Live review: Good Vibrations, Sydney (for The Music Network)

14 February 2011

by Poppy Reid

Centennial Park, Sydney
Saturday February 12

Extolled as a landmark in Australian music festivals, the first instalment of Good Vibrations Festival in Sydney certainly lived up to its name sonically, but weather-wise, the constant downpour put more than a damper on the day. After five years of rain in a row, it was obvious the over 25,000 punters were getting over it.

Those who arrived before 4pm were able to catch acts like congenial DJ, Kid Kenobi, unseasoned Perth youngsters Tim & Jean and hip hop duo, Koolism from the comfort of the dry grass. Most sat nursing their $12 Red Bull and vodkas, sporadically topping them up with their own 'cocktails' they’d strapped to their crotch on the way in.

Of the aforementioned acts, MC Hau and DJ Danielsan of Koolismwere the best-received. Mixing De La Soul’s Ring Ring Ring with tracks from their fifth album, The ‘Umu. MC Hau spoke like a sailor and warmed the crowd to a near fever with tracks like Can’t Stand It andJam Hot.

Over on the Mr J stage stood my favourite quirk of the day, the Storm Troopers. The pair hilariously thrusted their junk toward the crowd and shook their bobbling helmet heads in unison to the Sosueme DJ’swho filled in the space between Aloe Blacc & The Grand Schemeand the upcoming Jinja Safari.

It was a hard decision to catch Sydney band Jinja Safari over US live wire, Erykah Badu; but after slap-clapping and gypsy dancing through the five-piece's chipper set of dance and roots, it turned out be one of the best decisions I made that day.

The other was my protest against wearing makeup; as the rain began to fall, pretty hipsters began to look like a Salvador Dali, their eyes drooping in clumps down their cheeks. “Dancing in the rain, two feet in the sand,” lead singer Marcus Azon couldn’t have timed their trackPeter Pan better.

Before rising popstar, Mike Posner took the same stage I ventured into Good Vibes' equivalent of the Boiler Room to see how the other half (the punters on crooked candy) were living. The Laundry tent was full of shirtless boys and melting-face girls for UK Grindcore DJ’s,Fake Blood. The tent was a sweaty haze of red from the flashing images projected from side screens; no one seemed to know the tracks being laid, but judging by the jaws swinging like old barn doors in cyclone Yasi, no-one seemed to care either.

Birthday boy Mike Posner played singles like Please Don’t Go, Bow Chicka and obvious favourite Cooler Than Me, however it was his rendition of R. Kelly’s Ignition that triggered the most questionable dance moves from the crowd.

Kelis’ performance on the Good Vibrations stage cemented her comeback into the pop scene. Opening with tracks Scream, 22nd Century and Home from her latest offering Flesh Tone, Kelis made up for her hiatus. Although she did throw in crowd favourite, Milkshake, her new album dominated the voluptuous diva’s set.

Most of the crowd stayed at the Good Vibrations stage for headlinerFaithless. The UK electro act blew the minds of long-time fans and recruited those who were more into Aqua while Maxi Jazz, Sister Bliss and Rollo were at their peak. For almost an hour and a half, the rain didn’t matter and the pneumonia could wait until tomorrow; Faithlesssent shockwaves through the crowd with favourites like God Is A DJ, Mass Destruction and Insomnia.

If it weren’t for such an electric closer, this year’s Good Vibrations could have been a soaking flop, although one drenched girl in hotpants did sum up the general vibe for me as she clung to her junked-out boyfriend; and it wasn’t good. “Babe, seriously, this is the last year we’re doing this, like, this is fucked.”