Vodafone Homegrown was put on by the same people responsible for the X-Air competition and is a day long festival of all things good and great about New Zealand music, and was held on April 26th 2008(thank god they didn't hold it during NZ Music Month). Four stages around the Frank Kitts park area of the Wellington waterfront resonated to the sound of kiwi music for the best part of 10 hours on one of those sunny autumn days Wellington excells at.
I got there nice and early and headed over the roots music stage to check out the mighty Salmonela Dub. Its weird that I've never seen these guys live before, as I've been a fan for about 10 years, and to be quite frank, I don't think that a tent in the middle of a car park was really the place to a band like them for the first time. That said, they put on an enjoyable set, though it never really crossed over into amazing teritory, tho that was more to do with the situation than anything they were doing on stage. Next time they make it to this fair city, I'll make sure I tag along to check them out in a venue more conducive to their dubby soundscapes.
I had few hours to kill before my next must see act, so I wandered around, checking out the other stages, and some of the stalls and markets that were doing business. Wandering into the rock stage, I caught a couple of songs by The Valves. Servicable rock, nothing more. They weren't bad, its just that they weren't anything special either. I soon left to find some friends and have a few brews while Cornerstone Roots provided the sound track. Its moments like this I understand why Reggae is so popular, sun, beer, good company, you cannot go to wrong.
After finishing up our drinks, it was time to head to the Indie stage to check out Wellington heroes, So So Modern. These synth happy kids usually provide one of the best shows in town, with their energetic stage prescence and their brilliantly dancible angular pop tunes. The problem was that its hard to get that across to the crowd when some thief has stolen the bottom end from yr sound!!!! Seriously, even the drums were inaudible, horible. They carried on like troupers, possibly unaware on what was assaulting the punters out front. Eventually, the sound guys got their shit together and the last few songs of their set sounded like they should.
Next up, Die! Die! Die! Now, if there another band on the planet that can make people just lose their shit as much as these guys do, I've not seen them. Seriously, within about 10 seconds of these guys starting up, a massive circle pit had formed, people turned into human projectiles and fist fights were breaking out all over the place. After a song or two, and once security at the front of the stage tripled, things calmed down. A tiny bit. Yep, it was yr typical Die! Die! Die! set, the band going for it like there was no going back, and the crowd going with them step for step. Seriously, I was wondering if any of the other bands could top them for energy and sheer commitment. We would have to wait and see.
After Die! Die! Die!, we needed food and a lie down, so too the busking stage it was. Refueled and calmed down, it was back to the Indie stage to check out the soothing goodness that is Phoenix Foundation. Having only recently decided that these guys were worth my time, they produced the perfect set to soundtrack a post near-riot calm down, especially since they've toned down some of their proggier excesses. Left early to head to the dance tent, where Minuit were about to perform.
Got there just in time to catch the end of Sunshine Sound System, they seemed cool, tho I didn't hear enough of them to get a full idea of their sound. Minuit however, were greeted like returning heroes and played the best I've ever seen them, which is high praise cos last time they knocked me for six. Ruth was her usual effevesent self, jumping around and keeping the audience from flagging, not that there was any danger of that. They played all the old favourites, and still managed to leave us wanting more, fantastic.
Back at the Indie stage, The Checks were finishing up a set of their boring as fuck plod rock. I hate The Checks. But the main event was about to begin, fresh from a few months in Portland Origon US of A, The Mint Chicks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was interested how they would sound as a 3 piece, with their bassist opting out of the USA adventures, and didn't have to wait long to find out, as they opened with a brand new tune, all drums and bass and Kody at his microphone destoying best. Seriously, how many gigs have you been to where the lead singer kills not one, not two, but three mics during the first song. Once the first song was despatched, they were joined by their old bassist and preceded to play a greatest hits set. It was incredible and intense, I've never seen them play with such ferosity ever. The crowd, while not at Die! Die! Die! levels of shit lossage (yep, I'm making words up), were going pretty crazy too, lapping up everything the Mint Chicks threw at us. It was loud too, so loud that towards the back of the venue it was apparently unbarable, but up the front, we cared little for such quibbles. Eventually, the band left the stage and the honorary call for an encore came from the crowd, the loudest I've heard in ages. Seriously, we must have been chanting for 5 minutes straight, and I was begining to wonder if they were coming out. Eventually, they did come back out and Kody dedicated Funeral Day to a friend of his that had recently passed away, and my god it was the best version of that song I have ever heard. One more song and they left us for good. My whole body ached. Time for bed.
Overall, a great concept executed well, I for one hope this isn't the last Homegrown.
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