Thousands of punk and metal fans flooded Flemington Racecourse, this location being one of the many changes to this year’s festival. A change from the usual Melbourne Showgrounds to cater for the 70 plus bands across six stages within 11 hours, left many a Soundwave veteran slightly disorientated, but maps were held and all crisis averted as fans carried on in usual festivity.
With a massive list of high profile bands, including three of metal’s ‘Big Four’, timetable clashes were always going to be a problem. Like any festival with this calibre of acts, you’re never going to be able to see every band you’d like. However, it appeared this year more than evert that fans were unhappy with the amount of clashes and poor timetabling.
It wasn’t until well into the afternoon that the festival grounds reached near capacity, the morning’s offerings only appealing to a minority of fans.
The afternoon onwards on the other hand, was a shambles, punters constantly leaving sets half way through to go to another, in order to catch at least a glimpse of the bands they wanted to see.
Luckily, the talent on the main stage was well spread out, with New York heavyweights Anthrax, attracting the metalheads over lunchtime. Despite their drummer Charlie Benante pulling out of the festival, the fivesome carried on with their set with as much fierceness as ever.
Following not long after was an admirable set from Kyuss Lives!, returning from almost a decade of dormancy.
One quarter of the ‘Big Four’, the legendary Slayer, were the main stage’s next attraction. The Californian metal gods thrashed their way through an hour long set, proving they may be ageing, but goddamn do they still have it.
Across at a slightly smaller stage three, inside a dusty tent of heat, were returning act Motion City Soundtrack. After a few years off the Soundwave bill, the Minneapolis group attracted an enthusiastic and friendly crowd with their poppy alt-rock sounds.
Pop-punks All Time Low followed on from where Motion City Soundtrack left off within the tent of pleasant punk sounds where earplugs weren’t necessary. Unfortunately, the once admired four-piece produced a mediocre set, their arrogant and irritating stage banter overriding any kind of musical talent they may have actually exuded.
Frontman Alex Gaskarth and guitarist Jack Barakat egotistically declared their love for several punters with remarks such as “you have big boobs and it’s distracting” and “thank your mum for me, you have a great body.” While these Maryland pop-punks may have made a decent name for themselves worldwide over the past few years with their catchy and likeable tunes, the 15 year olds that once adored them have grown up, and All Time Low need to do the same.
Fortunately, across at stage two, arrogance was put aside and everyone was just there to have some fun, on stage and off. Folk punksters Flogging Molly led the crowd into a danced filled state, with their banjos, tin whistles, fiddles, and guitars, crafting tunes that sound like they’ve come straight out of an Irish pub.
Fans then packed the area, ready for renowned punk band Sum 41. Their 45-minute set included all the favourites such as ‘In Too Deep’, ‘We’re All To Blame’ and ‘Fatlip’, as well as the newer hits like ‘Blood In My Eyes’.
From there it was clear where everyone was headed. Everyone.
For the first time for many, they were about to experience a punk rock set they’d been waiting years for. Regardless of drummer Travis Barker’s lack of presence, thousands of people stood as far as what seemed hundreds of metres from the stage, to see or hear whatever they could of the stars that are Bink-182.
They performed a set over an hour in length, playing all their hits, including ‘What’s My Age Again?’, ‘First Date’, ‘All The Small Things’, ‘I Miss You’, and many more. Stage banter included the expected talk of outer space and aliens, the band having a fixation with the topic for years. Despite the rave reviews their sideshows received, many seemed disappointed with what Blink had to offer.
Perhaps due to the overwhelming size of the crowd, many were greeted with poor sound quality and a lack of any kind of vision. Unless you were front and centre, there was no point being there. This led much of the masses to remain still and motionless throughout the set, though many did remain for the entirety nonetheless.
Following Blink with a completely different genre, but with a crowd of almost similar size, were rock/rappers Linkin Park. Arms were waved in the air as they led the crowd from the main stage with much enthusiasm.
Meanwhile, across at stage two, redheaded songstresses were rocking the hell out. From the old school rockers Garbage, led by fierce-as-ever Shirley Manson, to the younger yet just as energetic Hayley Williams, leading pop-punks Paramore, the flame haired ladies steered the audience into full force.
Paramore were, as always, a sight to see, covered entirely in paint splatters. Bringing to Soundwave one of the most special moments of the day, they invited a devout fan to the stage who’d been to so many of their shows that Williams recognised him from the crowd, joining the band in performing ‘Misery Business’.
Back in the hot and dusty tent that was stage three, British hardcore act Bring Me The Horizon were due to “tear shit up”, and follow their orders the crowd did indeed. Not one but two fans were crowd surfing in wheelchairs; the rest of the devoted audience showed their support by creating circle pits and walls of death.
During favourite ‘Diamonds Aren’t Forever’ a massive mosh pit ensued creating so much dust that the entirety of the tent’s occupants could not see more than two people away from them.
At one point frontman Ollie Sykes invited everyone to sit on the shoulders of another, so he could “see faces” – when an entire mob are sitting at shoulder height, you can only imagine the kind of rowdy action that soon takes place.
While their set was cut short, due to a delay in their arrival on stage, it was indeed one of the most crowd-engaging sets involving the most energetic audiences of the festival.
Aussie hardcore heroes, The Amity Affliction, topped off the night in front of a host of passionate fans. Their set too was cut short, but the enthusiasm and energy left from Bring Me The Horizon was not lost, as they played older songs as well as those from their latest record Chasing Ghosts.
Back at stage two, 90s punk rock kings The Offspring competed for attention from fans that weren’t at Metallica. But it wasn’t hard, as the sizeable crowd showed.
Thousands of people were packed into the area, even fence tops were entirely filled with punters sitting up high to get a better view. Again with the larger crowd came a poorer sound quality, but for those enthusiasts so keen to see their favourite band from way back when, The Offspring certainly delivered.
Finally, to finish the night off, San Fran metal heavyweights, Metallica graced the main stage. The headliners played for over two hours – impressive to say the least.
A live Metallica performance is the epitome of what a metal band should be: intense and powerful. The passion within drummer Lars Ulrich is like none other, just one of many reasons why they’ve collected so many fans over so many years, and certainly live up to the status as being one of metal’s ‘Big Four’.
After selling out in Melbourne in record timing, due to the massive list of high profile bands appearing on the lineup, Soundwave 2013 was as always a brilliant day out.
Although punters were well aware the crowd would be in extreme proportions, it seemed no one had actually anticipated just how many people would make it out. This lead to masses of people standing too far from the stage to truly engage.
Unless in the front 20 rows, fans often remained motionless, deeming this year significantly different from those previous. Hopefully next year will see crowds constantly bursting with energy again, and less of those just willing to sit back and watch.
