Groovin The Moo @ The University of Canberra (13/05/2012)
As we come into the cusp of winter, the latest round of festivals are doing their utmost to dish out a final glorious and defiant hoorah, before the chill and misery of cold weather sets in. All ages festival Groovin the Moo falls into this category, triumphantly selling out early in Maitland and Bendigo, its line up proudly boasting a diverse range of some the finest hand picked local and overseas acts on offer.
The peaceful and picturesque autumn coloured grounds of Canberra University were the chosen location for this year’s line up. Festival organisers wisely stuck to a simple and effective layout, pitching three stages nice and close to each other and spacing out acts between each in a way that kept the performances flowing, with nice chunky breaks here and there.
Sunny weather cast itself down on featured Triple J Unearthed local act Stateovmind, as he brought his blend of Australian hip hop to the stage. Rapper Tim Steven’s smooth style and enthusiasm attracted quite an excited and attentive crowd, with back up Ally Cowell lending her strong and soulful voice to the set.
Moving to the ‘Udder Stage’, mad screams of joy hailed Perthians San Cisco’s set. The quirky four piece put on a completely sublime and enthralling performance, as Jordi Davieson’s rich, husky opening to ‘Golden Revolver’ dropped jaws and broke hearts. A few new songs ‘Fred Astaire’, ‘Freak Out’ and a gorgeously expressive tune written for a broken hearted friend, were dropped in amongst favourites ‘Rocket Ship’ and ‘Awkward’.
Melbourne Duo Big Scary took to the Triple J stage shortly after, the impressive two piece holding their own with ease. Tom Iansek provided another stunning male vocal lead to what would be an unequivocal trend to the day. The pair’s booming fuzzed out rock vibe kept the audience entranced, as they joked about drummer Jo Syme’s lack of vocal ability and how ‘Mix Tape’ is a song about ‘sleeping with someone you don’t want to hang with later’.
A quick sidestep and the crowd for Matt Corby had already reached fever pitch. The fact that this soulful crooner was an Australian Idol contestant is surprising, considering he has carved out a very different path to his predecessors. His song writing and vocal abilities have earnt him respect amongst his peers and fans, evident in the large adoring crowd gathered. Bar some initial technical issues his set did not disappoint, as his sultry voice hits its highs and lows with crowd favourite ‘Brother’ inspiring a mass sing along.
The Maccabees could be described as an acquired taste; however, their live performance provided a completely different experience to their recordings, casting them in a new light. Let’s just say that some of the more hesitant and discerning amongst us were completely won over by the Londoners’ live sound and stage presence. The band rocked the stage hard, lead singer Orlando Weeks bringing a humble and genuine tone to the music as he belted out highlights ‘Wall of Arms’, ‘No Kind Words’ and the harmonious ‘Pelican’.
A change of scene and weather as the bright sunny chilled out vibe of the day turned to an overcast sky. Interested parties lounging about on the hill overlooking the main stages began to make their way over to the charged atmosphere of the ‘Moolin Rouge’ tent in anticipation of New Orleans rockers Mutemath, who have steadily been gaining more exposure and a growing fan base in the recent months.
Lightly put, Mutemath led an assault on the auditory and visual senses, displaying unforgettable showmanship and giving off crazed hyperactive energy, which rubbed off on the crowd. Pulsating lights, heavy smoke, screeching guitars, nothing was held back as the band tore into opener ‘Odd Soul’ followed by ‘Prytania’ and ‘Blood Pressure’.
The crowd were treated to a last minute change up due to keytar issues, the first song the band had ever written, a funky electro instrumental called ‘Reset’. The set climaxed to its roaring finale when a large blow up black mattress with flashing red and white lights was pushed out onto the crowd and lead singer Paul Meany jumped on. Some sparse pyrotechnics and an excellent cover of ‘Don’t Change’ rounded off an incredible and thoroughly entertaining set.
A short break allowed for the perusal of the small set of stalls on offer, the signing tent and gourmet food stands, before a wailing siren and the sounds of guns being loaded and fired, beckoned the crowd to stream into the ‘Moolin Rouge’ once more for 360’s onslaught. From opener ‘Killer’ to ‘Child’ to ‘Boys Like You’, 360 combined forces with Bam Bam and DJ Matt pumping out track after track, stopping now then to animatedly swear about how cold it was, to ramble on about his cheating ex or to kick out riled up idiots in the crowd. 360 and Bam Bam’s mix over Skrillex, as well as his sample of Regurgitator’s ‘The Song Formerly Known As’, were real crowd pleasers, leaving everyone energised and slightly warmer.
With 360’s set running overtime, a quick sprint led back to Brisbanites Ball Park Music who were just tucking into ‘Rich People Are Stupid’. For the rest of the set the band hilariously decided to refer to themselves as boy band ‘One Direction’, pulling off one of the most enjoyable and fun filled performances of the day. Needless to say every song was a standout, Sam Cromack adding to the incredible string of male vocalists on offer. The band injected their brand of youthful playfulness into the crowd, who had braved the cold to happily bop along to the stunning ‘All I Want Is You’, the much loved ‘Sad Rude Future Dude’, quirky ‘Literally Baby’, ‘iFly’ and sweet ‘It’s Nice to be Alive’. A trumpet accompaniment to ‘Happy Healthy Citizen’ was a nice touch that rounded out a lovely set, where the only things lost were the two cups of wine Sam accidently kicked over.
By now the mercury had plummeted to sub zero, as darkness set in, people groped for extra items of clothing and huddled together for warmth. It seemed in a sea of cold noses and soggy pants the best way to keep spirits up was to drink, dance and hug anything and anyone tightly. With this sentiment, the crowd jostled and wriggled their way towards major act City and Colour.
Dallas Green’s more sombre and emotive alter ego City and Colour has made an instant connection with many and it’s hard to believe he was part of hardcore band Alexisonfire. Dallas’ mournful and wavering falsetto silences the awe inspired crowd, soaring with every word. It’s difficult not be captivated by the stark purity of each song laid bare, as Dallas moves into ‘We Found Each Other in the Dark’, ‘Sleeping Sickness’, ‘Waiting’, ‘O Sister’ and ‘Fragile Bird’. Dallas’ backing guitarist is a hero here, artfully placing sweetly resonating melodies here and there.
The crowd dissipates remarkably at the end of the set, some more excited than others to see Public Enemy take the stage. The iconic old school hip hop group take their time to set up, citing technical difficulties. Chuck D and Flavor Flav are MCs of the night warming up the crowd in call and response and a mass fist salute. The group play music off their first album ‘Yo! Bum Rush the Show’ but the constant stop start banter seems to take its toll on the crowd. Chuck D pays homage to the recently deceased Adam Yauch aka MCA, founder of The Beastie Boys and mentions that Public Enemy’s first official show was opening for them. The group finishes off their set with a series of mash ups and samples, including Nirvana’s ‘Teen Spirit’.
The final acts of the night are a blur as the icy temperatures seep in, but whether it was jumping around to Hilltop Hoods who disappointingly didn’t include the usual animated clips to their show or singing along to Kimbra in yet another quirky pink outfit, going crazy in a steamy tent with Bluejuice in their glowing neon get up, or dancing the night away with Adrian Lux, it seemed that everyone found their groove and partied out to the brink of exhaustion.
Groovin the Moo gets better and better each year, the line up this time around was stellar, incorporating great emerging talent both locally and overseas, whilst bringing back some iconic and well loved blasts from the past. Festival organisers made all the right moves, pulling off a great event that kept everyone happy, despite the uncontrollable weather.
Nazia Hafiz
The peaceful and picturesque autumn coloured grounds of Canberra University were the chosen location for this year’s line up. Festival organisers wisely stuck to a simple and effective layout, pitching three stages nice and close to each other and spacing out acts between each in a way that kept the performances flowing, with nice chunky breaks here and there.
Sunny weather cast itself down on featured Triple J Unearthed local act Stateovmind, as he brought his blend of Australian hip hop to the stage. Rapper Tim Steven’s smooth style and enthusiasm attracted quite an excited and attentive crowd, with back up Ally Cowell lending her strong and soulful voice to the set.
Moving to the ‘Udder Stage’, mad screams of joy hailed Perthians San Cisco’s set. The quirky four piece put on a completely sublime and enthralling performance, as Jordi Davieson’s rich, husky opening to ‘Golden Revolver’ dropped jaws and broke hearts. A few new songs ‘Fred Astaire’, ‘Freak Out’ and a gorgeously expressive tune written for a broken hearted friend, were dropped in amongst favourites ‘Rocket Ship’ and ‘Awkward’.
Melbourne Duo Big Scary took to the Triple J stage shortly after, the impressive two piece holding their own with ease. Tom Iansek provided another stunning male vocal lead to what would be an unequivocal trend to the day. The pair’s booming fuzzed out rock vibe kept the audience entranced, as they joked about drummer Jo Syme’s lack of vocal ability and how ‘Mix Tape’ is a song about ‘sleeping with someone you don’t want to hang with later’.
A quick sidestep and the crowd for Matt Corby had already reached fever pitch. The fact that this soulful crooner was an Australian Idol contestant is surprising, considering he has carved out a very different path to his predecessors. His song writing and vocal abilities have earnt him respect amongst his peers and fans, evident in the large adoring crowd gathered. Bar some initial technical issues his set did not disappoint, as his sultry voice hits its highs and lows with crowd favourite ‘Brother’ inspiring a mass sing along.
The Maccabees could be described as an acquired taste; however, their live performance provided a completely different experience to their recordings, casting them in a new light. Let’s just say that some of the more hesitant and discerning amongst us were completely won over by the Londoners’ live sound and stage presence. The band rocked the stage hard, lead singer Orlando Weeks bringing a humble and genuine tone to the music as he belted out highlights ‘Wall of Arms’, ‘No Kind Words’ and the harmonious ‘Pelican’.
A change of scene and weather as the bright sunny chilled out vibe of the day turned to an overcast sky. Interested parties lounging about on the hill overlooking the main stages began to make their way over to the charged atmosphere of the ‘Moolin Rouge’ tent in anticipation of New Orleans rockers Mutemath, who have steadily been gaining more exposure and a growing fan base in the recent months.
Lightly put, Mutemath led an assault on the auditory and visual senses, displaying unforgettable showmanship and giving off crazed hyperactive energy, which rubbed off on the crowd. Pulsating lights, heavy smoke, screeching guitars, nothing was held back as the band tore into opener ‘Odd Soul’ followed by ‘Prytania’ and ‘Blood Pressure’.
The crowd were treated to a last minute change up due to keytar issues, the first song the band had ever written, a funky electro instrumental called ‘Reset’. The set climaxed to its roaring finale when a large blow up black mattress with flashing red and white lights was pushed out onto the crowd and lead singer Paul Meany jumped on. Some sparse pyrotechnics and an excellent cover of ‘Don’t Change’ rounded off an incredible and thoroughly entertaining set.
A short break allowed for the perusal of the small set of stalls on offer, the signing tent and gourmet food stands, before a wailing siren and the sounds of guns being loaded and fired, beckoned the crowd to stream into the ‘Moolin Rouge’ once more for 360’s onslaught. From opener ‘Killer’ to ‘Child’ to ‘Boys Like You’, 360 combined forces with Bam Bam and DJ Matt pumping out track after track, stopping now then to animatedly swear about how cold it was, to ramble on about his cheating ex or to kick out riled up idiots in the crowd. 360 and Bam Bam’s mix over Skrillex, as well as his sample of Regurgitator’s ‘The Song Formerly Known As’, were real crowd pleasers, leaving everyone energised and slightly warmer.
With 360’s set running overtime, a quick sprint led back to Brisbanites Ball Park Music who were just tucking into ‘Rich People Are Stupid’. For the rest of the set the band hilariously decided to refer to themselves as boy band ‘One Direction’, pulling off one of the most enjoyable and fun filled performances of the day. Needless to say every song was a standout, Sam Cromack adding to the incredible string of male vocalists on offer. The band injected their brand of youthful playfulness into the crowd, who had braved the cold to happily bop along to the stunning ‘All I Want Is You’, the much loved ‘Sad Rude Future Dude’, quirky ‘Literally Baby’, ‘iFly’ and sweet ‘It’s Nice to be Alive’. A trumpet accompaniment to ‘Happy Healthy Citizen’ was a nice touch that rounded out a lovely set, where the only things lost were the two cups of wine Sam accidently kicked over.
By now the mercury had plummeted to sub zero, as darkness set in, people groped for extra items of clothing and huddled together for warmth. It seemed in a sea of cold noses and soggy pants the best way to keep spirits up was to drink, dance and hug anything and anyone tightly. With this sentiment, the crowd jostled and wriggled their way towards major act City and Colour.
Dallas Green’s more sombre and emotive alter ego City and Colour has made an instant connection with many and it’s hard to believe he was part of hardcore band Alexisonfire. Dallas’ mournful and wavering falsetto silences the awe inspired crowd, soaring with every word. It’s difficult not be captivated by the stark purity of each song laid bare, as Dallas moves into ‘We Found Each Other in the Dark’, ‘Sleeping Sickness’, ‘Waiting’, ‘O Sister’ and ‘Fragile Bird’. Dallas’ backing guitarist is a hero here, artfully placing sweetly resonating melodies here and there.
The crowd dissipates remarkably at the end of the set, some more excited than others to see Public Enemy take the stage. The iconic old school hip hop group take their time to set up, citing technical difficulties. Chuck D and Flavor Flav are MCs of the night warming up the crowd in call and response and a mass fist salute. The group play music off their first album ‘Yo! Bum Rush the Show’ but the constant stop start banter seems to take its toll on the crowd. Chuck D pays homage to the recently deceased Adam Yauch aka MCA, founder of The Beastie Boys and mentions that Public Enemy’s first official show was opening for them. The group finishes off their set with a series of mash ups and samples, including Nirvana’s ‘Teen Spirit’.
The final acts of the night are a blur as the icy temperatures seep in, but whether it was jumping around to Hilltop Hoods who disappointingly didn’t include the usual animated clips to their show or singing along to Kimbra in yet another quirky pink outfit, going crazy in a steamy tent with Bluejuice in their glowing neon get up, or dancing the night away with Adrian Lux, it seemed that everyone found their groove and partied out to the brink of exhaustion.
Groovin the Moo gets better and better each year, the line up this time around was stellar, incorporating great emerging talent both locally and overseas, whilst bringing back some iconic and well loved blasts from the past. Festival organisers made all the right moves, pulling off a great event that kept everyone happy, despite the uncontrollable weather.
Nazia Hafiz