Words – Evan Howell
Photos – Ben Gunzburg
Another year, another round of Good Things festival to bring out some world-class acts such as Fall Out Boy, Enter Shikari, and Taking Back Sunday as well Australian veterans like Eskimo Joe, Spiderbait, and Short Stack to Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane to rock the eardrums of first-time festival goers, and pit tested warriors who have lost count of how many bands they see.
In a poetic context, it was like Good Things was welcoming everyone to the start of summer as while it was projected to rain (good old Melbourne), everyone was greeted by a warm day filled with crowd singalongs, great food and may I say, good things.
Pennywise brought the Cailforna Skate punk energy that you don’t realize you needed until you are smiling ear to ear, with everyone else bouncing around and screaming “Throw your life away, go straight ahead, it’s your fucking life”. Our photographer Benny G even got a shoutout for wearing a Pennywise cap as lead singer Jim Lindberg informed everyone, including photographers, that they were about to “have some fucking fun”. Ferociously tearing through classics such as Society and Pennywise (that make you want to watch some 90’s X Games highlights of Tony Hawk and Bucky Lasek) before exclaiming that Australia is the band’s favorite place to tour and pulling out a cover of Men At Work’s Down Under to make their point. A timeless band with a timeless sound.
A quick mention also goes to Australian Legends Eskimo Joe who had arguably a performance worthy of a live recording as they played hits such as Sarah and Black Fingernails, Red Wine so tight and clean before playing their first song ever in Sweater to a sea of singing and cheers.
Quickly legging it to stage 5, Hanabie. from Japan, not only brought the kawaii vibes but some heavy riffs and blood-curdling screams that entranced so many people, that you barely could move from side to side but as shown by everyone in attendance, bouncing was something easily achievable to their metalcore sound.
Sepultura was a band I never had the pleasure of listening to before today but my ears enjoy every single guitar solo that is designed to try and melt your face and explode your head. Finally allowing everyone to hear their 2020 album Quadra, fans were all pumped as the Brazilian heavyweights played a mix of tunes spanning their 30+ year career including Arise, Roots Bloody Roots, and Kairos.
“Are you ready to party motherfuckers?” – the opening line to the wall of sound that would flatten any bad vibes (if there were any) from the metal king known as Corey Taylor. The audience was completely at Taylor‘s beck and call as one of the largest crowds gathered to watch the Slipknot frontman unmasked and just as wild as ever. “No way to beat me, no way to win” was the chorus from the song We Are The Rest that transported me to a church setting as everyone echoed the lead singer like a choir. Dishing out songs from his other two bands Stone Sour and Slipknot, the crowd was met with a surprising cover of INXS Don’t Change to finish his unforgettable set.
Up next, Bullet For My Valentine held back no punches as they took the energy that Corey Taylor had laid down and cranked it up to 11 and letting every Bullet fan that “It’s been a while, we got some fucking catching up to do”
As they powered through classics like Your Betrayal, Scream, Aim, and Fire, and Tears Don’t Fall, they reminded everyone that it had been over 20 years since they put out their first album and were so grateful to the fans who have supported them throughout that time.
United States Heavyweights I Prevail not only brought intoxicating grooves to keep the good times rolling playing such crowd favorites as Gasoline and Hurricane but also a crushingly heavy cover of Chop Suey by System of a Down. The pyro they brought was also a nice touch to give their time in front of the Melbourne crow a little extra zing.
Taking Back Sunday is always a fun time whether you are hearing their catchy tunes for the first time or jamming out to some bangers like Makedamnsure and Cute without the ‘E’. Wherever you tried to look, you could not escape frontman Adam Lazzara’s expressive performance as he poured his soul into every song.
If I had to give an award to the most unrelenting band on the lineup, it’s the Polish Blackened Death Metal band Behemoth. Their sound was so thick and full, it was a wonder I didn’t liquefy on the spot as Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer opened what would be a truly incredible set played by Nergal and the boys.
“Do you believe in devolution?” was the question to pose to the thousands of people who were in attendance for one of Devo’s final shows on Australian shores, sailing through hits such as Whip It, Freedom of Choice, and Uncontrollable Urge. It will be sad to know that such an influential band as Devo has hung it up but such a great way to go with such a memorable set.
“Melbourne, we know why you’re here” was the opening statement made by Fred Durst as Limp Bizkit launched into Break Stuff as the Good Things crowd went nuts and bounced so hard the ground began to shake. Hits like Hot Dog, Rollin’ and My Way were just more fuel to the burning bonfire that was the vibe of everyone in attendance. However, Limp Bizkit is nothing short of a class act, when a fan suffered an epileptic seizure, the band quickly noticed, stopped playing Faith, and would not play until Fred could make eye contact with her and see she was okay and once she was, they restarted the song, giving the crowd all the energy that the Melbourne crowd was giving to them. It’s good to have the Bizkit back.
Aussie heroes Spiderbait showed us why they could hang with the other big bands on the line up playing classics like Calypso and Black Betty. Drummer and Singer Kram made his feelings known by saying “I feel like I am back at the Big Day Out” but to me, it felt more like seeing Freddie at Wembley as Kram would lead the crowd in a series of yeahs and ooo chants.
Closing out the show was headliner Fall Out Boy who play flawlessly and proved why they are a world-class act. Playing for nearly two hours, old favorites such as Dance Dance and A Little Less Sixteen Candles, a Little More “Touch Me” made an appearance to the delight of those in attendance as frontman Patrick Stump explained they brought their entire stage show over here as they wished to give fans the best experience. Tunes off their most recent album So Much (for) Stardust rained down on the thousands watching as Patrick played a cover of Midnight Oil’s Beds are Burning as he explained that it was the first band he ever saw. Truly a special show for die-hard and casual fans alike and worthy close of an amazing festival.
Huge thanks to the crew at the Good Things Festival for having us and special thanks to Destroy All Lines and Dallas Does PR for arranging media access.
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