Posted by kluster on January 6, 2010
The morning began with a decidedly country flavor, thanks to the rollicking jig-worthy tunes of Melbourne’s Wagons. Henry Wagon's baritone conjured dark spirits from the surrounding forest and boomed out Christmas carols to Satan and tributes to Elvis and Willie Nelson. Thumping drums and washboard percussion brought crowds from all directions for a jaunty thigh-slapping finale. With the sun still high in the sky Whitley brought his derivitive-folky-inoffensive shtick to the stage. Covers are big at festivals and Whitley gets the gong for this year’s worst – a version of Abba's ‘Dancing Queen’ that sounded like it was on Oxycontin.
All seemed lost until a tambourine-wielding Megan Washington saved him and they brought ‘Poison in Our Pockets’ to a truly magical crescendo. In stark contrast The Vasco Era rampaged through their 60-minute set with astounding energy and verve. Forgoing some of their slower ballads for solid entertaining cock-rock the three-piece crashed, thrashed and brutalised their instruments to the delight of an appreciative crowd.
The hoedown continued as the air filled with the sickly sweet smell of Jack Daniels and Sea Sick Steve appeared bearded and gravel-voiced. He shook hands and posed for photos before taking up a comfy seat on stage with his collection of four-stringed guitars. He howled and growled and belted out his grinding hobo blues, bowing between tunes.
Sunset brought a cold chill and cast brilliant feminine hues over the brooding crowd filling the valley to see Sarah Blasko. She arrived winsome and awkward in a black dress that flared from the waist with a white peter pan collar. ‘All I Want’ sounded serene to orchestral backing and she danced her robot dance to an adoring audience.
After such a spellbinding experience there was only one question to ask: what’s gayer than jazz saxophone solos? Datarock. Prancing onto stage (except the drummer who limped on with crutches) with all the enthusiasm and jellybean energy of sophomore Eurovision contestants, Norway's finest thrilled the crowd with the camp disco pop of ‘Night Time Flight to Uranus’ and ‘Fa Fa Fa’. They concluded their set by thanking their audience with a full length sing-a-long version of Dirty Dancing’s’ ‘(I had) The Time of My Life’.
Due to a personal aversion to their now brainless, derivative, second-rate rock I gave Wolfmother the bird and ended my night on a high.
Check out more photos from Falls on the gallery.
falls festival, review, lorne, 2009, 2010