Big Day Out first announcement: as it happened

For 2012's Big Day Out, the promoters took a leaf from the Soundwave festival school of promotion: they leaked the artists one at a time over Twitter. However, unlike Soundwave, they did it over 2 nights, instead of just whenever they hell the feel like it for months at a time. And now, here's the list, with my initial reactions as I sat at my computer:

But before we start, let us not forget what you will see a lot of during your day if you do decide to go: bad patriotism tattoos.

Why yes, that is the map of Australia. And yes, the interior is the Australian flag over a bunch of $100 bills. And yes, apparently Tasmania isn't part of Australia. (I took this picture during Matt and Kim this year. Couldn't stop laughing).

Anyway, the first announcement, with my reactions:

• Best Coast "huh.. first band announced, and I'll probably want to see them. This could be a good year... maybe..."
• Foster the People "Triple J listener's cliche band of the moment at the festival."
• Cage the Elephant "Yes, I'll see them. They're good and a lot of people won't see them! They'll be on a side stage outside of the crowds"
• The Getaway Plan "Christ I saw this band like 100 times in 2004-2008. Pass"
• Girl Talk "An artist that will get me to the boiler room this year!"
• Frenzal Rhomb "Already seen them twice in the last year, they must be desperate for money now!"
• OFWGKTA "Weren't they here a few months back? Probably still trying to cash in their short-lived earning potential. Don't want to see them though"
• The Jezabels "They are becoming one of those Australian bands that play every festival now!"
• Battles "YES! Highlight of a Big Day Out a few years ago... But are they as good without their old frontman now?"
• Architecture in Helsinki "They wrapped up a tour only a few days ago. Back on it already?!"
• Mariachi El Bronx "OH HELL YES. I hope that means the Bronx does a sideshow too!"
• Parkway Drive "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA"
• Boy And Bear "More Australian music content filler. Should not be as high up over some of these great overseas bands"
• Hilltop Hoods "well it's not a Big Day Out unless the Hilltop Hoods play... is it?"
• Royskopp "Was not expecting this... More of a V-Fest or Laneway band, but could be excellent late in the afternoon"
• The Living End "It's not an Australian music festival unless they play it"
• My Chemical Romance "They've never been the same since their first album. Glad I saw them in lots of small club shows when I was younger"
• Kasabian "ohhhhhhhhhhh yes. Excellent festival band"
• Soundgarden "wait.. Back up. WHAT?! They're back together? HECK YES"
• Kanye West "not a logical choice. He was too expensive for Splendour (yet still played it) and they didn't even get close to selling out. Just gives me a reason to leave early"

So will I go? At the start it was a definite no. Now it's a maybe. Soundgarden together again will probably be the one band that tips me over the edge into "fuck it, I'm going." But we'll wait for the second announcement.

January 22. Gold Coast Parklands

One sentence album reviews (#14)

Violent Soho - Violent Soho (2010): Excellent grunge-rock, channeling the 90s and based out of Brisbane. Noisy and funny at times too. 4/5

Emery - We Do What We Want (2011): I never know how to feel about Emery, are they hardcore or emo? This album is like the 2 sides clashing. 2/5

The Vaccines - What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? (2011): Summery 1960's-esque twee dance music.. If they had dance music then. 3.5/5

Yellowcard - When You're Through Thinking, Say Yes (2011): Heavier than what I already know of them, I still laugh when I hear violin in 'punk' 3/5

Coolrunnings - Dracula Is Only The Beginning (2011): relaxing, ethereal, sounds of a 60's summer, all rolled into light pop music 3/5

Lemuria - Pebble (2011): Poppy indie music, with a bit of a distorted edge. Reminds me of Sonic Youth if Kim pop songs. 3/5

Alea Jacta Est - Gloria Victis (2010): Very generic French hardcore. It's basically all bad breakdowns and movie samples 1/5

The Vandals - Hitler Bad, Vandals Good (1998) - A perfect mix of comedy, politics and punk. One of my all time favourite albums 6/5

Alpinist - Lichtlaerm (2010): Dark and heavy German hardcore, bordering on black metal. The music is depressing sounding, but still good. 3.5/5

Gun Outfit - Possession Sound(2010): I hated this at first, but then realised it's just a poor man's Sonic Youth. 3/5

The Babies - The Babies (2011): Sounds the same as the Vivian Girls. Probably because it's mostly the same people, with a dude singing as well. 3.5/5

Beach Fossils - What a Pleasure (2011): More generic jangly surf-rock. #yawn #cliche #next 2/5

Adventure - Lesser Known (2011): If you were to Google the phrase "hipster electronica" this would come up. 2.5/5

My Morning Jacket - Circuital (2011): Every album gets more country, but in a weirdly good way. The Black Metal song may be song of year. 4.5/5

The United Sons of Toil - When The Revolution Comes, Everything Will Be Beautiful (2011): Whenever I hear this album, I can't help but picture them angry union protestors in the 70s 3.5/5

Beastie Boys - Hot Sauce Committee Part Two (2011): They somehow make an album that sounds as good as Hello Nasty, but 10 years in the future. 4/5

Manchester Orchestra - Simple Math (2011): An album that grew on me. It combines some classic rock, some emo and indie in complex layers 4/5

Bon Iver - Bon Iver (2011): I still don't understand what Bon Iver are trying to do with their sound. Regardless, this is a beautiful album. 4/5

Battles - Gloss Drop (2011): With the departure of the lead man, they've lost the random and become almost symphonic. Dare I say... pop? 3/5

Thurston Moore - Demolished Thoughts (2011): The Sonic Youth lead singer takes his noise rock acoustic, compensating with beautiful layering 4/5

Tyler the Creator - Goblin (2011): The lead of OFWGKTA makes a solo album that sounds like a conversation with his messed up conscience. 3/5

Swingin' Utters - Here, Under Protest (2011): It's basically an album that sounds as if punk goes country 3/5

Man Overboard - The Human Highlight Reel (2011): The better end of the pop-punk spectrum. He sings a lot about when he was 15 3.5/5

Balance and Composure - Separation (2011): It sounds as if young Silverchair dropped the grunge and made an emo album. The voice is so similar. 4/5