd expected the next act to put on such an entertaining show so early during the day.
Matt and Kim ran onto the stage and danced before taking their places behind their instruments. After the first song Matt introduced Kim as his "partner in crime and partner in sex" and Kim looked like she may have had a bit to drink before coming on stage, but they played with an energy that no other indie band could compete with.
Kim would frequently stand on her drums and play while performing. Between songs they would dance some more to sampled dance tracks (one sounded very similar to the Harlem Shake) that ended with an explosion sound effect. Alternatively they would just say dirty things that would almost cross the line.
For example Kim told the crowd that she usually shaves her downstairs before she comes to Australia but didn't have time and that her has a racing car flames tattoo now looked like a burning bush; a bush fire.
Their entertainment factor also came from their use of crowd participation. At one point they got the crowd to blow up 'Matt and Kim' balloons and throw them into the air at once and another point Kim walked out onto the crowd's hands and danced, again. They Finished off with Daylight and were my highlight of the day, such an entertaining show.
Groovin' the Moo provides a great combination of awesome bands from different genres of music. The Amity Affliction did their job and put on a heavy energetic performance for all the hardcore kids. The set began with the title track from their latest album chasing ghosts. The circle pit started instantly and it took many girls near the front by surprise. Before they played anchors, Joel split the crowd in half for a wall of death.
He often came to the fence and put the microphone to the crowd for the fans to sing. It was a pretty short set with only seven songs, but it was a really solid performance (although a little held back compared to heavier festivals) and Amity continue to show why they are the best hardcore band Australia has to offer.
I caught the end of Alpine and really enjoyed their stage presence. The girls were very bubbly and moved around well while the sun was still shining in the late afternoon. Gasoline was definitely the highlight of the set.
After interviewing Scott Hutchinson earlier this year just a day after Frightened Rabbit were announced on the lineup, I was really excited to see them play. Scott plays music like he speaks; confidently with a unique Scottish charm (I wonder how many Scottish people are named Scott, on a completely irrelevant note). Although Frightened Rabbit don't move around on stage with much energy, I found myself still thoroughly entertained.
I arrived to They Might Be Giants a little bit late and stood in the crowd awaiting the song Dr Worm and was very disappointed when they didn't play it. Later I found out they played it earlier in the set when I wasn't there. Surely such a great song would be a worthy encore. Despite this, they were really musically talented and funny.
Tame Impala wasn't enjoyable, for me anyway. I was stuck in between four really tall guys smoking weed. The crowd was huge and I was only about half way and it was super squashy, I heard from friends at the front that it was worse up there. I left when they started playing elephant and all their well-known songs. With all that in mind, Tame Impalas rise in popularity over the last two years is extraordinary both in Australia and internationally; many big fans told me they really loved the set.
I left Tame Impala early to meet my friends in the Flume mosh. For about twenty minutes before Flume came on the crowd pushed back and forth. It was the second worst crowd I've been in (Blink-182 at Soundwave taking the number one spot). When the pushing was at its worst, they played Killing in the Name Of on the speakers, like the most passionately angry song in existence would diffuse the pushing.
When Flume came on stage the crowd settled down a little and listened intently to his ambient vibes. As a lover of Flume's mixes I was a bit disappointed with his live show. He walked around his table and Apple laptop, while pressing buttons that didn't seem to change anything and occasionally making a gesture to the crowd. I don't understand what he actually does behind the table, seeing all the songs are already mixed. I checked one of his live shows from behind the table on YouTube and saw nothing to prove me wrong. Flume is a great artist, but I feel he shouldn't pretend like he is making music and should maybe move around a bit like Matt and Kim and embrace that his songs are premixed. A smile here or there wouldn't go astray either.
The Kooks were the band that most the goers in the showground were waiting for. They played an awesome set with a great combination of songs from all their albums including How’d you like that and Always Where I Need to Be. Luke alternated between playing guitar and singing while using a platform to stalk around the stage. They played their breakout song Naïve last and almost every second person had another person on their shoulders.
After seeing them at the AFL grand final, I still contend that The Temper Trap shouldn’t of headlined GTM. I just don’t think they are very good performers. Dougy Mandagi has an awesome vocal range and their music is catchy, but they are just a bit underwhelming on stage. I am not saying they shouldn’t have played GTM, but I think the festival peaked during the Kooks set. Notable songs include Love Lost, Trembling Hands and Sweet Disposition.
Groovin’ the Moo proves to be one of the best days out during the year. The guys behind the scenes always manage to consistently provide an awesome line-up, it’s not as crowded as other festivals and feels like a mini holiday out in the country. Everybody left the showgrounds full on awesome music.
Ryan Hyde