Forever Young

What was being called the best day of the year for live music in Australia, Big Day Out finally hit Melbourne just in time for Australia Day, and did not disappoint. 40,000 music lovers clad in everything Aussie ascended on Flemington Race Track for a full days affair with some of musics biggest names. Boasting an impressive lineup including acts from past and present, BDO truly had something for everyone.

Britain's pop-rock-dance flavour of the week the Ting Tings kicked off the day with high spirits as they blasted their way through their chart toppers Shut Up and Let Me Go and That's Not My Name while the thousands of hipsters in the crowd enthusiastically danced and sang along.

It was strictly business for rapper, and Kanye West protege Lupe Fiasco as he entertained a packed tent who erupted when he finally let loose on his chart topper Superstar.

Back at the main stage Melbourne's own The Living End, played for what was the biggest crowd of the day so far. Saluting the crowd as well as Australia, The Living End played an electric version of Waltzing Matilda as the crowd sang along.

The second to last act of the evening hit the stage at 7:20 and did not disappoint. Brit-rockers The Arctic Monkey's swaggered there way through a collection of hits from their first two albums and even treated the crowd to a couple of sample tracks off of their third unreleased studio album. No song garnered as much crowd approval as I Bet That You Look Good on the Dance Floor as the Arctic Monkeys proved they are much more than a one hit wonder.

As the sun went down on Flemington Race Track it was time for Big Day Out's biggest light to shine. At 63 years old Canadian Neil Young is now decades away from his supposed prime but showing no signs of slowing down the legend of rock shredded his way through his first three tracks including Hey Hey, My My. When Young finally addressed the crowd he was met with a resounding applause, "Hello Melbourne! Happy Australia Day!" Big Day Outter's young and old rocked out through the first half of Young's set which featured crowd pleasers, Cinnamon Girl and The Needle and the Damage Done. As the 90 minute set wore on Young slowed things down when he strapped on his harmonica while playing the organ to an emotionally charged and particularly relevant Oh Mother Earth. With a catalogue as large as Young's it is no surprise the crowd was a raucous with most of his song selections but probably none bigger than 1972's Heart of Gold. As the set drawed to a close, Young cut off his drummer at the beginning of what would be one of the last songs of the evening, "come on this is the Big Day Out, we gotta do better than that!" and with that Young and company started into probably his most recognized anthem, Keep on Rockin' in the Free World, that was complete with not one, not two, but three guitar solos by Young himself. Throughout the evening Young's raw talent and pure energy shined through. Whether you came into the evening a fan of Young's music or not there was no denying the fact that you had just witnessed one of the pioneers of rock music and one of the best that's ever lived. When Young finally played his last note he thanked the crowd profusely as if he had just finished playing his first big gig, the honor was all ours. We are all richer for having heard you play Mr. Young, so thank you.