Review: Sydney City Limits was epic
In the later stages of our twenties, as many cross over into our thirties, nostalgia weighs heavy on the hearts that once danced to Daft Punk in 2007 and suffered fluro firsthand as youths. In my early twenties music festivals were the calendar highlights of the year. In 2018, more festivals have come crashing down than those that have come up. In this climate Sydney City Limits Festival correctly identified a ‘Harvest shaped hole’ in the market and introduced themselves, and hell what a welcome party!
Boasting a line-up that pulled on the heartstrings of the parties that had raged before, SCLF delivered a powerful bill of major indie legends and strong up and comers. Although tickets failed to sell-out, I can tell this festival will be back in 2019 and is ready to build a legacy. Located at the grassy Brazilian Fields in Centennial Parklands, the sun shone down on a heavily policed yet beautiful festival ground.
The day kicks off strong with local Adelaide legends Bad//Dreems. A testament to this jam packed line-up is the fact that these guys would play later on any other bill as Bad//Dreems quickly capture hearts on the Australian rock scene. Next we’re onto Australia’s favourite homegrown rapper Allday on the Triple J House stage. It’s early in the afternoon and crowds are rolling in as a trendy Tomas Gaynor charges through an energetic setlist engaging the younger demographic. I watch on from the Grove Bar which is SCLF’s version of a VIP bar. Tickets were available to the public for purchase and perhaps someone miscounted the complementary and all access allocations because this bar is so crowded that getting a beer across the field in the festival is much quicker. I digress, Allday goes out with a bang and the older kids crowd in for a long awaited Libertines performance.
For those heartbroken in 2006 when the greatly anticipated Libertines tour went down in flames, this moment was a long time coming. On time and casual, Pete, Carl & co. (pictured, top) appear to a roaring crowd ready to hear these songs enjoyed on dirty dancefloors and bedrooms for over a decade. Delivering fan favourites like ‘Time For Heroes’, ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’ and ‘What Katie Did’, Pete and Carl do their duel mic trick which struck the hearts of fans and sounds just as good as they used to. Two rock ‘n roll lads made it through the drugs, sweat and the scene more in sync than ever before. This was a true highlight of the day.
Across the grass and sand that no one told me about, the Big Top houses one of my favourite indie rocks outfits in years, Car Seat Headrest. If this were 2004, they would be one of the biggest bands on the scene. With a voice reminiscent of Julian Casablancas, Will Toledo brings the ultimate in indie to SCLF. Performing in what appears to be chem class eyewear and a haircut inspired by Karen O circa 2007, Will commands the stage albeit with an unusual setlist. I could name at least five songs I’d rather hear so I head to the bar.
It’s over to Gang of Youths, arguably Australia’s biggest band right now. I’ve seen blisteringly passionate live shows of theirs in the past, friends referring to them as live changing but Dave doesn’t bring it today. It’s good but it’s not great and I wonder if it’s the sound or maybe just an out of character autopilot performance but if I didn’t know better, I’d be confused about all the hype. Not their best day.
As afternoon turns into early evening Vance Joy brings his folky sweetheart genius to the House stage. As captivating as James can be, new material one day old doesn’t always fair as well at festival shows. You’re dealing with radio friendly fans and of course the die hards and the new material doesn’t suck but it wears on a little slow. We do get the hits like ‘Mess Is Mine’ and ‘Riptide’ but the crowd feels weary and The Avalanches seem like a better option to liven things up. Australia’s most anticipated return to the scene in 2016 has been milking this tour and puts on the same show I’m now seeing for the third time. The staging is the same, Eliza Wolfgramm is still waving around that baseball bat for reasons unknown but ‘Frankie Sinatra’, ‘Frontier Psychiatrist’ and ‘Since I Left You’ still go down a crowd favourite.
The sun is setting on a vibrant day and Beck is in happy gear as he opens up with his favourite festival jam ‘Devil’s Haircut’ before dropping straight into 90’s banger ‘Loser’. It’s hard to know where he’s going to go from here after jumping in so strong, so quickly. It’s a quirky setleast in which he doesn’t even play the best song ‘Dreams’ off the newest record but still a fun one featuring ‘E-Pro’, ‘Where It’s At’ and the heartbreaking 2002 classic ‘Lost Cause’. The sets captures the hearts of those nostalgic and sets up and sparkly and colourful vibe for the rest of the evening.
Hello and welcome to 2009! It’s French indie folk Phoenix, a band that is so mysterious to me. Few realise that prior to their monster indie hit record Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, the band had actually released three barely there in commercial success albums. How does a band hit their stride so strong on record #4 and then essentially fade back into the mediocre abyss? Promoting strong on their latest release Ti Amo, the beautifully vibrant rainbow neon staging lights up the night for fans. It’s a quick and flirty one hour set that rips through ‘Lisztomania’, ‘1901’ and ‘If I Ever Feel Better/Funky Squaredance’ but really does make you wonder what it is about their magic that has lasted so long and still quietly works so well live.
This is your captain speaking, ready your singlets and Kanye glasses as we fly back in time to 2007 where ecstasy, fluorescents and Myspace rain supreme. Those who decided to catch a little of both of the French festival finishers find themselves balls deep at Justice where many have just started to roll. ‘D.A.N.C.E’ freaks out the party and a friend in a wheelchairs’ pill has just kicked in and it honestly feels like another time in my life. Who knew the people wanted Justice so badly? SCLF knew and nailed it.
As the day wraps up, I reflect on how this unexpected festival has topped the list of my favourite days out in a long time. Often people are wary of debut festivals and whether it’ll work or wind-up the Firefly of 2018, by SCLF crushed it in professionalism and musical curation. Sure a few teething issues here and there but otherwise, the day ran perfectly and I can see a strong future for this epic day out.
Review by Samantha Dickson. Photo by Ian Laidlaw, courtesy of the Sydney City Limits Facebook page.
