The Big Day Out is currently jetting its way around the country after completing its first leg, including a successful opening in Sydney last Friday, which our Tone Deaf reviewer labelled a triumph, with those braving the record-breaking heat being duly rewarded; while Police were pleased with the crowd’s behaviour despite sniffer dogs nabbing over 100 people.
Others may be less pleased with the behaviour of the Gold Coast crowd however after hearing of an attack on one particular punter, the frontman for Brisbane indie rock outfit Cub Scouts.
Tim Nelson, the band’s pianist and vocalist, was the victim of an unprovoked attack during the Gold Coast Big Day Out, taking to Facebook yesterday to post images of his bruising following the incident.
Nelson and a friend were in the crowd, ready to enjoy a set from Vampire Weekend, when “everyone started edging forward… there was a bit of pushing,” Nelson told Tone Deaf. “A guy we hadn’t seen previously that day. He wasn’t even just in front of us – there were a few people between us – then he turned around and said ‘I know it was you,’ and before I could even say anything, he started pummelling my face.”
Nelson details, “I got one in my right eye, one on my mouth, and one on my left cheekbone, so I was bleeding a bit from my mouth… and also got hit on the shoulder and the back.” But was more concerned for his female friend, ‘Libby’, “he punched her in the nose and she was bleeding everywhere.”
The Cub Scouts frontman was confused by the assailant’s irrational assault, “I guess even he was pushed by someone, I don’t [his] reaction would be what someone would (usually)do, so I don’t know if he was under the influence of something, or if he was confused and thought it was Libby and I.”He turned around and said ‘I know it was you,’ and before I could even say anything, he started pummelling my face.” – Tim Nelson, Cub Scouts
Nelson describes the attacker as “6” and definitely a much bigger build than myself, and a fair bit stronger… I don’t think either of us looked like we were ready for a fight.” Security failed to notice the attack, and “by the time we’d let them know… the guy had already fled,” says Nelson, who said that as soon as the attacker saw that he and his friend “were both bleeding, he bailed.”
Security then took Nelson and his friend to First Aid where they were treated with ice and painkillers, while friends of the victims searched for the man to no avail. But worst of all, says the Cub Scouts member, was “I missed out on seeing Foals and most of Vampire Weekend – which was devastating.”
Nelson later vented his frustration on the band’s social media page, with posts saying “I h8 big day out,” and “never wanna play at Bogan Day Out.” When asked about his comments, Nelson defends: “On Sunday, when I’d just been beaten up, I was like ‘I HATE this festival, [but]’ I also appreciate that there are a couple of losers that ruin for everyone.”
“It may be worse at the Gold Coast than other cities as well, because [it] has gotten itself a bit of a reputation over time,” he continues, “but if security had maybe stepped up a little bit… I guess there’s only so much they can do,” said Nelson.
In more positive news, Nelson and his Cub Scouts bandmates have been enjoying building buzz from their EP release, Told You So, which our Tone Deaf reviewer said “solidifies their status as one of the country’s top young indie pop acts.”
“Big Day Out may be worse at the Gold Coast than other cities as well, because [it] has gotten itself a bit of a reputation over time.”The programmers of Triple J Unearthed would agree, with the Brisbane quintet ranked as the sixteenth most played artist on the youth station’s recently revealed Top 50 most played artists on the digital radio station for 2012. An “awesome” result, according to the band’s ringleader. “Triple J and Unearthed have been so good to us… helping us establish ourselves in Australia, and internationally as well,” says Nelson.
Cub Scouts recently achieved the exact same #16 rank on America’s influential CMJ Top 200, a chart compiled from the top releases aired on college and non-commercial stations in the States, with their track ‘Told You So’.
As TheMusic reports, the title track from Cub Scouts’ EP, rose from #68 on the chart before rising to crack the Top 20 with a peak position at #16. “That’s a huge shock as well,” Nelson told Tone Deaf of the result. “To have a good response in the US as well is such a surprise, it’s hard to even wrap my head around.”
He credits the band’s success with Triple J listeners as contributing to their international recognition. I guess once people see that you’ve had some recognition from Triple J, it gets their interest a bit more.” Nelson added jovially that he’d deferred his course in dentistry for the second year in a row, so that the band could focus on capitalising on their swelling momentum, for what is sure to be a big year for Cub Scouts.
“We’re just planning what new music we want to release next and how,” he says. “I think to make the most of what’s happening in the US, we will try and make a trip there at some point this year. Then I’d say we’ll definitely be doing quite a bit of touring in Australia again.”
