Jeez Groovin In The Moo Bendigo was one hell of a party. We didn't get there till just before 4ish (due to a certain football game featuring Liz Hurley), but as soon as we arrived we could already feel the party in the air.
First up for us was Okkervil River. Some of us had been waiting to see this band play for a long time now and we weren't dissapointed. Playing songs from all their albums, including the latest one 'The Stand Ins', Okkervil knew how to get the crowd going. Okkervil gave a fond farewell to the Bendigo crowd ending with the song 'Unless if Kicks' to make us salivating for more.
After Okkervil and a couple more drinks we headed to the tent for De La friggin Soul. One word comes to mind when we think back to their set - ridiculous. Non stop jumping and arm waving. Non stop shouting and singing. Non stop smiling and joy De La Soul are the masters. If you haven't seen them yet, put simply. you're an idiot. De La were definitely the best performing artist of the festival and you can ask every single person in that jam packed tent and we're sure they'd agree. Playing hit after hit and ending with 'Ring, Ring, Ring' . Without a doubt we at Music Universe won't ever forget when De La Soul got the whole crowd singing back to them 'Hey how ya doing, sorry i cant get through, why dont you leave your name and your number, and I'LL GET BACK TO YOU!"
After De La we needed a little break from the mosh and watched Architecture in Helsinki, Ratatat and The Grates from a distance. Architecture are always fun. The Grates leading lady Patience Hodgson was frenetic on stage pumping the crowd up with every song. As for Ratatat, we didn't hear much from where we were, but we could see the crowd in the tent and boy were they dancing. Next up for us in the moshpit was The Hilltop Hoods. The Hills have a new album about to be released 'State of The Art' and played a couple of newies off the album which weren't that bad, but obviously the crowd were only there to hear their big ones. Some of us at Music Universe had seen them a few times before and felt this wasn't their best set, but the Bendigoens still enjoyed it.
Last but not least was a choice between Muscles or The Living End. We chose The Living End so we could end on a bit of rocking and rolling and more importantly, a bit of moshing. Like De La Soul are one of the masters of Hip Hop, The Living End are one of the masters of true Aussie rock n roll. We've seen them about 25 gazillion times but they never get dull or boring. Playing a number of sorta still newish songs and a number of classics, The Living End know how to work a crowd. Ending with a rockabilly medley jam, with Chris playing his guitar with a VB can, fans left The Living End with dripping wet tshirts.
So, we grooved, we mooved and we enjoyed Groovin In The Moo Bendigo. We look forward to next year. Oh yeah, and for those who wanted to see what De La Soul's set was like live.....well here's a little clip we've got for ya. Enjoy!
