Homebake 09

Homebake 09 review
Its hard to get excited about festivals these days, with Homebake 09 being a festival I was intending to give a miss, due to an uninspiring line-up. Saying this I still find myself cruising into the festival in the early afternoon. My frown quickly turned upside down when I find dappled cities unexpectedly playing the dome stage. Replacing Rowland. S. Howard dappled cities moved through many favourites to a small but receptive crowd. After this set my day was looking up.It was now time to check out the BUMBLEBEEZ. Stopping on the way only to throw anything possible at the hideous SHORT STACK. The bumble beez arrive on stage with a thud complete with rabbit masks and super bright rave lighting which had you forgetting it was still early in the afternoon.

After this I found it hard to commit myself to one stage or act so I went a walkabout to check the lovely GIN WIGMORE who was sending good vibes out through the dome stage. The FUNKOARS were getting a good reception on the main stage. Now I love hip hop especially of the aussie variety, but I feel act like the funkoars, Bliss and Esso and the hoods are selling aussie hip hop short. So I stroll onwards too what should now be called the Hopetoun (R.I.P) memorial stage to check out BRIDEZILLA. Bridezilla play an enjoyable set but nothing really stands out or catches me. Saying this the Hopetoun stage is always a highlight and seems to be invisible to about 98.5% of boguns who inhabit the main stages. Talking bout boguns and main stages that’s where I was headed to watch the reformed, amazing and un-Bogan like TUMBLEWEED. I rock up to hear them playing the song Mary Jane to………….well the unmistakable smell of Mary Jane (good work sniffer dogs) tumbleweed played a set of psychedelic fuzz rock that made me feel like I was fifteen again. Tumbleweed proved to be one of the early highlights of the day thus far.

Next its time to check out the always fun RED RIDERS. Then off to see if I can get excited about the HILLTOP HOODS. I used too love the hoods and they have done amazing things for aussie hip hop and independent music, but since they left obese records I cant quite take them seriously. The heaving crowd on the other hand had no trouble taking them seriously with the crowd enjoying and going wild for every song of a party flavoured set. Escaping the hoods I ran up to catch the end of SIA’s set. SIA was surprisingly good and had the dome stage swinging with a soulful vibes. I vacated sia early to catch the end of the HOWLING BELLS, who had the Hopetoun tent the most packed I saw it all day. The howling bells were good and made me wish I had got there earlier.

The well-dressed DANIEL MERRIWEATHER crooned his way through an enjoyable set that probably had all the girls weak at the knees ..but not me. While searching out the smallest drink line (some where 1 hour plus) I happened too pass JET playing, Jet had me in absolute stitches at how silly and outdated their sound has become. Savour from the laughter inducing jet was just around the corner, with SARAH BLASKO about to hit the dome stage. Having never seen Blasko live I was quite excited and so was the crowd. Blasko lived up to all expectations with an amazing stage presence and equally amazing band. This would be the perfect way too end the day. Perfect had EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING not been on at the same time. It was super hard to leave Blasko, but on arrival to the Hopetoun tent e.c.s.r mad it all worth while with a wild set to a small, well lubed crowd. They played favourites like colour television, which way to go and wrapped up. I encourage everyone to go watch this band live asap cause they won’t disappoint. Now this was the perfect way to end the day.

On my way out of the festival I had to find crew with a bus to scab a lift home. But nothings ever free and my payment for a free bus ride was to sit through the remainder of POWDERFINGER’s set. The finger had the hits, they had the rock star lighting, they had the crowd singing along, they even had an encore, but the didn’t have me. This was commercial Australian pub rock at it’s finest and I wasn’t having jack of it. This proves the main stages are getting less interesting and more mainstream with the smaller stages getting more interesting. For the smaller stages with good vibes, friendly crowd and acts like Dappled cities, Howling bells, sia, Blasko and Eddy current suppression ring saving this years Homebake from the bland and average and making it one of the funest homebake's in many years…