Festival Reviews - Livid 2002
 
The threat of rain didn’t stop the people of Brisvagas coming out in there thousands to enjoy the annual Livid festival at the RNA Show Grounds.
 
The day began for our crew at 12:15pm when we made our way down to the main stages. The Butterfly Effect were in full swing and it was just impossible to walk past these guys. The locally based band had attracted a large crowd even this early in the day. With influences drawn from such acts as The Deftones and Faith No More, their music is a haunting mix of heavy metal and soaring vocals. Let me tell you, it was a great way to start the day!
 
 
Soon after Superheist exploded onto the scene playing on main stage 1. These guys are full of energy and did their best to stir the crowd into a frenzy. With recent internal issues somewhat overshadowing the talent of this band, they seem to have steadied and with Joey Biro at the wheel they rocked!
 
As it is every year the markets and food stalls were a hive of activity throughout the day with great merchandise and food on offer. (Although the famous corn on the cob had way too much pepper on it!)
 
The humid weather eventually led me to the big top where I had the pleasure of experiencing the harmonies of Seafood. They seemed to crank with energy one minute and become light and melodic the next. Brilliant! This is the first time Australian audiences have had chance to see the relatively new British band and if they were anything like me they weren’t disappointed.
 
A common occurrence at Livid is for people to forget halfway through the day all the bands that they had circled in their programs and end up walking around aimlessly, and losing all their friends in the crowd. This usually isn’t a bad thing however as this is the time that you seem to either run into people that you haven’t seen in centuries or meet new people that you think are your best friends.
 
It wasn’t until around 4:00pm that I became focused again and made my way to the Big Top to see Machine Gun Fellatio. Now I must admit it is the first time I’ve had the pleasure to see this band play and it won’t be the last. There is one way to explain these guys and that’s FUN. Going all out with costumes and lighting it would have been hard not to get wound up by their antics. Entertainers to the end they rocked the stage with many of their recent hits and I don’t think there was one person that wasn’t dancing
 
I played the bag lady for Grinspoon as most of the crew chose to head for the mosh pit. Their energy was contagious and I considered many times hiding the bags and joining them, ripped shirts and all. They are old hands at working crowds into a frenzy and they continue to hold their own.
 
 
After missing The John Butler Trio at the Woodford festival earlier in the year, seeing them at Livid was a must, and I’m glad I did. The acoustic guitars and bongos sounds were exactly what I had needed and I must say they lived up to all expectations.
 
I couldn’t of course do a review on Livid without mentioning Oasis. It was a bazaar thing indeed to witness the songs that I have been hearing for years played live. They offered simple sweet melodies that are expected as well as a few jangle acoustic pop moments. Very surreal.
 
Before heading off into the “valley” I managed to catch a glimpse of Unwritten Law and I have a sneaking suspicion that Scott Russo was not all there if you know what I mean. His antics on stage were quite bazaar and were not what I would have expected from the front man. That said I went to the valley a little earlier this year.
 
As usual it was a terrific day and after six Livid festivals in a row I’ll still be there next year!
 
 
 
review by Wendy Ruthenberg
 
MAINSTAGE

Powderfinger, Oasis, Mercury Rev, Grinspoon, Something For Kate, ...Trail Of Dead, Motor Ace, Happy Side Show, Superheist, Giants of Science, Butterfly Effect


TRIPLE J BIG TOP

Morrissey, John Butler Trio, George, Dirty Three, Mogwai, Machine Gun Fellatio, Dan Brodie & The Broken Arrows, The D4, Seafood, Speedstar, Shutterspeed, Half Day


LOUDMOUTH STAGE (Presented by BLUNT)

Unwritten Law, Sum 41, Bodyjar, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Strung Out, Dropkick Murphy's, One Dollar Short, Seraphs Coal, The Stalkers, The Disables, Mouthguard

*BAD RELIGION will no longer be fulfilling their commitment to play at the Livid Festival



ANNEX (Presented by INTHEMIX.COM.AU)

The Streets (live), U.N.K.L.E Decks N Effects, Nightmares On Wax (live), Dynamo Productions (Andy Smith - Portishead & Scott Hendy - Purple Penguin), Katalyst, Gerling, 2 Dogs, Rhibosome, Hazard Brothers, Zephyr Timbre, Aniki



ZOO STAGE

Tex Perkins & The Dark Horses, Afro Dizzi Act, Waikiki, Gersey, Wil Anderson, The Lucksmiths, Tylea & the Imaginary Music Score, Hot Ruber Glove, Butterfingers, Harpoe, Charles Foster Kane, Skin Pop

Tickets $88

For more information on the Livid festival including site maps and ticket outlets visit www.livid.com.au