The 2005 Big Day Out was the best one I’ve been to for a while.
Aside from sunburn, bruises and aching muscles, not to mention ears that will never hear the same way again (I must be getting old) the 21st of January was one hell of a day.
I missed The Donnas but from what I could see from the other end of the stadium their set went down well with the crowd. As for reports in one of the weekend’s papers that they played like girls – well duh!
One of the standout bands would have to be The Hives, frontman Pelle Almqvist was the funniest guy ever and he kept the crowd entertained between songs. Even though I was quite far back everyone around me was still moving to their tunes and singing along with drunken gusto!
The highlight for me, however, was local boys Shihad. At the risk of sounding like someone with a limited grasp of the English language their set went off! I was in the very front row and I’m quite surprised I’m still alive after having the weight of the crowd pushing down on me. But once a rock chick, always a rock chick.
It was well worth the pain, (and the funny shaped bruises on my knees) to be at the heart of this show. Frontman Jon Toogood, who is such a rock star, kept leaping into the crowd, much to the dismay of the burly security guys who line the front of the stage. They kept pulling him back and depositing him on the stage, only for him to make another break for it.
After that it was over to System of a Down, who were well loved by the crowd, despite the insane ramblings of guitarist and vocalist Daron Malakian.
The night was topped off by old-skool hip hoppers The Beastie Boys, who delivered quite a spectacular show, aided by cutting edge video technology.
Other highlights – spotting actor Jack Black, listening to Auckland band The Checks, having a pass to the Immortals Lounge which allowed me to bypass the toilet queue, and off course watching the banner fly over the crowd, shaming NZ’s worst boyfriend with its proclamation: “Josh Short likes it with a strap on”.
Oh, and being inches away from one of those freaky guys from Slipknot when he walked along in front of the stage during his set, and came right down to where we were waiting for Shihad – those masks really are creepy!
The 2005 Big Day Out was the best one I’ve been to for a while.
I missed The Donnas but from what I could see from the other end of the stadium their set went down well with the crowd. As for reports in one of the weekend’s papers that they played like girls – well duh! 
The highlight for me, however, was local boys Shihad. At the risk of sounding like someone with a limited grasp of the English language their set went off! I was in the very front row and I’m quite surprised I’m still alive after having the weight of the crowd pushing down on me. But once a rock chick, always a rock chick.
Immortals Lounge which allowed me to bypass the toilet queue, and off course watching the banner fly over the crowd, shaming NZ’s worst boyfriend with its proclamation: “Josh Short likes it with a strap on”.