Review: Good Things ‘23 @ Sydney & Melbourne
Review by Natasha Christian in Sydney with photos by Brittney McCarthy in Melbourne.
In the weeks leading up to Good Things Sydney, we were constantly warned that rain was coming. Despite these ominous forecasts, the rain held off until the very end, and all things considered, I think we did OK.
Headliner Fall Out Boy’s set was abruptly cut short, as a casualty of a lightning storm, triggering a last-minute effort to ensure 20,000 attendees got home safe.
While this was undeniably frustrating, it’s worth noting that we attended Good Things this year knowing there was a high risk of it being washed out. Before the Fall Out Boy issue, I had the opinion that Good Things was one of the best-organised festivals I had been to. The longest wait I experienced for the bar, toilet, or food was about 10 minutes.
When I arrived, to the sound of Eskimo Joe’s Black Fingernails, Red Wine, I was surprised to find security standing at the entrance, proactively letting attendees know there would be no reception. It was the first time I’d seen such a gesture at a festival, and it was really helpful.
Pennywise
We made it just in time to catch California punks Pennywise, and I couldn’t believe how packed Centennial Park was already. The band sounded great, but I was a bit disappointed that a large chunk of their set was dedicated to covering NOFX songs, along with their version of Land Down Under. With such an awesome back catalogue, I was hoping to hear more Pennywise originals. When Randy Bradbury’s distinctive bass on Society filled the park, the energy turned up a lot. The set came to an end with the powerful Fuck Authority, and anthem Bro Hymn, which featured Frenzal Rhomb’s Lindsay McDougal on guitar.
Sepultura
Up next, we wandered over to the smaller stage to witness Brazil’s Sepultura, who delivered a phenomenal set. Derrick Green’s vocals proved to be a force of nature, Paulo Jr bass was awe-inspiring and Andreas Kisser’s guitar work was crushingly powerful. Eloy Casagrande also delivered the most impressive drumming of the day on Ratamahatta and Refuse / Resist.
Corey Taylor
I quickly hit my 10,000 steps wandering between stages. As Corey Taylor started we quickly checked out nearby Stage 666, which resembled a metalhead karaoke bar. When we got there, a woman was belting out her best version of Smash Mouth’s All Star.
Love him or not, Corey Taylor is one of the greatest frontmen of our time. The recent abrupt departure of Jay Weinberg from Slipknot may have raised a few eyebrows, but when you’re in the biggest band in metal, right up there with Metallica, who needs friends?
Seeing Taylor unmasked on stage is strange, despite his face being all over metal YouTube and in magazines. He’s the go-to guy for a quick soundbite on just about anything. During his performance, Taylor took us through some of his distinct eras, including Slipknot’s Subliminal Verses with a solo version of Before I Forget. While it sounded great, I thought it lacked the punch of a percussion-heavy Slipknot show.
Jebediah
This year’s lineup featured quite a few iconic Australian bands, and despite being relegated to smaller stages, I underestimated the draw they would have. The crowd’s enthusiasm for Jebediah was high, and the overall vibes were nothing short of electric.
“Does he sing more Australian on purpose?” my friend asked during Harpoon. I couldn’t say for sure, but I found myself sounding more Australian when I sang along.
Their setlist included all the classics like Animal, Leaving Home and Triple J hit Fall Down.
Having Jebediah on this lineup was definitely a good thing.
Taking Back Sunday
Taking Back Sunday’s show felt more like a Sunday Sermon. I half-expected singer Adam Lazzara to let out a resounding “Hallelujah!”. To my disappointment, that moment never arrived.
The band skillfully took us through their new album 152 (album review here), which translated beautifully to a live setting. Devoted fans also got a nostalgic trip back to their emo days with Make Damn Sure and Cute Without The E.
Despite the scorching heat, the band pulled off their entire performance dressed in tailored suits. While this looked impressive, I couldn’t help but wonder how they managed to look so cool under the circumstances.
Devo
After a quick bite, one last bar trip, and a toilet break, we were prepped for the Devolution.
Considering the size of the crowd at this point, we knew we’d have to commit to staying in our spot til the very end.
Having caught the fantastic Devo sideshow in Brisbane last week, I knew this show would be a cut-down version. While I was disappointed that Girl U Want got the chop, I was a bit relieved at the omission of the super quirky Beautiful World as I’m not sure the Limp Bizkit crowd would’ve appreciated it.
This was a tough crowd for Devo as many were restless and eager to see the back of Fred Durst’s red cap and what Wes Borland was wearing. Yet those who paid attention were treated to an impressive set from these highly influential masters of the quick costume change.
Highlights for me were the ultra-fun Uncontrollable Urge and Freedom of Choice.
The band’s iconic red domes made an appearance during Whip It, and they generously tossed some to lucky punters. It struck me as a tad cheeky that the domes were a fair bit pricier here compared to the sideshows, but that didn’t stop quite a few fans from forking out $100 to proudly wear one and proclaim “We are Devo” for the day.
Limp Bizkit
This was the band I came for. I saw Limp Bizkit at The Hordern a few years back, and it stood out as one of the most energetic I’d been to. This time around was no different, it was just as fun.
The set was bookended by Break Stuff, ensuring those who missed the first round could still get in on the action later. Although, the first time was way better. I was in the mosh for the whole set, and from the moment Wes Borland unleashed that riff, the crowd was injected with testosterone, going ballistic. The second play-through was far tamer, probably due to this crowd of elder millennials feeling a bit worn out.
Wes Borland consistently proves himself as one of the most creative forces in music. Every time I’ve seen him, he’s donned some mind-boggling, eye-catching costume he’s designed. It’s criminal that this man doesn’t have his own fashion line. I can picture a runway full of Wespiration. This time, I initially thought he was dressed as a bird, but it turned out to be a skull with a beard full of teeth, all in a stylish and immaculately fitted white suit adorned with flowers, think dead Mariachi musician.
Then there’s Fred Durst, who has finally parted ways with his red Yankees hat and razor, revealing an impressive head of grey curls. Whether it’s natural or a wig, Durst is a master of speculation, and I’m sure he wants us all talking about it. Despite the packed-in-like sardines and sweaty conditions, the mosh pit was a fantastic and non-aggressive crowd. It was clear we were all there for the same reason, to have a great time.
Earlier in the day, my friend remarked that “we never see boobs out at concerts anymore”. Limp Bizkit must’ve been listening, cause this show was a constant stream of exhibitionism.
Considering the band’s divisive history, enduring criticism, and even tragedy over the years, it’s surprising that the core of Limp Bizkit is still going strong. John Otto, DJ Lethal and Sam Rivers are all still here. It was hard to pick a highlight from this set as it was all great, from Hot Dog, Nookie and My Way, to My Generation and Rollin. Even the band’s covers of Faith (George Michael) and Walk (Pantera) sounded great. My only criticism is that it ended too soon, but I think we all were probably desperate for some water and a toilet once it ended. I hope Limp Bizkit returns to our part of the world soon.
Fall Out Boy
While the rain held off all day, things changed when Fall Out Boy took the stage. Unfortunately, for eager fans who had waited all day to see them, the band’s set was abruptly cut short after only three songs.
While the band shared that they hoped to return to the stage once the weather cleared, knowing Centennial Park wouldn’t let us have music past 10pm, I knew that wasn’t going to happen so I started heading for the exit.
The closure of Good Things ‘23 was marked with massive signs warning that a scary lightning storm was coming.
I felt bad for Fall Out Boy fans who invested their time and paid a lot of money to be met with cancellation, but overall I left Good Things feeling like it was a great day. We even managed to jump on a bus home right before the storm hit, validating the decision to cancel the headline set.
Fall Out Boy has said they’ll make it up for fans, so stay tuned for that.
That’s all folks.