READ THIS FIRST IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY

Arrived at the venue with Ross at about 9:00 and found a parking spot around the corner from the venue, walked around, lined up and got inside about 5 minutes later Dreadnought were playing on the smaller second stage and there seemed to be quite a crowd there already (the sign on the door said that the show had sold out) so we made our way over to the front of the main stage where it was less crowded and sitting in front of the main stage barrier was Bryce and Ash from the SYL list. I spoke to Ash and he said that Bryce and some of his mate had gotten there early and caught their sound check and got photos. He also said that his mate Rohan had also got in and was all set to record the show onto tape.

9:30 came and I had arranged to meet Donna and her friend outside the venue at this time so I went out and had a look around for them. I met a mate from school who I hadn't seen in ages so I was talking to him as he was lining up to get in and then when we made it to the door Donna and her friend arrived so I waited outside with them for a minute before we went in. I was ready to wait outside until the Strapping guys arrived but Ash told me that they were already in there and had been walking around so we went back in and watched Damaged play. A few minutes later the girls said they were going outside so I said I'd meet them out there after Damaged finished their set. The now four piece Damaged put on a great set full of bad-assed guitar riffing and amazing drumming and energy. Matt Skitz going off on the drums as usual. I just stood there watching him the whole set. Best drummer in Melbourne, the guy is just a fucking machine!

Damaged played a great set, dedicating a few new songs to all the folks who have supported them (or not) over the years and even dedicating one song to an American journalist who wrote them off as having no melody! They finished their set and Dreadnought came on for another while the SYL roadies began to make the final adjustments to the stage. I couldn't be bothered making my way through the crowd in front of Dreadnought to get outside so I walked over to the left of the stage where I found a good spot right in front of the barrier. But then I spotted an even better spot, a little section right next to the stage. There were a couple of people standing around there but one guy let me get through and I was in the perfect spot to catch all the action without getting hammered by the monstrous mosh pit which I knew would form as soon as Strapping took the stage. Don't get me wrong, I like the odd mosh pit but this was one show where I just wanted to do my own thing where I could have full view of the stage and this was the perfect spot.

Dev showed his face at one point and waved to the fans who were already waiting in front of the stage. Gene even came out and did a bit of a sound check of his drums and threw a couple of sticks out into the crowd when he was done which both Ash and Bryce caught! Dreadnought finished their 2nd set at about 11:10 and then everyone made their way over to the main stage for the band everyone really came to see!

11:30 came and the band came out of the backstage area and stood on the opposite side off stage of where I was while new keyboardist Dave came out and got the intro started. First came the almighty scream from the end of Ocean Machine and then "Everything's Alright" from JC Superstar came booming through the PA. This was the moment I had been waiting 12 months to see again and it finally happened. The rest of the guys walked on stage as the intro to "Velvet Kevorkian" started and the show was officially underway! BOOM!!! SYL exploded on stage in an full scale aural assault of the senses. Dev screaming at the crowd, "CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS SHIT PEOPLE!!!" Man, I was so psyched. The whole place was going apeshit!! Hands flailing in the air in time with the beat. I snapped up a few shots of the band (as did quite a few other people) but the spot I was in was so perfect. I had a full view of the whole band (except Gene) and before we knew it "Velvet Kevorkian" was over and the band launched straight into "All Hail The New Flesh" I could hardly control myself. Here I was in the perfect position, no more that 4 feet away from my idol as he is doing his thing. This was surely a night I will never forget. The set consisted of pretty much all the songs from the "No Sleep Till Bedtime" EP. Far Beyond Metal was awesome! Before the song started Dev told us all to give the Devil sign in the chorus and told us to sing along and that the first words were, "KING, RAUL!!" and to sing along and give the sign when that part came along. Gene started the intro and the song was underway!

I think it was after FBM that Dev said they would be back after a short break and sure enough they returned and played my personal favourite song off "City", "Underneath The Waves" which I just went off to! The band put on the best show I have seen all year (if not all time!), moving back and forth around stage, Dev moving up to the front of the stage (although he didn't really come over to my side) and Byron and Jed both switched sides during songs to come up close to us and play right in our faces! In between songs I tried to get Dev's attention a couple of times by yelling out "Gummi Bears" and stupid things like that but my voice was pretty fucked from screaming along with almost every song so I guess he didn't hear me! During "Detox", Dev pulled out a Telecaster and played the song on that! Dev announced that this was their last song and to go completely apeshit as they launched into the blast-fest which is "Happy Camper"! The band walked off stage leaving the entire crowd gasping for breath. I was still keen for more and finally a chant started and Dev returned to the stage (minus pants!) and explained that they couldn't play anymore songs cause their keyboardist didn't know any others. Finally he came up with a solution:

"How about we play some songs that we have already played tonight?"

To which the crowd gave an almighty roar of support so Dev said:

"Well, just let me go and put some pants on and then we'll be back!"

They all came back out and Dev started playing "Highway to Hell" before announcing that they would play two more songs off the first album, "S.Y.L" and "In The Rainy Season" and to go nuts like it was the first time that we had heard them played that night! The intro to "S.Y.L" started and Dev said, "Fuck the intro" just before the band launched into the song once again! A guy who I was talking to before they came back on told me he had his heart set on grabbing a pick and half way through the song, sure enough he jumps on stage and ran over to Dev's mic stand and grabs a pick before stage diving into the crowd! I also had my heart set on one but didn't want to jump into the pit at fear of losing my wallet, camera and tape recorder from my pockets but Jed came over my way (to which there were now a few people crowded around me) and handed his pick out. I tried to grab it but he specifically handed it to a guy near me so I was a little pissed but a minute later he walked over to Dev's mic stand grabbed a couple and came back and handed one to me and the guy next to me!

"In The Rainy Season" came and went and it sounded just ass mad as the first time they played it! They finished the set with "Oh My Fucking God" and I was so tempted to jump on stage and sing backup but I knew the security guards would probably grab me or something so I didn't. Thinking back, they probably wouldn't have cared much but I dunno if I would have had the guts to get up there! Dev thanked us and reminded us again that they would be back in February next year to kick all our asses another time! Best show of the year, can't wait to see you again Strapping. Thank you for helping us vent our emotions with your musical ways! I'm begging you Dev, please move to our country so we can see you more often!!

Here is the full setlist of the show:
Intro (Ocean Machine scream and "Everything's Alright")
Velvet Kevorkian
All Hail The New Flesh
Home Nucleonics
Oh My Fucking God
S.Y.L.
In The Rainy Season
Far Beyond Metal
Underneath The Waves
Spirituality/AAA
Detox
Happy Camper
-ENCORE-
S.Y.L.
In The Rainy Season
Oh My Fucking God

Strapping Young Lad - 10/10 (Nadia Comanichi of the live music scene!)
Damaged - 7.5/10
Dreadnought - 6/10
Just one last thing, the only downside to this night (well, for my friend Ross) is that he copped a $60 parking fine which we found stuck to the windshield after the show! Oops!!

-GO HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THIS SHOW-
 

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