Harvest Festival @ Werribee Mansion, Werribee (11/11/2012)
Last year from the brain power behind Soundwave, a wild Werribee based music festival appeared. It had all the big names, attracted all the bearded boys and dip dye girls but lacked the basic functionality that’s required of a music festival (toilets, lots of ‘em). Luckily. Harvest was born into a good family which only insured drastic improvements for it’s first birthday.
Much like those jerks on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16, little baby Harvest had everything. The sun was out in full force, an eclectic line-up ready to wow punters and lavatories in good supply. One couldn't ask for a more picturesque site as grounds offer luscious greenery and even a pretty little lake.
A line-up this solid is always haunted by one thing and that’s set time clashes. Sadly, I spent most of my day bargaining with my friendship group about where we should go next. “OK, I’ll trade you Silversun Pickups for half an hour of Mike Patton.” And so it went The theme of the day seemed to be a celebration of what once was. For a band that arguably did their best work between ‘96 and ‘03, The Dandy Warhols still pull a mean crowd and excellent billing credit. Some were surprised that the DiG! stars were playing so early in the day and that the event organisers didn’t know the power of ‘Bohemian Like You’. |
The sad thing was that this was their best card to deal and the majority of the set was a wishy washy act of post 90’s disappointment. “Oh yeah, I wait tables too” might hit a little too close to home these days.
Next up was the cutest four-piece to ever emerge from Silverlake California, the Silversun Pickups. The sweet indie rockers could do no wrong mixing in tracks from their new record ‘Neck of the Woods’ with their already solid set list, opening with 'Skin Graph'. The crowd explodes when the opening chords of ‘Lazy Eye’ are played and you can tell the band are enjoying this as much as the crowd. These guys rarely give a bad show and they really should tour Australia more.
So apart from reading “Faith No More” on toilet stalls during my childhood, my knowledge of the bands second frontman, Mike Patton is pretty vanilla. In one of the set time bargains I’d made, i said I’d join a friend to see Mr. Bungle himself. There I was, completely blown away but this man with such an enchanting voice dominating the main stage with Italian takes on famous songs from the 50’s and 60’s. It’s not what I expected but I was immediately swept away. The orchestra provided an anywhere but here experience which had crowds longing for an Italian getaway. Continuing with the theme of the 90’s, one of the few bands during that time that haven’t had the break-up then do a festival headliner make-up is Cake. These guys have been rocking since ‘91, if you don’t count the multiple line-up changes.. Anyway, frontman John McCrea did more talking than playing which in near 30 degree heat, gets a little on the tiresome side. Cake did their best to “prolong the magic” and closed with their hit ‘The Distance’. Thus came what seemed to be the restless period. I wandered between Beirut and Ben Folds Five, although neither really could hold my attention. Maybe it was the overpriced vodka I’d been sipping all day or my increasing need to propose marriage to Beck, but I found more solace in take away food than either bands performances. |
Maybe it’s because Beck opened with ‘Devil’s Haircut’ from ‘Odelay’ or the fact he hasn’t aged a bit but my heart was beating out of my chest for the four-time platinum artist. The lo-fi scientologist came out swinging, knocking down his first commercial hit ‘Loser’ in the first 15 minutes leaving the crowd as putty in his hands. All and all, Beck produced a record spanning setlist, not before picking up a “shimmering thing which turned out to be an 80’s guitar solo” out with the animals, as he bantered. Beck then went on to jab at the Icelantics as he spouted, "I should leave some up here for the other bands. Sigur Ros. I'm sure they could use it." Now was the clash of Grizzly Bear and Sigur Ros, although I couldn’t quite decide on the two and drifted back and forth between them. The trouble about seeing Sigur Ros and the end of a big day and not being high is everything. It’s utterly gorgeous but you definitely remember that you put all of his songs on your sleep mix and kind of feel the day drawing to an end. |
Nightfall brought the best performance yet from American bombshell Santigold. Although the heat had stuck around and the day had been long, Santigold exploded on stage with what may be some of the best back-up dancers ever. There was no bullshit, just the hits. Santigold is sassy with banter and barely stops between ‘L.E.S. Artistes’, ‘Lights Out’ and ‘Disparate Youth’. The highlight was definitely when the reggae fusion goddess dropped ‘Shove It’ on a very excited crowd after several costume changes. If you’d never seen a dancer play another dancers bum as bongos, you’ve not lived.
It was a perfect day of sun, organisation and fun intermixed with what felt like the best of the 90’s. All and all, it appears Harvest made the best comeback of all.
Samantha Dickson
Check out our photos from the day here!
It was a perfect day of sun, organisation and fun intermixed with what felt like the best of the 90’s. All and all, it appears Harvest made the best comeback of all.
Samantha Dickson
Check out our photos from the day here!