musopantz

Jason Mraz’s brass players want some crowd action too!

Festival season is FINALLY OVER! And what a fitting way to bring us back to our roots by having a cruisy day at the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival. As usual, it was held at the Esplanade Reserve in Fremantle, right next to the harbour among the huge Norfolk Island pine trees. This time the festival was more low-key compared to the last couple of years which saw the lineup spread over a weekend. Ben Harper and Michael Franti were not brought over to Fremantle either. Though, that doesn’t mean we weren’t able to laze about for the day… it probably should have made it easier!

Some time after the Bluesfest tour announcement, The John Butler Trio said this would be the last time to catch the current trio. John Butler said something about gathering a new trio for a different sound, I think. I’m not sure how often “Betterman” is played at recent JBT concerts, but it was the fourth song of the set and it sounded marvellous.

They all looked quite comfortable on-stage performing with each other. I didn’t stay for the full set though, having not eaten properly due to lack of cash and suffering from sleep-deprivation from the night before’s shenanigans.

It’s obvious after “that song” became synonymous to Channel 7’s Packed To The Rafters that there were many many people wanting to catch Jason Mraz. Although being around for a fair while, I’m thinking it’s not just Australia who has tuned into I’m Yours over and over again. It’s a cute song, I must admit. A bit ashamed that my sister knew some of his older songs too… it took a while for me to jog my Mraz memory.

Oh, Missy Higgins… you’ve been gone for too long. You’re still gorgeous. I melted when you started the set with “Nightminds”. Stay in Australia just that bit longer please!

What roots festival would this be without a bit of reggae? The Easy Star All-stars were just one of those Caribbean bands to perform that night. Come on… let’s get lost and sway for a while.

I don’t think I could ever picture Paul Kelly playing at a music festival, but I guess he fits right in when jumping right into all the “Dumb Things” he had done. Though, speaking of Paul Kelly, I’m really bummed I didn’t get to catch Kev Carmody perform. You gotta catch the legends… even if they have been billed early on in the day.

I guess Bob Evans really COULD say “Goodnight, Bull Creek!” tonight! I’m still debating whether “Bullcreek” ever existed as a singular word though…

Seasick Steve has a reason to be happy. Having been a hobo, tramp or bum for most of his life, Seasick Steve has a story to tell to many thousands of ears out there. Now, wouldn’t it just poke your heart to hear “I Started Out With Nothin’ and I Still Got Most Of It Left”? He is such a jovial spirit.

And now, finally, my early highlights from the festival - Augie March and Ben Kweller. Either of those two I certainly can not get enough of. I’m a bit peeved off though… two years ago when Ben Kweller was on his own tour, I had tried twice (and failed) to get him to sign my special photobook. He announced he’d be at the signing tent and I didn’t bring my book. Snap!

There are plenty more photos in my Flickr photoset of the West Coast Blues & Roots Festival.

Coming soon… more V Festival posts!

This post is a part of a series: V Festival 2009 Australian Tour. Plenty of photos of all the bands from all the shows!

While I’d like to say I got into a tussle with security while trying to barge my way into the photo-pit to take photos of The Killers, the reality is that I slipped and immediately knocked my head on a nearby wheelie-bin.

Some of you may have followed my Tweets/Facebook updates. I posted this soon after the accident:

Whatever happens on tour, stays on tour… I slipped on the damp grass and knocked the back of my head and drew blood. Not drunk related!

It was absolutely pissing down the morning of V Festival at the Gold Coast. I’m guessing it was the cyclonic storms that resulted in crazy flooding on the east coast somewhere.

Then it stopped. Just in time for the gates to open.

Then it GUSHED down during Mr. Brightside by The Killers. By some sixth sense, I actually foresaw this happening.

After the show, we had our usual after-drinks. It was still pissing down. I was running … I don’t remember what I was running for. Must have been to get my P&S camera. And… yeah- the above happened.

Photos taken at these times:

1. Soon after the fall. The lovely Amber rushed off to get something to clean it with as it apparently looked really bad.
2. One week later in Sydney.
3. Just recently… I have an awesome scar.

So yeah… stories from the frontline at V Festival and the scar to prove it! Hah!

This post is a part of a series: V Festival 2009 Australian Tour. Plenty of photos of all the bands from all the shows!

One of the first surprises of the Australian V Festival Tour was the opening act Black Rose, fronted by Rosso (from Merrick and Rosso). I can’t remember if they were a part of Virgin Mobile’s Right Music Wrongs campaign, but I guess after seeing these guys perform, they’re a hilarious parody of anything that the campaign stood for. I don’t think you can go wrong with a cock-rock band like Black Rose though!

Black Rose stands up for all those blokes and what it means to be “Australian”. Who else can sing about crashing Holdens and Peter Brock in the same song? Bring on the booze! The Sydney performance (I think) was recorded for Merrick and Rosso’s show on the Comedy Channel. 

It was actually quite pleasant to see so many people in the crowd for an opening band. Though, it is Black Rose after all…

With such great support from fans, Rosso asked if they could do it again. Though the Gold Coast V Festival was the day after the Sydney one, Virgin Mobile penned them in for opening the Melbourne show. Hilarity ensued!

Can you see what I mean when I say “cock-rock”? If you can’t, look closer…

Not pictured in these Louder Lounge photos is Vanilla Ice who was totally lapping up the attention from fans. I think he was meant to be interviewed in this area, but the seats were never really used. Rosso and his band just decided they’d lounge about here for a while. Friendly blokes, they were!

And so, where to from here? Maybe we’ll see more of them on the TV. I don’t have Foxtel so I don’t know if the footage has been shown yet. They were freakin’ awesome though and were a great start to the V Festivals.

There are more photos in my Flickr V Festival photo set.

Stay tuned for more updates from the Australian V Festival tour!