ISSUE #2

THE MUSIC’S NOT DEAD.

As we make our final farewells to 2010, we can look back to the year that was and smile; for it was a good one.

Good, for the new bands who have hit the scene; good for the new venues to hit the Valley; and good, for our everlasting tribute to an iconic Brisbane band through the naming of the Go-Between Bridge. Celebrate the year that was with this issue of the Valley: The Music’s Not Dead zine.

A big thankyou to those of you who made the first issue well worth it, we have something worth celebrating here. Also, my best wishes go out to those affected by the recent floods. If you can, please donate.

Keep in touch.

www.themusicisnotdead.com

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THE TROUBADOUR’S LAST SONG

The demise of Brisbane’s music venues

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS

The best moments of 2010

BANDS OF OUR TOWN WITH

The Honey Month3

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THE FLOOD CRISISThe music will survive

EVENT REVIEW:Girls, The Honey Month @

the Zoo

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TOP 10’sThe albums, singles, gigs

and films that rocked my year

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THE HONEY MONTHWITH SO MUCH TALENT COMING OFF THE STREETS, WE’VE DECIDED TO DEDICATE A WHOLE SECTION TO THE NEW BANDS

WHO ARE ROCKING THE SCENE.

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BANDS of our TOWNW/ TOM KULIC` FROM THE HONEY MONTH

www.myspace.com/thehoneymonthwww.thehoneymonth.com

SWEET, SWEET MUSICTHE HONEY MONTH

Liam and I have been playing in bands together since we were about 11. Over time, others have joined us and our influences have expanded.

How did The Honey Month form?

We were named by Kirby (a former/nomadic member) a few years ago when we decided to start a new band. I found out about a year later that ‘The Honey Month’ is an Augie March song, which is cool, because they are cool. We were lucky enough to play with Glenn Richards in Sydney at The Metro Theatre this year for his album launch! His album is rad.

SINCE WINNING A SPOT IN LAST YEAR’S SPLENDOUR IN THE GRASS LINE-UP, BRISBANE’S THE HONEY MONTH, HAVE GAINED QUITE A FOLLOWING. THE BOYS HAVE SINCE MOVED ON TO LAUNCH THEIR DEBUT EP, FOLIAGE, AND WON TRIPLE J’S UNEARTHED COMPETITION FOR PERTH’S ONE MOVEMENT FESTIVAL. CATCH THE HONEY MONTH AS THEY SUPPORT FELLOW BRISBANITES, HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY, AND LAUNCH THEIR SINGLE THE OWL AT WOODLAND BAR IN FEBRUARY.

What is the story behind the name?

What has been your biggest challenge with starting a band in Brisbane?

There weren’t many challenges in starting a band in Brisbane. There are heaps of great musicians everywhere. The early stages like getting shows and exposure can be hard at first, but once you know how to do things, and once you’ve networked enough its all pretty simple. We’re lucky in Brisbane.

Describe the types of instruments you play?

I like having lots of different sounds to play with when structuring a song. For us, its not about trying to use ‘unusual’ instruments for the novelty of it, its about using the ones that compliment a song.

What does the near future hold for The Honey Month and where can fans access your music?

Any last words?

As a music punter, what is your favourite bar/venue in the Valley?

It WAS the Troubadour, now I’m undecided…

When we played at the Great Northern in Byron, David broke his double bass and fell over half way through our last song. I remember that pretty clearly. Apart from that, my most memorable show would be Splendour in the Grass.

We are writing an album at the moment, which is really fun. There’s a whole stack of shows in 2011 lined up for us… some tours even. We have Facebook and all of the usual things, as well as a website.

I don’t think we sound like Mumford and Sons.

Sometimes we get compared to Mumford and Sons…

What fuels your “obsession for unconventional instruments”?

What has been your most memorable live show?

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MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THISThe moments that made 2010 great...

Big Sound

Splendour in the Grass at Woodfordia

Tony Abbot did not become our Prime Minister

Venues: Woodland, Beetle Bar, The Old Museum

Bowery cocktails (always good)

The Zoo - for staying exactly the same

Bands: The Honey Month, Lunch Tapes, Inland Sea

Season of Mad Men

Releases: The Gin Club, Hungry Kids of Hungary, John Steel Singers, We All Want To, Rocketsmiths

Powderfinger facing the truth

4ZZZ turning 35

The Old Museum becoming a venue

Go-Between Bridge: The tribute to the Go-Betweens

NEW!

“SO RETARDED”... and the moments that sucked!

Family, Cloudland, The Met, Mustang are still standing

Growing population of street shitheads

The “make-overs” of Ric’s and Alibi Room

The demise of the iconic Troubadour and Lofly Hanger

The Queensland flood crisisReindeer ears, Australian Flags, My Family stickers or any

car decals.

Jeggings

Bum cheek pants

Sex and the City 2

Justin BieberOpenly racist groups on Facebook

Bought to you by The Saints. 6

ALB

UM

SS

ING

LES

We Used To WaitThere’s Nothing in the Water We Can’t FightLaredoBloodbuzz OhioEasy to LoveO.N.EForever and Ever AmenHold On, I’m Coming OnPalaces of MontezumaNorway

Arcade FireThe National

Cloud ControlBand of Horses

Gareth LiddiardThe Drums

YeasayerThe Gin ClubBeach HouseGrindermanTOP 10s

The SuburbsHigh VioletBliss ReleaseInfinite ArmsStrange TouristThe DrumsOdd BloodDeathwishTeen DreamGrinderman 2

Arcade FireCloud Control

Band of HorsesThe NationalThe Jezabels

YeasayerThe Drums

Dan KellyGrinderman

Beach House

Splendor in the Grass

The Gin ClubLaneway Festival

Gareth Liddiard

Cloud ControlSunset Sounds

Dappled CitiesThe Mess Hall

Dirty ThreeSceneless Warehouse Parties

GIG

S

FIL

MS

Alice in WonderlandAnimal Kingdom

The Blind SideCrazy Heart

Elegance of the HedgehogThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Harry Potter #7 Part 1The King’s Speech

(I know, it’s technically 2011)The Social Network

Tomorrow When the War Began

Highlights: Band of Horses, Grizzly Bear, LCD Soundsystem, Band of Skulls, The Drums@ theTroubadourHighlights: Florence + the Machine@ Old Museum AND @ Troubadour w/ Ben Salter@ the Zoo Highlights: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Dappled Cities@ Hi Fi@ the Zoo@ the TivoliHighlight: the Jezabels

THE TROUBADOUR’S LAST SONGTHE RISE AND FALL OF BRISBANE VENUES

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As the Troubadour shut its doors for the very last time, a dispirited sigh could be heard rippling through the city, as music lovers tried to comprehend why? Why, in this year alone have the demise of two great venues left a large, but fillable hole in Brisbane’s music scene? Yes, fillable, for we have also seen the opening of a promising venue in Woodland.

With the growing number of nightclubs taking over the streets of the Valley, the worry is whether the music venues in the area will continue to survive as the demand changes to suit the crowds. Brisbane has a great music community, but will their support be enough? Ric’s Bar and the Zoo are the last true

music venues in my eyes, and if they were to close all hell would surely break loose. Perhaps I just dislike change, but the Troubadour was truly a great venue. It had the perfect capacity between the Zoo and Ric’s, and had a great atmosphere for gigs. Talks of moving to another suburb has long been discussed, but I find it hard to imagine another like the Valley.

Sure there is always West End, but behind the grunge and grime of the Valley lies something special - I just can’t quite put my finger on it. Perhaps it’s the accessibility and convenience of it being so close to the City, or that it welcomes all kinds of the weird and wonderful. There is a long history that binds Brisbane music to the Valley, let’s hope it isn’t lost to the bullshit of the nightclubs.

// THE NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

WOODLAND

Okay, I know BB is technically outside of the Valley precinct; in fact in Roma Street, but it is fast gaining a reputation amongst music punters.

Not sure about their taste in music, but it is a perfect size venue. Brisbane needs more this size.

BEETLE

BAR

www.woodlandbar.comConiston Lane, Fortitude Valley

Capacity: 450

Look for their page on Facebook350 Upper Roma Street

I like what I have heard so far. Yet to check it out.Sounds like a nice escape from the Valley chaos.

Bands so far: Six Ft Hick, Inland Sea, Bleeding Knees Club, Metronomy, Gentle Ben

Coming up:I Heart HiroshimaLaneway Official after party

OTHER UPCOMING GIGS

Floody Hell @ Beetle Bar JANUARY 26

Celebrate Australia Day with Numbers Radio, Shrewms, Lords of Wong, + more. Tickets $10 and a $2 sausage sizzle. Sweet! Starts midday.

MUSIC FOR A CAUSE

WITH THE CITY IN A STATE OF CRISIS, THE BRISBANE MUSIC SCENE IS PULLING TOGETHER TO DO WHAT THEY DO BEST; PLAY MUSIC FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

Flood Bank:Brisbane Music Benefit Gig@ the Old Museum FEBRUARY 3

You have to experience the Old Museum as a music venue, plus 100% of proceeds go to Premier‘s Relief Fund! Violent Soho, Evil Eddie, Ball Park Music, Inland Sea, + more great acts.

Flood Relief Benefit:All You Need Is Beatles Tribute Night@ the Zoo FEBRUARY 5

Ten of the biggest Brisbane bands are sharing the stage, including Drawn From Bees. Tickets are $25 at the door, and 100% of proceeds go to the Premier‘s Relief Fund.

Float On:Brisbane Music Benefit Gig@ Hi Fi FEBRUARY 6

Featuring Custard, Regurgitator, Screamfeeder, Kate Miller-Heidke, Hungry Kids of Hungary, Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side and Little Scout! 100% of proceeds go to Premier’s Relief Fund.

OTHER UPCOMING GIGS

Gareth Liddiard @ the Zoo

The Honey Month @ Woodland

Best Coast @ Woodland

Best Coast @ Woodland

4 St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival

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Texas Tea @ Ric’s Bar

I Heart Hiroshima @ Woodland

Martha Wainwright @ the Tivoli

Joanna Newsom @ the Tivoli

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

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For more information and for the sources of the posters, see the individual Facebook events pages.

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As the waters rose, many of the Valley venues were forced to close and cancel gigs for most of the week. Now with the clean up and recovery underway, venues, musicians, artists, skaters, dancers, and anyone with even a slight bit of talent, are pulling together to raise money. For more information on all benefit concerts and gigs, check out Friends with Benefits: the Arts Queensland’s Flood Relief Register on Facebook.

Even if you cannot make these benefit gigs, you can help out by donating to the Queensland Premier’s Flood Relief Appeal on 1800 219 028 or online at, www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate

Onstage, the Honey Month can seem a little out of place, looking comfortably dishevelled among their odd assembly of instruments; that is, until they start playing. Their sound has a perfect balance between the strong vocals of lead Tom Kulic, and the light backing of an accordion and many other distinctive instruments. It creates a rather pleasant sound, a mix of folk/indie/pop; the perfect support for the San Franciscan headliners.

The night kicked off in typical Brisbane summer style, with a dense heat following punters into the Zoo. The Honey Month got things started slowly with Cold Light, one of softer tunes on their debut EP Foliage. They seemed to lack the infectious onstage energy from their Big Sound set at the Troubadour, but it didn’t deter from the music; plus the crowd didn’t seem to notice, or care.

The pleased the crowd early with Foliage, a song with some serious drum lines that makes you want to grab some sticks and join them on stage. Almost.

Their set also included new single the Owl, Mother Mercy, and Paper Lips; these songs having the peculiar knack of being familiar to you, though you’ve only heard them once before. The Honey Month are definitely worth catching live, and I’m sure you will get many more chances to.

Hopefully, the same can be said for Girls as they put on a killer set. Greeted warmly to the stage by the crowd and the weather alike, Girls showed that their 2009 release, Album, could be even better. The unpolished sound that makes the album so great comes across perfectly live, though some of their Californian-ness did get a little lost.

Playing all the favourites; Lust for Life, Laura, Hellhole Ratrace, Summertime, and Big Bad Mean Motherfucker, Girls had the crowd knee bopping and swaying hypnotically in turn. Extra brownie points were rewarded for coming back on for an encore with Life in San Francisco, which was accompanied by the waft of weed and a group sing-a-long. A perfect ending.

13 LIVE REVIEW

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLENI TOUMPASWWW.LTMUSICPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

GIRLS // THE HONEY MONTH@the Zoo DECEMBER 9 2010

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ELLENI TOUMPASWWW.LTMUSICPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

www.themusicisnotdead.comQUARTERLY PUBLICATION

ISSUE #2

S/A 2010/2011