Festival Review: GoodThings Melbourne, Flemington, Friday 6 December 2024

The GoodThings Festival delivered yet again an unforgettable experience for Melbourne’s rock, punk, and metal fans. With the blaring humidity and then the welcoming showers that came late afternoon, the day was jam packed full of an exceptional line up that catered for all music tastes. From the headliners Korn to Aussie staples such as Killing Heidi and Dragon (we Aussies claim them now don’t we?), the festival did not disappoint music lovers with this diverse line up.

With so many acts on offer, the five stages provided amble opportunities to see most bands. Scurrying from stage to stage, ensured our daily steps were met and our hearts filled with some awesome live music.

Filling our musical cups were Bowling for Soup and The Butterfly Effect. Each of these acts saw the crowds roar and fully immerse in the talent before them. L7 showed us that they are still the legends that they were in the 90’s and proved that age is just a number, with still being able to rock it out and sound just as good as when they were singing to Andre. Northlane, Mastodon and Jet also held their own with their sets, showing the crowds just why they are on the festival bill.

Frank Turner brought his trademark mix of punk energy delivering a set that was equal parts cathartic and celebratory. Opening with the biting “No Thank You for the Music,” he quickly had the crowd in the palm of his hand, bouncing between fiery anthems like “1933” and “Try This at Home,” and introspective moments like “Polaroid Picture.” Fan favorites “Recovery” and “Photosynthesis” turned into massive singalongs, while “I Still Believe” united the audience in a defiant ode to the power of music. Closing with the explosive “Four Simple Words,” Turner left no doubt that he’s one of the most engaging and genuine performers on the circuit and… that punk rock ballet is a thing.

Tucked away in the corner of the festival site and enduring the rain, The Gaslight Anthem delivered an unforgettable set, blending raw emotion with timeless anthems. Opening with “American Slang,” they set the tone for 45 minutes. Highlights included the soaring “Handwritten,” the wistful “Mulholland Drive,” and a poignant cover of Mother Love Bone’s “Chloe Dancer” that added a reflective edge to the set. The energy reached its peak with fan favorites “45” and the iconic “The ’59 Sound,” uniting the audience in a euphoric singalong. Balancing grit with grace, The Gaslight Anthem reminded everyone why they remain one of the most beloved acts in modern rock.

The Living End never give a bad show and today was no exception. It’s so good to see these guys still rocking a festival line up after all these years. The trio are always so tight and always manage to get the crowd singing and feeling a part of their set. The set list included fan favourites “Second Solution, White Noise, and ending with Prisoner of Society, much to the crowd’s delight.

The classy boys from Wisconsin – The Violent Femmes, last played in Australia 2017 and were due to return to our shores, but unfortunately the covid pandemic stopped their plans. To say that the crowd was ready for them after a long wait is an understatement. Opening their set with a Blister in the Sun and delighting the crowd with bangers like Gone Daddy Gone, Add It Up and American Music, the former buskers showed us just what we were missing out on. The variety of instruments that The Femmes incorporate into their set, (like John Sparrow on the BBQ Weber) make their sound so unique and unequivocally The Femmes; from the conch, violin and a metal washtub bass. It is musical folk punk at its best.

Electric Callboy seized their moment in the spotlight, stepping into the co-headline slot after Sum 41 had to bow out due to illness. Kicking off with the explosive “Tekkno Train,” they delivered a high-octane set packed with fan favorites like “Hypa Hypa,” “Spaceman,” and “Pump It,” whipping up the crowd with their hilarious, infectious energy. Their nod to Sum 41 with a shortened rendition of “Still Waiting,” was a personal highlight. Following up with Maggie Reilly’s “Everytime We Touch” and BABYMETAL collaboration “RATATATA,” the band turned their opportunity into a triumph. Closing with “We Got the Moves,” Electric Callboy left no doubt they belonged on that big stage, slapping the Melbourne crowd with their party-fueled chaos and sheer charisma. Shout out to Frank Zummo from Sum 41 for saving the day from a double disaster by filling in on drums.

From the moment, Jonathon Davis of Korn strode onto the stage, with his signature microphone stand waiting for his touch, the crowd was in the palm of his hand. Donning his trusted adidas kit, it was like being back in 1998. The energy and power that Korn emulate is magic. The iconic nu-metal pioneers delivered a set that showcased both their enduring influence on the genre and their ability to still dominate a festival stage decades into their career. Highlights of Korn’s set was observing the sign language interrupter deliver Y’all Want a Single; such a priceless experience. Their 17 song set included Here to Stay, ADIDAS, Start the Healing and even performing a nod to Metallica whilst in Shoots and Ladders with a taste of One. Their three song encore was intense, giving the crowd the requested Freak on the Leash and Falling Away From Me. Overall a thrilling and electrifying set worthy of these festival headliners.

GoodThings Festival Melbourne, 2024, was an awesome combination of legendary headliners, diverse acts, and seamless logistics. This is why the GoodThings Festival is always a must-attend event for music lovers alike.