Soundwave Festival, Adelaide
Bonython Park
3rd March 2012
Review by Tori Hyland
The highly anticipated Soundwave Festival had rolled up in Adelaide for another year, bringing with it an amazing line-up, full of renowned bands from all over the globe. Although the Festival was competing against the Clipsal 500 and the Adelaide Fringe also in town, I think we all knew where the right place to be was that day.
After getting through the gate and purchasing fast-selling signing tickets, I made my way to stage 3 set up under a marquee, just in time for California’s ZEBRAHEAD. A band I was unfamiliar with and didn’t intend on watching, but impressed me. With their addictive blend of rock and rap, they had the whole crowd involved even at 11am. Encouraging circle pits, a little Jump (Originally by KRIS KROSS) breakdown and even asking audience members ‘To get onstage if they can’, they had the crowd eating out of the palms of their hands. The energetic quintet finished with catchy hit song, Anthem, proving them to be better live than their recordings.
Straight after, Sydney’s HEROES FOR HIRE, took to the smaller stage directly next to Stage 3. After releasing their second album, Take One for the Team, and touring consistently, HEROES FOR HIRE were becoming a known name throughout the Australian music industry. Their growth in their music and fan base was definitely on display at Soundwave, especially since the last time I saw them supporting SHORT STACK last July. Running through a decent amount of songs in their 30 minute set, including their new single Heart Stops which they invited the Monster Energy Drink girls onstage who gave free merchandise out. Finishing with the biggest hit, Bright Lights In Paradise, easily got everybody up off the floor. Lead vocalist, Brad Smith, jumped down into the crowd for the last chorus encouraging the crowd to ‘kill him’ in the mosh pit. It was humorous to watch many of the crowd squish him in a fight pit, but he survived and left the stage for the end of their set. 
Jordan Witzigreuter, better known as Indiana’s THE READY SET, took the stage a little later along with his live band to a small intimate crowd. Exploding like a little ball of energy onto the stage with The Ghosts Of Los Angeles, definitely not one of his most well-known songs which I thought was a bit weird to begin with. THE READY SET was a lot different to the other bands on the line up, he was much more electronic based with completely clean vocals, his lyrics are mostly cute and happy, while Jordan himself oozes that attractive boy look most teenage girls would swoon over, making you wonder why he is still quite unknown in Australia. His uplifting music definitely got the audience off their feet quickly; it’s a bit hard not to bob along to his contagious music and his energy. Playing through a good amount of songs from both his debut album, I’m Alive, I’m Dreaming and his recent EP, Feel Good Now, while still making short conversation through breaks. Finishing his 30 minute set with his biggest song to date, Love Like Woe, had the audience singing and jumping along. 
Making a quick dash to Stage 6, just in time for Melbourne’s metalcore band, DREAM ON, DREAMER. Pulling out a surprisingly small unenergetic crowd making me able to squeeze through to the third row easily. DREAM ON, DREAMER really took to new heights last year releasing their debut album, Heartbound, gaining them a lot of attention nationally and internationally. Despite some slight sound difficulties with unwanted distortion in Michael McLeod’s microphone, and the blazing heat burning upon us, they put on a very enjoyable show. Playing a handful of songs from each Hope and Heartbound, including my personal favourite song, In August, which demonstrated a slower and emotional side of DREAM ON, DREAMER. I thought what let them down was the crowd’s lack of enthusiasm, they were hitting all the right notes and putting energy into their stage persona, but the crowd just didn’t immerse themselves into their music. Leaving with their largest song, Ambitions, left me wanting more, maybe without the excessive smoke from the smoke machine and the heat next time. I was rather disappointed they only had a 30 minute set, and that they didn’t play A Path Of Its Own or Lifestream. I will definitely be attending their show next time they return to Adelaide, hopefully on their own tour.
Taking a detour to the signing tent, after rummaging through the many stalls set up for the day from food, clothing, music and charities. The signing tent is a place I suggest everyone actually looks into, I know so many people who go to Soundwave each year and never bother. For $2 you could maybe go meet your favourite band if they’ve decided to sign, get something signed and maybe sneak in a photo with them. And the best part, all the money goes towards charity. Why wouldn’t you go? We had showed up to meet the young man of THE READY SET, who was very nice and welcoming. Allowing photos and hugs as well as signing merchandise. It was disappointing that he was a whole hour late though, something that doesn’t usually happen often, but caused us to miss YOU ME AT SIX.
On the bright side, we were able to watch Florida’s A DAY TO REMEMBER’s whole set on the main stage. Beginning with my personal favourite song, The Downfall Of Us All, they had sure pulled out a huge enthusiastic crowd. Having a little trouble with timing throughout one or two songs, but generally pulled off a solid performance. Finishing with crowd favourites, All I Want, and The Plot To Bomb The Panhandle, ended the 40 minute set on a high.
Before we knew it, it was time to collect the prize I had won. Fortunately my friend and I had won a meet and greet through Soundwave with YOU ME AT SIX. We were privileged to be taken backstage and meet the lovely British boys. They were all very welcoming and humble, all offering photos and signing everything, Although we only got 8 minutes as they had to catch a plane, it was definitely worth all the effort we put into win. (We recreated the Bite My Tongue music video.)
Just back in time to meet the Australian blokes + one German bloke too, DREAM ON, DREAMER. Sometimes people tend to judge musician’s personalities by the music they play and the way they come across onstage, and if that were true DREAM ON, DREAMER might be some of the angriest Australian’s around. But fortunately that’s not the case. Meeting them was an absolute pleasure; they all had smiles spread across their faces and generally seemed happy, besides Marcel Gadacz who seemed a little tired, but who can blame him. They talked to each fan, allowed photos and were down to earth.
Hollywood’s BLACK VEIL BRIDES, took their stage soon after to a rather decent crowd of people displaying BLACK VEIL BRIDES shirts across their torsos, some even wearing proud the distinctive war paint. Beginning with Love Isn’t Always Fair and All Your Hate, two songs I thought wouldn’t get a look in on the set list let alone the beginning. Throughout the set, lead vocalist, Andy Biersack, was sure proactive about picking on the ‘haters’. Maybe a little too much. He was humorous and sometimes it was difficult to decipher whether he was joking around or dead serious, he’d probably make a great actor. But it got to the point where he spent more time having a go at the haters rather than actually singing. For his unclean vocals, the crowd was encouraged to sing them in Knives And Pens, with him doing the last line. I’m unsure whether if the unclean vocals is damaging or hurting his vocal chords, or he just doesn’t do them. But even then they put on a great show, they were confident, had fun with the songs and looked comfortable on that stage, it’s no wonder why they were named popular British magazine, Rock Sound’s Favourite band of 2011. Their 30 minute set, was the quickest of the day, I could have watched them for hours on end, and it would’ve been better if they were given a 40 minute set instead. Just have to hope they come back for a full tour sometime. 
I managed to catch a short section of Nashville’s FRAMING HANLEY, before heading off to see the ridiculously large crowd for THE PRETTY RECKLESS. While I was at Stage 3, FRAMING HANLEY played their great cover of LIL WAYNE’s Lollipop, and then a new song which was dedicated to lead vocalist, Nixon’s father who passed away from cancer in 2010. They only had a small crowd, but that’s what made their set intimate for the fans.
Iowa’s headliner’s, SLIPKNOT, began on the main stage shortly after while I was in line for the signing tent. SLIPKNOT was listed as the 3rd Greatest Live Band on Earth in Kerrang! Magazine last year and it could definitely be seen why. All dressed in their signature red jumpsuits with their individual masks, let rip an amazing show! They played some of their best songs in the 75 minute set while still making conversation with the huge crowd. Cannons of confetti and spurts of fire and smoke happened at any given time. Their energy oozed on the stage, they would be jumping and climbing on things all the time. At one point Sid Wilson (Turn tables) leapt into the crowd from about 7 feet high off the sound tower. The way they came across made me and probably many others want to be up there a part of SLIPKNOT, they looked like so much fun. But I and the crowd weren’t the only ones having fun, side of stage and backstage brought out a lot of other musicians having a great time watching. If I was in a young band, I’d be doing exactly the same.
What I saw is quite hard to comprehend and put in words, because of the extraordinary show they put on. I knew a bit about SLIPKNOT before but was not a hardcore fan, now I would be definitely willing to buy all their albums. They were my standout band from the entire day.
Meeting two of the bigger acts on the line up at the signing tent, which signing tickets for the sessions sold out very quickly. First ENTER SHIKARI, who were great guys, they didn’t say too much, but they welcomed each fan with a humble smile and a polite ‘Hello’. I even managed to sneak a photo in with Rou Reynolds. Later, THE PRETTY RECKLESS, yes led by ex-Gossip Girl star turned Rockstar, Taylor Momsen. They had strictly requested no photos, but it was still lovely to meet her and the band. How many people in the world can say they’ve met Taylor Momsen? Not too many.
British band, ENTER SHIKARI, were ready to take the stage later in the evening to a large eager crowd. The side of the stage was full with important spectator’s including DREAM ON, DREAMER’s Marcel Gadacz and X Factor Winner, REECE MASTIN. Beginning with System… leading into Meltdown, the band and crowd were on their feet from the word go. Jumping, dancing and just going crazy. They were a band who seemed not to care about brand names on their clothes or wearing the tightest skinny jeans ever, no they rocked up in hoodies, cargo shorts and normal sneakers. They were there to have a good time and put on a good show. Definitely an unusual band, how many bands say they make metal, post-hardcore, electronic, dubstep music all wrapped in one. They continued their set playing Destabilise and Sorry You’re Not A Winner, my ultimate favourites, quite early in the set. I honestly thought they would’ve left their biggest song, aka Sorry You’re Not A Winner, until last, but chose to end with Sssnakepit. The whole ENTER SHIKARI experience is just crazy, but worth going to watch. From the stage to the band to even the fans, it’s all a little mad. 
I managed to catch the start of the female fronted Florida band, VERSAEMERGE, who surprisingly pulled out a very small crowd. Very much like the DREAM ON, DREAMER crowd, this crowd was also lifeless. Watching them for a few minutes, I didn’t get a good atmosphere, it felt boring and dead. The band onstage had the sound and looks, but they lacked a little in the energy, which seemed to have an effect on the crowd. So I departed for Stage 3 instead. 
Concluding my night was San Diego’s super band, ANGELS & AIRWAVES, most known for being led by BLINK 182 guitarist and vocalist, Tom DeLonge. I personally am not a large fan of Tom DeLonge’s voice, but on the other hand my friend very much was, along with the other decent amount of people there. The sound coming from them was sounding good, but I wasn’t paying much attention as their music just doesn’t exactly appeal to me, I was more annoyed at how insanely bright the lights were. By the end of the night, usually you’re really tired, smashed or watching your favourite headliner band.
Soundwave is one of those full on days that by the end tires you out especially if you make an early start. It’s well worth it though, and I would recommend anyone to go to it, especially if your favourite band is playing. But even then, go watch new bands, and discover new music. Take some friends or your partner, snap a whole lot of pictures and keep those memories for a lifetime. It’s like stepping into a new world, and it’s the one day on my agenda every year. Although when it comes to an end, it’s rather sad, but it’s not long until AJ Maddah is back on his feet organising the bands for the following year. Bring on Soundwave 2013!
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