Bootleg Sessions @ The Phoenix(16/1/07)

Wed 17th Jan, 2007 in Gig Reviews

Who would have thought that the weekly Monday Bootleg Session night at the Phoenix was
the most happening thing in Canberra? I went there on Monday the 16th of January to see
Eileen Fransisco, Sanjiva de Silva, One Night Jam and Dahahoo. As it turned out, punters
(including staff and reviewers such as myself) had to wait in line outside, until some people
inside left, so you could enter to hear the exciting new sounds from Canberra’s own
upcoming artists. As the night progressed, the line became longer, but doesn’t seem to
move anywhere, except to compact further at the front, while the people who were
comfortably inside would be mad to leave their ambient surroundings.

To most it would seem that the people lined-up outside were jealous, envious and even
frustrated to not be inside with the rest of the acoustic-music-loving, headscarf-wearing and
hippie-sandaled young people. But it didn’t seem the case here – after about 40mins of
standing in line, I was informed by the staff at the door that even the people in the middle
of the line (the people such as myself) would not have a hope of getting in until AFTER the
music was over! I then started wondering why people would keep lining up and stay so
patiently in line. My conclusion to this was that the line outside was probably the more
happening place to be! There were all sorts of intellectual and some not-so-intellectual
conversations going on, and anyone could join in; there was the hacky-sack circle with the
rolled-up/recycled burrito wrapper ball and there were lots of entertaining antics from the
sometimes semi-drunk, enthusiastic bunch to keep everyone entertained.

As entertaining as it was to stand in a line without progress, I tried my best to listen to the
artists performing and making some sort of review of the music, rather then of all the other
things that were happening around me. All I could in fact make out was a few fading guitar
chords and a few soulful cries over the clinking of beer glasses, bellowing chit-chat and
laughter, and of course all the entertainment of the lined-up bunch surrounding me. I felt
that it would be more worthwhile coming extremely early next week to get a good seat. By
the time I had finally made the decision to leave the unhopeful situation, there were still
people lining up, to the extent that I estimated that there must have been more people
lined up than there were actually in the bar itself! The line had grown to nearly down the
other end of the street! This was defiantly something special of which not only the owners
of the phoenix should be proud of, but also the people inside who had a seat, the artists –
whom I’m sure played excellently – and also the people of Canberra who show such support
and loyalty to their rising stars and songwriters. I can’t wait to go back and see what it’s
like on the inside next week.