Mister Brisbane: Music makers
Lollies, libraries, life moments and live entertainment.
Earlier this month, when I was curating the @wearebrisbane Twitter account, I asked people to name their favourite Brisbane band (or “Brizband” for short). The responses reminded me of two things: how many great musical acts have come from the River City, and how diverse those acts have been.
Along with the better-known (to me, at least) bands such as Powderfinger, The Go-Betweens, Custard, Regurgitator, Butterfingers, Screemfeeder, WAAX (pictured above) and Wickety Wak, Tweeps mentioned, among many others, Whalehouse, Ball Park Music, Resin Dogs, Gota Cola, the Goon Sax, Dänmark, Bothers Stoney, The Chats, Tired Lions, Sekiden, Popproperly, Violent Soho, The Paper and The Plane, Bandit Heeler, We Set Sail, Dreamkillers and The Grates.
I’d never heard of many of these acts, and I bet I’ve spelt some of them wrong (and in all likelihood some of them aren’t from Brisbane). And I’m sure that there are many others that weren’t named — including one of my favourites, The Riptides, and pub acts such as Rusty and Ayers Rockettes. And I know it’s a cliché, but I’ve got to ask: is/was Brisbane the new Liverpool, Manchester, Seattle or [insert name of another city that has spawned a bunch of influential and successful bands], or is it no more special than any other Australian city? If the former, what is it about Brisbane that produces excellent music makers?
Tune in to the Mister Brisbane radio show on Reading Radio at 1296AM and on DAB+ in Brisbane at 6.30pm on Tuesday nights. It’s also available as a podcast. Just search for “Mister Brisbane” on your favourite player or follow this link.
HEARTBREAK HOUSE
Brisbane’s own Juanita Phillips, who now reads the news on the ABC in NSW, recently posted a terribly sad picture (above) on Twitter. It showed the house she used to own — where she “rebuilt [her] life” and raised her children — being demolished by its new owners. It struck a chord with me because my childhood home is probably facing the same fate. It’s only made of bricks and mortar (or, in my case, fibro), but a house is more than just that. It’s the scene of life’s triumphs and defeats, and a safe haven from the world when things get tough on the outside. I feel for you, Juanita.
SWEET STUFF
When I bought a car at a Brisbane dealership recently, one of the tasks was to organise insurance. The woman who normally handles this was away that day, so a colleague stepped in to help me. He was sitting in her office and having trouble finding the correct paperwork. “Every drawer is full of lollies,” he said — and he opened up four different drawers in the desk and on a side cabinet and, sure enough, they were full of chocolates and other sweets. Does anybody else do this? If so, what’s in your secret stash? I try not to eat lollies or chocolates any more, because I’m and “all or nothing” type of person. But if I was going to treat myself, I’d probably buy a box of Cadbury Favourites. If only they contained a Crunchie …
BOOK WORK
I visited my local library the other day and, I’m a little ashamed to say, it wasn’t to browse or borrow a book. It was to pick up the library card that I’d ordered online. My relationship with the Brisbane City Council library network has been virtual for a long time. In fact, I can only just remember the last time I borrowed actual books from the Mitchelton Library (pictured above) — and that was about 15 years ago.
At home, I mainly read via a Kindle, and I get much of the information I used to get from books online. It makes me wonder whether printed books will cease to be available. I believe the industry is healthy now, so I suppose they’ll outlive me. But will you be able to walk into a physical library and blow the dust off a well-read tome in the year 2121?
P.S. After reading my item last week about my books, Kate drew my attention to the many street libraries in Brisbane. There’s even a Facebook Group about them.
COME TO THE CABARET
Can too much cabaret ever be enough? I’ve already noted that Club Cremorne is open at QPAC on January 28, now comes news that Cabaret de Paris (above) will be happening at the Playhouse on February 27. It’s described as “a stage spectacular celebrating old-fashioned showgirl glamour combined with the skill of adagio dancers, aerial pole artistry, comedy circus performers, quick change acts, illusionists and of course, the famous French Cancan dancers”. Oh, and before all that, Vanguard Burlesque is performing at La La Land at the Prince Consort Hotel in Fortitude Valley on January 30. Packages including food and drinks are on sale here.
Also upcoming: Emma Dean plays at the Powerhouse on January 30; the On Fire: Climate and Crisis exhibition opens at the Institute of Modern Art in the Valley on January 30 and runs until March 20; and the outdoor gallery Sunnyside Up exhibition continues across Brisbane.
FEEDBACK
Thanks to Julie for the email saying last week’s newsletter was a “fun read”. She also said she agreed with many of the “worst of Brisbane” comments. “I HATE Brisbane traffic — i.e. logjams, inconsistent drivers, suburban streets redeveloped with multi dwellings, crowded with cars and narrowed to an alley width. Seems to take twice as long to get from A to B than it did 5 years ago.”
Cathy also emailed, saying: “I noted with amusement the instructions you were given by the car dealership as to how you should fill out the survey regarding your recent purchase. I have bought, or been involved in the purchase of, quite a number of new cars in the past 25 years, and the same thing happens no matter what brand of car you’re buying. I have been known to suggest caustically to the salesperson that maybe I should forward the survey form back to him so he can fill it out himself. There has only even been one really dreadful experience … and I didn’t hold back when I filled in the survey. Interestingly, I received no feedback whatsoever from them, so presumably they didn’t care after all.”