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Homebake @ The Domain
06/12/2008

At the very last minute (around 4am) I got word of a FREE ticket to Homebake. I had a quick look through the line-up and saw that early on in the day there was a fairly decent run of bands so, even though Mr iPhone Weather said it was going to be about 48 degrees, I decided to head on in.

I was joined on this mission, into the world of stupidly large beer lines, youngsters 'pinging' off their 'tits' and more southern cross tattoos than what is legally allowed in one place at one time, by a pair of lasses who identified themselves Gemdilem and Poleski. They lasted the whole day (I piked about 3.15pm) and therefore have a slightly more thorough account of the day. They also took some photos, adding some much needed colour to the blandness of 'words'.

So, without further delay/guff/crapping-on, here is a blow-by-blow (no homo) rundown of Homebake Two Double Oh Eight:

11:15 - Outside the main gates

Jonny: Successfully picked up my ticket, battled the crazy long line-up to get in (doors were supposed to open 15 minutes ago), the over-zealous Police/security and a handful of douches loudly discussing their plans to 'get fucked up'. There is a nice guy behind me in the line who has travelled up from Adelaide and luckily been able to get a last minute ticket from a scalper (for just the normal price). I can only imagine what he will think of Sydneysiders after the day is over.

11:45 - Numbers Radio (Main Stage)

Jonny: Kinda bland pop-rock. I see Dave from Ripping Dylans and he informs me I could have skipped the whole lining up pain with the VIP tickets I had. I kinda thought that might be the case but doing the whole 'um... I think I have a special ticket' wank-off is something I have never had success with. I lack the important swagger or something.

12:05 - Die! Die! Die! (Main Stage)

Poleski: Amazing as always with that touch of awkwardness that comes when seeing 3 people who really want to smash things and scream at people but can't because they are stuck up on a main stage.

Gemdilem: No backflip but otherwise rocked as hard as you can when only 20 people are in the crowd.

"Where is everyone? Why aren't you all getting into it? Fawk.. 'tis hot in this all black get-up!"

Jonny: Was a bit weird seeing them on such a big stage. You could tell they were a little lost without the option of really heading into the crowd and smashing shit up. Lovely to see they didn't hold back and frontman Andrew still managed to come out and visit the people. I know, I should have led the tackling of him. But I didn't. It was too early. My breakfast hadn't even settled.

12:50 - Fire! Santa Rosa, Fire! (Hopetoun Stage)

Jonny: They are getting radio love. I know this because there was a lot of people who said 'man, I love this song' when they played their final song.

13:05 - Eddy Current Suppression Ring (Main Stage)

Poleski: As per above. (minus the as always...this was my first show...they did not disappoint).

Gemdilem: First time I'd seen them too. Did not disappoint.

Jonny: Brendan Huntle [the lead singer] stalked the stage like a man possessed. A lovely mix of hyperactive 2-year old with ADD and the running man stage actions of Ian Curtis. They really whipped the crowd into a frenzy. It was still kinda early but they did a great job getting the people going. Either that, or everyone's pills just kicked in.

The one moment when Huntle wasn't stomping up and down the stage like a crazy fella..

14:25 - Violent Soho (Hopetoun Stage)

Poleski: Set to take over the world, score a Pantene endorsement. Ears still in recovery.

Jonny: Fucking crushed it. Highlight of the day. The smaller stage (the Hopetoun stage) suited them and it was great that there wasn't too many people there - just those that were genuinelly interested in them. The singer busted about 14 guitars, at times there was more hair than music and they re-invented grunge about seven billion times better than that shit first time when Mudhoney made it all wack-ish. Fucking Brisbane!!

Gemdilem: So much hair.. I love it... bring back hair metal!!!! I am a fan.

YES... the HAIR!

2008 = the year Brisbane grunge officially became bigger/better/harder/stronger than mid 90s Seattle grunge.

Jonny: This is the point when I decided to head home. I had reached my yearly quota of shirtless douches with southern cross tattoos and 'pinging cunts'. Violent Soho were incredible as well, so it was only going to go downhill from there. But the two ladies stayed on. Pushing through the afternoon with the power (of alcohol) as they headed towards the summit, which was called Crowded House.

Gemdilem: Those first three were so good quite possible the day highlights... shame more people weren't around to see them.

15:10 - The Getaway Plan (Main Stage)

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = fun.

Poleski: The kidz went crazy4it! Like 4 realz. Minimal cutting was witnessed.

Showing the world his 'O' face (emo style!)

Gemdilem: Sucked. I decided to go eat. Hot dog with cheese. Yum!

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = fun.

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = fun.

16:35 - N'Fa (Hopetoun Stage)

Gemdilem: Lengthy discussions about N'FA and whether or not I was N'FA while standing outside the tent where N'FA were playing. Lots of beer runs to VIP land as the lines in the outside world were now massive.

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = fun.

17:40 - Mercy Arms (Hopetoun Stage)

Gemdilem: Really really good. I don't know many of their songs but really liked what I heard.

Poleski: Orange girls in coordinated outfits with pot leaves tattooed on their foreheads must die.

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = fun.

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = drunk.

Artsy photo of an artsy band. Meta? Irony?

18:40 - Pnau (Main Stage)

Poleski: Nick is a dick. Holiday is the greatest vocalist ever as she has mastered the echo effect with her voice. I wish she had fallen from the harness.

Gemdilem: So many people, where did they all come from? Flying like a bird in a harness. Egyptian god outfit. Strawberries on stage and some weird hand thing that I didn't understand. I want to be a strawberry (almost as much as I want to be a SPOD back up dancer).

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = drunk.

GOD COMPLEX!!

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = drunk.

20:00 - Sparkadia (Hopetoun Stage)

Gemdilem: Blown away by how many fans they have. Had no idea they were that popular. Saw the first half. They sounded pretty good.

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = drunk.

20:30 - You Am I (The Dome)

Poleski: Tim did not give as a wave. Chambers must die. Cowboy hats rule. They rocked it as always. Carley lost her voice.

Gemdilem: Yeah, they have still got it. We rocked hard, they rocked hard. Carley lost her voice.

Poleski: Gin & Tonic in the sun = make me hate people.

21:30 - Crowded House (Main Stage)

Poleski: Zzzzzzzzz. Need to revise notes from stage banter 101 from back in the day.

Gemdilem: So disappointing. I wanted them to be good but they just lacked something - crowd interaction maybe? It just felt flat. Should of seen Cut Copy instead.

In summary

Gemdilem: My regrets - didn't take enough photos of stupid people with stupid tattoos and didn't throw anything at Cilmi. Other highlights - stealing vip wristband from Jonny and smuggling vodka in.

Poleski: Gin!

Jonny: I am glad I left when I did. I enjoyed the three bands I saw and I think the people, the heat and the ... errr.. kinda dull afternoon line-up would have ruined the day for me. Not sure how they get away with charging $100 for a festival with only local acts and why they bothered to get a band that is so obviously out of their prime to headline BUT (judging from the general type of person in attendance) I think they could have put on any musical acts and it still would have sold out in minutes. There was a definite feeling that very few people were there for the music. Which, if I had thought about it, was something I really shouldn't have been all that surprised about.