The rain is holding off, but threatening to release a downpour as the Brisbane Showgrounds gates open for Good Things Festival where thousands are lined around the block to get in.
Finally they are allowed inside where Apate are smashing furiously on their instruments to welcome the mammoth crowd in. To The Grave are giving their all on the main side-stage, as the double kick pounds at the speed of sound.Teenage Joans rock the main stage with their impressively full sound considering they're only one guitar and drums.
Lead vocalist Cahli Blakers shares a comedic story about her dream on the plane this morning where she thought she died because Spotify was playing in her head, and then there was a white light and silence (because bandmate Tahlia Borg had opened the plane's shutter). It's fun and an easy start to the day.
Teenage Joans - image © Clea-marie Thorne
With barely ten seconds between the end of Teenage Joans set, Jinjer are launch on the adjoining stage. Lead singer Tatiana Shmailyuk switches effortlessly between a deliciously rich, melodic R&B tone to clean, deep, screaming growls most men would envy.
Jinjer is an act that has to be experienced to be believed, and you need to see in your lifetime. Hailing from Ukraine, Shmailyuk thanks the crowd for standing with Jinjer's country. "We want our home back," she screams. She is the ultimate performer, energetic and engaging. It's definitely a highlight of the day.
Millencolin keep the sizeable crowd jumping, while at Stage 4 vocalist Jacob Charlton of Thornhill sports his impressively high pig squeals. There are an assortment of food vendors and the lines are already very long, one plaguing issue of the day. By 6pm, the wait is an hour minimum to order, and most patrons don't even try.
Cosmic Psychos, fresh from supporting Guns N Roses, unleash with frenetic guitar reminiscent of AC/DC. Frontman Robbie Addington hammers on his guitar while necking a beer with his other hand, much to the amusement of the crowd. "Nice day to go to the pub," the crowd cheers, and the atmosphere is joyous.
Sabaton - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Sabaton are grand and regal, thrashing triumphantly while their banner sports emus and a tank, no doubt the history buffs' reference to Australia's emu war. They release a firework into the front of the crowd alongside smoke and flames, as lead singer Joakim Broden remarks: "Thank God the sh.t of the last two years is over." He then succeeds in getting almost the entire crowd to sing "higher" multiple times.
The three ax players unite front of stage to play in unison, as they entice the crowd to cheer. They seem to be having a wonderful time, as are the crowd. The guitarists then stick a bunch of picks onto the singer's head mid song. He returns the favour to lead guitarist Tommy Johansson, who is a standout performer of the day, sweep picking effortlessly. Crowd surfers abound, and it is a powerful highlight of the day.
At Stage 4, Electric Callboy sport their sexually-charged screamo dance-pop, inciting a death pit. Your brain doesn't quite process what is happening, a similar experience to watching their film clips, but the crowd is enjoying themselves. They spark football-esque chants, as they give all their energy alongside multiple costume and wig changes. It's an experience.
One OK Rock are perfectly tight. Lead singer Takahiro Moriuchi sports eye-catching red gloves and pants. "I really wanna dance with you guys," he says, citing this as their last gig of the year, a theme for most bands. There will be some parties tonight.
One OK Rock - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Lacuna Coil erupt onto the stage sporting black-stained white prison suits. The instrument players sport full white faces of make-up with black eyes, the bassist's head painted like the inside of a skull. They are a force, lead singer Cristina Scabbia's vocals are mesmerising.
They play fan favourites 'Heavens A Lie' and 'Our Truth'. Scabbia recounts that for the 20th anniversary of their album 'Comalies', they re-recorded the entire album dissecting each piece. They play the new version of 'Swamped'. For final song 'Nothing Stands In Our Way', the entire crowd chants "we fear nothing".
Lacuna Coil - image © Clea-marie Thorne
You Am I are very late to stage, but over at the main stage The Amity Affliction are captivating the packed auditorium, with the death pits ceasing for a moment to first pump and clap in unison.
Nova Twins are also late to stage but worth the wait, entering to deep pulsating rhythms before exploding onto the stage via psychotic distorted guitar lines and aggressive vocals. "Do we have any boss bitches in the house?" lead singer and guitarist Amy Love asks. She comes down to the front of the crowd getting the front patron to hold her mic as she sings and plays guitar frantically.
Bass player Georgia South uses a higher octave pedal to play guitar lines via her bass, a novelty. "Open the pit," Love says, "do we have any twerkers in the house? Get in. Also the moshers." Just when their show couldn't get better, they jump in to the crowd and incite a mosh around them. A class act.
Gojira are furious as they release a bomb of white confetti to accompany their dark tones. Their mix and playing are some of the cleanest of the day. Sleeping With Sirens are perfect on the side stage, and you're beginning to comprehend the size of the crowd. Surprisingly they perform an acoustic rendition of Goo Goo Dolls' 'Iris'. A nice moment of connection.
TISM - image © Clea-marie Thorne
TISM are traditionally indescribable. Clad in grey shiny suits with only eye holes and mouth holes, their heads are connected to 14-foot grey balloons that sway and bop in the wind. It's a sight. Tragically, one member loses his balloon to the sky, where it's viewable for miles.
TISM is immensely popular, playing their first shows in 19 years. The stage is clad with construction gear, including a cement mixer. They have endless gimmicks, hitting tennis balls into the crowd while lead singer Ron Hitler-Barassi sings "everyone has had more sex than me".
As the show progresses, the fenced area constructs the letters TISM, encountering mishaps such as a backwards S. One TISM dancer does an entire lap of the auditorium, as the crew hand out the TISM letters into the crowd. One punter tries crowd surfing on them to no avail. When asked for a highlight of the day, most punters respond enthusiastically: "TISM were awesome."
In one refreshingly calm area, karaoke is in full swing with a band playing classic songs as the lyrics scroll behind them for the crowd to sing. On Stage 3, Polaris are fluid and powerful, pulling a massive crowd.
NOFX come out on main stage with lead singer Fat Mike wearing a pink and black striped women's dress complete with spaghetti straps and blue hair. He recounts the story of their friend falling through a ceiling and breaking his back two days ago. "Backbreaker," he sings, referencing Pat Benatar's song 'Heartbreaker'. They are entertaining, as they scroll through their hits, although sorely missing the extreme stage antics that saw them rise to fame.
Deftones - image © Clea-marie Thorne
The moment most have been waiting for has arrived. Deftones inspire cult-like obsession from their fans, many clambering to get close to the front. They are mystical and intense, as Chino Moreno pig squeals with veracity.
The stage floods green and blue for 'Shove It' and the intensity builds. The set is a journey and an experience. By the end of the first song Moreno is drenched in sweat. "They are absolutely incredible," one punter remarks.
At Stage 4, The Story So Far are uplifting and energetic, keeping a respectable part of the crowd. The fun-loving punters stick around for Regurgitator who are eclectic and humorous in their yellow jumpsuits, jumping between punk, heavy punk and light-pop songs.
"There are a lot of metal bands here today, but we are going to play you something heavier, darker, and faster than any of those motherf...ers," bassist Ben Ely promises, egged on by vocalist Quan Yeomans. They launch into 'Polyester Girl' as the crowd laughs and sings enthusiastically. Yeomans finishes the song with a growled "GRRRLLL".
The final act Bring Me The Horizon take their performance to the main stage, and first song 'Can You Feel My Heart' is strong. They work through a storyline backed by videos of a computer being infected with a virus. At one point the show blacks out unexpectedly, as the computer voice instructs the crowd to commence a circle pit to continue the show.
Bring Me The Horizon - image © Clea-marie Thorne
Certain graphics such as 'Sterilization Commencing' and images of men with a down arrow are strange choices. It's a little gimmicky, and isn't really hitting the mark with the festival crowd. 'Shadow Moses' is always popular, as Sykes takes more than one sentimental moment to share with the crowd, including the acoustic 'Follow You'. 'Drown' is high energy, before 'Throne' caps the show. It's a great song, and a nice way to finish.
There were some good things to love about today, many great things, and not much bad. Is it time for the next one yet?
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