Finally, time to breathe. I can catch my breath, go grab my last drink, and find a decent spot to sit around until the queen of Fortnite herself comes on. Chappell Roan is in my holy trinity of incredible musicians, and I’m collecting them like infinity stones. To put it blunt, we had Charli last year, Chappel this year, and one day we will get Sabrina in this country.
The lights go down, cheering goes up, and the energy rises. I’m glad at this point I was not wearing my ugly jeans as I really felt like a “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl.” Knowing every word, not missing a beat, she’s there on stage and the crowd goes bonkers. I could sit here and list every single song she performed, and yarn on and on about how amazing she was and is, but there was one song that stood out for me. We all know HOT TO GO! has the iconic dance, but there was something else I was waiting for.
Exhausted from my arms flailing about like a drowning rat, my 11-year-old Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock on the Wii playing soul lit up as I heard that riff I had mastered so many moons ago, Barracuda.
Hearing this song live, even if only a cover, changed my soul. I lit up, singing every word so loud I swear people around me were getting annoyed. But I didn’t care, I was happy again, and Stephanie (reminder: therapist) will be hearing about this for weeks on end.
We move through songs, hitting beauties like The Giver, Red Wine Supernova, and My Kink Is Karma, until we are here on the last song of the night.
Pink Pony Club, as a queer individual, has been a safe space. Singing every word in clubs for years, having lived moments of it, and a riveting guitar solo that made me think of those who came before me, and those who are to come, gave me hope. Not just for music, but for the entire LGBTQIA+ community. We have come so far, and we still have so far we will go.
Just like that, it was over. The walk home (yes, I did walk from Laneway all the way to Potts Point. I needed to get my steps in), was a haze. And I woke up the next day and 100% called out of work because there is no way to do anything but just… recover from it.
All in all, Laneway was a 10/10 this year. Even as someone with little knowledge on most bands performing, I still found myself enjoying every single minute.
I also did my usual thing of handing out Pokemon cards to people I thought would like them, so if you received one please enjoy it. As miss Roan has said, ‘it’s just in my nature, cause baby, I’m a giver.’
To more festivals, to more music, and until next time.
Hudson.