Splendour Highlights: Day Three
The last day. Wow. I'm going to be honest with you, I had to dig p-retty deep into my festival energy reserves to get myself together to face another day after absorbing so much awesomeness (and dust) already, but hey, Splendour in the Grass only happens once a year - SO LETS DO THIS.
Hungry Kids of Hungary
The boys had a great crowd considering the 1pm timeslot. And the crowd was made even more happier when the guys picked up all the big while beach balls that were adorning the stage and threw them out into the mosh. I must say I spent a large portion of the set watching this one four year old kid get nailed over and over by an inflatable ball twice his size, thinking, is this really the place for a four year old? That man over there isn't wearing pants. Anyway,Oldie but goodie, 'Scattered Diamonds' was a crowd favourite along with one of my personal favourites 'China'. Always great performers, but the guys have been playing the same set for a while now, I think they need to start integrating more new stuff into their shows or they're going to get stuck.
Cloud Control
So amazing to see this band go from mountains kids pulling a nothing crowd at Spectrum to being the AMP winning, UK dominating, adored band that they are today. Playing through sunset on the mainstage just before the Vines, this was one of the most fun sets I watched all weekend. 1. Because after they explained that they had a fill-in bass player due to their regular one just having a baby, they then played the Lion Kings' Circle of life over the PA complete with a video montage of the the new baby and giant coloured balloons thrown out into the audience. Everyone sang along, it was amazing. 2. Because for no reason I can work out, a giant secondary moshpit started at the very top of the hill behind the sound tent and this whole crowd of people like a flash mob would run all the way to the top of the hill, clap and dance, and then when a chorus would start, they'd all run down the hill together and dance. We're talking about like 1000 people. Humans are great.
Oh Mercy
It's official, I still have never entered the GW Mclennan tent but I did make it to the outskirts of it for Oh Mercy. Seriously, it's virtually impossible to say no to a hill right on the side of stage.
Anyway, the kids I was with were not as familiar with the latest album Great Barfrier Grief as I'd have hoped but they'd be but they started to recognise more and more of the songs. Alexander and the crew did a pretty tight set.
The sound isn't always great in that tent, I know there was some trouble with the Jezabels but it all seemed to be smooth sailing for Oh Mercy. I enjoyed seeing him live.
Friendly Fires
Oh My God. This has to be in the top contenders for one of the best performances of the weekend. I have never seen them before which for a HUGE fan is terrible I know but they absolutely nailed it.
They didn't have the Hawaiian dancers like they did at Glastonbury for the single 'Hawaiian Air' but Ed certainly did bring his dancing shoes.
This was seriously up there as a top contender for the best in show category at the royal show Splendour. I sung every song which was weird I know but I'd had a few drinks and it just felt right.
The Middle East
So... there last performance. What happens with this band. Every time they get a bit of traction they seem to split up again. That's twice now. All that whinging aside, it was a pretty great show except it was at sun changeover time and it started to get FREEZING!
Pulp
Jarvis Cocker is such a brilliant frontman. It's like hanging out with one of your best mates. Even the kids in the crowd that didn't know the songs and were just holding their spot for Coldplay had a great time. Cocker then announced that this would be their last show ever in Australia and even all newly gained fans in the audience were sad. What with all these bands breaking up at Splendour??? I know the dust is bad, but come on guys, THIS IS ROCK N ROLL :(
Coldplay
A stirring and sweet show of singlaongs to bring the festival to an end, Chris Martin and co played a generous set including some oldies I love from the first album like 'Shiver'. Thankfully 'Yellow' was rinsed through quite early in the set, and a little tribute to Amy Winehouse cropped up in the intro to 'Fix You', with the chorus to 'Rehab' taking up the first few bars, and everyone having a little cry. I had a peek on the Mix Up Tent on the way back to see who had turned out for Bliss and Eso, turns out no one really. Going up again Coldplay = tough gig. I suppose even the haters were curious.