11 June ‘14
free
TSUN…
High Times and Moonshrine
issue #009
MUSIC
TSUN Hard-Ons Boy+Bear GC Folk Festival City Over Sand
CULTURE
Paula Stafford Overfed undernourished Mudd Rush memoir Graham Hancock
ENVIRO
Great Barrier Boomerang Bags Tucker in the dunes What is right and wrong?
MUSIC
DMA’s Roku Music Nine Sons of Dan Rabbit Radio comp
FOOD
Marketta supper club Blackboard Coffee Board culture
#009 11 JUNE 2014 Editor: Samantha Morris Design: Chloe Popa, Blunt Pencil Music Coordinator: Mella Bunker Distribution: Melanie Brennan Advertising: Amanda Gorman and Melanie Brennan Enivronment Editor: Mic Smith Sub Editor: Cody McConnell Cover photo: TSUN, pictured in Kombi kindly provided by Oliver Mork. Photo by Jake Wilton Other photographers: Jake Wilton, Samantha Morris, Kyle Butcher, Sly Steve, Marj Osborne, Catherine Coburn, Pip Andreas, Nina-Rae Writers: Terry “Tappa� Teece, Anthony Gebhardt, Marj Osborne, Kyle Butcher, Pip Andreas, Emily Hosking, Christie Ots, Samantha Morris, Jake Wilton, Catherine Coburn, Naomi Edwards, Mic Smith, Andrew Scott, Nev Pearce, Mella Bunker, Sly Steve, Jay Boy (Sessionkatz)
Editorial: news@blankgc.com.au Advertising: advertising@blankgc.com.au
Blank GC is an independently owned and published magazine, with all of our writers contributing their time pro-bono to boosting the cultural scene on the Gold Coast. Founded in 2013 with the goal of busting those boring stereotypes which have surrounded the Gold Coast for decades, we rely on advertising to keep us in the fray. Opinions expressed herein, are not necessarily those of the Editor, Publishers or of the writing team.
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point blank Joan as Police Woman
Classic Joan as Police Woman It’s 2011, and Joan as Police Woman has sold out her Australian tour and released the classic The Deep Field. Since that time she’s starred in BBC’s celebration of the music of Sandy Denny and appeared on Orchestral Variations V.01 reimagining the Smiths’ The Night has Opened My Eyes. She’s also returned to the studio and created The Classic Critics. And fans are united in their praise. The many sides of Joan Wasser will be on full display when she returns for a tour that’s bound to bring a warm, sensual glow to the Australian winter. It’ll be a classic. Catch Joan Wasser at HiFi Bar Brisbane, Tuesday 24 June and see our giveaway page for free tickets! Collaborative rock from The Strums If you like your music energised and delivered by true believers, then the double-header of The Strums and Cafeine (Canada) will be up your alley. The Strums and their this is a fuckin rock n roll tour come to The Loft Chevron Island with Canadian Xavier Cafeine – a legendary punk poet from Montreal. Get your rock on - Saturday 5 July. Underground surfers Burleigh Underground Drummers will host an underground surfers movie event with live music, food and coffee on Friday 4 July. Doors from 7.00pm and live music from 8.00pm. Get all the details at facebook.com/bud4220. International Surfing Day at Komune While on the topic of underground surfers, Komune will help you celebrate International Surfing Day with a stellar lineup of local talent on Friday 20 June. On the bill are Robbie Miller, Christine Olive and Jemma Donovan. Things kick off at 7.00pm and you can get more details at facebook. com/surfridergct. Mass Sky Raid with Caligula’s Horse GC prog rockers Mass Sky Raid have been quiet on the live scene of late, as they spend time recording the follow up to
their Courage under Fire EP. But that’s about to change when they support Caligula’s Horse at Coolangatta Hotel this Friday 13 June. They’ll be joined by Burning Brooklyn and Opus of a Machine. NZ Pacific Island musical hits GC Following a sold-out premiere season in Auckland, and critical acclaim at the Auckland Arts Festival, the NZ musical The Factory will stop by Arts Centre Gold Coast for two nights next month. The uplifting musical gem, fuelled by a romantic narrative, is a tribute to the courage, contribution and sacrifices of the Pacific peoples who migrated to New Zealand during the 1970s. Opening with a powerful call to ancestral roots delivered by a cast of 15, The Factory features a dazzling array of vibrant, soulful and exuberant songs, slick choreography and a live band. For two nights only: Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 July. More at theartscentregc. com.au. Always wanted to be in a garage band? Garage Band is a program which mentors and encourages young GC musicians. At the initial sign-on and jam, the musicians are placed into bands and tasked with performing three songs at the final gig. The 10-week program is well underway with 45 young musicians in rehearsals for their public performance. That show takes place on Saturday 21 June at Hard Rock Café from 12 noon. Get along and support some up and coming GC talent! Reichelt
showcase brings together many of the TAFE’s creative areas, including Diploma of Music and Sound Production students who have written a song and will perform it on the night, the Live Theatre, Performance and Events students who have developed the layout of the theatre as well as contributions from Interior Design students and Screen and Media students. The event takes place this Thursday 12 June from 6.00pm at TAFE Gold Coast Coomera, Foxwell Road. Business Chicks go all Churchy Business Chicks is bringing internationally renowned speaker Matt Church to Bond University for a special workshop on Wednesday 23 July. Matt is one of Australia’s most successful public speakers – with recognition as one of the top 25 most influential people in the speaking profession globally. And just this year he was awarded Australian Speaker of the Year. More at businesschicks.com.au/events. Commitments Show hits Twin Towns Last year Australia welcomed ecstatic news that Irish singer Andrew Strong would be touring The Commitments show and would be hitting our shores in August through till September. After a handful of sold out performances in Australia in 2013, Andrew Strong is bringing the show back in 2014. Based on the 1992 Alan Parker cult classic film The Commitments is something of a rags-to-riches story that sees the group fall just short of stardom. The movie received massive international recognition. Andrew Strong: The Commitments Australian Tour has recaptured the success of the band and film with the 8-piece band performing all the hits. The show comes to Twin Towns Services Club on Saturday 26 July with tickets on sale now. Check our giveaways page for details on how to score tickets. RAW REVOLUTION @ The Soundlounge
Ribcage release for Reichelt Love songs for moths, existential questions about being a snail shell and aggressive songs about dungeons and dragons are all laid bare as GC alternative power folk outfit Reichelt releases his third album and a new film clip. Reichelt first released music in 2008 and started playing live, solo with an accordion. Since then, he’s experimented with several combinations, touring as a two piece to Japan and recording with a three piece band. This third album Books on Tape features many Gold Coast artists with producer and fellow band mate Guy Cooper taking production reins. In addition to this third album Reichelt has re-released previously sold out copies of his previous two albums Snakes & Ladders and Deep Sea Creatures. All three albums, the new video clip and a free download are available at reicheltmusic.com. TAFE graphic design showcase FUSE will showcase the work of TAFE Queensland Gold Coast’s Graphic Design graduating class. Held at the Coomera campus, graduating students will display their portfolios to the public and industry professionals. The
RAW: Natural born artists in full swing RAW: natural born artists is an international independent arts organisation that hand-selects and spotlights independent creatives. Its global community provides up-andcoming artists of all mediums and genres with the resources, exposure and networks needed to pursue a fruitful career in their chosen creative field. After five years of championing, exposing and cultivating artists of every medium throughout the world, the RAW REVOLUTION launched at The Soundlounge Currumbin last month to an enthralled audience and overwhelmingly positive response. RAW showcase events are held bi-monthly in over 90 cities across the globe. The Soundlounge Currumbin will play host to showcases in July, September and November with the next event to be held Friday 12 July. More at rawartists.org/goldcoast/. www.blankgc.com.au
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Soldiers of the Sun on a swingin’ sojourn The diverse timbre of a roots smorgasbord lies at the heart of the Soldiers Of The Sun’s music and fills their live shows with unbridled joy. The Soldiers’ sounds take the listener on an aural tour through alt-country, bluegrass, funk and old time shuffle feels; mixes them around in a big bowl with some brilliantly eclectic lyrics; creating a mash up of contemporary lyricism and vintage sounds – ensuring there is something for everyone both on their new album and at their dynamic live shows. Lucky for you, Soldiers of the Sun bring their roots-fuelled live show to Swingin’ Safari on Sunday 29 June. Listen up … Listen Out is Australia’s boutique national dance music event, with the team behind it bringing you such adored festivities as Field Day, Shore Thing and Harbourlife. Listen Out will showcase the best dance music in a small setting. It hits Brisbane on Sunday 5 October at The Avenues and Expo Place, Brisbane Showgronds. More details at listen-out.com.au. Vultures shoot new video GC blues-rock trio The Vultures have just finished working with Shutter Speed Productions on a debut music video for their song Shot me Down. It will be released 10 June 2014. Follow The Vultures at facebook.com/thevulturesband and check out their video on https://www.youtube.com/VulturesBandOfficial.
Lismore Lantern Parade The Lismore Lantern Parade is an annual community arts festival held around the longest night of the year, the winter solstice. This year sees the event mark its 20th anniversary, celebrating community, art and nature with arts, crafts, workshops, regional cuisine, markets, a spectacular parade, lanterns, bands, street theatre, music, carnival dancers, illuminated puppets, fire art and pyrotechnics and much, much more... The event attracts around 30,000 and takes place in the heart of Lismore CBD on Saturday 21 June. More information at lanternparade.com/ Eumundi Live While on the topic of winter celebrations, Eumundi Live’s Wintersun Festival is just around the corner. With shining artists over two stages, this boutique music festival includes funk, soul, bluegrass, rock, folk and indie-pop artists and supports local charities. On the bill are Elliot The Bull, Tanya Batt, Funkzilla, His Merry Men, Kyle Lionhart, Mustered Courage, Christian Patey and Hannah Rosa. There’s also circus acts, pop-up dancers, arts on the green and a kid’s 4
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zone. Tickets are just $22.50 and kids attend free. Get more info at euundilive.com.au. Culinary joy at 19 Karen Creative catering company Fingers and Bones is bringing its culinary delights to 19 Karen and will transform the gallery in a night of art, music and cuisine to satisfy the senses. In this, the first of the gallery’s Artist Dinners, Anne Smerdon will be featured. Ann is a talented local artist whose whimsical folk-fantasy works reflect her meticulous design skills and education as an architect. The Artist Dinner Series launches on Saturday 28 June at 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace and more information is available at 19karen.com.au. Free grant writing seminar City of Gold Coast is hosting a free grant writing seminar this Thursday 19 June at Robina Library. The seminar is being delivered by Samantha Morris (our editor) who has been writing grants professionally for more than 20 years. Sam will break down the grant writing process and give you a bunch of handy resources to help you hone your grant writing skills. The seminar takes place from 5.45 – 6.45pm and more information is available from the library. Bassidi Koné. Photo courtesy Freya Manning
Fluming into the GC The Flumes have released a new album Sweet, Sweet Rain and will bring their national tour to Byron Bay in July. Tracks on their new record explore long drunken walks, the moon, unsustainable greed and ‘letting shit go’. You can catch The Flumes at Byron Bay Brewery on 4 July and at Teneriffe Festival Brisbane on 5 July. Ladies featured on free compilation Clear Springs Entertainment is giving away a compilation CD full of female artists and female fronted bands from Australia and overseas. The very limited edition CD is only available by visiting www.parx-e.com on Friday 22 August and once gone, they’re gone. 21 acts feature on the CD including Aveberee, Steph Hannah, DEJA, Manor and many more. Young Writers: look lively Young writers aged 18 to 25 are being invited to enter a short story of 2500 words or less in the State Library of Queensland’s Young Writers Award with a $2000 prize and career launching opportunities up for grabs. A workshop here on the Gold Coast will take place Saturday 14 June, with Queensland Writers Centre offering new writers some pointers to help with their entry. More information is available at slq.qld.gov.au and entries close Friday 18 July. Australian Idol hits Sharks Casey Barnes is a busy lad. As well as training for his first GC Marathon, he’s also preparing to hit the stage at Southport Sharks. Casey was a top twelve finalist in Australian Idol 2009, but he’d already had a strong career before appearing on the show. His songs are honest and heartfelt. See for yourself on Friday 13 June from 8.30pm. More at southportsharks.com.au. GC Show is music to our ears For the first time ever, the Gold Coast Show is looking for a theme song. And Gold Coast musicians and song writers have been invited to pen it. Local songwriters and musicians are expected to play a big role in this year’s event, as it moves to its new home at GC Turf Club. Entries to the theme song competition close Thursday 12 June though, so you have to be exceptionally quick. All the details are at goldcoastshow. com.au. The Show happens from 29 – 31 August.
Malian percussionist drums up interest on the coast Renowned Malian percussionist and balafon player Bassidi Koné will warm you up with a special workshop open to Gold Coaters. Presented by Rhythm Culture, Bassidi’s jaw-dropping performances are a delight – his djembe and balafon playing a phenomenal sight to trained musicians anywhere in the world. You can immerse yourselves in west African culture and rhythm with Bassidi’s Affrican Druming workshop, which comes to Burleigh on Saturday 5 July. For more details and bookings, rhythmculture.com.au.
ABC live from Arts Centre For the second time this year, Scott Lamond and his Drive show will hit the Arts Centre Gold Coast for a live outdoor broadcast. Friday 20 June will see blues outfit Hell and Whiskey as well as Sarah Frank get you ready for a big weekend at Broadbeach Country Music Festival. It all goes down in the forecourt of the Arts Centre from 3.00pm.
Send your news to news@blankgc.com.au.
A LONG ROAD TO HOME Fresh from their overseas tour Australian band Boy & Bear are on home ground and touring. Christie Ots caught up with drummer Tim Hart about vinyl, missing home and meeting an idol. While there are definitely perks to being a musician, the music industry is constantly changing and changing with it is something the band is continuously trying to do. “Our perception of the industry has changed,” Tim said. “But I think the music industry has also changed. It’s quite a different place to when we started, the one thing that has become more important is touring,” “Everyone knows that record sales are shrinking; it’s more of a streaming service model. Your perspective has to change, you go into it naïve with an ideal of what it’s like, so five years later we’re just fortunate that we’re able to sustain our work.” Having released their sophomore album Harlequin Dream late last year the Boy & Bear have been busy touring overseas, before returning home for a regional tour. It seems like the band is on the road for the entire year, but Tim doesn’t seem phased. “It’s been great,” he says. “We’re fortunate to have the work. Overseas was great - travelling through the UK, Europe and then into North America and Canada. Touring’s so different in Australia, but it has been amazing.” However touring overseas doesn’t really lend itself to a lot of sightseeing. Tim explains that the tight tour schedule meant that they didn’t even get to spend the night in some cities. Things are a bit different when they get home and their theatre tour, that begins 3 September and sees the guys playing Arts Centre Gold Coast and some of the country’s most stately venues. “For theatres like the Palais and the Opera House we wanted to do something different from what we’d done before and be able to provide people with a different experience,” he said.
The band also lost a bass player last year with Jake Tarasenko leaving the band and being replaced by Dave Symes. While this has changed the touring dynamic Tim has nothing but well wishes for his former band-mate and friend. “I miss him on the road as a mate. He’s pretty stoked with what he’s doing at the moment, studying and living in Sydney with his wife. So it has been a change, but we keep travelling and moving forward.” Moving is exactly what they’re doing, touring continuously from January through to December, and it’s hard not to miss the comforts of home. “It’s strange,” Tim laughed. “And my girlfriend and parents probably won’t be happy about it, but the thing I miss most is the food.” “I really love coming home and going to a café; the food at home is such great quality. You don’t know places when you’re travelling as well as you know places in your hometown. I do miss my friends and family though.” Harlequin Dream was released on vinyl, which is definitely a burgeoning trend that the band supports whole-heartedly.
“A theatre show is very different to a stand up show, it has a different vibe, and I think variety is important. It challenges us to come up with something different and the dynamic changes; also I’m from Sydney and I grew up being taken to the Opera House for shows, so it’s exciting.”
“First and foremost we’re music lovers, the way we consume music now has changed since our parents were kids, but I think the fact that records are making a comeback is a wonderful thing,” Tim said.
Having released their debut album Moonfire in 2009 it has been a busy five years for the band, filled with highlights such as winning five ARIA awards and touring with Mumford & Sons.
“The great thing is these days if you buy vinyl most of the time it comes with a digital download card, so you can have that on your computer but also have that warm nostalgic avenue to listen to music. I think it makes more of a moment when you listen to music on vinyl.”
However Tim explains that one of his personal highlights was meeting a personal idol. “I would have to say meeting Cat Stevens was really cool. When you’re an aspiring musician there are people that you look up to, and you respect their talents and the way they have forged their career, and then you meet those people and realise they’re just normal human beings,” he said.
The warmth and nostalgia of their music comes through in live shows as well, with the band putting on a show that envelopes the audience and makes them feel included.
Boy & Bear play Arts Centre Gold Coast Friday 12 September.
G o l dolCko as t F Music
Festival
20-21 September 2014 Free e
- Wes Carr from 12npmtry! - John Schumann
- Round Mountain Girls - Coolgrass - Hat Fitz and Cara - Michael Fix - The Company - Quatro ... plus more! Workshops for guitar, banjo, ukulele, song writing, plus more...
Country Paradise Parklands
231 Beaudesert Nerang Road, Nerang QLD coastacoustics.com.au – 0420 861 911 Proudly supported by:
FOLK MUSIC A BIG DEAL IN SEPTEMBER Gold Coast Acoustic Music Club
The Gold Coast Folk Music Festival will be held on 15 hectares in Nerang with an all-weather venue and a massive lineup of 20 bands. Wes Carr, John Schumann, Round Mountain Girls, Coolgrass, Hat Fitz and Cara, Michael Fix, The Company and more are already confirmed for the lineup. With two free days of folk, blues, bluegrass, singer songwriters, workshops and jam sessions, this free event allows you to sit back and enjoy the tunes, or bring your guitar and jam with the stars. The event is being supported by Coast Acoustics and City of Gold Coast and takes place 20 – 21 September at Country Paradise Parklands, 231 Beaudesert-Nerang Road. Get more information at www.coastacoustics.com.au. Samantha Morris www.blankgc.com.au
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TSUN…HIGH TIMES AND MOONSHRINE From Flaming Lips style live theatrics to radio play in Greece and crowd surfing at Elsewhere, it’s been a rapidly eclectic ascension for Gold Coast psychedelic rock band TSUN. Anthony Gebhardt caught up with the guys recently to chat on all things past, present and future in the land of the rising TSUN. For the past two years Gold Coast psychedelic chameleons TSUN have been blazing a trail of kaleidoscopic wonderment across the local musical landscape. Their organic and soulful take on the whole psych-rock phenomenon has been leaving audiences in slack jawed awe, including this here writer who witnessed them swirl and soar as part of the killer line up of bands that played at the Coolie Hotel in March when Californian beach-goth band The Growlers were in town. First up let’s get clarity on the band’s name. Officially it’s pronounced as ‘sun’, despite the presence of the arty ‘T’ out the front lending itself to differing interpretations - t-sun and Tsuun being a few of the more common gaffes. But as with fabulous San Franciscan psych-infused wanderers Wooden Shjips, the presence of an alien letter simply adds to the mystique of the band’s swirling template. And at the end of the day it’s all fine and dandy with the guys anyway, the interpretive openness aligning with their psychedelically free-form ethos, as guitar player and organist Joel (aka Juniper Choir) states; ”Whatever people want to call us, it’s up to them. If anything that adds to it for us. You can interpret a song your own way, so why not interpret the name your own way too. But it is just ‘sun’ for the record!” The band have very recently signed a management deal with Brisbane’s Smack Face Records, which has resulted in the release of two new tracks, Short Sighted Times and MoonShrine, which will shortly be available on that delightfully collectable sonic medium of 7 inch vinyl. Although only having just come out, the new songs have had a somewhat longer gestation period, as drummer Joel Sparkes explains. ”You can hear the evolution between the Marmalade single (the bands previous release) and the new songs. We actually recorded these new tracks nearly 12 months ago, but for us ourselves it is like a brand new release, as we’ve had them sitting dormant for about three or four months trying to rework them,” he said. “Live they sound different to the recordings already. When we recorded MoonShrine it was nearly a nine and a half minute song and we kind of had to re-evaluate…We didn’t go in there to re-edit for radio, we did it to re-edit for vinyl. We wanted it to be as high quality as possible for a 7 inch release. But we will provide a download of the original length track with the vinyl.” With the presence of renowned local singer-songwriter Karl S Williams, one could be mistaken for assuming that the band revolves very much around his creative axis. TSUN however are very much a four headed, collaborative beast, with each of the band members contributing to the music making process, bringing ideas, riffs and song skeletons to the table in order for the band entity to work their collective mojo, which then morph into finished songs over a creative development period that may stretch across months. Collaboration and equality in action, as Juniper Choir elaborates. ”It’s very much a collage of four minds. One person may have a whole song written, but it’s not going to sound the same when it’s brought to the table and the four of us play it together. When we play it each of us plays it our own way.’’ Drummer Joel completes the rumination; “We love that, it’s open to interpretation, that’s why we have our sound, because we all have our own individual flair on each instrument.” 6
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In addition to the otherworldly aspect of the band’s sound, there’s also something very organic and soulful in the way that TSUN approach their song craft. The band are more than adept at both locking into a head nodding psych-groove as well as stripping things back and letting the music breathe. A place where soaring crescendos, tempo changes, abstract time signatures and pastoral interludes co-exist in dreamy harmony - sometimes within the confines of the one song! That all important musical telepathy and band chemistry is clearly evident when the guys make music together, and the band tapped into their instinctively aligned musical mojo very early in the piece, as bassist Jared Franzen explains. “We pretty much locked into it the first night the four of us jammed together,” he said. “That in itself is something that still blows me away! I listen back to old demos where we came up with one little chord progression, where all of a sudden there is a new change and things just evolved and everyone just changed at the same time in the same key and it sounds like it’s been played 1000 times before, and it’s like …how did we know? That was the first night Joel ever played drums, he was originally the bass player! The original drummer didn’t turn up for the jam and I’d just flown in from LA, so I jumped on bass and Joel jumped on drums and it’s been the same ever since!”
on the back of their live shows, the band have already ventured south to test the waters in the bigger musical ponds of Sydney, and more recently some shows down in Melbourne. “The first little tour we did was down to Sydney, which was quite well received, we got a pretty good turn out with a lot of positive feedback,” said drummer Joel. Not to mention dreams of overseas sojourns, with US shows and the holy grail of getting onto the bill of the legendary annual Austin Psych Fest in Texas something the band aspire to in the future. Which is not as far-fetched as it may seem, with Brisbane ‘heavy psych’ jammers Dreamtime managing to get themselves onto the line-up in 2013. Keyboard conjurer and vocalist Karl S Williams elaborates. “We talked to Dreamtime about that, because I was so impressed, and I think it was a case of them basically asking! They’ve obviously got great music, which is highly important of course. But that’s really heartening for us, to know that they were able to do that. I guess for us, The USA and the Austin Psych Fest is something we aspire to. Especially now with the Smack Face (Records) management deal, they’ve got a lot of connections back to The States.” But if all else fails there’s always Greece, as Juniper Choir jokes. “It’s either Austin or Greece, we’ve been featured on Greece’s version of Triple J, we got show offers and distribution offers and people over there are buying our music, which is a buzz!” And there’s talk of maybe more 7 inch releases in the pipeline, presenting the band with the freedom to deliver a two song snapshot of their current oeuvre and musical headspace rather than simply compiling a heap of random tracks together just for the sake of putting out a full album. ”We’re still playing with our sound, experimenting with song writing styles and we wanna have that time to grow. We’d love to sample a few different studios as well, to find one that really suits us,” Jared said. I asked the band to name a particularly memorable local show here on the Gold Coast that readily spring to mind, and Karl pipes up with the following gem…”I recall maybe our first show at Elsewhere (in Surfers Paradise), because I crowd surfed at that show and I hadn’t done that anywhere before.” Who would have thought! The band are also very excited and positive about the current state of the underground Gold Coast music scene, with like-minded musical comrades aligning to support each other, from attending each other’s shows to endorsing each other’s work in interviews.
Image courtesy of Jake Wilton
“The quality of the music coming out of the Gold Coast and Brisbane at the moment, especially some of the psych stuff, is really really fantastic. It sounds crazy, but some of the new up and coming local bands (in the genre) are making some of the best music around at the moment for sure, it would hold its own anywhere!! It’s good to be a part of,” Juniper Choir enthused.
Seeing TSUN perform live can often be a visual and celebratory experience. From the uniquely tailored dapperness that each of the band brings to the table, a predilection for psychedelically aligned stage props through to beach balls and confetti randomly fired into the crowd (a la Wayne Coyne and his merry band of Flaming Lips), these are all things that one may potentially experience at a TSUN show. And as is the nature of the psychedelic music genre, the band allow themselves to jam out the tracks in a live setting when the mood arises.
There you have it. There’s a world class scene bubbling away under the surface right here on our door step, with TSUN very much at the forefront! So be sure to catch the band in all their home-spun, technicolour glory the next time they’re in your neck of the woods. You will be impressed… promise!
“We’ve got a lot of free form sections which we can make as long or as short as we want, depending on crowd involvement and the feeling on a particular night, how everyone’s vibing you know?” Jared said. “It’s really funny sometimes when Joel gets in a trance with the drums and I’m trying to signal him into the next part and his eyes are just glazed over….”
The current TSUN AA single (that would be a double A side!), Short Sighted Times and MoonShrine, is currently available for download and can be heard via SoundCloud.
Anthony Gebhardt
Vinyl copies of the single will be available at upcoming shows and online very soon!
Amidst much mirth and laughter from the band Juniper Choir interjects. “Karl’s the best at it, he doesn’t even have to communicate, we’ll all change and he just changes straight away.” On the touring front, as well as raising their local profile substantially over the past year www.blankgc.com.au
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THE GAZING EFFECT Every once in a while an independent album receives only minor critical praise, and yet develops a strong cult appreciation. What is it that the critics or mass media don’t see in the record that dedicated music lovers do? At the time of release it may appear loveless, but like a fine wine, it ages better. Groups such as Slint, Neutral Milk Hotel and Slowdive weren’t as fondly realised in their time as they are now. Brisbane’s own Roku Music seem to fit this category as the group have made a debut that even surprised them. Jake Wilton was lucky enough to snag guitarist Donovan Miller on the phone. While the Brisbane music scene is an eccentric mix of indie prowess and the occasional rock or metal act, it seems one thing lacking is a shoegaze community.
“I don’t even think MBV pioneered that sound,” he said. “There were a lot of bands before them in the ’80s that are in influence.”.
“I don’t think we’re out of place. It just seems like there aren’t any real scenes based around what particular bands sound like,” said Miller.
While some new-wave shoegaze bands have mixed storytelling into the game, Roku Music play it classic with minimal and barely audible lyrics. Retracing emotional experiences through the genre is not a new concept.
Roku Music’s members all come from other musical outfits: No Anchor, Pastal Blaze, The Madisons to name but a few. Yet it was the core love for exploding shoegaze music of Donnie and Innez, which catalysed the band. In a classic tale of bedroom recordings to four-piece studio band, Roku Music have tossed many a demo tape in the trash before settling on the powerful shoegaze and dream-pop heard on their debut Collider. “There’s a song on the record called Primitive which we eventually released on an earlier cassette. That’s what we decided to build the band’s sound around,” he said. That sound being a blend of My Bloody Valentine’s propulsive and extreme textures combined with the aesthetics of the Pixies’ loud-to-quiet reformed technique. My Bloody Valentine’s signature sound is smeared all across Collider. Donnie and the rest of the band have constructed a shoegaze record worthy enough to grace Kevin Shields’ ears. They just don’t entirely know it yet. Miller questions the comparison with My Bloody Valentine in terms of song-writing but sees the similarities with big, swirling guitar sounds and vocal techniques. 8
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Shoegaze, of course, isn’t everyone’s go-to genre, but if set in the right mood and mind frame the music can tell you things you thought you would never hear. “A lot of the lyrics are transparent. When it comes to playing it live, I mean, there are a few words that set the theme but most of the time I just make it up. There’s a particular idea that goes with each song but I’m not necessarily the greatest at memorising lyrics,” he said. Through the release of their debut, these Brisbane locals were able to travel around Australia dosing out some heavy tunes and enlightening a fan or two along the way. And boy did they go they far and wide. Alice Springs, Darwin, Fremantle and the list, staggeringly, goes on. This is in part thanks to a grant the band won to tour the release. “Touring all these places isn’t always an option but because we got the grant we thought we should probably take full advantage of that. In saying that, we thought it to be a good idea to play at rarely visited places. Especially for a band of our size; a virtually unknown band.”
In March, Roku Music also found themself a rare support slot with Georgian sludge-metal makers Kylesa on their Australian tour. Gold is Roku Music’s epiphany moment from their debut. The dense, layered guitar tones whirl over Innez’s comparatively tiny voice. It builds to an arpeggiated monster of a chorus that could break down any emotionaly-fragile human being. Instead of me regurgitating Roku Music facts, I’ll let their bandcamp be the judge of their debut. “Collider lilts and conjures in a weary gaze. It is a transcendent whole of stirringly beautiful sounds and a collection of songs that are the most crafted the band has ever produced. There is a path less traveled here; a presence and lightness that, while familiar, offers a new and shifting perspective. Dive in; bliss out.” Collider is out now via Sonic Masala records. Catch Roku Music at the Sonic Masala FEST, 21 june with Cobwebbs, Tiny Migrants, No Sister and more at Greenslopes Bowls Club.
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METAL BYTES After recently being named online as the world’s greatest singer due to his insane vocal range (and knocking Axl Rose off the top spot) Mike Patton took to Twitter to hint at a possible new Faith No More album in the works. “Hey! Stay tuned for more Tweets from twats!!! The reunion thing was fun, but now it’s time to get a little creative,” he wrote. As a long time fan of Patton’s work this almost made my head explode, let’s hope it is true. Sad news as Gold Coast metal Legends Lynchmada have decided to call it a day. They will be playing a couple of last shows around the country in June and July so make sure you keep an eye out for the dates and get to one of the gigs to see the boys off. They will be missed. Canadian prog metal favourites Protest The Hero will be returning to our shores in September, kicking the tour off at the HiFi in Brisbane on Thursday 4 September with a crazy cheap ticket price of $45 + BF. There are also VIP meet and greet packages available if you are keen to meet the guys in person. More at thehifi.com.au. Perth prog metal band Voyager have just released their 5th studio album V and it is nothing short of amazing. Make sure you catch them live in Brisbane at The Brightside on 11 July with Caligula’s Horse and Toehider.
The next Abyss metal/rock club night on 20 June at Melba’s will see us pay tribute to one of Queensland’s most hard working and respected photographers Amanda Brenchley by hosting an exhibition of her amazing work. Over the years she has snapped not only your favorite local bands but also some of the heavy weights including Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth, Devin Townsend and the Soundwave Festival to name a few. Come down and help us celebrate this legend of the local scene and see some of her work on display. Sydney’s Tension’s Arise will be joining The Matador, In Death and Deraign at the Coolangatta Hotel on Saturday June 14th to help spread the word about local community radio station Rabbit Radio which is host to the Gold Coast’s only metal radio program Rabid Noise (9.00 – 11.30pm Wednesday nights). Come down and see an awesome line up of bands in one of the Gold Coast’s best live venues and show your support for community radio. One of Sydney’s most respected and best loved bands, As Silence Breaks has been reborn as Daemon Pyre. The buzz about the band’s new material is extremely positive but you can check a taste of what’s to come with the track Misanthropic Parallels which is available on soundcloud.
Protect the Hero Got some metal news we should know about? Email rabidnoiseradio@hotmail.com. For all the latest metal tracks and interviews tune into Rabid Noise every Wednesday night from 9.00pm, rabbitradio.com.au.
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GET UP! GET HEARD! Rabbit Radio throws a toddler tantrum They’re still messing their nappies and scribbling on the walls, but the toddler that is Rabbit Radio is celebrating its second birthday with a massive party and best of all – they’re the ones giving out the birthday presents. The funky bunnies are stating the Get up! Get heard! band competition where local bands will compete for the grand prize of playing the opening set at the birthday bash at Burleigh Brewery on Friday 8 August. It’s a wonderful opportunity to play in front of a keen, local audience as well as have your band promoted on air at the Rabbit Radio studio and in print through Blank GC. So, warm up your vocal chords, restring your guitar and sharpen your drumstick for an opportunity toooooooo good to miss. Get all the details at www.rabbitradio.com.au.
NINE SONS OF DAN FOLLOW THE BLOOD TO BREAK THE GENRE MOULD After 5 years of touring with Nine Sons of Dan lead singer Jay Bainbridge has a wealth of knowledge that he shares with Kyle Butcher on topics ranging from music videos, international radio stations and being true to himself on the band’s latest EP, Follow the Blood. Your latest EP was Rabbit Radio’s album of the week alongside Tuesday’s Good, how did the tracks that make up this EP come about? Basically I’ve got a little home studio at my house and I’ve been sitting down over the past couple of years and writing some songs and this is a collection of my favourite songs from these years. They’re the best of the best at the moment for us. How did you decide on the name and artwork for your EP? Follow the Blood was my favourite song from the EP and to me it was the song that captured the EP in general, and I originally wanted to try a title that matched the whole meaning of the EP, but I ended up choosing Follow the Blood. As for the art, we’ve been getting into cool different styles of art for the band. We wanted something not so polished, a little bit dirtier, a little bit grungier and I really like the art, it’s awesome. We recorded the EP at a studio in Burleigh Heads called Loose Stones Studios, and we’ve always recorded there. Matt from Loose Stones produced the EP and I travelled to Nashville and we recorded some extra guitars and all my vocals over there, it was such an awesome time. It was epic. How would you describe the title track Follow the Blood compositionally? It’s very dramatic. Lyrically it’s probably the best effort that I’ve done so far, it just has a lot of really cool originality that I like. I didn’t actually write the bridge until we got into the studio and the vocals were recorded freestyle in ten takes at the studio just with me making stuff up. It’s probably the most natural compared to the other songs on the EP.
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How do you feel Nine Sons of Dan have advanced from your previous release to now? I think we’re being more honest with ourselves, we got too caught up with the bands we were playing with and the style that we were playing. We were trying to fit the mould a little bit and we tried finding what would work well on radio. This time around it was more an overall decision from the band to do what we want to do, I just want to write the songs I want to write. If radio doesn’t play our EP then it’s not the end of the world, I’ll have a cool EP to look back on when I’m fifty and I can show my kids and be proud of it. You can tell when we play it live compared to the other stuff that we get into this stuff so much harder, it’s cool. Do you prefer touring or creating and recording new songs? It’s hard because there’s good and bad things about both. I’m all about the studio experience and writing because to be honest being creative is why I’m doing this. I think even live there’s an aspect of being creative through trying to convey the message of a song and connecting with the crowd is an art form in itself, and we’re getting further and further along with that. How has Follow the Blood been received internationally compared to in Australia? US radio feedback we got has been really positive, everyone’s been really digging it. Compared to Australia, besides a couple of awesome selective radio stations that want to play alternative stuff, there’s only really Triple J and commercial radio. It’s hard to fit enough into one or the other and you can’t really be on both, which I find really weird because I come from the States and there’s a radio station for every genre of music over there.
Samantha Morris
With so many great songs of our own it would be a shame! It would be a waste and it would be a tragedy to waste time on anything else!! Does playing with The Hard-Ons provide you with your greatest musical fulfilment, or has one of your other projects assumed that mantle now? I love all my bands and solo project equally. Each one is different (in my mind anyway!) and gives me what I need. Nunchukka Superfly has more artistic freedom and we set out to keep that from the start. There was a point when we realised the Hard Ons were expected to stay within a certain parameter and... well after a BIG THINK we came to see that as its own musical challenge! Playing solo is great ‘cause it’s raw and immediate... a new challenge as well. We just LOVE music big time and are greedy to do as much as possible!!!
HARD-ONS It’s hard to believe that it’s been 30 years since melodically infused punk rock institutions Hard-Ons first started kicking out the jams and shredding eardrums across the musical landscape. During the first ten years of their existence the band achieved an incredible (and record breaking) 17 consecutive number one singles on the Australian alternative music charts, as well as building a rabid underground European following. Not a bad effort for a Croat, a Sri Lankan and a Korean from Punchbowl in Sydney! On the eve of their special run of reunion shows featuring the band’s original line up of Peter ‘Blackie’ Black, Ray Ahn and Keish De Silva, as well as current member Murray Ruse, Anthony Gebhardt snuck in a chat with the legendary guitarist ‘Blackie’ himself... One of my most memorable concert experiences was seeing you guys together with The Ramones at The Playroom way back in 1991. Do you remember this show? Did you get to hang out with ‘Da Bruddas’ during the tour, or any other time? And if so what were they like? That was a pretty special tour for us! When we met them the first time Joey came straight up saying “hey I like you guys and play you on my (radio) show in New York” as you can imagine we were...CHUFFED. CJ hung around a lot with us and stayed at my house. I know there was a lot of weird internal conflicts in the band but I got along with all of ‘em. But now that I think about it whenever I was chatting to either Joey or Johnny the other wouldn’t be around. But to me they were all really ace to us... and they really are FUCKING LEDGENDS!! Any particularly memorable or infamous Gold Coast concert experiences that come to mind back over the years? Many! One gig at Coolangatta really stands out as being over the fucking top and all the early shows we used to play with Thrust were killer! We had Brendan from Thrust in our band when we were starting out in school so they were fun but... the ones I remember the most were probably at The Playroom. That venue was so OLD SCHOOL haha, a kinda Oz Rock relic that for some reason we always did well in. Has the ‘original line up’ clicked into gear and gelled like the old days so far in practice? We haven’t practiced much yet haha! Not that we are slack but we’ve been recording a new album and that’s been the main focus, but Keish did come in and sing on a few tracks :-) Don’t worry, we now have time to practice together. It’s
gonna be great of course. So will Keish just be singing (as opposed to playing drums and singing) on this tour? Keish will be out front dancing his arse off! You guys always seemed to have a big underground following in obscure European musical markets such as Greece and Spain. Do you ever get random offers out of the woodwork to tour these parts of the world again? We still tour Europe all the time. We will be there again this coming September and October, as well as in Japan in August. What about the US market, did you guys ever get a foothold there? America has been harder, with some bad luck coming our way over there. Mind you our last tour there was awesome, with a great band called The Queers. We do have plans to head back there next year. I read that you even had a UK tribute band in your honour called Suck and Swallow! Did you ever see these guys, and if so were they any chop? Haha I have not had the pleasure. I did hear a tribute 7 inch single that was done in France and I know there is a Spanish one in the works. I kept getting emails asking for lyrics to particular song for weeks on end! I had to tell some of ‘em that I have no idea what I sang, so “feel free to make shit up!” You guys also have a great track record with reinterpreting classic 60’s garage (It’s Cold Outside, By My Side). Will any of these gems be getting an airing during the current tour?
I read with interest that you recorded some tracks in 2008 with (alternative US comedian) Neil Hamburger on guest lead vocals! How did an unusual collaboration such as this come about? Oh boy were we stoked to do that!! Well we have been friends and mutual fans for a long LONG time so it just fell into place. Coming up on one of the split 7 inch records we’re doing (as a birthday pressie to us!) is a single with the one and only Neil Hammmmmmmburger!! Look out for it! Blackie a personal question if I may - are you fully recovered now from your taxi ordeal? (back in 2012 two reprehensible cretins bashed him while he was working his ‘day job’ driving cabs) Was there ever a worry that you wouldn’t be able to play music anymore as a result of it? And do you still drive cabs again now? Pretty much, but I still get vertigo/dizziness from time to time, which hangs around for a four to five day period. Once again I thank everyone for the incredible support I was given which got me through it in no time at all. YOU GUYS ROCK and yes I still drive a taxi, unfortunately rock and rock don’t pay the rent! Do you still feel energised and inspired by cutting edge/ underground music in this day and age? Any personal faves currently floating your boat? Always! There’s still so many new things popping up keeping music alive and well. Underground rock is really underground these days but when I’m in Brissie and see a band like Hits or FAT, or in Melbourne and see Wicked City or Dead or Clowns... you know it’s far from being a stale period! The music that connects with ya when you’re a teen really has a lasting effect but we’ll never stop checking out new stuff. If someone had told you back in 1984 that you’d reach the 30 year milestone as a band, what would you have said to them? More than likely! The Hard Ons are bringing their very special brand of melodic mayhem to our parts during June. These one-off reunion sets will consist only of songs from the period 1984 - 1993 and will be made up of songs most requested by fans in an online poll! So be sure to get along to one of the following dates with the guys: June 19: The Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay June 20: The Coolangatta Hotel June 21: Prince of Wales, Brisbane If you make it to the Coolie Hotel gig be sure to get along early to catch the full line up, which includes ace local punk rockers Loud Goes Bang, Raygun Mortlock and Brissie legends Hits.
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FREE STUFF 3 double passes to The Audreys We have three double passes to give away to The Audreys at Soundlounge Currumbin for Friday 20 June. To be in the running, send an email with ‘The Audreys’ as the subject heading and your name and mobile number to news@ blankgc.com.au. Winners drawn at random around midday Thursday 19 June and notified by SMS.
otto, burdock and Kakadu plum mist toner and a rosehip, ginkgo and shea day cream and is valued at $79.95. To enter, send an email to news@blankgc.com.au with ‘organic skincare rules’ in the subject heading and your name and postal address in the body. Entries close Friday 4 July and winners will be drawn at random.
Classic Joan as Police Woman We have two tickets to give away to Joan’s Brisbane show thanks to Gaynor Crawford Presents. To be in the running, send an email with ‘Classic Joan As Police Woman’ in the subject line along with your name and mobile number in the body of the message. Winner drawn at random around midday Friday 20 June.
2 double passes to The Commitments Andrew Strong and The Commitments hit Twin Towns on Saturday 26 July and we have two double passes to give away. To be in the running, send an email with ‘The Commitments’ as the subject heading and your name and mobile number to news@blankgc.com.au. Winners drawn at random around midday Thursday 24 July and notified by SMS.
Organic skincare People for Plants is a certified organic skincare range that consist of 22 products including cleansers, scrubs, toner, moisturiser, oil, hand and body products. The range is available from David Jones, Priceline, Terry White and selected pharmacy and health food stores. We have three gift packs up for grabs. Each pack includes white tea, aloe and witch hazel cleanser and makeup remover, a rose
Double pass to Monique Brumby We have one double pass to give away to Monique Brumby at The Soundlounge Currumbin for Friday 25 July. To be in the running, send an email with ‘Monique Brumby’ as the subject heading and your name and mobile number to news@blankgc.com.au. Winners drawn at random around midday Thursday 24 July and notified by SMS.
WINTER WARMER COMING OUR WAY WITH KATCHAFIRE
Vegan, biodegradable nail polish Not all nail polishes are created equal. Thankfully, Miss Pearl Store offers a unique vegan friendly, cruelty-free, gluten, fragrance and toxin free, biodegradable product. And we have one nail polish to give away (colour to be a surprise). To be in the running, send an email with the subject heading ‘Miss Pearl’ to news@blankgc.com.au with your name and address in the body of the email. Winner drawn at random around midday Thursday 24 July and notified by return email. Read more about Miss Pearl’s products at www.misspearl.com.au. Goldpine necklaces The Goldpine necklace is a new design from Melbourne label, Oktoberdee. We have two necklaces to give away. One in snow (pictured) and one in soot. To be in the running, send an email with the subject heading ‘Oktoberdee’ to news@blankgc.com.au with your name and address in the body of the email. Winner drawn at random around midday Thursday 24 July and notified by return email. Read more at www.oktoberdee.com.au.
You’re in the USA right now – Florida to be specific – do you find much that’s similar between those coastal audiences and Australian coastal audiences? It’s pretty crazy the love we see: some cultures are a lil’ more fanatical about meeting us or the music in general, I love our fans so much no matter were we are in the world..... It’s kind of universal the vibe and love our fans show us - it’s very cool. Your performances are high energy – what do you do when it’s time to go on stage and you’re feeling a little low on energy? Red bull, monster...etc. I’ve actually been drinking agreen tea called matcha.... It’s got some ginseng and other natural energisers in it and it’s way better for ya. Also we have karakia (spiritual charge up ) before every show .
You originally formed as a Bob Marley tribute band. How has the life and music of Bob Marley influenced your own lives and music? In every way, we believe like he did that injecting people’s lives with music that’s made from love and positivity that we can cure the world.
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Katchafire is a bit of a family affair. What role did music play in the family home? Is it any accident that Logan and Jordan ended up as musicians? Dad was a muso when we were young me and my bro definitely gravitated to it naturally. Dad didn’t start getting involved until we were in our late teens forming bands of our own. But I brought drum kit when I was about 18 and me and Jord never looked back.
You’re visiting us on the Gold Coast in July – what’s your favourite thing about playing the east coast of Australia? Making new fans... We still haven’t toured properly through that area so looking forward to the shows...the vibe is always crazy in Oz - definitely one of my favourite places to work in the world. I think coz Aussie always is a nice mix of home sick kiwis and Australians that know great music. What can we expect for your GC show? The fyah to burn .... We definitely bringing it . When can we expect some new music from Katchafire? Very soon. New singles being mixed/mastered as we speak. Samantha Morris
FILLING IN SOME BLANKS WITH CITY OVER SAND
HANG FIVE WITH DMA’S You guys remained relatively under the radar until being signed to I OH YOU. Do they have the same outlook on the band’s future as you do? When [Johann] heard the songs there was something in them that connected with him. He also knew that we’ve been working hard for the last couple of years so when we got to show the songs we had he fell in love with them. It’s so good to have someone with the same mind frame on board. You’ve said before that DMA’s are in it for the long haul. Are I OH YOU and Johann apart of this plan? Yeah, definitely. We’re not just a hype band. They know we’ve got the longevity in us; between the three we’re going to be alright for a long time. Delete was the first I heard from DMA’s and was pleasantly surprised at the dream pop and acoustic guitar elements in the song. We’ve got a lot of songs that weren’t planned out and just varied quite a lot stylistically. We just have to be liable to the tunes. I think that’s one thing that separates us from a lot of bands. Even in Australia, I don’t know a lot of rock ‘n’ roll bands that have that acoustic elements. It’s a big part of DMA’s; it keeps it rhythmic, it keeps it organic. Your Low is another interesting tale on the EP. It was on a solo EP that I did but we changed it quite a bit; it was originally a folk tune. The original still had those distorted guitars but didn’t have as much swagger [like on this version]. It was a little more melancholy. What was your first reaction when all your shows started to sell out? Pretty hectic! We had only played three shows and in the next two days we’re going to play as many shows as we’ve ever played. I’ve never really been in a band where you know how many people are going to show up. At the same time, majority of people have never seen us live so that will be interesting. Jake Wilton
City Over Sand is Brad Hosking, Jules Keshan and Dan Carroll. They write, rehearse and record in a backyard shed and promptly deliver songs to the world, ready to be consumed by those hungry enough to find it and hold onto it. The band’s name is a direct reference to where they live and create music. It refers to the family, friends and life that revolves around them, the routine, the weather, the sights, the sounds, the struggles and the triumphs. Mella Bunker caught up with Dan Carroll about life and music on the Gold Coast. What do you love most about living on the GC? The fact that where our studio is, we can be out in the hinterland, clear skies, fresh air, making music and then 20 minutes later be at the beach. We don’t surf but we have the option to drop in on some grommets and capitalize on Warren Young’s biblical surf report if we choose. We can head south and warm our cockles at the Cambus Wallace or head north and actually touch music at Atlantis Music in Southport. Drive 20 minutes in any direction and its like being on holiday. Great coffee is in abundance too!
everyday to contribute to the Gold Coast’s music scene. What’s the one piece of advice you’d give an aspiring musician? Make sure you do it with people that you would want to hang out with anyway, the music then becomes an added bonus. City over Sand’s new single Happily is out now and you can catch the trio at The Loft Chevron Island Saturday 9 August.
Tell us about the best gig you’ve ever played? I think that we have all been playing long enough now in a lot of different formats to realise that playing music with your mates is reward enough. The best gig was probably in a crappy venue with terrible sound and with nobody in attendance. Brad once toured the Middle East for six weeks performing in a hotel dressed as an insect on stilts. Hard to top! But wait, DC and Jules once supported Lisa Marie Presley and met her Mum Priscilla, that’s ELVIS for the young ones, ah ha! What are your thoughts on the GC music scene? For as long as we can remember there has always been great bands on the Gold Coast and that hasn’t changed. The scene is made up of more than the great bands though, it’s the venue operators risking their livelihood on offering live music, it’s the deep pool of complimentary creatives, the film-makers, designers, the passionate entreprenuers, the teachers, producers and the punters who live and breath music. It’s reassuring to know that people get out of bed www.blankgc.com.au
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gig reviews SASKWATCH + ONYX REIGN Bond Amphitheatre | 18 May For those out of the loop the Live @ Bond Series has been serving up laidback Sunday afternoon gigs for free at Bond University’s outdoor amphitheatre since 2012. The talented team behind the series have managed to draw acts like Bustamento and The Bamboos to the coast in a chilled out, family friendly setting. A warm afternoon greeted the crowd for the first ever Gold Coast show for Melbourne soul sensations Saskwatch. So relaxed is the setting that one couple next to this scribe even had the cheese platter and picnic blanket set up which had me instantly jealous. Opening act was Onyx Reign from Brisbane’s Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts who fit perfectly into the afternoon’s soul vibe. Decked out in dapper black and white the multi-instrumental group of singer/songwriters performed an array of classic tunes plus showcased the group’s song writing talents with a handful of originals. These guys may be young but the nine piece is overflowing with talent and no doubt you will be hearing more from Onyx Reign real soon. Saskwatch need little introduction. Their second LP Nosedive has just dropped and sees the group continue to mature from both a song writing and musical perspective. Earlier this year the nine piece outfit wowed both critics and punters at this Bluesfest Byron Bay. After a brief opening interlude from the band, front woman Nkechi Anele hits the stage and instantly commands your attention. Anele’s voice is a true stand out in the current Australian scene and would raise the roof, if we weren’t outside. The new record is considerably less up- beat than the group’s debut but slow burners like Call You Name and
Born to Break Your Heart fit the lazy Sunday vibe perfectly. Although it takes some arm twisting on the band’s part, a dance floor soon builds and the crowd laps up the group’s more groovy numbers including new single Hands and the signature tune Your Love from their debut. The band were really feeling the groove, so much so they assist guitarist Rob Muinos into the crowd and up the amphitheatre steps. Muinos doesn’t miss a beat as he plays up close and personal to those sitting down. The real surprise of the set comes from a take on the Robbie Williams’ Kids, which the band make their own filling in the verses with horns and the lead guitarist involving the crowd through sing-along. All in attendance are left with a huge smiles and it’s impossible not to enjoy such a smooth performance. For those who didn’t make it, don’t miss your chance to get your groove on as the band hit the road on their Nosedive national tour which stops at the Soundlounge Friday 13 June. And Bond’s next Sunday session features Round Mountain Girls on 20 July. Sly Steve
JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW + AIRLING Concert Hall QPAC | 23 May Stunning autumn nights and QPAC go hand in hand. I arrived at the iconic Brisbane venue with my other half in tow and before heading upstairs to the gig, we enjoyed a delicious meal accompanied by live and free jazz under the stars; the perfect beginning to a great night. Waiting for us upstairs was a bustling Concert Hall, packed with an array of people awaiting the beautiful vocals of Irish charmer, James Vincent McMorrow. Airling opened the show with her stunning soft-natured vocals, and eerie instrumentation. The set, dominated by electronic sounds and effects, portrayed the endless realm of possibilities with modern music technology. Accompanied by her musical partner in crime, Ritchie Graham (or The Grey Man as she kindly gave us permission to call him), the
duo created music to the capacity of a full-scale band with their multi-faceted instruments. Airling made good use of her effects box, and although I found it somewhat of a visual distraction from her performance, the layers, harmonies, and vocal effects it created were musically priceless. After a short 20-minute interval, Mr McMorrow graced the Concert Hall stage. He was everything I imagined; gentle, humble and sincere. This was more than just a gig; it was a production. Pyramid shaped lighting boxes surrounded the four-piece band, and synced perfectly with the musical accents of McMorrow’s carefully arranged songs. Hanging behind was a large white moon-shaped design, which was the canvas for projected images and synced with the music throughout the show. The lighting design perfectly captured the mood of each and every song, and brought them to a whole new level of emotion. While I didn’t think it could be possible, McMorrow’s songs were even more sincere and emotional played live. Each lyric was sung with intent, and every chord was played from the heart. His unique vocals rung effortlessly in the tall ceilings of the Concert Hall and married perfectly with the layers of backing vocals. The harmonic effects created by the 4-piece band had me constantly needing to remind myself to breathe. Each song rolled into the next, including crowd favourites Eat, Higher Love and If I Had A Boat. McMorrow even had to remind himself to say ‘hello’ to his adoring fans. He was a man of few words, but he didn’t need to say much; his music and performance did all the talking. It was a beautiful and relaxing night of soul cleansing music at the stunning QPAC venue. Emily Hosking
THE MEAT PUPPETS The Zoo, Fortitude Valley | 30 May Arizona’s Meat Puppets are the true epitome of rock survivors, existing outside the fickle confines of musical trends and scenes over the course of an eclectic career encompassing four decades. From their formative roots in the SST punk rock scene through to thrilling forays into psychedelic desert terrain and windswept country rock, the band have remained true and uncompromising to their vision, in the process sounding like no one but themselves. Along the way there’s been brief flirtations with fame via MTV and Nirvana’s championing of the band, as well as years lost to the substance dependencies of bassist Chris Kirkwood. The band have rarely ventured to this part of the world, and tonight it’s Brisbane’s turn to witness their genre blending shtick in all it’s glory.
Saskwatch @ Bond Amphitheatre
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Having had to dose myself up with cold and flu remedies to make the show, my apologies go out to the opening acts Love Hate Rebellion and Moses Gun Collective, whose
support slots I was unable to catch this time around. The Meat Puppets enter the fray and proceed to ease into proceedings, the band steadily finding their mantra and locking into their groove. Bassist Chris Kirkwood cuts an animated and magnetic figure on bass, all ‘lost in the music’ facial expressions and intuitive bass runs. To his right brother and chief guitar slinger Curt Kirkwood nonchalantly delivers his unique fret-board wizardry. The band sound in fine fettle, and it’s wonderful to witness the musical interplay between the brothers Kirkwood, their voices and instruments blending seamlessly as only decades of shared history can deliver. And to their left it’s another generation of Kirkwood on show, with Curt’s son Elmo on second guitar locking into his father’s and uncle’s telepathic musical understanding to add further tone and colour to an already rich musical palette. It’s a spine tingling sight to behold when the three huddle together and channel their mojo at times during the set. It doesn’t take the band long to tap into the Nirvana Unplugged connection, unveiling the peerless Plateau, off their high watermark Meat Puppets II record from 1984, just three songs in. And not for the last time tonight the diverse and generational spanning crowd in attendance bounce around and lose their collective marbles from the sheer thrill of it all… The stone(d) baked mantra of Up On The Sun, from the classic Maiden’s Milk album, delivers a thrilling psychedelic tinged instrumental crescendo half way through, the band locking into an acid-fried jam driven by drummer Shandon Sahm, the son of legendary Tex-Mex rocker Doug Sahm. Relatively lesser known tracks such as Touchdown King and The Monkey And The Snake display the band’s cow-punk side as well as highlight their considerable musical chops. And further evidence of the band’s versatility displays itself with the unveiling of the first of tonight’s two covers, a harmony drenched take on the Beach Boys classic Sloop John B. In the hands of lesser bands this may have proved an unmitigated disaster, but the band pull it off with panache. The set concludes with a beefed up and jammed out version of perhaps their most well- loved track, the incendiary Lake of Fire, the band burning up the stage and departing in a blaze of peyote fuelled glory. To the bays of the crowd the band return for one last hurrah, and with a veritable swathe of killer material left to potentially unveil anticipation remains high. Yet in true Meat Puppets style they confound us all with another cover, this time the evergreen Everly Brothers chestnut Cathy’s Clown (no not the You Am I song!) It’s a sweet version to be sure, which tempers slightly the disappointment of not hearing more from the band’s own expansive catalogue of dusty treasure. All in all though the set is a rousing triumph - long may the Meat Puppets continue to delight and confound in equal measure!! Anthony Gebhardt
KINGSWOOD + THE MEDICS + THE BELLIGERENTS The Hi-Fi, Brisbane | 31 May The Hi-Fi has hosted many international and Australian acts in the last 12 months (not to mention years past), ranging from Jake Bugg to Periphery and awesome English rockers Band of Skulls take the stage later this month. Tonight was an Australian tour however, with Melbourne band Kingswood headlining the venue with The Medics and The Belligerents supporting. Kingswood has enjoyed Australia’s love for quite some time and featured Lindsay McDougall, better known as ‘The Doctor’ on Triple J at their set at 2012’s Splendour in the Grass. The Belligerents played their own mix of 80’s synth-pop cross indie rock and showed the crowd just why they were picked to support one of Australia’s biggest rock bands. The Medics took the stage after The Belligerents and blasted out brand new tracks off upcoming release. Magazine and Echoes were powerful tracks live, and overall the new tracks seemed heavier than their Foundations LP. Bassist Charles threw his bass up in the air and kept playing, Drummer Jhindu jumped off the drums when they played Joseph and psyched the crowd up and Andrew soloed perfectly throughout their set. Frontman Kahl introduced the new songs and sung every melody exceptionally well, showcasing their talent and how much they have grown as a band from their first Big Day Out performance in 2012. As The Medics closed their set, curtains concealed the stage as Kingswood prepared to play one of their last shows supporting their latest release.
Busby Marou took the stage early with a string of tracks that a large portion of the audience knew well, and their melodic sounds reverberated beautifully around the centre until they left to sign autographs in the merchandise booth, leading a large crowd of new and old fans like the pied piper. James Blunt’s set opened with the sounds of the classic astronaut theme while his band slowly filtered onto the stage. Blunt walked onto stage amid thunderous applause sporting an astronaut outfit along with his band members keeping to the Moon Landing theme – a nod to his album of the same name. Blunt sung through each track with liveliness, waving at the crowd to get them engaged. His set was extremely entertaining in a way that extended past his music. Blunt frequently spoke to the crowd, connecting with them in a way not many other musicians do and made jokes after every three tracks, cracking up a crowd larger than 3000. James Blunt played through his most popular songs like Miss America, which he dedicated to Whitney Houston. He also played Wisemen, new hit Bonfire Heart, Stay the Night and his biggest hit, You’re Beautiful. Blunt came back on stage after the main set with a costume change (fighter pilot) and three more songs before sending the well satisfied crowd on their way. Kyle Butcher
Kingswood blasted open the purple curtains with blasts of sound before taking the stage to play hit after hit, throwing in Yeah Go Die early in the set, which was not to be expected. She’s My Baby rocked the crowd into a frenzy, newer single Ohio got the same reaction and Kingswood looked to endlessly please the crowd, which they embraced openly. The band seemed to have a constant supply of energy and that only fuelled the crowd more. Kingswood eventually closed the set and the crowd were able to leave the venue with an awesome story to tell about another Aussie band that impressed. Kyle Butcher
JAMES BLUNT + BUSBY MAROU Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre |
James Blunt @ Brisbane Convention Centre
3 June
The Convention Centre was filled with a mix of ages anticipating the night ahead. Three generations of families sat side by side, grandparents with grandchildren and adults with their parents. This instantly illustrates James Blunt’s quality of songwriting for it to translate to three generations.
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album reviews
MINK MUSSEL CREEK
PIXIES
KLUBNIGHT
The legend of Mink Mussel Creek has been limited to minor folklore and loose Google searches if you didn’t live in Perth. Simply enough, 2007 saw MMC founded out of boredom and jam sessions, collecting the likes of Shiny Joe Ryan, Nick Allbrook and Kevin Parker. These names should sound familiar as each of these members used MMC as a precursor to form the now internationally famed POND and Tame Impala. Mink Mussel Manticore’s release has kept fans waiting and due to production issues has been rare.
Pixies. When this band sporadically reforms and dissipates, no-one expects any new tracks, and so it came as a shock when an album was announced.
From the whiteboard is the first EP released by local Gold Coast emerging artists, Brett Sellwood and Chris Lamaro, otherwise known as Klubknight.
Indie Cindy is the collection of tracks the Pixies have released on three ten inch EPs over the past 18 months. Indie Cindy is huge.
The duo have both held a strong individual presence in the underground club scene, banding together in 2013 to create this electronic dance project of hard-edged techno club beats which has received nothing but praise from local industry professionals.
Mink Mussel Manticore
Indie Cindy
Now seven years later, the band that practically propelled the Perth psychedelic scene into gear releases the jammiest record I’ve heard in recent years. Where comparisons to POND and Tame Impala are incredibly easy to make, it is a real pleasure to hear how Kevin developed his drumming flow or Nick’s vocal prowess. Like most of Allbrook’s lyrics through his musical career, they tend not to focus on any one subject matter. “You were high on Panadol / With the Makeout Party Girls,” begins the Makeout Party Girls romper. The lyrics don’t relate to much at all. This almost Half Glass Full of Wine b-side takes reference to earlier Tame material where each song would have slow coda breakdowns and eventuate to the final build. Doesn’t the Moon Look Good Tonight could also be likened to POND’s Midnight Mass (At the Street Market Payphone) b-side partner with its glitchy, fuzzy, looping outro. While the similarities to post-MMC bands are easy enough for any fan to pick up on, it is unfair to judge Manticore on those premises. MMC’s debut is a psychic beast of its own that presents loose, jammy psych rock before it received the producer’s finesse. And in some respects, Mink Mussel Manticore finds its own strides in an environment without the magic of a studio or the owl eyes of a producer. Jake Wilton 16
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From the Whiteboard
Opening track What Goes Boom is awesome, complete with the Pixies’ iconic loud chorus, quiet verse makeup and comprised of an impressively solid and booming bass line that drives the whole song while scattered melodic guitar notes fill the verse. Bagboy is unique in that it is distinctly indie, however slightly reminiscent of industrial music. In addition, the backing vocals around the three minute mark sound distinctly like original bassist Kim Deal’s vocals, but are actually from lead singer Frank Black’s friend Jeremy Dubs. Over two decades have passed since the last Pixies album but Indie Cindy is an impressive release with each track standing well on its own steam. Silver Snail starts in a fuzz-laden haze of Pixies chords while Black pushes the haze into your head with his echoed vocals. Blue Eyed Hexe is a great rock track that rounds out the album perfectly, and is my favourite track, originally released as the first track on EP2. This album was partially released for Record Store Day, with a secret 7” single hidden inside with B-side Women of War. Andro Queen hails from EP3 and sounds sonically similar to American rockers R.E.M.’s Reveal era with shimmering, phased guitar work. This album is a great release and hopefully Pixies will return to Australia following their five sell-out nights at Sydney’s Vivid Festival. Kyle Butcher
The five track EP holds its own when it comes to deep dark production coming out of Australia, maintaining its smooth evolving progression of strong marching drum beats, crunchy bass, revisited reworked 90s rave synths, illusive sweeps and echoed vocals that seem phantasmagorical. There’s darkness and light, melancholy and an underworld feel to the tracks, a theme between Sin City and a GameBoy Game. Wonton, the EP’s third track, keeps you guessing, with a slower eerie rave intro that alternates with stabby synth bass drops, the sound of electricity raising the hair on your neck as the breakdown brings you into a throw down of a track, raising the vibe back to a quirky hands in the air fun time. From the Whiteboard’s non stop drops make you feel like you should be in five deep in an atmosphere like an abandoned church or underground basement party in London. This EP might not be up everyone’s dark alley; being designed to appeal to those who already have affection for the new sound coming out of the electronic music scene. But, for those who do, From the Whiteboard will not disappoint. Jay boy (Sessionkatz)
gig guide JUNE Wednesday 11 June Open mic night, The Loft Chevron Island The Altais, Ruby Monty, Bambu Bar Palm Beach Thursday 12 June Twin Beasts (Badlove Tour), Rattlehand, Bree De Rome, The Loft Chevron Island Friday 13 June The Paper Kites, The Northern Byron Bay Sarah Frank, Mandala Organic Arts Café Mermaid Beach Elly Hart, Southern Cross Tavern Coolangatta Lancelot, Elsewhere Surfers Paradise Songwriters Circle: Kate Leopold, David Taylor, Felicity Lawless, Mattie Barker, The Loft Chevron Island Saskwatch, Soundlounge Currumbin Caligula’s Horse, Mass Sky Raid, Coolangatta Hotel The High Grade, Miami Marketta Ruby Monty, Bambu Bar Palm Beach Casey Barnes, Southport Sharks Saturday 14 June Dano (Eureka Funk), Southern Cross Tavern Coolangatta White Summer, Underwood Mayne, Liam Ward, The Loft Chevron Island Velvet Martini, Miami Marketta Sunday 15 June Benny D Williams, Genki Café Palm Beach Kiara Jack & the Jills, Felicity Lawless, Julia Rose, The Joynt West End Milan Martin, Bread n Butter Kirra Bluesville Station, Bearded Dragon Hotel Tamborine (from midday) Music in the park: Chantal Maree, Anthony Kelly and PBC Jazz Band, Gold Coast Botanic Gardens Benowa Festa Junina: a Brazilian folkloric celebration with Forro Band, Swingin’ Safari Marc Cowie, Bambu Bar Palm Beach Gavin Doniger, North Kirra SLSC Monday 16 June Open mic night, Surfers RSL Wednesday 18 June Open mic night, The Loft Chevron Island Kate Bergman, Eleea Navarro, Bambu Bar Palm Beach Gavin Doniger, The Northern Byron Bay Thursday 19 June Hard-ons, The Northern Byron Bay Gavin Doniger, Nimbin Hotel Friday 20 June Hard-ons, Coolangatta Hotel Fettler (EP launch), Elbury, Kate & Liza, Eliza Pickard, The Loft Chevron Island Sarah Frank, Genki Café Palm Beach Broadbeach Country Music Festival The Audreys, Soundlounge Currumbin Taliah (solo), Southern Cross Tavern Coolangatta Ben Amor, Bambu Bar Palm Beach International Surfing Day: Robbie Miller, Christine Olive, Jemma Donovan, Komune Resort Coolangatta Drive Live (ABC Gold Coast): Sarah Frank, Hell and Whiskey, Arts Centre Gold Coast (from 3pm) Salvadarlings, Mosk, Midnight Ramblers, Elsewhere Surfers Paradise
The Lamplights, Southport Sharks Saturday 21 June The Angels, Cooly Hotel Broadbeach Country Music Festival Kiara Jack & The Jills, Pacific Hotel Yamba Hell and Whiskey, Shark Bar Miami Eureka Funk, Southern Cross Tavern Coolangatta Tuesday’s Good, Nimbin Hotel Bianca Noka, Jupiters Atrium Bar Akova, Miami Marketta Miss Elm (Crystal Ball Tour), Alexandra, Holly Terrens, Maple, The Loft Chevron Island The Van Bams, Shark Bar Miami
Saturday 5 July Kiara Jack & The Jills, Yamba YHA Sunday 6 July Nine Sons of Dan, Swingin’ Safari Mason Rack Band, North Kirra SLSC, 2.00 – 5.00pm Cafeine, The Strums, The Loft Chevron Island Monday 7 July Open mic night, Surfers RSL Tuesday 8 July Dan Sultan, The Northern Byron Bay
Sunday 22 June Broadbeach Country Music Festival Katchafire, The High Grade, Miami Marketta Gavin Doninger and Mescalito Blues, Bread n Butter Kirra Benny D Williams, Bambu Bar Palm Beach
Wednesday 9 July Hell and Whiskey, The Northern Byron Bay
Monday 23 June Open mic night, Surfers RSL
Saturday 12 July Footstomp Farm African Benefit Gig: Josh Rennie-Hynes and more, Tallebudgera Hall
Wednesday 25 June Hell and Whiskey, The Northern Byron Bay Mitch Ryan, Gabrielle Lambe, Bambu Bar Palm Beach Open mic night, The Loft Chevron Island Thursday 26 June Wren Klauf (EP launch), United States of OZ, Illuminate, Jake O, Pirates of the Tempest, The Loft Chevron Island Friday 27 June Ben Amor, Genki Café Palm Beach Dubmarine, Miami Marketta Tijuana Cartel, Soundlounge Currumbin Jack and the Giant Killers, Tuesday’s Good, Scott Dalton, The Loft Chevron Island Calan Mai, Bambu Bar Palm Beach GOVS, San Mei, Elsewhere Surfers Paradise Saturday 28 June Coast Accoustics, featuring Felicity Lawless, Country Paradise Parklands Nerang Mosspit #5: Boned, Friends with the Enemy, Steel City All, Shandy, Dividers, Cactus Dil-dos, Southern Cross Tavern Coolangatta Andrew Baxter, The Devine Devilles, Ali Penney and DJ Gosper, Burleigh Underground Drummers The Rectifiers, Miami Marketta Sunday Chairs, Centre & The South, Kip Casper, Scott Teelow
Friday 11 July Lloyd Cole (UK), Soundlounge Currumbin
Sunday 13 July Music in the Park at Labrador, Tuesday’s Good (from midday) Monday 14 July Open mic night, Surfers RSL Friday 18 July Geoff Achison and The Souldiggers, Soundlounge Currumbin Sarah Frank, Genki Café Palm Beach Friday 25 July Monique Brumby, Soundlounge Currumbin Saturday 26 July Andrew Strong (The Commitments), Twin Towns Tweed Heads Coast Acoustics, featuring Jessie Morris Band, Country Paradise Parklands Nerang Angela Fabian Band, Burleigh Underground Drummers Monday 28 July Open mic night, Surfers RSL Wednesday 30 July Hell and Whiskey, The Northern Byron Bay
AUGUST
Sunday 29 June Warren Musgrove, Genki Café Palm Beach GAS, Bread n Butter Kirra Soldiers of the Sun, Swingin’ Safari Ben Amor, Bambu Bar Palm Beach
Sunday 3 August Sarah Frank, Bambu BarMusicFood Palm Beach
Sunay 29 June Gavin Doniger, Cabarita Beach Hotel
Friday 8 August Rabbit Radio turns 2, Burleigh Brewery
Monday 30 June Open mic night, Surfers RSL
Friday 15 August Tim Freedman does Nilsson, Soundlounge Currumbin
JULY
Friday 22 August Christine Anu, RSL Southport
The Beards, Soundlounge Currumbin Kiara Jack & The Jills, Railway Hotel Byron Bay Tuesday’s Good, Currumbin Creek Tavern
Saturday 23 August Coast Acoustics featuring Dan Hannaford, Country Paradise Parklands Nerang
Friday 4 July Dan Sultan, Sounlounge Currumbin Sarah Frank, Burleigh Underground Drummers The Flumes, Byron Bay Brewery
Wednesday 6 August Hanson, Coolangatta Hotel
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NOT CALLED GREAT-BARRIER FOR NOTHING
“A lot of work had been done by individuals and groups for months. A lot of people invested personally.” NGOs including Greenpeace, WWF, Bank Track, Urgewald, Campact, AYCC, 350.org, Market Forces and GetUP had been pressuring Deutsche Bank via email and advertising for weeks to take the position with UNESCO on the reef. Following the Deutsche Bank AGM Vincent went along to HSBC’s AGM where they also said they wouldn’t back the port expansion. He said he hopes other banks will follow that lead to protect the reef. If Adani gets the backing it needs, the approved dredging for the expansion will occur over three winters, representing a risk to the inner reef, which is already depleted especially along the coast. Dredge plumes could spread 80km and summer cyclones could resuspend sediment threatening reefs like Holbourne about 30km off the coast The increased shipping of coal through the outer reef, which is about 100km off the coast, will also take a toll.
Holbourne Island National Park is surrounded by fringing coral reefs and marine life and remains largely pristine but displays some damage from cyclones. The island is around 30km from Abbot Point where dredging for the expansion of coal terminals is set to begin. The dredge spoil is marked to be dumped just 8-10kms from the island and dredge plumes could spread 80kms. Photo ©Tom Jefferson/Greenpeace
The “Barrier” part of the Great Barrier Reef has come full circle since it was first named. Matthew Flinders gave it that name when he surveyed the area between 1801 and 1803, because the reef presented such a fearsome obstacle between the open ocean and the coastal lagoon.
Before Brown finished his speech to the AGM, Jürgen Fitschen, one of the bank’s co-chief executive officers, turned on his microphone.
Over two hundred years later, the Indian giant coal mining company Adani would probably give the Great Barrier Reef the same name but for a different reason…
“A recently approved bank policy regulates the procedures for transactions in connection with activities in or near World Heritage Sites. According to this policy, Deutsche Bank does not support activities unless there is consensus between the government and UNESCO that the planned activities do not place the outstanding universal value of the site at risk,” Fitschen said.
Adani has struck some barriers finding financial backers for the Abbot Point coal port expansion, because the company hasn’t got consensus from the World Heritage Committee to dump 3 million cubic metres of dredge spoils in the GBR Marine Park and there’s the “possible inscription of the property on the List of World Heritage in Danger”.
“As we have seen, there is currently no consensus between UNESCO and the Australian Government regarding the expansion of Abbot Point in the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef. Our policy requires such a consensus at the least. We therefore would not consider applications for the financing of an expansion any further.”
Financing Adani’s expansion project is proving to be a reputational risk for big banks, founder and lead campaigner of the NGO, Market Forces, Julian Vincent, said.
Vincent said Brown was thrilled with the outcome.
“Which rich bank wants to be the bank that puts the Great Barrier Reef on the World Heritage in Danger List,” Mr Vincent said. “Is that what you want your reputation to be?” Julian Vincent recently attended the Annual General Meeting of Deutsche Bank in Germany with 51-year-old tour boat operator Tony Brown from Airlie Beach and saw the Whitsundays business man get a phenomenal result. Brown had been invited to speak along with shareholders about potential damage to the reef and his livelihood if Deutsche Bank backed Adani’s expansion at Abbot Point. 18
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“He’s not the type of person who likes going to big meetings and wearing suits. He wasn’t in his comfort zone. One day to get there and a day to get home and five minutes speaking… He was rapt.” Last year Deutsche Bank had refinanced Adani’s existing Abbot Point terminal, so it was logical for Adani to approach the same bank for finance to expand it. Brown knew there was no point appealing to the government here so his only option was to appeal to the bank’s ethics not to back the expansion. The bank actually got a lot of positive global coverage for siding with the UNESCO stance. Vincent said he personally felt relief and delight.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Campaign Director Ben Pearce said, “these banks increasingly understand financing coal is damaging to their brand, particularly projects that threaten the Great Barrier Reef.” “When private businesses are prepared to go beyond what they’re required to do by regulations and law that’s very good,” he said. However, he said, the government should play the most important role. “Corporate Social Responsibility is fine but that shouldn’t be seen as an excuse for government not to step in and protect the environment.” Blank magazine contacted both the Federal Environmental Minister Greg Hunt and Adani, which has Queensland Coordinator-General approval for its $16 billion largest-coal-mine-in-the-country Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin, for comment but neither replied. WWF Great Barrier Reef Campaigner Richard Leck said in terms of the conservation value of the Great Barrier Reef, companies are ahead of the game and ahead of the Australian government. “Big companies such as Lend Lease and BHP see the concern and respond. One of the biggest financers of coal mines, BlackRock, has also announced serious concerns.” The government with its fast tracking of environmental approvals is going in the opposite direction, he said. Leck said the group of NGOs lobbied for months and WWF’s German office did a “fair bit” of media in Germany and nearly 200,000 Germans signed a petition, but it was the Whitsundays small business representative Tony Brown that made the biggest difference in reinforcing the barrier to defend the reef. It was Brown’s appeal that really got the campaign across the line, he said. Mic Smith
BOOMERANG BAGS LAUNCHED AT BURLEIGH It’s Saturday morning in James Street, and it’s busy with plenty of people checking out the wide variety of shops in Burleigh Heads. Always vibrant, this happening little place on the Gold Coast, is where Jordyn De Boer and Tania Potts chose to launch Boomerang Bags. The project had over 200 volunteers sewing bags, volunteers from Men’s Sheds making stands to distribute bags and a heap of other community members helping out in heaps of ways. Made from recycled and donated cloth, hand-stamped with ‘borrow and bring back’, the first of the 2000 hand-sewn, reusable bags were distributed through retail stores in Burleigh for people to use when they’ve forgotten to bring their own. They’re free, they’re sustainable and they’re expected to have a big impact on environmental awareness, with the launch event drawing much attention. The “Plastic Bag Monsters” were a hit with kids and grown up getting a photo with them, and then the Boomerang Bags, their volunteers and the Bongo Army headed down James Street to the corner where the whole tribe chanted “No more plastic in Burleigh” to the beat of the bongos.
Burleigh’s shoppers were introduced to the concept of Boomerang Bags, launched in Burleigh but about to take the world by storm. When the crowd migrated to the park opposite the bowls club they were entertained by musicians who also donated their time, and learned more about the bags and the people behind them. Local Councillor Greg Betts was also on hand to mingle and participate in the launch. “I’m hoping that this project is just the beginning,” Cr Betts said. “It’s not only environmental, but it’s community building. We have the reduction of plastic, but we also have the community coming together to produce them.”
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“Hopefully it will be a great success,” Cr Betts said. So when shopping in James Street, stop the scourge of plastic, borrow a Boomerang Bag, and bring it bag for someone else to use next time.
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More information at boomerangbags.org. Terry “Tappa” Teece and Samantha Morris
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TUCKER IN THE DUNES Dune plants don’t just provide a buffer for our beaches capturing windblown sand to build dunes. Long before European settlers saw value in the beach landscape (for many good and bad reasons); local Indigenous people used to forage the native dune plants for their special properties. Coastal banksia (Banksia integrifolia) is a common tree found along the foreshore and is known for its striking bottlebrush type yellow flowers. Filled with nectar for native birdlife and insects, Aboriginal people also ate the nectar, dipped the blossoms in water for a nutritious drink and used the seed cones as hairbrushes. Coastal wattle (Acacia sophorae) is a rambling, dense shrub also found along the foreshore of Gold Coast’s beaches. The flowers are bright yellow in colour and seed pods twist to release the seeds, which Aboriginal people used to eat when roasted. Cypress pine (Callistris columellaris), also known as the beach Christmas tree is a tall pine tree found on sandy soils. Aborigines used the strong, straight timber to make spears and resin from the tree was used to join spear heads to the shaft. Fan flower (Scaevola calendulacea) is a sprawling herb with delicate, purple, fan-shaped flowers. The leaves are succulent and help form an important dune stabiliser. Aborigines used to forage on the purplish, succulent fruit that is edible and mildly sweet and salty. Although very toxic, the poisonous seeds of Gidee gidee (Abrus precatorius) were used by Aboriginals to decorate implements and necklaces. You can see the vigorous, slender
Coastal pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens) Coastal banksia (Banksia integrifolia) twining plant growing under the canopy along Federation Walk Coastal Reserve. And one of the most common dune plants on the Gold Coast, coastal pigface (Carpobrotus glaucescens) gets its ‘infamous’ name from its delicious salty/sweet pink fruit that looks like a pig’s face. Not everyone enjoys the taste of coastal pigface though, so it’s best to leave the fruit for the native fauna to forage. • •
For more information about the unique dunes of the Gold Coast or our beaches in general, contact Griffith Centre for Coastal Management – gccm@griffith.edu.au. Information sourced from Coastal Plant Pocket Guide: The Gold Coast region and Building Dunes for the Community and the Coast: How to care for coastal dunes. Naomi Edwards Fan flower (Scaevola calendulacea)
WHAT IS RIGHT AND WHAT IS WRONG AND WHO GETS TO DECIDE? Is it ok to build a new coal mine that will damage the environment if it brings jobs? What if a new housing development will wipe out a population of koalas? Access to justice is the cornerstone of a fair and just society like ours. We know it’s crucial to ensure an equitable and transparent society. Everyone in Australia has the right access to legal support when they need it. And until recently that included access to legal experts who specialised in environmental law. But recently both Queensland and Australian Governments defunded the very organisations charged with providing this legal support. The Environmental Defenders Office Queensland has had all of its State and Federal Government funding cut without warning, but they’re fighting back with a crowdfunding campaign to raise more than $100,000 before 30 June.
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There are contentious coal, gas and other projects in the pipeline as well as developments on the Great Barrier Reef. At the same time, farmers are fighting the expansion of coal seam and other gas extraction and both community groups and everyday people are seeking support for objecting to developments in inappropriate and sensitive environments. The work of the Environmental Defenders Office helps landholders, individuals and community groups to understand and act on their legal rights. This in turn protects the natural environment and communities against the impacts of major coal mines and massive coastal developments. Jo Bragg is the Principal Solicitor at EDO Queensland. She’s worked with EDO for more than 20 years. “We’re committed to keep providing these services for free in the interests of access to justice,” she said. “However, without government funding our hands are severely tied.” “To keep operating, we need funds for staff wages, rent, internet, and telephone - the basic essential costs to keep the
access to justice service alive.” “This will ensure we can keep our community legal advice line operational, provide free legal information seminars and advocate on urgent law reform such as protecting long-standing community legal rights to object to proposed mines,” Jo said. The Environmental Defenders Office is the only organisation in Queensland which helps ordinary people with advice and support for environmental legal matters. “If there is no free legal support available it will mean ordinary people seeking environmental justice will have no one to turn to. They will effectively be locked out of the legal system,” Jo said. To learn more about EDO’s work or to give to their citizen-funded campaign, visit crowdfundi.ng/EDO. Samantha Morris
MARKETTA SUPPER CLUB - JR’S SMOKEHOUSE BBQ Rabbit + Cocoon, 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami “We’re going to a BBQ tonight,” I tell the Main Squeeze, a smirk curling up the edges of my lips. That’s a mighty understatement, as I’m sure he’s never been to a BBQ like this one before! It’s a popup weekly event held on Thursday nights at Miami Marketta with food from the master of southern style smokers, JR’s Smokehouse BBQ. JR’s has had a stall at the Marketta Street Food on Saturday nights since it started, but the Thursday night Supper Club event gives diners far more choice of what they want to eat: real wood-smoked Texan beef ribs, pulled pork, Angus beef brisket and maple glazed chicken all cooked low and slow, served with cornbread, smoked Mac and cheese and Collard greens. We place our order at the van, get our drinks from the bar and settle in. There’s a really cool night vibe at Rabbit+Cocoon on a Thursday, laid back without the crowd. This feels like real popup territory! With concrete floor, crate clad walls and parachute ceilings, it’s warm in the shed. Most of the tables are full, well spaced out, with the ‘girls in black’ checking out that everyone’s happy. It’s chilled and relaxed with the sound of quiet chatting, families and groups of friends kicking back with a few drinks, grabbing an early start to a long weekend. We only have a couple, but it still feels like forbidden pleasure. The bar’s doing a steady trade – cocktails and craft beer, some smart boutique wines, there’s plenty on offer. “Do you want to be with a caveman, baby?” It’s the comment from the next table, accompanied by chortles of laughter, which prepares us for the paleo onslaught – lots of meat, cornbread muffins, the only vegies in sight being pickles! Oh, but we didn’t order the greens or sliders with slaw! Our food arrives in a lined aluminium tray; nothing fancy looking, but the taste is amazing! Four large pieces of chicken, two chunky beef ribs, freshly stuffed baconwrapped jalapenos and pulled pork. I’ve made pulled pork before but it’s not a patch on this! I remember a quote from ‘Joe Beef ’: “When you add the element of smoke, the dish becomes completely different.” Falling apart, there’s no fatty
‘afterburn’. It’s overlain with another dimension, yet the smoke is not too dominant; there’s a balanced soft mouth feel. Truthfully, it’s the food you’d expect to find in a real Southern States BBQ joint half a world away, not in a Miami warehouse! We’d passed the smoker on the way in, a cylindrical trailer with JR’s Smokehouse Barbecue stencilled on its side, so I seek out owners Joel Romo (JR) and his partner Simone Helm to find out a bit more about smoking. Joel tells me that he’s from Arizona, although he grew up in California. (What the heck! Forget California. It’s got very little to do with this story! This is all about the Southern states!) “When I was about 8 years old, my dad took me to a real barbecue place. It was a family restaurant but in a bad neighbourhood. That was the first place I had really good smoked ribs and it set the standard for everything else I’ve tasted since.” “So when you talk ribs, are you talking beef or pork? We’re used to pork ribs, mostly, but there are beef ribs on the menu tonight,” I comment. (The Cape Grim ribs are one of the richest dishes on the menu, packed with meat, tender, full of flavour and completely different to any ribs I’ve ever tasted.) “The price of pork ribs in Australia now has gone through the roof. Yes, it’s the BBQ that everyone knows, but with butchers charging $18.50 a kilo, you often pay $60 per kilo on the table, and there’s not a lot of meat on the bone. We want to charge $20, so we’re slow cooking pork shoulder and beef brisket instead – they’re probably our two most popular dishes.” ‘Damn!’ I think. ‘We’ll have to order the brisket next time we’re here.’ We talk beasts, sourcing ingredients, and there are a few surprises in store. The beef is Cape Grim, natural grass fed, a choice meat by any standard. Joel tells me that there are bigger animals in the US, and beast size is important for smoking. Aussie animals are also drought affected right now; they’re eating less, and drinking more, so in the smoker the meat reduces too much, so he’s bring up the meat from Tassie.
You’ve got to love the commitment it takes to bring our meat to the table. After setting up in the Marketta at 4.00am, the meat is hickory smoked for 12 hours in Joel’s little smoker, a handmade number he made with the help of local fabricator Bob Little. There’s the constant tending, the temperature control (even 15 degrees makes so much difference, Joel tells me), as well as making the accompaniments. The more I read about smoking, the more it fascinates me: “There are complex rules about smoke dynamics... As a river finds its bed in soil, the smoke goes where it wants to... airflow in a smoker is finicky: you want smoke, but not too much; you want heat but in good proportion.” (The art of living according to Joe Beef) Joel has just returned from a week in Austin, Texas and Memphis, where he has been learning new techniques. Smoking is a very competitive business over there. Everyone has their own collards mix (kale, mustard greens and beets), he says. He worked for a week with pit master Evan LeRoy in Freedmen’s Bar, Austin, a restaurant housed in an 1869 Civil War building in the first neighbourhood where black slaves were freed. It’s renowned for its amazing barbecue; they pickle their own vegetables, make their own bread, and the BBQ sauce is a two day process. Meat is bark coated with a dry rub of salt, pepper and spices, rather than being smothered in marinade – that’s the way a true barbecue should be done! Mighty fine, and certainly ‘blow me away’ territory! And just when you thought you couldn’t squeeze another morsel between your lips, you realise that there’s dessert waiting: Mama J’s (or Joel’s mum Joan’s) Sweet potato pie, a more delectable, cinnamon-flavoured Southern States’ version of the pumpkin pie. That’s on our agenda for next week’s Supper Club – but only if we can get a booking! Bookings: 0488 590 599 Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews at foodgoldcoast.com.au
BLACKBOARD COFFEE ROASTERS Capri on via Roma, Isle of Capri Ever humble, Blackboard owner Nick Pearce exudes a wealth of knowledge about coffee and service beyond his years. He’s a barista/restaurateur who understands that the customer needs to feel special, that rolling the eyeballs at a request for a soy latte or half strength flat white will only turn customers away. At the same time, he wants to challenge and educate us about what coffee we are drinking and why. “We need to be present in the service, to tailor the experience to the person. There needs to be consistency in enjoyment, but every experience needs to be amazing and different.”
JR’s Smokehouse BBQ @ Rabbit + Cocoon
JR’s Smokehouse BBQ @ Rabbit + Cocoon
How do you source your coffee? We’re so far removed from the growers that we need to deal with brokers on the ground, create relationships and have some values in the way we deal with growers. We buy our coffee from a particular farm through a trustworthy broker, so we know when it was harvested, how the beans have been www.blankgc.com.au
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treated, what the farmer is like etc. It’s a really important part of creating sustainable futures, dealing with integrity, and sourcing coffee which tastes amazing! Coffee is really no different to any other product. It needs to be the best we can buy and it needs to be fresh. Our coffee is less than a year old, (it must stay in the country of origin for at least three months after cropping), whereas some commercial coffees have been picked three years ago! Why don’t you buy Fair Trade coffee? In my opinion, Fair Trade is one of the worst things that has happened to coffee. It’s an incentive for producers to grow quantity rather than quality. There’s also exploitation around the scheme. Some growers have paid $2,000 for a rainforest stamp with the promise of increased business, but the buyer is never seen again. They were sold a dream! So, what’s new and exciting happening at Capri? We’ve just brought in a 5kg Probat roaster from Germany, so we’re going to be roasting our own beans. That’s exciting! [Nick is quick to acknowledge the contribution of his roasting mentor Josh Russell from Cup Coffee in Brisbane, one of the people behind his success.] We’re also building on the coffee experience. Come in and try our coffee prepared in different ways (we always have three coffees on the go), buy coffee for home, or have some fun doing a barista class so you can make better coffee at home. Marj Osborne Read more of Marj’s reviews at foodgoldcoast.com.au
BOARD CULTURE - ADDICT ESPRESSO 2442 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
reins three years ago. Evoking the feel of a 1980s surf shop, Board Culture is community focused, laid back, cool and passionately local. Featuring Gold Coast manufactured boards and skateboards made from eco-friendly sustainable wood from trees fallen in Northern NSW, every piece in the shop has a story to tell. With an event space for 250 to 300 people Board Culture currently runs courses, offers free yoga on a Saturday morning, hosts movie nights and has bands on a Friday night once a month. Addict Espresso is front and centre as you walk into Board Culture with a variety of seating outside for you to soak up the sumptuous sun. For the commuters there is a drive in area at the front where you can pull up, jump out, grab your coffee and keep going. Addict’s beans are their own blend, a variation of the Merlo Espresso, and Pete the barista works like a well-oiled machine churning out the coffee orders. Pete’s favourite is the very drinkable piccolo with its honey aroma and creamy sweet caramel flavour The espresso has an aroma that hits like a glorious chocolate and salted caramel wave. It is rich, complex and has a bite of acidity that awakens your tastebuds. I could not get enough of its salted caramel flavour and smoky notes. For the surfers looking for a post-beach drink, or the early morning commuters looking for a pick-me-up, the long black is a real thirst quencher. Light with a sweet fruit aroma and berry flavour it will surely put you in good frame of mind for the day ahead. Open 6.00am Monday - Saturday and 8.00am on Sunday, I advise you to come, escape the hideous winter weather and enjoy a great coffee in the glorious sunlight.
MISS PEARL STORE Not all nail polishes are created equal. Thankfully, Miss Pearl Store offers a unique vegan friendly, cruelty-free, gluten, fragrance and toxin free, biodegradable product. And we have one nail polish to give away (colour to be a surprise). To be in the running, send an email with the subject heading ‘Miss Pearl’ to news@blankgc.com.au with your name and address in the body of the email. Winner drawn at random around midday Thursday 24 July and notified by return email. Read more about Miss Pearl’s products at www.misspearl.com.au.
Catherine Coburn
There is one thing that we as Gold Coasters have difficulty understanding: the cold. For us anything below 23 degrees seems barbaric and so as we begin our terrible winter months, we can go to extremes to seek out the warmth and somewhere to sit and soak up the sun. During this trying time Board Culture in Mermaid Beach is easily the place you want to be with its eclectic laid back vibe, great coffee and plenty of sun to go around.Board Culture has been a Mermaid Beach landmark since 1995 with Trav taking the
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Addict Espresso @ Board Culture, Mermaid Beach
Addict Espresso @ Board Culture, Mermaid Beach
PAULA STAFFORD It was fitting that I meet with fashion icon Paula Stafford in a building opposite Annette Kellerman Park in Mermaid Beach. Annette Kellerman, the famous swimmer, diver and Vaudeville actress lived on the Gold Coast from 1970 ‘til she died in 1975. She invented a tight fitting, one piece swimsuit in order to give her freedom to swim. Kellerman was famously arrested and charged with indecency in 1907 for wearing the swimsuit on a Boston beach in the USA. Paula Stafford however found greater freedom and comfort in wearing a two piece swimsuit. While still a teenager in the 1930s, she was sewing her own two piece to wear on the beach at Point Lonsdale, Victoria, where her family vacationed each summer. That two piece was the forerunner of a successful fashion business in Surfers Paradise. She doesn’t remember when she stopped calling her swimsuit a two piece and started calling it a bikini” but she thinks it may be after the French designer Louis Reard started calling his two piece swimsuit a bikini in 1946. Paula Stafford’s design clearly predates the Frenchman’s so called invention though. Stafford worked as an army nurse during World War II and met her husband Beverley, at the Toowoomba hospital where he was being rehabilitated. They moved to the South Coast, as the Gold Coast was known then, and started a beach hire and massage business at Main Beach. Women would see her and her family wearing clothes she had sewn and the orders soon started coming in. Initially Stafford, with her order book in hand, was running her business on the beach. Luckily, the Gold Coast City Council bureaucrats weren’t around back then! The 1940s and 50s was not a time when Australian women were generally drawn toward business, particularly with the post World War II scarcity of resources such as fabric. Stafford however had the single minded determination needed to deal with her situation at the time. I on the other hand, am exasperated when I contemplate how a woman with four very young children (“I had four children in 5 years”) could work so hard day in day out, to build a business. “I was just doing what needed to be done” was Paula’s response. “We just needed a little more support for the family. I didn’t think there was anything odd about it”. We can’t possibly comprehend in our era of Joe Hockey’s disdainful entitlement, what it must have been like trying to deal with returned servicemen from World War II; trying to cope with the recurring nightmares of their wartime experiences in the emotionally repressed society that was Australia in the 1940s and 50s. How difficult it must have been to survive in an era of scarcity while Stafford was trying to provide for her children. The family bought land on Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise in 1949 when their only neighbours were a large family called the Emsons who lived in a large tent. Stafford and her husband Beverley built a house and the Fiesta Apartments.
This would soon become the location for the infamous ‘Bikini Bar’ and ‘Tog Shop’ albeit, uncomfortably close to the newly built Surfers Paradise RSL where Beverley could get in via the back door. Paula however was working 18 hour days, making to order leisure wear and bikinis with a turnaround of 24 hours. “It’s unheard of these days”, she said “ but it was then as well.” This business model meant that Stafford had no real competition in the swimwear and leisurewear business. No-one else was doing made to order. It also meant that she had to employ more staff. Another peculiarity in Australia today; large numbers of staff employed sewing garments. Walls were knocked out in the Fiesta building to accommodate staff as the business grew. Her business evolved to include other ventures such as an art gallery, a restaurant, fashion parades and a modelling agency. Stafford wove many of her own fabrics on a hand loom in earlier days. When she started to sew her clothes and swimwear, she used any available fabric, including tea towels. She once even made a bikini out of carpet. “There was a a carpet manufacturer in Miami and he asked me to make a bikini for a promotion, so I did”. Swiss textile agents eventually came to Surfers Paradise to meet her, and she bought most of her fabrics from them once her business had grown. She ensured remnants of fabrics did not go to waste by having a factory weave them into new lengths of fabric, and making jackets out of them. On the day I visited her, she proudly pointed out to me the different fabrics, including Thai silk, woven into a colourful vest she had in her cupboard. She even remembers the customers that the remnants came from. She was eventually able to travel and start selling in London thanks to government assistance. She sold swimwear and leisurewear to Selfridges and was introduced to fabrics from Libertys of London.
Maintaining some sort of moral compass was apparently in the job description. Stafford was somewhat affronted by his actions, and took several of her models adorned in bikinis to Surfers beach the next day. “It was only fair to the lifesaver to educate him”. She doesn’t think it made any difference “but the media gave it a lot of publicity”.
Stafford made menswear as well as women’s and children’s wear. She was making board shorts for men long before Gordon Merchant was sewing them on his kitchen table in 1973 for his new Gold Coast surf wear business, Billabong.
Paula Stafford is now 94 years old and her swimsuit wearing days are well behind her. She suffered a stroke recently and now lives in a nursing home. Of today’s bikini designs, she says “I love them. Some of the designs are quite clever”.
Sammy Davis Jnr was probably Stafford’s most famous customer. Her friend Lee Gordon, the music and entertainment promoter and entrepreneur, sent him to the Tog Shop, and Sammy Davis Jnr walked out with bags of clothes for himself as well as his friends.
Stafford knew Annette Kellerman when she lived on the Gold Coast. What Kellerman thought of the bikini can only be imagined as it “was too long ago” to remember. Yet many of us would give a kidney to be a fly on the wall listening to the two women who were arguably the most influential in swimwear design in Australia.
Now part of Gold Coast folklore is the day that Sydney model Ann Ferguson, wearing a Paula Stafford bikini, was asked to leave Surfers Paradise beach in 1952 because her attire was too brief. “The duty lifesaver was acting as he found necessary” says Stafford of the incident.
What advice does Paula Stafford have for young women starting out in the fashion / swimwear business? “Work long hours. And always look after your customer.” Pip Andreas www.blankgc.com.au
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OVERFED AND UNDERNOURISHED: GOLD COAST RED CARPET PREMIERE May has been a considerably loaded month of events. The poster advertising this documentary film premiere, I spotted in Burleigh village, tucked humbly among a range of music, comedy and holistic health gigs. I knew I HAD to go immediately. I am already very busy and I know Blank is already busting at the seams with content. But I MUST go. I am most clueless about this night above all others scheduled in May. I have been to film festivals, done the cinema in the park experience and even attended some documentary film host events already on the Gold Coast. But Overfed and Undernourished has a very unique allure. I recognise some of the participating professionals which include Joe Cross and Dr Arne Rubinstein. I get a sense that this is going to be, as Ron Burgundy would declare “kinduv a big deal”. On arrival, it is red carpet which salutes my entrance. Talia, the business operations manager, is there to welcome me. We have corresponded in the days previous. “Kate and Dr Anthony Golle are both available for an interview this evening.” Boom! Exclusive interview with the executive producers and stars of tonight’s Film. What was the time frame from idea to premiere?
How would you sell film as being able to contribute to the improved health of our community to councillors, members of parliament? Well, they all got invited. But don’t see any here. This particular answer left a sticky sadness in the air. I tried not to let my thoughts follow too deeply, the crushing blows our health system is taking. Perhaps, now seated in the solution, it is possible to believe that it shall be a collective US which provides some positive direction. For me personally, the Overfed and Undernourished premiere symbolises both a beacon of strength for Gold Coast entertainment and a warming community desire for better health. Congratulations for entire crew responsible for a great film and outstanding premiere event. Visit overfedandundernourishedmovie.com to view the trailer and order the DVD. Andrew Scott
After speaking with our nephew and proposing that he come stay with us for a while, the idea was cemented and just over twelve months later here we are. What is unique about this production compared with others which centre on nutrition? It follows a story. Specifically the story of a child and it is based on solution, not just the causes. A bit of background then… Kate and Dr Anthony Golle are founders of Body Brilliant Chiropractic and Wellness. The star of the documentary, Liam, is their nephew. As the title suggests, he is the atypical victim of a culture which is literally overfed and undernourished. What is the proposed solution? Sorry, no spoilers here with BlankGC. After the interview, myself and photographer squeeze in and among the heaving crowd. There are a handful of stalls promoting and offering nutritional and physical based health products/services. No hotdog stands or popcorn on offer for this event. I wonder if a sniffer dog will catch me out for the snickers hidden in my pocket? After a quick rest outside, it’s time to get seated. On entrance to the theatre, I am blown away by the turn-out. All I knew of this event was on a humble little poster. How this crowd came to be I don’t know and don’t care. I feel honoured, humbled and just know what a privilege it is being part of this celebration. It’s a huge stand for community health and support. I remember asking earlier in the interview…
Rockstars & Villains The Collection by
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been there done that
A MUDD RUSH MEMOIR Alarm sounds for 5.10am. It’s Saturday morning. What crazy commitment is calling at this hour? I’ll give you a clue. It’s approximately 8km long, involves about 1500 contestants and is muddy as hell. Running is boring as batshit, even if it is through the mud. This is why 24 obstacles have been erected. Well, that was my interpretation of the Mudd Rush concept. If someone asked me to join them for an 8km run through a few fields on a weekend I’d probably tell them to f*ck off. If they had taken the time to dig a bunch of mud-pits, build obstacles out of rope, tin, hay, tyres and timber just because, then they would have my attention. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Muddrush Gold Coast 2014. This event has been looming in my calendar for a while. The initial purpose of this loud inscription in my diary was to stimulate motivation to train. It’s a tough ask to leap from a couch-based social life to muddy middle distance events. With a few months warning, there is plenty of time to do some push-ups, get the cardio range extended and slam down some protein shakes. Or there is the Australian way … eat and drink junk-food whilst watching Cheech and Chong films until only one week remains. Then panic, try and
squeeze a month of works outs into a few days, irritate on old knee injury and strain your back. Like a boss! The night before running, I scratched the surface level of online content for Mudd Rush training. The map of the course, a few example obstacles and a blog entry with some “Mudd Rush for idiots” type tips. This was the final half hour of hope for me. Will I hit the ground running and continue until the end? The result, as promoted by Mudd Rush events, is irrelevant. And rightly so. The design forces fun upon you. Before 1km is completed, everything you are wearing is 95% mud. You are already scratched and probably bruised. Everybody is helping each other out and jovially plugging along. There are tutus and spandex and there is mud. One of the early obstacles created a mud-enema type process. Can I hear a f*ck yeah! If you have read all the way to this point and are still cringing at the thought of participating in such an event, YOU are the person who needs it most. Exercise is meant to be fun. It is meant to be social. All who attended the event will stand by my declaration that these two elements are orchestrated and celebrated with great professionalism by Mudd Rush. It is their creed.
On the drive home, myself and Blank cheer-leader for the day, discussed at length, our desire to have a whole Blank team decked out in capes at next year’s starting line. We laughed about all the crispy clean lorna-jane clad girls power walking the beachside pedestrian highway. If you look good at the end of your exercise routine, you are DOING IT WRONG! Red face, sweat stained shirt, pants and scruffy hair are symptoms of a job well done. Am I making my point? Thankyou Mudd Rush for bringing this awesome event to the Gold Coast. I have my medallion hanging from the fridge. In fact, I asked a group of friends whom I met that evening how many medallions they had won recently… Blankman 1, loser friends 0. Find Mudd Rush on facebook and check muddrush.com. au for all the details on future planned events. Blank will certainly be there for 2015, maybe the ABC Gold Coast radio team would like to challenge for a friendly wager? Andrew Scott
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MAGICIANS OF THE GODS: An evening with Graham Hancock Immediately after this event I posted a selfie photo posing with Graham Hancock. The most common responsive comment “who is that guy?” This caused me to pause with agitation but then to ponder and smile. I feel like I’ve been following a rockstar for over a decade and am still privileged to be in the “saw him before he was cool” crowd. So who is Graham Hancock? Well, I was privileged to a few private moments to interview Graham before his Brisbane performance, so I asked him that same thing.
shirts ripped or flashing boobs but the room of The Old Museum was ALIVE! When I told fellow audience members that I was able to sit and do an interview backstage with Graham they looked at me with the same colour of envy you get when someone in the room declares once smoking a doobie with Mick Jagger as if it’s no big deal.
Graham, what is your preferred professional working title?
To connect with my Aussie fan base. There has been many requests from followers on facebook.
Author.
That’s right, a sixty something year old author with 140,000 Facebook followers and a Twitter account. He holds a huge YouTube presence and is a frequent podcast guest. I suggest checking out the interview sessions on the Joe Rogan Experience.
There you go, an author, simple as that. I am sure any fellow fan reading this right now will be shaking the paper with fury, yearning internally, “but he’s so much more than that!” This is true. Like a rockstar is more than a singer, Graham’s work demonstrates he is immersed in far more than just his writings. Stand Up comedian Joe Rogan once drew the similarities between Graham Hancock and Indiana Jones. When you hear the tales of Graham’s archaeological expeditions, you’ll agree that comparison holds merit. The challenge for this particular article was always going to be obediently holding to the word limit. I have chatted at length with friends about the research and wisdom delivered by Graham over the past decade. Precession of the equinox, Gobekli Tepe, sanctity of consciousness and Montezuma vs Cortez. That sort of stuff. Still with me? Well several hundred certainly were at this most recent Brisbane performance. Accompanying shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Byron were too, mostly sell out events. Maybe at least you are familiar with his banned TED Talk of 2013? One bad ass academic is right. And the crowds cheered like they would a rock god. Probably not as many
Graham, what are the primary goals of your tour Down Under?
Actually, I urge you to, I insist you do. I find myself fumbling at the keys just trying to describe the audience experience. Attempting to share even a pinch of the night’s lectures is just too difficult. Not just because there was five hours worth, or that it’s too data-dense for a Blank reader. It’s because there is a poetry and passion which just vanish as soon as I touch these keys. It would be like handing in a sheet of guitar chord combinations which the Friday night band had played. For example, Graham parabolised the tuning of lenses within a telescope to focus the perception of a star to tuning ones consciousness with plant medicines to shift the perception of reality and existence … Exactly. This was a spectacular night and it fills me with joy to set YOU on the path to exploring more of Graham Hancock’s literature, documentary and podcasts. With more requests, we can have him back here in no time. Andrew Scott
More about Graham Hancock Graham Hancock is the author of the major international bestsellers The Sign and The Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, and Heaven’s Mirror. His books have sold more than five million copies worldwide and have been translated into 27 languages. His public lectures, radio and TV appearances, including two major TV series Quest For The Lost Civilisation and Flooded Kingdoms of the Ice Age - have put his ideas before audiences of tens of millions. He has become recognised as an unconventional thinker who raises controversial questions about humanity’s past. Read more at grahamhancock.com.
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CANCER SURVIVOR RUNS FOR A PURPOSE Mrs Langeveld knows first-hand the deep pain and emotion that comes with losing a loved one to cancer, and was motivated to enter this year’s event after losing her sister to secondary liver cancer, at age 40. In 2012, just two years later, Tara was diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue cancer herself.
5-6 July 2014
Now in good health, and inspired by her sister’s bravery Tara said she will complete the Suncorp Bank 5.7km Challenge, one of the Gold Coast Airport Marathon events, and continue to show her support for those who have been touched by the disease. Mrs Langeveld has put together a marathon team, Team Langey Fighting Cancer, which will see over 15 family and friends donning team shirts and running with a purpose. “Cancer has unfortunately been a big part our lives, my dad and father-in-law have also recently been diagnosed with prostate cancer, but we inspire each other to push on and not be defined by cancer,” Tara said. Tara said she was motivated to enter this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon with knowledge Cancer Council Queensland is again the major beneficiary of the annual event. “Being able to participate in the marathon and raise funds to support Cancer Council Queensland’s vital work in cancer research, education and support programs only cemented our team’s desire to enter,” Tara said. “It doesn’t matter if you run or walk, it’s not about that, it’s about getting everyone together, honouring those we’ve lost to the disease and working towards a cancer free future.” Cancer Council Queensland spokesperson Katie Clift encouraged more Queenslanders to take part in the 2014 Gold Coast Airport Marathon – for all Queenslanders affected by cancer. “With your help, Cancer Council Queensland can continue to fund life-saving research and provide support for people affected by cancer,” Katie said. “By raising funds online or making a donation to Cancer Council Queensland you are helping to create a cancer free future.” To take part in the popular annual event in support of Cancer Council Queensland and show your support for Queenslanders affected by cancer, please visit www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au, selecting CCQ as charity of choice.
Enter Now! MARATHON • HALF MARATHON • 10KM RUN • 5.7KM CHALLENGE • JUNIOR DASH
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