Stone Music Festival Day One @ ANZ Stadium, Sydney (20/04/2013)
Torrential rain is never the best way to begin a music festival, but that’s Sydney for you.
After a car trip that resembled being in a car wash for two hours we finally made it to ANZ stadium for, what I feel is the most underrated festival Australia has seen.
Anticipation was thick in the air as music fans of all kinds wandered in, young old, male, female, well-dressed, gum boots and mullets - they were all there. After climbing six stories to our seats, 80s rock band Noiseworks took to the stage.
A band I often claim as “hating” I found myself enjoying the hits ‘No Lies’ and ‘Hot Chilli Woman’. There’s no denying these kiwi expats can write a catching tune and front man Jon Stevens can work an audience, but then the moment that remind me why I had such bitterness towards these hard working lads became apparent in the rock anthem 'Reach Out' with the cheesy hand motions as if Stevens had received performance tips from Delta Goodrem.
Soon after, one of my all time favourite bands, The Living End, took the stage. What better way to rev up an audience of heavy rock fans then busting out ‘Second Solution’. All of the working class, radio listening fans were moving and finally there was a moshpit.
The sudden feel of music festival hits the stadium, the energy is high, the drinks are mid-strength but being consumed at double, fists are being pumped and then at the peak the bands anthem ‘Who’s Gonna Save Us,’ a power failure kills the vibe. From that moment the band struggle to pull the same energy back and the obvious dis-connect within the band members leaves a stale show.
As I attempt to visit the ‘Unsigned stage’ to catch some local talent, only to be refused as my tickets don’t allow me, I send my apologetic thoughts to the hard working youngsters, playing to no-one when ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ creeps out from the main stage. It's strange how being accredited a media pass, I was still unable to access this stage. What about the paying customers?
Kings Of Chaos are possibly the most impressive super group since the Traveling Wilbury’s, featuring members of Guns N Roses, Deep Purple, Def Leopard, Skid Row, Velvet Revolver and Billy Idol’s band, the quote of the day comes from drumming legend Gilbey Clarke “We all get along”, a line not heard within their original bands. This set of hair metal hits and glam rock favourites was the perfect soundtrack as the sun set, surprisingly Billy Idol’s ‘Rebel Yell’ was the crowd favourite, leaving the crowd with a show topping performance.
You can give him points for keeping a career but Jimmy Barnes is an awkward mix of sweaty and confusing that resembled an Australian Idol performance in leather pants. Although his band were terrific, it’s hard to see the need for four guitarists, my theory is it’s cheaper than paying child support… alas after a slaughter of one of Australia’s most touching songs, I switched off, in fear of remembering more than I had already witnessed.
The pressure was on. After cancelling their Sydney show to be added to the Stone Music Festival line up, Aerosmith fans were furious, wet, cold and already taking to Facebook to rage. Barnesy had already gone over time and the thought of a set cut short was tense in the stadium. As night sets in, the exhausted roadies decorate the floor with the ‘Aerosmith’ icon across the length of the stage.
Prancing in from the middle of the stage, comes Steven Tyler and his band. The lighting guy didn’t get the memo as it was a good minute before any lights came on to display the tramply dressed scarecrow.
Being the eldest band on the bill, they performed like it was the 70s and showed no sign of their age in the sound and performance. Every part of this show was practiced, discussed and performed before, even the ‘impromptu’ sun glasses flick from Tyler during ‘Jaded’ was coordinated with the music perfectly and left one lucky fan with priceless (well, eBay are bidding at $2200.00) memorabilia. With a set list to please everyone in the crowd from Ragdoll, Love In an Elevator and Dude (Looks Like A Lady) to the romantics with the most heart felt performance in history during ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’ transporting us all to Armageddon.
The new tunes that are unfamiliar to most of the audience slotted in without a hitch as these retired aged pirates strip off layers and perform rock moves that their copy cats have claimed as their own for decades (Vince Neil, Axl Rose I’m looking at you).
For a band with such an impressive catalogue there seems no room for a cover, but when the band began the instantly recognizable intro for The Beatles ‘Come Together’ the entire stadium was slyly grooving to this sexy tunes and it really brought the thousands of fans together. Finishing the electric set with ‘Walk This Way’ (cliché walk dancing was a must) it seemed unfair to see the stage lights go down.
Just as you think it’s all over red rover, the lights come back on and a glorious white, grand piano is center stage and whether Tyler is playing it or miming is not even a worry, his performance was stella, he sobbed over that piano to ‘Dream On’ a touching speech from Joe Perry about the recent Boston Bombings had the crowd on the brink of tears as the curtain calls on one of the most electric live shows I have ever experienced.
Tyler even dances off stage, miming the house music ‘Bad To The Bone’ into the cameras, it seemed a fight to get this pensioner age sex symbol out of the lime light. With fans gasping “How will they top that?” the headliners of the festival and one of the most anticipated tours of the decade, Van Halen are due on.
I would have loved to hear the conversation backstage, but fifty minutes after they’re due on stage and just before the mould begins to grow on this damp crowd, the lights go down, the golf carts appear side of stage and four cocktails waiters from a 1990s all you can eat bistro walk on stage. Oh wait, that’s Van Halen, dressed in tacky black pants, white shirt and a sparkly vest, looking very similar to a cheap wedding band.
Disappointing is a compliment to this show. Yes, Eddie can shred, but David Lee Roth is no more ‘Diamond Dave’, his ‘ninja’ dance moves are lazy and aged, his vocals struggle at the best of time and the obviously disconnect with the band proves this was all for the money, I guess ninja training isn’t cheap!
And don’t think I’m being cruel; thirty minutes into their set without any hint of a hit, at least a third of the crowd had obviously left. As whispers haunt the stadium that the strict 11.00pm curfew is coming near and the self proclaimed ‘Big VH’ hadn’t played a single hit… well they played a few covers but no classic VH hits.
As if they got the message loud and clear (possibly by flashing a shot of their loved ones hovering over a pool of hungry, flesh eating sharks) boom ‘Hot For Teacher’, ‘Panama’, ‘Runnin With The Devil’ all blurted out.
A costume change and encore of hit single ‘Jump’ had the few left in the stadium moving, but the combination of empty wallets and still sober, icy weather and a sloppy performance left a stale after taste of mixed drinks in our mouths. The saving grace of Van Halen’s mighty come back to Australia is Eddie Van Halen’s smile when he plays.
Take Van Halen and the minor teething problems out of the equation and Stone Music was the best music festival this country has seen.
Cassie Walker
After a car trip that resembled being in a car wash for two hours we finally made it to ANZ stadium for, what I feel is the most underrated festival Australia has seen.
Anticipation was thick in the air as music fans of all kinds wandered in, young old, male, female, well-dressed, gum boots and mullets - they were all there. After climbing six stories to our seats, 80s rock band Noiseworks took to the stage.
A band I often claim as “hating” I found myself enjoying the hits ‘No Lies’ and ‘Hot Chilli Woman’. There’s no denying these kiwi expats can write a catching tune and front man Jon Stevens can work an audience, but then the moment that remind me why I had such bitterness towards these hard working lads became apparent in the rock anthem 'Reach Out' with the cheesy hand motions as if Stevens had received performance tips from Delta Goodrem.
Soon after, one of my all time favourite bands, The Living End, took the stage. What better way to rev up an audience of heavy rock fans then busting out ‘Second Solution’. All of the working class, radio listening fans were moving and finally there was a moshpit.
The sudden feel of music festival hits the stadium, the energy is high, the drinks are mid-strength but being consumed at double, fists are being pumped and then at the peak the bands anthem ‘Who’s Gonna Save Us,’ a power failure kills the vibe. From that moment the band struggle to pull the same energy back and the obvious dis-connect within the band members leaves a stale show.
As I attempt to visit the ‘Unsigned stage’ to catch some local talent, only to be refused as my tickets don’t allow me, I send my apologetic thoughts to the hard working youngsters, playing to no-one when ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ creeps out from the main stage. It's strange how being accredited a media pass, I was still unable to access this stage. What about the paying customers?
Kings Of Chaos are possibly the most impressive super group since the Traveling Wilbury’s, featuring members of Guns N Roses, Deep Purple, Def Leopard, Skid Row, Velvet Revolver and Billy Idol’s band, the quote of the day comes from drumming legend Gilbey Clarke “We all get along”, a line not heard within their original bands. This set of hair metal hits and glam rock favourites was the perfect soundtrack as the sun set, surprisingly Billy Idol’s ‘Rebel Yell’ was the crowd favourite, leaving the crowd with a show topping performance.
You can give him points for keeping a career but Jimmy Barnes is an awkward mix of sweaty and confusing that resembled an Australian Idol performance in leather pants. Although his band were terrific, it’s hard to see the need for four guitarists, my theory is it’s cheaper than paying child support… alas after a slaughter of one of Australia’s most touching songs, I switched off, in fear of remembering more than I had already witnessed.
The pressure was on. After cancelling their Sydney show to be added to the Stone Music Festival line up, Aerosmith fans were furious, wet, cold and already taking to Facebook to rage. Barnesy had already gone over time and the thought of a set cut short was tense in the stadium. As night sets in, the exhausted roadies decorate the floor with the ‘Aerosmith’ icon across the length of the stage.
Prancing in from the middle of the stage, comes Steven Tyler and his band. The lighting guy didn’t get the memo as it was a good minute before any lights came on to display the tramply dressed scarecrow.
Being the eldest band on the bill, they performed like it was the 70s and showed no sign of their age in the sound and performance. Every part of this show was practiced, discussed and performed before, even the ‘impromptu’ sun glasses flick from Tyler during ‘Jaded’ was coordinated with the music perfectly and left one lucky fan with priceless (well, eBay are bidding at $2200.00) memorabilia. With a set list to please everyone in the crowd from Ragdoll, Love In an Elevator and Dude (Looks Like A Lady) to the romantics with the most heart felt performance in history during ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’ transporting us all to Armageddon.
The new tunes that are unfamiliar to most of the audience slotted in without a hitch as these retired aged pirates strip off layers and perform rock moves that their copy cats have claimed as their own for decades (Vince Neil, Axl Rose I’m looking at you).
For a band with such an impressive catalogue there seems no room for a cover, but when the band began the instantly recognizable intro for The Beatles ‘Come Together’ the entire stadium was slyly grooving to this sexy tunes and it really brought the thousands of fans together. Finishing the electric set with ‘Walk This Way’ (cliché walk dancing was a must) it seemed unfair to see the stage lights go down.
Just as you think it’s all over red rover, the lights come back on and a glorious white, grand piano is center stage and whether Tyler is playing it or miming is not even a worry, his performance was stella, he sobbed over that piano to ‘Dream On’ a touching speech from Joe Perry about the recent Boston Bombings had the crowd on the brink of tears as the curtain calls on one of the most electric live shows I have ever experienced.
Tyler even dances off stage, miming the house music ‘Bad To The Bone’ into the cameras, it seemed a fight to get this pensioner age sex symbol out of the lime light. With fans gasping “How will they top that?” the headliners of the festival and one of the most anticipated tours of the decade, Van Halen are due on.
I would have loved to hear the conversation backstage, but fifty minutes after they’re due on stage and just before the mould begins to grow on this damp crowd, the lights go down, the golf carts appear side of stage and four cocktails waiters from a 1990s all you can eat bistro walk on stage. Oh wait, that’s Van Halen, dressed in tacky black pants, white shirt and a sparkly vest, looking very similar to a cheap wedding band.
Disappointing is a compliment to this show. Yes, Eddie can shred, but David Lee Roth is no more ‘Diamond Dave’, his ‘ninja’ dance moves are lazy and aged, his vocals struggle at the best of time and the obviously disconnect with the band proves this was all for the money, I guess ninja training isn’t cheap!
And don’t think I’m being cruel; thirty minutes into their set without any hint of a hit, at least a third of the crowd had obviously left. As whispers haunt the stadium that the strict 11.00pm curfew is coming near and the self proclaimed ‘Big VH’ hadn’t played a single hit… well they played a few covers but no classic VH hits.
As if they got the message loud and clear (possibly by flashing a shot of their loved ones hovering over a pool of hungry, flesh eating sharks) boom ‘Hot For Teacher’, ‘Panama’, ‘Runnin With The Devil’ all blurted out.
A costume change and encore of hit single ‘Jump’ had the few left in the stadium moving, but the combination of empty wallets and still sober, icy weather and a sloppy performance left a stale after taste of mixed drinks in our mouths. The saving grace of Van Halen’s mighty come back to Australia is Eddie Van Halen’s smile when he plays.
Take Van Halen and the minor teething problems out of the equation and Stone Music was the best music festival this country has seen.
Cassie Walker