Words – CeeCee
Photos – Ben Gunzburg
What a sweaty, fun-filled day at Good Things Festival 2024 at Flemington Racecourse! The sun was blazing, the crowd was buzzing, and the music was non-stop. From old-school classics to new hits, this festival truly had something for everyone. It was a day full of music, friends, and family, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend it.
The day kicked off with a scavenger hunt that had me and my friends on the lookout for people dressed in ducks, watermelons, bananas, pineapples, flamingos, strawberries, and fairy bread. The ducks were the clear favourite, with 27 duck-themed outfits spotted by the end of the day! It was a fun way to engage with the crowd before the music started.
311 hit the stage with a blast of nostalgia, opening with “Beautiful Disaster” and “Come Original.” This was their first Australian tour in 26 years, and the crowd was hyped to relive those memories from our childhood. It was such a special moment, hearing these iconic tracks live for the first time for myself.
Next up was Alpha Wolf, who opened their set with “Haunter,” pulling the crowd right to the front with a wave of people. Lead singer Lochie Keogh encouraged first-time moshers to dive into the pit, reassuring them that the fans would take care of each other. The energy was intense, especially with the live debut of “Half Living Things.”
The Living End were absolutely on fire, opening with “Second Solution.” As a Melbourne band, they knew how to connect with the local crowd, and they did just that. Scott Owen nailed his signature bass stunt, and the crowd erupted during “Prisoner of Society.” Chris Cheney even joked about this being the best crowd they’d had so far (though not biased, of course). The pit was wild, and crowd surfers were everywhere!
Northlane brought their A-game with songs like “Talking Heads” and their newly released “Welcome to the Industry.” The crowd was buzzing, though one fan noted there weren’t as many pyros as usual. Still, they powered through with older tracks like “Dispossession,” and guitarist Josh Smith hyped up the crowd to get everyone on their feet, mosh-pitting, and crowd surfing.
Mastodon brought some serious fire with their performance of “Pushing the Tides” and some epic pyros. As the rain started to come down, the band checked in on the crowd and thanked them for sticking it out. They played a few classics like “Seabeast” and “Iron Tusk,” and Troy Sanders introducing João Nogueira on keyboards for the first time in Australia. They wrapped it up with “Blood and Thunder” as the rain came down even harder—what a way to end the set!
Violent Femmes gave us a blast of nostalgia with “Blister in the Sun.” At one point, they even used a seashell as an instrument! They celebrated their 40th anniversary of their first Australian tour and treated us to hits like “Prove My Love” and “Add It Up,” ending the set with “American Music.” It was a feel-good moment for everyone in the crowd.
Electric Callboy opened their set with “Tekkno Train,” and their energy was off the charts. After Sum 41 had to pull out due to Deryck Whibley’s illness and their drummer David Friedrich also falling ill, they were lucky enough to have Frank Zummo fill in on drums. Kevin Ratajczak and Nico Sallach joked about “clapping the rain away,” and the crowd was all in. Their cover of “Everytime We Touch” was a blast, and the crowd went wild when they played “Hypa Hypa” and even a cover of Sum 41’s “Still Waiting.”
Next up was Kerry King, delivering one of the most intense sets of the day. Known for his fierce presence, King brought the heat with explosive pyros and an electrifying performance. He fired up the crowd, encouraging them to push the limits and joke about making the security guards complain. The energy was off the charts, with moshing and chaos to match Slayer’s thrash intensity. Ending with “From Hell I Rise,” King’s set was a blistering reminder of the power of live thrash metal.
Then, Billy Corgan took the stage with The Delta Rigs, bringing a completely different vibe. Corgan, a legend of alternative rock, delivered an intimate yet high-energy set that had the crowd hooked. Opening with a cover of INXS’s “Don’t Change,” he showcased his versatility before diving into Smashing Pumpkins hits. His haunting vocals and smooth instrumentation created a nostalgic moment. Corgan’s effortless stage presence made this set cathartic, with the crowd fully in tune with every note.
Korn closed out the day with an incredible set that spanned their entire career. From classics like “Got the Life” and “A.D.I.D.A.S.” to a newer track “Start the Healing,” the crowd was rocking non-stop. Jonathan Davis even saying, “This is a song we haven’t played in a long ass time,” before rolling into “Hey Daddy.” The atmosphere was electric, with every song sparking nostalgia and excitement. Hearing the cymbal tapping from “Blind” brought back memories of my childhood and the movies that featured this track.
As they celebrated 30 years of Korn, Jonathan Davis pulled out the bagpipes for a powerful rendition of “Shoots and Ladders,” before teasing a bit of Metallica’s “One” towards the end of the song. They also gave the crowd a quick snippet of “Twist,” playing the iconic “You not rrrh rot” part, much to the audience’s delight. The energy only intensified with “Falling Away From Me,” leading into a roaring rendition of “Freak on a Leash.”
They ended with “Low Rider” by War playing over the speakers as they exited, leaving the crowd on a high note. Korn’s set was a perfect blend of their timeless classics, bringing fans on an unforgettable journey through their legendary career.
Overall, Good Things Festival 2024 was a fantastic mix of old and new, with bands from all corners of the rock and metal world delivering their best. The energy was electric, the crowd was amazing, and the day was filled with nostalgia and fresh discoveries. A big thank you to Destroy All Lines, Good Things Festival, and Flemington Racecourse for such an unforgettable experience!
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