HOMEBAKE 99
The Domain, Sydney
11 December 1999
by Sally G

Events of the Big Top

After a long train ride and a long line-up highlighted by the distant sound of 78 Saab’s track Sunshine, we finally got in, only to be spun out by a drunken rendition of ‘Unbelievable’ at Kranky’s Karaoke Korner. Further investigation into the Domain took us to the Big Top, where we caught a pumping sample of Killers on the Loose with Tamarama Door Slammer.

However our first real taste of the Big Top came after Gerling, when we secured a spot for Sonic Animation. What a set. Didley Squat had the crowd chanting. Theothilus Thistler was fantastic. The crowd was really into it, dancing like crazy and singing along. One enthusiastic if not crazy punter decided to scale the pole holding up the tent, much to the dismay of security. Much cheering from the crowd spurred this punter on. In between songs the guys asked the crowd to boo at the end of songs instead of cheering. As if we were going to comply to that when the next tune was Love Lies Bleeding. An extended intro has the crowd waiting in suspense. Lo and behold the crowd cheered extremely loud at the end of the song.

Slightly distracted from the Big Top due to sets by Shihad and Something For Kate on the Main stage,(who by the way were fantastic, I’m still singing the General electric) we did not get back to the Big Top until Deadstar came on. In about the third row from the front, we had a good view of the band. The crowd was a little smaller than that of previous Big Top bands, but Deadstar were really good, Caroline smiled and waved at the fans in the crowd. However we were more concerned about securing good positions for the next act, my highlight, Alex Lloyd. Once Deadstar was over, we scooted up to the fence that seperates the crowd from the stage. The half hour wait was well worth it. Alex came on stage in a Grinspoon shirt looking ready to go. A few quiet introductions, then the show began, with Melting. The band seemed really tight, the touring has paid off. A few songs later problem number one occured. A broken guitar string left Alex guitar-less for Black The Sun. Nevertheless it was a fantastic version of the song. The same thing happened again during Aliens (at least I think it was Aliens it was a long time ago!), this time the problem fixed by changing the set list, playing Something Special then Momo instead of the other way around. He ended up playing all the songs of the album except for Gender and Backseat Clause. All in all it was a fantastic set, that I did not want to end.

After Alex Lloyd we headed over to Grinspoon and powderfinger before leaving to cach a train home. We did catch a small glimpse of Josh Abrahams before we left, and one friend on the way home quoted, “It was just like a fuckin rave man”

I’ll leave that open to your own interpretation.

I still scare myself with that damn glow in the dark shirt.