There's something aboutBrisbane

Thu 19th Aug, 2010 in Features

This September, hundreds of bands and industry types will converge on Brisbane for Q Music’s Bigsound Summit and Showcase. Over three days there will be a lot of chatter about all things music and dozens of gigs happening at Brisbane’s best live music venues.

Long gone are the days when Queensland was all Pauline Hanson and Bundy Rum, in fact, over the last decade Brisbane has experienced a musical resurgence of sorts, producing some of this country’s most exciting new bands and developing a thriving local scene.

In the lead-up to Big Sound we talk to some of the Sunshine State’s finest, Hungry Kinds of Hungary, The Wilson Pickers, Last Dinosaurs, The Gin Club and The John Steele Singers and ask them to share some of their favourite hometown moments ( and dispel a couple of myths while they’re at it).

WHAT WAS THE FIRST ‘BRISBANE’ ALBUM’ YOU EVER BOUGHT?

Hungry Kids of Hungary: If I remember correctly it was Powderfinger’s Internationalist. Such an incredible record

The Gin Club: Probably either Powderfinger’s Double Allergic or We Have the Technology by Custard.

The John Steele Singers: I am not really too sure to be honest, probably Snout Circle High and Wide or Custard’s Loverama.

Wilson Pickers: Powerfinger’s Blue EP, their debut. Still got it. Ebay anyone?

Last Dinosaurs: Regurgitator’s Tu Plang (got it from my brother if that counts).

Custard performing Anatomically Correct on Recovery:

WHAT WAS THE FIRST ‘BRISBANE’ GIG YOU EVER WENT TO?

Hungry Kids of Hungary: My first show ever was Homebake in 1999 when they still held it at the Gold Coast Parklands. Powderfinger, Silverchair and Grinspoon were the headliners off the back of Internationalist, Neon Ballroom and Pushing Buttons respectively. Plus every other huge Australian band from that era that you care to remember played. I still have the shirt, the back reads like a who’s who of 90s Oz rock, before so many of them got tired and uninspired.

The Gin Club: Boy. Probably the Big Gig during the University of Queensland’s O-Week, 1997. I don’t seem to be too clear on the details of this period of my life – it’s making me feel quite old!

The John Steel Singers: The first ever gig I went to was Snout at Festival Hall supporting Ben Folds Five in 1998 maybe.

Wilson Pickers: Probably Powderfinger again at the Metropolis under the Myer Centre in the city. It’s long gone now. The gig was The fingers ‘Transfucison’ EP launch and they were well popular even I the early stage. More hippies and long haired dudes going to their gigs in those days. Lots of cans of VB around. Bloody loud. Was a real eye opener, me being 16 and all and mixing with this world for the first time. It stuck.

Last Dinosaurs: Probably Yves Klein Blue at a little community centre about 4 or 5 years ago.

BRISBANE HAS A THRIVING LIVE MUSIC SCENE – WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS?

Hungry Kids Of Hungary: It’s still thriving but threatened at the same time. Apart from a handful of mainstays, venues come and go. But there’s a bit of a sense of community up here among both bands and gig-goers from my experience. I can walk into a place like the Troubadour in the Valley and be guaranteed that there are
people i know there…it’s nice to have places like that, where you
instantly feel at home.

The Gin Club: It’s hackneyed but it’s true: Brisbane is a small town. And the Brisbane music scene is a tight knit community within it. We have a great musical history which we’re fiercely and justifiably proud of, and the support and encouragement that bands give each other in this town never fails to impress me, particularly with regards to younger kids trying to get in to the scene. There are always ‘older statesmen’ around willing to give a young band a gig or a bit of advice. But even aside from all that, the bottom line is that Brisbane has a wealth of talent – we thrive because we’re good, and the quality of the music keeps people interested in the scene.

The John Steele Singers: Well thankfully there has always been a pretty strong DIY ethic and a few folk with enough initiative to start up excellent venues like the Lofly Hangar or the now defunct 610.

The Wilson Pickers:: Because there’s heaps of bands and not enough venues! And there are enough people out there that love live music and don’t just go to clubs to dance to some shit while drinking jager bombs.

Last Dinosaurs: The environment created by Brisbane bands is really encouraging; bands always support each other by going to shows and spreading the word.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT BRISBANITES?

Hungry Kids Of Hungary: The rumours are true. We are exactly what you think we are.

The Gin Club: I hear people say that Brisbane is a boring town. I’ve heard us referred to as rednecks, living in a cultural backwater. I don’t really care what other people think of Brisbane – I think it’s a vibrant city with plenty to offer, and as far as the music scene goes I don’t think we want for much. If you’re willing to go looking for it then there is plenty of great stuff to see in Brisbane. Who needs trams anyway?

The John Steele Singers: That we live in houses on stilts due to flooding.

The Wilson Pickers: That we’re the smart state. Ha. No I don’t think anyone ever fell for that.

Last Dinosaurs: That we wish we were from Sydney or Melbourne.

The Saints – (I’m ) Stranded:

AND FINALLY, BEST LIVE VENUE IN BRISBANE?

Hungry Kids Of Hungary: Can’t go past the Tivoli, it’s such a gorgeous room.

The Gin Club:: It’s a close call, but I’m going to give it to the Zoo I think. It just is all that a music venue needs to be, without pretence or gimmickry. And in the summer, when it’s 35 degrees and the collected sweat of 400 people is dripping from the ceiling, what could possibly beat that?!

The John Steele Singers: On a larger scale the Tivoli, on a medium the Zoo or the Globe and the Lofly Hanger is awesome.

The Wilson Pickers: Tie out of the Tivoli, The Troubadour and the Zoo.

Last Dinosaurs: I think The Zoo is probably the favourite among Last Dinosaurs