Summadayze. A New Year’s Day institution and, for some, a semi-religious event. One day. Ten stages. Over a hundred DJs and bands from Australia and around the world. This one day festival is one of the highlights of the events Future Entertainment put on in Australia. It has been at least nearly fifteen years since this scribe attended and today was about seeing where modern dance/electronic music and hip hop were at in this current time in the world.
On a boiling hot day, the event kicked off with what could be described as a slow burn. People took their time to arrive, probably shaking off the cobwebs and hangovers from the night before. Having a look at artists and set times, some of the band names may as well have been written in Swahili for the lack of recognition that they registered with this scribe, who felt at times like David Attenborough looking at a recently discovered species and their rituals, not being as familiar with electronica and hip hop in Australia as he once was.
The Magenta Main Stage proved to be where it was at today, as it was also somewhat of a salvation from the unforgiving sun. Having a look around the other stages, every strand of electronica and hip hop was catered for. Whatever your taste in dance, whether it be drum and bass or hip hop there was bound to be something to your liking. On the main stage, after some very enjoyable sets from the likes of locals 1928 and Andy Murphy, the crowd really got to their feet with the arrival of female DJ duo Nervo. Playing a nice mix of their own material with that of others, they were the first act of the day to get the crowd on their feet and dancing like it was going to be banned tomorrow. A really solid jumping off point for a crowd who wanted to party.
Next up on the main stage was the legendary Grandmaster Flash. One of the originators of mixing and scratching and its relation to music, this afternoon he provided what was basically a mash up set, lifted in quality somewhat by his formidable skills behind the turntable. While enjoyable, there were things that irritated and annoyed. Firstly, the constant badgering to raise you arms/scream/sing became annoying fast – the crowd aren’t sheep and don’t deserve to be treated as such.
Also, at times the musical choices, especially the overabundance of late 1970s and 1980s cheese, left a lot to be desired. While proving to be incredibly popular with the crowd, it was a bit like throwing chips at seagulls. This was a crowd that would have gone off to a remix of Gregorian monks chanting, such was their enthusiasm and passion. An enjoyable if somewhat mainstream and safe set from the man.
Thank heavens for the Scissor Sisters. The New York quintet, embellished live by an organ player and backing singers, really put the fun into proceedings today. Over the space of seventy five minutes, the band, with their irresistible mixture of pop smarts and flirtation with electronic music, performed a great set, with a good tally of songs from all three of their albums. Predictably, it was the older material that got the biggest crowd response, such as the classic “Take Your Mamma “, “Laura” and their still startling and radical reworking of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb”. Lead singer Jake Shears and partner in crime Ana Matronic proved to be a very charming,charismatic and sexy as all hell double act, hyping up the crowd and having a great time on stage with a tight as a drum band behind. A definite highlight of the day, from a band who always deliver.
Columbian-American DJ Erick Morillo was up next. Performing a mix of his own material and that of others, he unfortunately backed up the walking cliche about DJs being self indulgent gits. While the first hour of his set was enjoyable, showing off a prodigious talent behind the turntables, the second hour basically repeated what had gone before to the point of tedium and boredom. This is just a personal opinion, as the majority of the crowd were totally into what Morillo was doing and singing and dancing like their lives depended on it. Not what it could have been, and possibly one of those moments where generation gap between older attendees and the predominately young crowd was at its most apparent.
The second Snoop Dogg and his band hit the stage, he had this incredibly loving and loud crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. All he had to do was say something like ‘wassup’ and the assembled in front of him would roar with approval. It is rare that we get the chance to see genuine American hip hop live on these shores. Snoop didn’t disappoint in what was a solid set albeit with some niggling issues. First the good. The band had a great sound to them, ably providing a strong backing for Snoop’s rapping, at which he is very talented and adept. The whole ‘thug life’ persona and attitude was there for all to enjoy. This is where issues arose.
The issues in question had nothing to do with the music, the addition of three female dances was at times problematic. Having toned down on lyrical depictions of violence somewhat over the years, in his songs about women, Snoop has proved himself to be something of a romantic in his own way. His lyrics, while explicit, have always managed to stay on the right side of misogyny. However, when you see a dancer on stage basically humping Snoop’s leg while he’s sitting in a chair, playing up his character, this sends out a highly mixed message to those watching, especially some of the males who thought they were little homie G’s by how rude and obnoxious some of the were in their behaviour during the set. Is this supposed to be part of ‘the life’? This scribe calls bullshit: it was subjugation of women, pure and simple.While with its own issues, this was a solid set, especially when Snoop played “Gin And Juice” and “What’s My Name”, his two best known tracks.
Moby delivered a banging set of hard house techno to a salivating and excited crowd. This was the hard stuff with 150+ beats per minute with bass that can rearrange your innards. The crowd, obviously pumped after seeing Snoop, absolutely lapped this up. It was truly amazing to look both in front and behind you and see thousands of people basically moving like one organism. Such was the joy and positive feelings that the assembled crowd held.
In a positive observance, the crowd were on the whole incredibly positive and decent people. There also appeared to be a significant lack of drugs and drug use. This was a nice and refreshing change from other dance music-related festivals and raves over the years.
With his futuristic graphics and a science fiction feel and vibe, Scottish DJ Calvin Harris was on after Moby’s blistering set. He didn’t disappoint with his truly awesome sound and an immediate sense of connection with the audience. Again, it was an utter sight to behold watching thousands of people singing and dancing their hearts out.Playing a great mix of his material, Harris was a big hit with the crowd.
Over on the Scarlet stage, DJ Seth Troxler played a very impressive set consisting of some minimal beats to a smallish but very appreciative crowd. This was great music to simply get lost in and dance. It also provided a great warm up to the final act on this stage, Spank Rock.
Lead by MC Spank Rock along with two DJs, this band is one of the most exciting to come out of the hip hop scene in years. With a tough, sassy, take no shit attitude, the MC Spank Rock is incredibly candid, forthright and honest on a lyrical level. What would you expect from someone who calls their second album Everything Is Boring And Everyone Is A Fucking Liar? To their credit, especially when dealing with matters sexual, it comes off sounding like life experience rather than misogynist and hateful. On a sonic level, very much inspired by the electro scene of the eighties, this is a band that is truly coming from somewhere different with inspiration and doing something new with their sound. A really exciting newish band that this scibe cannot recommend enough, especially on a live front.
After Spank Rock, British-Australian band Pendulum were in the last half hour of their set. With a sound to them akin to a charging rhino, Pendulum lean towards the more industrial end of the electronic spectrum, similar to a band such as Nine Inch Nails. While the crowd were showing their love and appreciation, this scribe felt, and this is where he sounds a bit grumpy old man, that every track sounded the same. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, bands have made entire careers out of doing so. What was frustrating is that Pendulum are a very talented band, one wishes that they would be more advernturous and experimental with their sound and songwriting. A really impressive light show and fire/smoke cannons really helped created and sustain a live impact and, for the crowd, was a great way to end an epic day.
Summadayze was truly an experience. For a lot of first time attendees, this would have been highly enlightening and educational in regards to the current climate of dance and hip hop music. It was also a hell of a lot of fun, really made special by the incredibly supportive and insanely passionate crowd. A wonderful day.
-Neil Evans
