Posted by kluster on January 7, 2010
The morning dew evaporated alarmingly quickly as the sun bore down on the few early birds up to catch Jordie Lane. Opening with an achingly beautiful ballad about infidelity they sang songs that sounded like they came from the past, most with a harmonica solo. The mellow set was perfect for those still wiping sleep out of their eyes. Yves Klein Blue attracted a loyal audience who bounced uncontrollably to their infectious riffs and chaotic drumbeats. The crowd was invited to sing along and all obliged in an exuberant rendition of 'Getting Wise'.
Shortly after the Grand Theatre began filling with smoke, misty synthy sounds and various cultural references mined from the 1980s. Chairlift used wigi board visuals, pounding drums and reverberating synths to create a moody atmosphere for 'My Territory', then turned a cover of Snoop Dogg's 'Sexual Seduction' into an altogether creepy experience. It’s a shame the band was so preoccupied looking cool and unaffected or they might have engaged with their audience.
By mid-afternoon the heat was suffocating when through the daydream of heat waves four gentlemen from Brooklyn caused a disquiet to settle over the crowd. Could they really be worth all the hype? Grizzly Bear are so heartbreakingly talented; within the first few cords of '2 Weeks' the entire crowd was mesmerised. We swayed in gentle unison as soaring harmonies cascaded from the stage then spiraled heavenward. Falls was their first Australian show and they seemed genuinely excited, leaving everyone hoping they would return soon.
If Grizzly Bear had pacified the darker spirits of the Otway the Editors soon conjured them again. Front man Tom Smith swaggered around the stage possessed with tumultuous, rock monster ambition. He had some handsome muttonchops too. Unfortunately, despite his obvious charms, Smith wasn’t particularly engaging although the natural amphitheatre was a perfect context for the hymn-like pianos of 'No Sound But The Wind' and bouncy synths of 'Papillon'.
The day’s kaleidoscope of heat, beer and pills dissipated through the crowd with anxious energy when the Midnight Juggernaughts burst onto the stage. Vocalist Vin Vendetta wore a wreath of plastic leaves around his head and looked like a disco deity. They played a flawlessly tight set and the massive crowd radiated gratitude. In a great rush of excitement the bodies poured into the valley under the gaze a giant solitary eyeball in a blue glitter spiral.
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Karen O stomped and stalked across the stage in tiger print tights and a poncho decorated with neon American Indian motifs like a disco Navaho. 'Dull Life' was a sonic assault with guitarist Nick Zinner slicing out razor sharp chunks of black noise. Ms O smiled and snarled through 'Heads will Roll' and donned “the jacket” for 'Zero'. Later she held the crowd in the palm of her hand, wearing a glowing Indian headdress and cape. She told us she “loved us so much” and we loved her right back. Zinner nonchalantly took happy snaps of the peaking crowd before exiting, glitter and confetti still scattering.
Check out more photos from Falls on the gallery.
falls festival, review, lorne, 2009, 2010