Review: Good Things @ Centennial Park, Sydney
The crowd at the Sydney edition of Good Things 2022. Image: Tyler Jenke
Review: Good Things festival at Centennial Park, Sydney, 3rd December, 2022.
As Saturday morning rolled around, it was time for the Good Things festival to take its 2022 edition north. Having kicked off in Melbourne on Friday, 2nd December, Saturday would see the festival move up to Sydney.
From a personal perspective, this was to be my first time spent following a music festival, and this I was left somewhat apprehensive as to whether the venue, it’s associated, the sound, the crowd, and the talent would compare to the experience of Melbourne.
Thankfully, I wasn’t alone in this thanks to a number of fans from the dedicated TISM fanbase accompanying me on my lengthy trek. This, as Saturday morning rolled around, it was time for us to make our way north.
Having seen many of the opening acts at Melbourne the day prior, a more relaxed approach was taken, also to minimise the amount of harsh sun that would be beating down upon us.
Arriving at the spacious Centennial Park in the early afternoon, Swedish metal outfit Sabaton were found igniting the eager audience with their blistering sound and tongue-in-cheek approach to their craft. Vying for the focus of the day’s best early act was Chasing Ghosts, who were off to the side on stage five, pairing powerful lyrics and passionate performance style to underline one of the most important bands in Australia who sadly weren’t over on the main stage.
Unfortunately, the searing heat did get the better of some, with You Am I forced to cut their set short due to heatstroke experienced by drummer Russell ‘Rusty’ Hopkinson. Though disappointing for many, their early finish was understood by all, as was their withdrawal from the next day’s lineup in Brisbane.
Back on the main stage though, Japanese outfit ONE OK ROCK’s infectious, near-effortless approach to their musical style won them a legion of new fans. Adjacent to their impressive set, the ever-energetic Ocean Grove, themeselves late additions to the lineup, proved why they’re one of the most enigmatic groups in Australia today.
As The Amity Affliction heated things up thanks to the addition of pyrotechnics on the main stage, the likes of Lacuna Coil and Kisschasy repeated the magic they showed in Melbourne over on stages three and four. While the former’s beloved metal stylings proved a safe haven for metal enthusiasts, the latter ensured the softer side of pop-punkers were also catered for.
Thankfully, Florida outfit Sleeping With Sirens were treated to a better sound experience in Sydney than in Melbourne, with the venue’s audio experience leaps and bounds ahead of the Victorian leg the previous day.
Back on the main stage, masked mysterios TISM made their first international appearance as part of their 2022 reunion tour, with many wondering whether the energy and intensity of their first Sydney show since 2004 would equal that of the group’s hometown comeback weeks earlier.
As the day before had suggested, the group weren’t on hand to do things by halves, appearing again in their helium balloon-filled silver suits to mystify and mesmerise longtime fans and newcomers alike. As with the day prior, the addition of a mic’d up cement mixer and incompetent tradies were welcomed by fans who liked to ensure their high-intensity rock was married with eclectic and hilarious satire.
Again delivering a spotty, yet sonically-superior set was soon-to-be retired punk outfit NOFX. Again leaning heavily on 1994’s Punk In Drublic, it was a paradise for punk fans, and one made all the more enjoyable by the band’s assertion that they would return to the country in 2023 for a final run of local shows.
While metal icons Soulfly ripped up the side stage, Norway’s Blood Command showcased one of the day’s most intense sets. Of note was the addition of new vocalist, Melbourne’s own Nikki Brumen, who ensured the group’s Australian shows were some of their most memorable to date.
Back to the main stage, and California’s Deftones delivered one of their best sets of the entire festival series. Paired by a far greater sound system, the group were able to properly showcase their potential, with the vocals of frontman Chino Moreno adequately cared for and utilised in a way that made the group one of the day’s best.
As the day neared a close, local heavy favourites RedHook were joined by not only an eager audience, but also a guest spot from Shaun Diviney of from Short Stack, who helped the group realise a pop-punk dream for the Sydney outfit.
While Brisbane’s Regurgitator once again proved themselves as one of the festival’s best kept secrets, England pop-heavys Bring Me The Horizon helped to close out the festival with an intense set truly worthy of headline status.
Arguably a major improvement on the Melbourne edition of the festival thanks in part to superior sound and far better crowd control, the Sydney leg of Good Things undoubtedly found itself becoming a major highlight of its long-awaited return to the landscape. Of course, could Brisbane trump both that came before it? Well, stay tuned for tomorrow’s final wrap-up to find out.
This review is part of a series of articles on the 2022 edition of Good Things. For reviews of the Melbourne and Brisbane legs, click the appropriate links.
