Curated by Australian rock icons Hoodoo Gurus, the Dig It Up! Invitational was back for a second year after its inception as a commemoration of 30 years of recording for the Hoodoo Gurus.
Dig It Up! was an opportunity to see some of the Gurus’ contemporaries live. It was a place where the twenty-somethings of the 70s and 80s could relive the glory days and talk about the latest gig they had been to at the Espy with the same passion that another might talk about their footy team’s performance on the weekend.
The Gurus also hand-picked some emerging artists. While The New Christs rocked out at The Palace main stage at lunchtime, Bored Nothing performed upstairs in The Attic – an oddly designed space where the main stage area is wedged next to the staircase opening.
Frontman Fergus Miller was his laid-back self, his garage outfit a little messier than what has been recorded in their debut release, but a pleasing aesthetic nonetheless.
While Peter Case and Ron S. Peno played at their respective Palace venues, a run of comedy was about to commence at the cramped but eclectic Spleen Bar across the road.
There was plenty of warm laughter in the living room-like space as Spicks & Specks regular Dave O’Neil took the microphone, reeling off observations fit for music die-hards and inhabitants of the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne. British comedians Chris Russell and Bob Franklin would follow later in the afternoon, providing a nice break from all the rocking and rolling.
If there was anyone to ‘still have it,’ it would be The Moodists frontman Dave Graney, sliding around the stage with his sweet moves and drawing in the crowd with his smooth yet snarling vocals against a funky and mysterious bassline.
Up top at the Attic, Sydney scuzzers Straight Arrows played tunes as bouncy and energetic as the hair on frontman Owen Penglis’ head (with definitive competition from lead guitarist Alex Grigg).
Featuring rhythmic change-ups, catchy hooks, and general frenzy, what was most admirable about their set was that despite the out-of-control feel, there was sensible structure to their tracks and overall tightness in their set.
Back at the main stage, there were brighter sounds from alt-rockers The Stems, providing classic sounds and clean melodies.
Wedged between sets from Salmon & Cowie and Harry Howard came one of the more anticipated acts of the day, seminal punk group The Buzzcocks. Still featuring half of the original lineup with Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle at the helm, they reeled off a mixture of old classics and more recent releases.
While The Buzzcocks will forever be remembered as part of an important period in music history, seeing their grey-haired selves rocking out more than 30 years on is commendable, but will never quite live up to performances in their heyday.
Shelley and Diggle still had some swagger but their voices didn’t have the same cut-through attitude or silliness anymore. Indeed, in the beginning of the set the Buzzcocks felt a bit like a tribute band, though settled into more of a groove as time went on.
Regardless, the group gave their classic hit “Ever Fallen In Love” some deserved attention with a riotous music break to introduce it, and by inviting some ladies onto the stage for backup vocals.
Another impressive set came from female duo Super Wild Horses, though the tightly packed Spleen Bar was a little awkward for the eager but uncomfortable audience. With plenty of quick bass riffs, twangy guitar, and soothing harmonies, the local duo have mastered a fine balance between edgy and sweet.
As dinnertime beckoned, Flamin’ Grooves brought their country western twang to the masses, while upstairs The Crusaders – dressed in medieval superhero costumes – played to a light but passionate crowd with plenty of uninhibited dancing involved.
Excitement grew for the Gurus’ headline set, as Blue Öyster Cult took to the stage at 8:30pm. By now, all revelers were packed into the one venue, filling most of the main stalls area and milling about on the balcony area.
Appreciative fans swayed in the crowd, the Cults playing their customary hits such as “Don’t Fear The Reaper” and “Burnin’ For You.” The storytelling intrinsic to their songwriting was evident when along came the sound of lightning and a voice over: “Swimming this way from the seas of Japan!” – they launched into the theatrical “Godzilla”.
Their set was one filled with powerful guitar solos, made more effective through strong synergy between members Richie Castellano and Donald Roeser.
There was plenty of time for drinks as fans awaited the Hoodoo Gurus’ headline set. When the lights finally dimmed, the theme music from 2001: A Space Odyssey played, and in keeping with the Gurus’ outer space theme, inflatable UFOs were revealed hanging from the beams of the stage. The foursome made their way onto the stage, starting off with 1985 hit “Bittersweet.”
What set the group apart from some of the other acts that had performed earlier was the variety of their repertoire. They showcased the Australiana sound of clean country-esque strums and Dave Faulkner’s spot-on croon (and mastery of the tuneful squeal), but there is variety formed in rockabilly tunes such as “Hayride To Hell,” and a darkness when switching vocals to Brad Shepherd with his drawling, gravelly voice.
An expected highlight of the set was when the group performed “What’s My Scene” – sing-along included, all at once providing a reminder of those golden years, all those footy telecasts and many childhoods – an iconic song by an equally iconic band.
The Gurus left the stage at 10:50pm, returning for an encore with Blue Öyster Cult’s Donald Roeser, and a send-out of necessary thank-yous.
For a full (but not sell out) festival, it certainly was a case of quality over quantity, with much of the audience made up of die-hard fans, leaping at an opportunity to relive the glory days of their youth, and share that experience with people who had been there too.
Granted, some of those bands didn’t quite have the same electricity about them, but the same joy was still there, as well as the inspiration that helps pave the path for those still on the road to success.