LiQUiFY JAN/FEB 2016

Y F i U LiQ

James Woods // Dbah

AST SOUTH E N W O A N D ’S QUEENSL /FEB 2016 JAN

CYCLONE

HITS

SPITFIRE & THE GC ZOMBIE DEVELOPER DAWN // HED(PE) WHAT! MINKE WHALE MINGLE // CYCLONE TUNI FRAMES // Ill NIÑO SWIM FASHION // MUSIC // SURF // MORE!

TUNI

January/February 2016

004 - Editor’s Intro 008 - News LiQUiFY Scoops Media Awards

010 - Cyclone Tuni Photo Special 048 - Mingling With Minke Whales 058 - Developer Dawn On The Spit

074 - Replanting Federation Walk 076 - Black VS White Swim Fashion 082 - Hed(pe) What! With Jeremiah Stratton

108 - Gun Shots And Crack Shooters

124 - Ear Candy CD Selecto 128 - Ill Nino On The Dog And Bone

132 - Buzzing By With The Maccabees 136 - That’s Gonna Leave A Mark Burleigh Boulder Mince

Editor & Senior Photographer // Luke Sorensen Managing Editor // Rachel Syers Contributors // Barry Stalwart, Carlin O’Driscoll, Phil Hoile, Brad Wilson, Trent Stapleton, Dan Mahony, Ewan Rtuledge, Olaf Meynecke, Calem Wright, Kane Oakley, Jacob Noble, William Course, Shannon Glasson Contributions, advertising and enquiries welcome editor@liquifymag.com LiQUiFY Magazine is published 6 times per year // © Copyright 2015 Coral Sea Media Pty Ltd // LiQUiFY is a registered trademark // Whilst all attempts are made to ensure accuracy and suitability; content, opinions and submissions from contributors and/or advertisers are not necessarily that of Coral Sea Media Pty Ltd or its staff, and as such are not endorsed or supported by Coral Sea Media Pty Ltd or its employees // All content in this magazine is copyright*, please respect and use the appropriate ‘share’ buttons to distribute content // No liability accepted for misuse, reprinting, distribution, sharing or publishing of content contained within // LiQUiFY reserves the right to alter or change content at any time without notification // www.liquifymag.com *Some content is reproduced under the Creative Commons licensing guidelines, and accordingly rights remain with owners of those works

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Froggys - Cyclone Tuni swell // Photo Jacob Noble

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hat in the hell was that? Oh yeah that’s right, it was 2015 and it just blasted by us at an alarming pace. It’s been an amazing year of intense highs and lows for just about everyone I know, and for every win someone else has gone down like a sack of spuds. It must mean we’re doing something right though - I mean if you’re just plain-sailing through life, sitting on the sidelines or just glancing out the window from time to time then nothing bad is going to happen to you ... neither is anything good. It’s on the front line of life that shit flies at your head, great leaps are made and new things are gained. That’s what life is all about and that’s where you’re going to find it. It’s no different for our magazine here at LiQUiFY and again this year we’ve been on a hell of a roller coaster loop of growth and punishment - but we’re out here grabbing it and taking it head on so we can keep going on. There’s been some intense boardroom meetings, dawn swims and productive arguments going down, and they’ve all been in the interest of answering the great question that is - what next?

So expect a few changes in 2016 as we grow and expand, we’re glad you’re here with us now and hope you can keep up when we turn the next corner. Above all we hope you’re getting on top of and in front of the changes you need to get past in your life - surfing the front of that wave and not getting pulverised in the back end of life. Be the change, and be at the front of it my friends!

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LiQUiFY Magazine founder Luke Sorensen honoured with the ‘Media Excellence Award’ at the 2015 MACCAS

Media Awards, known moreover as the MACCAS, celebrates and honours the region’s best news, television, radio and magazine people and organisations.

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he region’s media industry night of nights went down late last month and LiQUiFY Magazine scooped an unexpected swag of awards including Best Sports Photo, Best Magazine Feature Story and the coveted 2015 Media Excellence Award - the highest accolade on offer for the year. The Gold Coast 8

Our editor and chief Luke Sorensen accepted the Media Excellence Award, dedicating it to his father who started him in photography 25 years ago. He said it was encouraging to see independent media recognised amongst its mainstream peers.

“As a freelancer and an independent, it’s really something, to take away an award like this,” Luke told the crowded gala dinner hall filled with Gold Coast journalism identities. He also thanked the large team of contributors who help to make each LiQUiFY issue happen.

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Whilst some read the newspaper and sip tea, and others eat a leisurely breakfast in bed, Nick Vasicek spends his Sunday mornings taking on breakneck monsters at the border rocks // Photo Calem Wright @calemphotos

It’s a vision and scene that will never get old. Last waves of the day, glorious sunset colours and you jag one of these all to yourself - Cyclone Tuni 2015 // Photo Dan Mahony Photography

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he drought was long and it lasted on, that was until the season broke and with it came a thunderous roar. Not rain or wind or flood would quench the thirst of this place for it was not water they were lacking - it was walls and waves and all things round, and that sound they heard - it was the breaking of a cyclone’s surging swell.

The first cyclonic groundsell of the season began its slow march westward in the first week of December, and despite the storm having no direct impact at all on the Australian coast, the ripples arrived right on cue.

A pulsing 12-second stream pushed into the points and beaches for several days, sorting out the wave-thirsty towns and city that needed to feel that push under their feet once more. Duranbah came to life like a slumbering giant awakened, Snapper Rocks turned on a backwash display that saw spine-tingling impacts and the odd spitting funnel, Burleigh

was her beautiful self and many more places lit up for minutes, hours or even days at a time.

If this early push is a taste of things to come then we can honestly say bring it on and bring it soon. Some amazing rides, a few are the stuff of legend now, were captured by a stellar team of local lensmen who baked themselves in the sun, dodged lips, soaked in the rain and otherwise stuck it out to grab these frames just for you.

Sit back and soak up our drought-breaking pictorial of lines and lumps courtesy of the wayward Pacific Cyclone Tuni and the far-off post card she sent us this month.

Oh and what a gift for local shapers and retailers! We saw that many snapped sticks, busted leggies, fubar fins and damaged egos it should have made for a roaring trade over the five to ten days afterwards as people prepared for what the rest of summer may have in store!

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It was a thunderous sound as the swell arrived each dawn and began pounding into the coast around the border // Photo Carlin O’Driscoll - OD’s Surf Photography

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And as if intertwined like some symbiotic situation, as the swell arrived so did the enormous crowd - with opportunities for even a single wave like this, who would stay away though? // Photo Luke Sorensen

Long lines with long periods is what this place lives for. An amazing view of Tuni’s energy from above, looking down on this ancient headland like a soaring bird // Photo Kane Oakley - High As A Drone

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Like a turtle stuck in a drainpipe, Ryan Grey nailed a few gorgeous pits on the back of the point before the wind got up each morning.

Burleigh did exactly what she always does and produced the goods // Photo William Course - Billeigh Photography

Jackson Close racks up another perfect keg from behind the rock. The conditions favoured the experienced and the backwash saw many come unstuck ... except this bloke // Photo Luke Sorensen

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Asher Wales going mental at full speed into a filthy left somewhere around the border region. This place had few takers over the weekend however those that dared, usually got at least one sick pit // Photo Grant Davis

Jaggar Bartholomew charged a few over the weekend, seen here channelling his way from deep behind the rock to perfectly enter, stay and exit from a moody slab // Photo Luke Sorensen

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In amongst the lips and crunching backwash was a few frothy sections worth their weight in foam obscured and loving it behind some literal froth // Photo Brad Wilson @offshoreimages

Carving and slicing her way along wave after wave, the future for Alyssa Lock is looking as bright as her surfing attire was this weekend - testing a few step ups ahead of leaving for the challenging waves of Hawaii // Photo Ewan Rutledge

Noa Deane displayed superior local knowledge taking off the deepest of any surfer behind the rock on the Friday, doing laps from Froggies through and nailing a few sick pits. It might have to do with the word ‘speed’ scrawled in Nikko between the fins on his wicked channel-bottom set up // Photos Luke Sorensen

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Plenty of mean lefts about if you were game enough but it seems most people didn’t get the memo, instead joining the conga line from Snapper to Kirra in hope that someone fell or got caught behind // Photo Luke Sorensen

‘If wave be here don’t be there’ hit home with vengeance on the Friday and Saturday, as countless surfers met their demise at Snapper Rocks. The parking lot came to a standstill, even an ambulance turned up for one poor soul who suffered some spinal injuries after hitting the bottom - it was a little messy // Photo Luke Sorensen

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Mitchell James spent ample time in the shade, dodging both the rain and the sunshine as it turned from one to the other and back again - he’s starting to become a staple performer out there, and here’s why // Photo Luke Sorensen

Duranbah was quietly overlooked by most surfers over the cyclone swell - partly because it was a critically solid paddle and partly because many believed it wouldn’t handle. My how so many were wrong // Photo Carlin O’Driscoll - OD’s Surf Photography

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Timing was everything here - misjudge it by five seconds, slip or simply leap in without paying real attention and you faced being pinballed into the jagged rocks - we witnessed a few come unstuck, but most were patient enough for the right moment // Photo Luke Sorensen

Pissing rain, pumping sand and pulsing waves deliver a photo that summarises surfing at the border. Years ago this place had little sand and was a backwash haven for drugged-up bodyboarders and the odd hellmen who would surf the outer banks, now she’s a whole lot different beast. Noa Deane on lap #5 // Photo Luke Sorensen

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Early on the Friday there were a few wicked spitting barrels about alongside Lovers, and a handful of people scored uncrowded pits whilst the fight continued around the corner. Inbetween these gems it was lethal closeouts though. Not the place for swimmers as it sadly turned out // Photo Luke Sorensen

Words // Dr Olaf Meynecke & Luke Sorensen Photos // Dr Olaf Meynecke

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he soars from the depths, gliding slowly like a colossal ship from some cult science-fiction film.

Her dim and shadowy shape appears hazy in the distance, obscured by the light-filtering ambience of the deep Pacific water. You know something is approaching and its coming for you - you can feel it in your bones. Slowly her lines become defined as she seeks you and inches closer. Your heart is racing, your primary instinct is demanding you to fear and flee this leviathan, yet something halts your nervous thoughts. A sudden rush of wonder and thrill and great accomplished fulfilment washes over your soul - is this what enlightenment truly is? This is me and I’m swimming with a whale.

With the recent announcement from the Western Australian Government that they will be soon allowing people to experience swimming with humpback whales, the spotlight is again aimed at the debate on whether other states should follow their lead, and if in fact the practice itself is safe and of sound moral, ethical and safety standards.

Nine’s 60 Minutes program recently broached the issue which earned mixed responses but overall ignited the debate and the imagination of tourists, locals and ocean lovers far and wide.

Gold Coast based Dr Olaf Meynecke - one of Queensland’s leading active whale scientists and marine mammal experts - recently undertook several expeditions off the Queensland coast to investigate the behaviour of the lesser-seen Minke whales.

His work alongside these graceful swimmers has

Dr Olaf believes the dwarf minke whale is the prime candidate for sustainable and safe interactions between people and cetaceans

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Minke whales are curious and generally more placid than their humpback cousins. They are also known to raise their heads up above the surface and take a look around.

opened a door to perhaps an opportunity of a different kind, one that would eliminate the TV screens and magazine spreads from the equation and bring people literally face to face with their own marine wildlife story. But it has also raised many questions and concerns, as tourism operators elsewhere in Queensland and Western Australia scramble to dangle tourists off a rope into the path of a 35-tonne creature to make a few bucks.

Dr Meynecke has been investigating other options and undertaking further observations into the practicality and nature of the idea - an idea that he says is equal in opportunity as it is in moral concern and physical danger.

“We’ve already done two trips to investigate minke whale behaviour off the Great Barrier Reef. These particular whales have a few aggregation sites near Lizard Island during June and July every year,” he says.

Researchers from James Cook University have spent the best part of the last decade working to find out more behavioural insights into these amazing creatures. Despite their growing database of knowledge, little is still known of the migration pathways, breeding grounds and dietary make-up of what is the smallest baleen whale on earth - the dwarf minke whale.

Dr Meynecke believes not only is the research an opportunity for scientists to grow their technical knowledge of this species, but that it also presents an opportunity for a more sustainable and plausible educational tourism experience, one that could see holiday-makers and locals getting into the water, up close and swimming alongside these much smaller whales. He says it’s an experience that could expand people’s philosophical and ideological understanding of the animals as well as the technical scientific understanding.

“As they have been seen in the southern ocean, close to humpback whales, it is safe to assume

There are no words to truly capture and describe the sensation that comes from sharing the ocean with a whale - on their terms

that they are taking a similar migration route to that of our well-known humpback whales, although the minke is thought to pass up the coast a little further offshore than their humpback cousins. They also pass the Gold Coast, but likely further off the coast,” he says.

“An Antarctic minke whale - a larger type of minke - was killed in a Gold Coast shark net last year, so it shows us they are coming here. However, it is also very unusual for this species to come that close to the coast.

“One key interest of mine with this species is in regards to the feasibility and practice of actually getting in and swimming with them as a tourist attraction. This activity has been undertaken from Cairns for a few years now with only a couple of operators licensed to do so, under a strict set of protocols of course.”

Swimming experiences with humpback whales were first advertised in Queensland last year, and have since been explored by several operators applying similar methods to those used in the minke whale program however they are dealing with much - and we really mean it - much larger animals.

In observing the separate behaviours of dwarf minke whales and humpback whales, Dr Meynecke says he was able to isolate some interesting similarities, but also some strong differences between the species.

Similar behaviours include spy hopping or rather ‘head rising,’ breaching, site or belly presentation and the mugging of boats - where whales congregate and hang around to closely investigate vessels and their occupants.

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Swimming with the minkes does seem to have some advantages over the constraints associated with the larger humpbacks, and they have shown a patient and sustained interest in sharing the water with people so far, says Dr Meynecke.

“The dwarf minke whales are fast swimmers when they choose to move, but at the aggregation site we use they seem to more often rest and socialise,” he said.

Dr Meynecke explains how approachable humans must be for the minkes. “Almost all of the pods are often larger than six animals per pod and they actively approach the boats and swimmers.

“Their swimming speed around us was exceptionally slow, and at times they even had their eyes closed when swimming by,” he said.

Dr Meynecke is excited when he tells us just how amazing the experience is, explaining that the curiosity of the animals is evident, spending as much as several hours at a time peacefully alongside the boat and swimmers.

He admits that, of course, each visit is not a predictable encounter, and like most naturebased experiences, you have to wait at times.

“It does require some good patience and a calm attitude from the swimmers’ end of things - to wait patiently in the water until the minke whales decide under their own terms to come closer ... then all of a sudden they seem to be almost within reach and you are really up close with them and sharing the ocean,” he tells us.

Dr Meynecke reveals the humpback whale experience is often very different, citing that even when the humpbacks are curious, it’s not common to see them hang around a boat or people for more than 5 or 10 minutes at a time.

He says a lot of humpback-watching experiences off the South East Queensland

coastlines end with one brief visit from a pod or two, and then the humpbacks move on.

“Only in breeding areas where the humpbacks are staying for longer times and don’t move on as much - in places such as Tonga or Hawaii is there a chance to really swim for periods of time with them.

“The downside at these places is that the boats still have to approach the whales and more often than not place the people in the whales’ path or nearby. At times it is safe to assume the interaction is not necessarily mutual or chosen by the humpback whale,” he said.

Dr Meynecke’s summary is one of caution and optimism combined - he believes that applying the minke whale methodology to the much larger and less predictable humpback whales is not appropriate. He is joining with others and calling for tighter regulations and limits on it.

“I don’t think it is practical and I support my colleagues’ statements from a recent article in The Guardian - that there is a considerable risk associated with swimming with humpback whales. This is particularly when people are put out on a line from a boat in the coastal waters we have around here,” he said.

“I also do not see how this can be consistently achieved other than for operators to actively breach the enforceable regulations requiring a 100m distance.

“The proper interaction can only happen if the whale approaches the swimmers but I am afraid it will tempt operators to deliberately place their vessels and swimmers in the path of the whales - these whales are migrating, not resting.”

The scientist then laments, “Leaving this emerging industry unregulated and unsupervised is calling for trouble.” //

A group of swimmers keep their heads in, waiting in anticipation as a dwarf minke whale gently approaches them.

WHALING TO RETURN JAPANESE WHALERS TO SLAUGHTER MINKE WHALES DURING 2015/16 SUMMER

Whaling vessels have already departed Japanese waters after announcing they intend to resume their ‘research’ whaling this summer in Antarctica - they will be targeting minke whales as their primary catch. The hunt is widely regarded by almost all governments and conservation groups around the world as anything but scientific.

“It’s not scientific research, it’s straight-up commercial whaling, and it’s been declared illegal by the International Court of Justice,” Nathaniel Pelle from Greenpeace Australia told the AFP news agency.

Japan’s Fisheries Agency said that it is respecting the ICJ ruling and this year aims to catch only 333 minke whales about a third of previous targets.

www.greenpeace.org/australia/en www.seashepherd.org.au

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www.hhr.org.au

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The dawn after the fire revealed an apocalyptic scene of devastation for those that have fought so hard to defend The Spit. From the ashes, Tom Tate’s beloved cruise ship terminal proposal has arisen once more, like an undead vessel respawned, fixating itself to gorge on The Spit once more // Background photo Phil Hoile

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t was the busiest day of the spring so far as thousands of locals and visitors took to the Gold Coast’s last remaining undeveloped coastal reserve - The Spit. It’s a pretty busy place these days, but wow, when you step off that road into the dunes or the surf, into those blue waters - you can be worlds away within seconds. Never has there been a greater need for open coastal space, park land and uncluttered amenity than today - and that need is only growing more critical as our population

climbs. The Spit was certainly delivering on all fronts that morning, it was magic.

For the past few decades there has been a relentless stream of white-shoe-wearing developers and politicians who have eyed the place off, glaring down from their lofty selfentitling positions with a sort of jealous gaze whilst scheming up ways they could possibly dupe the community and seize the lands here for massive developments and private

A gorgeous spring day at The Spit, packed with families, dog lovers, locals and tourists enjoying the sands and cascading seas, until the mayhem broke loose. Some were quick to blame a mystery heatwave however Bureau Of Meteorology records show that at the time of the fire’s initial spread, temps were still in the high 20s, and barely nudged above 30 the entire day at the Seaway weather station // Photo Luke Sorensen

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terraformation. Seeing people rejoicing freely in recreation by the sea seems to strike a nerve with this lot, I mean, where’s the profit in that, right?

Earlier this year, plans initiated by the city’s mayor for a Broadwater cruise ship terminal and massive private development again failed to get up, with the incoming state government sinking the controversial and divisive proposal.

The development would have seen the bulk of the southern Broadwater become a private city within a city - a sort of concrete enclave for the benefit of private residents and investors.

The local community rallied and voiced their anger in scenes rarely seen on the apathetic Gold Coast. Thousands upon thousands took action at protests, on air, online and in person to prevent the development on Crown public parks and waterways. And they succeeded.

The dust from this fight for public beaches and waterways was beginning to settle when on Saturday the 21st of October this year, just after 9am, large ‘plumes of thick black smoke’ suddenly erupted and belched skyward at the northern end of the Federation Walk Coastal Reserve - from within the beating heart of The Spit. By day’s end, hectares of precious bushland were destroyed, along with hundreds of hours of communityvolunteer planting work. The final toll on the established wildlife habitat and ecosystem in the area will probably never be fully determined.

Conversations quickly turned from the safety of people to suspicion, as eyewitness accounts described unusual black smoke, unlike scrub or bushfire smoke, at the start of the incident. They also reported the ‘strong smell’ of petrol or diesel in the first few minutes of the smoke crossing the beach. Historically the Gold Coast is no stranger to suspicious fires surrounding property that is contentious in terms of developer motives.

In 2004, also on The Spit, the famous Humphry’s Boatshed was almost entirely torched to the ground amidst developer and media lobbying for change on the site. The boathouse and slipway were pioneering cornerstone icons of the area, with history dating back to the 1940s, however at the time of the fire, pro-development agitators and neighbours had been driving a campaign to have the site levelled, the building removed and new development eventually in its place. At around 2am on the morning of the blaze, a man was seen running from the building moments before it went up. The asbestos-laden building was destroyed but police were unable to locate the person of interest and the culprit was never caught.

The boatshed site had been earlier suggested as potential land offered to developers as part of a cruise ship terminal deal at the time. Former local councillor and realtor Max Christmas claimed in the Gold Coast Bulletin the State Government wanted to demolish the boatshed as part of a revamp of the area. Also, the commodore of the neighbouring Southport Yacht Club, Nev Ferguson, told the

Local firefighters arrived in droves and pounded water at the problem. Two water bombing choppers, multiple rural and local units, as well as a heavy police presence, delivered safety and order to the area - stopping the flames from taking property or life, and even saving a lot of bushland at the same time // Photo Phil Hoile

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Bulletin it was a, “fire waiting to happen” and that the more disrepair and damage the building endured, “the more chance of the building being demolished,” to make way for developers.

Ferguson’s theory appears to have been ironically predictive. A day after the fire, despite its near destruction, a Department of Natural Resources spokesperson told the Gold Coast Bulletin, “the future of Humphrey’s Boatshed is being considered within the broader context of the future land-use planning for the entire Spit precinct”. The spokesperson reportedly added that a cruise ship terminal might be part of that future. Shortly after the fire, State

member for Southport Peter Lawlor, called for the remnant heritage-listed building to be demolished. He came out swinging saying, “I think that the western side of Seaworld Drive will eventually be developed ... all that site is good for is a bulldozer.”

Federation Walk was also subjected to a series of highly suspicious fires that were reported to have been systematically lit in the lead up to 2004. As many as seven unusual fires were sparked in that time, burning out parts of The Spit reserve. The fires began in the northern part of the area, and one by one, they appeared southward towards Seaworld over the course of several years.

Witnesses described thick black plumes and the strong smell of diesel or petrol fuel at the beginning of the fire - in the end there was no panic or fear as for several hours many were unable to leave the area due to the fire fighting operation. The kiosk sure did a roaring trade in that time though // Photo Luke Sorensen

“The word is it was done to ravage the place and make it more amenable to development,” a local resident reportedly told media at the time. It was also reported that the fires were most likely deliberately lit.

With each successive fire, those pushing for development lined up to lament that The Spit was a ‘wasteland’ that needed to be built upon to save it from itself. The ruse itself was so obvious, yet without catching the culprits in the act, the community was left with no vector for recourse.

It’s a recycled theme all over the world - be it a heritage or cultural impasse, community

opposition or an environmental road block - mystery fires have long been the weapon of choice for those wanting to steamroll the immovable and further their private agendas.

Right now we see a plethora of private interests circling over The Spit, with the ASF China Consortium, Breakwater Group, Sunland and the Aquis Group all planning massive developments on public land that defy the city’s height limits.

The 2015 Spit fire has again breathed life into what locals are calling the ‘zombie proposal’ - a highly contentious plan to build an international shipping port in the shallows

around The Spit or Broadwater. For decades the plan, in its various mutations, has been killed and dismembered time and time again, if not by voluminous community uproar, then by the pure technical constraints and idiocy of the idea itself. It keeps rising from its grave.

Shallow sand-drift sea floors and narrow estuarine entrances coupled with direct exposure to the oceanic wind and swells have not only proven to be critically restrictive, these factors have raised significant concerns from industry experts who have noted neither Carnival (P&O) or Royal Caribbean have been willing to offer any commitment to a future cruise schedule on the Gold Coast.

It has been reported that Carnival Australia boss Ann Sherry has indicated Carnival’s focus is for a new Brisbane home port, and has gone

so far as to suggest that they would be willing to invest in a consortium to see it happen.

A senior executive from Royal Caribbean has also said it would be unlikely the company would support a ‘way port’ on the Gold Coast, as they are seeking the kind of infrastructure only a fully equipped home port can provide.

This indicates they are not looking for the kind of ‘way port’ that Mayor Tate is proposing for the Coast ahead of the 2016 local government election. Industry experts agree that the Gold Coast proposal’s proximity to Brisbane would be prohibitive in securing economically viable visits - that no ships would leave Brisbane to stop again just 70km away.

It came as a shock, but also not surprisingly, that Mayor Tom Tate, fresh from licking his

The firefighters put on a tremendous display of courage and tenacity, halting the advancing flames before they could do serious harm // Photo Phil Hoile

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wounds over the earlier failed Broadwater proposal, literally appeared within hours of the latest fire, standing on the burnt out reserve and announcing yet another plan for a cruise liner terminal to be built on The Spit.

A day later, a member of the public commented on the Mayor’s Facebook page, “The site looks cleared ready for building. Can’t wait. Keep up the great work Tom,” to which Tate, perhaps inappropriately, ‘liked’ the post.

Such was the overt chutzpa of his rushed announcement, it sparked a week-long war between himself and a significant proportion of the community - led by community research and advocacy groups such as Save Our Broadwater and Save Our Spit, as well as impassioned locals.

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It was too late for a large section of the Federation Walk Reserve, with hundreds of hours of volunteer planting and restoration works lost to the flames // Photo Qld Fire And Emergency Service - Supplied

The beach breaks along the Federation Walk Reserve can be incredible at certain times of year, and possess a unique isolated experience found nowhere else by car on the Gold Coast. This is also where Tom Tate again wants to build his international shipping terminal // Photo Luke Sorensen

Days after the fire, Mayor Tate launched into a wild and baseless personal attack live on ABC radio, levelled at a Save Our Spit member who had simply asked him how he could consider spending even more public money on another questionable idea, given the evident reluctance of the cruise companies to commit to a new Gold Coast terminal. His tirade was brief but perhaps also as revealing as it was unsubstantiated. In the end, he did not answer the question, unable to support his position with any tangible retort. Tate had also broken a sacrosanct unwritten rule of breakfast radio swearing live on air - much to the astonishment of the host whom he had already boisterously shut out of the conversation as well.

Tate’s anger at these matters being raised was audibly evident and he appeared to refute the existing reports and correspondence from the major cruise companies. In another strange episode, he later took to social media and continued his attack, again without any

supportive evidence. If the Mayor truly believes the major cruise companies are serious about the Gold Coast, they’re certainly being strangely tight-lipped about it.

In his post, Tate claimed that he does not tolerate “profanity, bullying and/or personal attacks”, despite he himself, just a day earlier, swearing on live radio and branded a listener as a jobless liar after they simply questioned him over already-published facts regarding cruise ship companies and the Gold Coast - a spray which left many bewildered.

Nonetheless, Tom presses on with his pet project ambitions. One thing he has got right so far is that the cruise ship industry is growing fast, really fast. A glaring omission though, on his end, is that these companies very much seek surety, facilities, centralisation and safe reliable passage, which multiple industry experts contend is unlikely to be possible from any Gold Coast terminal.

It is reported that Tate’s new proposal would see a large rock wall barrier, or rather breakwater island, built out to sea opposite Seaworld on The Spit. It would be connected to the mainland via a long jetty, which would be the conduit for passengers and supplies between ship and shore. Tate has yet to mention that the onshore base facilities and infrastructure would likely have to resume a large section of the Federation Walk Coastal Reserve and it would have to be forfeited for terminal infrastructure.

It is understood that ports and terminals for major ships, even way port and transit port locations, require significant associated infrastructure ranging from huge bus corrals, secure car parks, office and commercial buildings, loading warehouses, emergency facilities, ticketing, transit spaces and of course customs facilities if you wish to receive or send ships from outside of Australian waters. That’s not even beginning to take into account the obvious environmental impacts these ships would deliver as well.

Emergency tape snakes across the desolate and scorched earth at the location suspected to be the ignition point for the blaze. Investigations are ongoing and authorities have vowed to find the cause of the blaze, be it natural, man made or even deliberate // Photo Phil Hoile

The intensity and size of the 201 5 fire made is visible from almost every corn er of the Coast // Photo John Hogan

No doubt such a structure would have an impact on the swell and currents, sand and seas of the surrounding areas - one can only speculate which famous beach breaks would have their south swells blocked, and perhaps which new surf breaks may in turn be created.

The infrastructure and development costs for Tate’s plan is no small amount, and in fact even the cost of investigating and proposing such plans will be notably significant. Tate has already indicated he plans to use ratepayers’ funds to pay for his investigation into the matter, should they provide him a ‘mandate’ at the next election - however doubts have already

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been raised to the validity of such a mandate, if it is derived by providing a truncated and skewed presentation of the facts.

So, like a morbid and writhing undead beast, the same set of circumstances manifests yet again, as has time and time before and before that. The worse the proposal is, as in the greater the cost and the poorer the potential for economic return, then the more public land can be offered to private interests so that they may subsidise or pay for the terminal infrastructure in exchange for receiving priceless and irreplaceable public coastal lands for their own private developments. This method of relieving the people of their assets has been well and truly exposed time and time again, however it refuses to die.

Ideally, The Spit in its entirety has been earmarked as ‘public reserve’ since the mid to late 1800s. Admittedly it was a little shorter then and was a dynamic and changing natural

sand spit. Since the shortening of The Spit and the placement of the seaway rock walls in 1985, the land has stabilised to become one of the most significant public green spaces in South East Queensland, with an immeasurable value to the community provided it remains undeveloped and not slowly privatised.

The wetland, abundant bushland, dunes and waterways are now ingrained and established as one of the most ecologically rich and vibrant locations in the city - a place of true natural wonders.

The fires have averaged about one a year for the last decade and endured a prolific period of ‘systematic’ flare ups between 2001 and 2004,

The Spit has always been known for its escapism, clean waters and abundance of coastal lifestyle opportunities, however, there are some that seem incapable of enjoying such things, and would rather seek to propagate a swathe of concrete and steel ventures on top of these spaces. It should not be forgotten that this is public land and waterways, given the amount of private proposals that continue to be tossed about // Photo Luke Sorensen

with it widely understood they were deliberately lit. Award-winning Courier Mail journalist Matthew Condon wrote in his 2006 muchrevered investigation into The Spit events, “The fires were never officially investigated, although the Gold Coast City Council, local fire fighting crews, and police always believed they had been deliberately lit.�

Nobody is suggesting that Tom Tate would resort to such measures - not at all - but would he seize on the opportunity that such fires may present? He certainly wasted no time in catheterising the emerging situation, lurching down to the burned area of The Spit to pose for photographs and announce his development plans after the recent fire.

Never has there been a greater need for the preservation of our great open spaces than today, in 2015. The Gold Coast and indeed the South East is growing rapidly - expanding and consuming like an unrestrained bulldozer with a broken autopilot setting. Thanks to many outspoken members of the local community, a lot of facts and information that would have been missed or lost along the way, have been brought to the surface of this debate and it appears, judging by his outbursts, this displeases the mayor.

Despite the success of the mysterious fires, and the pro-development lobby continually striving for a disenfranchised community, many believe those who dream of developing The Spit may be waging an unwinnable war. History tells us that it is the truth that will set things free - and that lies will tether like an iron anchor, to the feet of those that preach them // 73

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Photos courtesy Save Our Spit, Save Our Broadwater and Naomi Edwards

The Friends Of Federation Walk team put the call out, and the community responded with a wide selection of volunteers turning out. The Federation team - joined by key Save Our Spit and Save Our Broadwater representatives, members of the public and supporters drove nearly 500 new plants into the burnt earth. Several dousings of rain had already delivered green shoots that were beginning to engulf the area. Passionate mayoral candidates Penny Toland and Jim Wilson (bottom left) got down and grubby, helping on the day as well. Now this is what a hard working and unified community looks like!

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Jeremiah Stratton is Trauma, and it’s trauma to your brain that he’ll be bringing each night with his hard-hitting style and charisma - pictured here in 2010 in Saint Louis, Missouri // Photo Luke Sorensen

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t was late in 2010 when I first ran into Jeremiah Stratton - aka Trauma. He’d just picked up the seat as stick man for the legendary US anomaly group Hed(pe) and was raging every night behind the kit.

Night after night I got to see them crushing the crowd with a ferocious energy, something that I think it’s safe to say was a lot of fun for all present. Out front was band staple Jared Gnomes, working the crowd and driving his resounding ideology and massive sounds forward like a man possessed and behind was Jeremiah putting his 110 percent in, offering up nothing but a big sound and rich visual flare.

The drum spot in this band had, up until this point, arguably been one of contention and crisis at times, with a series of short-lived experiences seeing four more drummers come and go in as many years - a transitional period that would ultimately culminate in the arrival of Jeremiah onto the scene. The last time I had seen this band was in Coolangatta, with the mighty Anthony Biuso on drums, himself certainly not short of incredible talent and zest for putting on a world-class display - yet here we were, sitting down to dinner with a young man who would eventually go on to become the second longest serving drummer for Hed(pe), for now at least ha!

Jeremiah was fresh, and by fresh I mean this guy just oozed charisma and energy which is absolutely the kind of thing that brings the drummer of any band forward into the light. He delivered the songs without compromise, staying true to the legacy of the band’s music whilst adding his own personal stamp of authority to everything he was doing - a real pleasure to watch and hear. On the States tour, we all sat back each night from the side of stage and watched him mould himself into his newfound home, embracing all that the band was and is and will likely be in times ahead. It was clear that with each strike of his sticks against the skins he was becoming his alter-ego namesake, becoming Trauma - there was no doubting that this wasn’t just a job for Jeremiah, this was his fucking mission in life.

Like a lot of politically active and socially involved bands, Hed(pe) goes full force interweaving strong ideology into its music, expressed both in the lyricism but so very expertly in the actual music as well. If you were to look at big name bands with similar reputations for such persona

Kurt Blankenship soars in to his new role bringing thunderous bounce with his bass.

Brisbane 2015 // Photo Luke Sorensen

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Gregzilla and Trauma flipping out tunes at Brisbane’s Crowbar nightclub, October 2015 // Photo Luke Sorensen

- band’s like Rage Against The Machine, Pennywise and System Of A Down - it could easily be said that Hed(pe) is a class leader and innovator that could rival and surpass them in many respects.

devastate many other bands in times of transition. In contrast, some bands exist in the frailty of their facade and fakery, so much so that even if a little of what is behind that curtain is exposed, the band implodes upon itself and ceases to function.

In a sort of organised chaos, the band infuses so many elements of metal, funk, reggae, hip hop, punk and hardcore styles with a constant emphasis on delivering it as if it were a punch to your face - not the kind of punch that knocks you out but rather the one that wakes you the fuck up. Unafraid and unreserved Hed(pe) ignites your mind as well as your soul, forcing you to critical thought and inspiration.

From strength to strength and from change to change Hed(pe) has evolved like a fluid creation should, sucking up the evolution and forging new pathways at every junction, away from the standard direction and laying its own future. The sound of their music is like a wave of evolutionary progress, bending and warping to fit the space it’s in at any given time.

It’s no surprise that over the years the resilience of this band has endured above and beyond the people behind the instruments, becoming one of those rare bands that transcends beyond itself to become a stand-alone institution, impervious to the kind of damage that would

Recently two new members took up the charge, instantly forging the latest chapter for the band and setting it off down yet another pathway. On bass sees the enigmatic Kurt Blankenship take over from long-time string smasher Mark Young - Kurt being only the

Backstage in some place in the middle of fuck-knows-where United States a few years back, a moment captured in time that truly shows the identity of the man behind the mask - one full of love and light and zest for life itself // Photo Luke Sorensen

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second bass player to fill this spot. When I was in Brisbane in October this year I went in with zero expectations knowing not what to expect but Kurt quickly placed ownership on his role and demonstrated he is more than capable of keeping up with the bass-laden array of phonics and segments that dominate the band’s overall sound.

“I’m hanging on by a thread but, I’m hanging in there” Jeremiah is well ingrained with Hed(pe) nowadays, a real part of the framework and is forging his own story, which is being progressively inked to the pages of this bigger book. He’s a real testament to positivity and truth, living his life deeply connected to these principle ideals. It’s an admirable thing to watch from an outside perspective but recently the positivity exuberated hasn’t necessarily reflected the reality of his existence.

Despite Jeremiah’s outwardly infectious good nature and depth of character, the last year or so has really tested his resolve, not just as a musician but within his own personal life as a series of tragic events hit hard leaving him little joy. After their recent tour here I caught up with him to talk about all things Trauma but it was a difficult topic to broach - perhaps something I could not possibly begin to even understand.

The death of his brother Jacob in July brought shock and devastation to Jeremiah, whose closeness and connectivity to his family and friends is central in life. It had also followed on from the recent loss of a close friend in a motorcycle accident.

In an impassioned video message at the time, he told family and friends that, “I’m hanging on by a thread but, I’m hanging in there.”

Greg Harrison leaves the dressing room and becomes Gregzilla on stage - a man possessed with the fire of guitarmanship and veins pulsing deep with shred itself // Photo Luke Sorensen

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Nearing the end of his year Jeremiah is reflective and perhaps a somewhat different person, being forced to mature so much in such a short space of time to handle the tragedies in front of him. He reflects a little on it all and tells me, “2015 has been my worst year on a personal level. I lost my dog, a couple of close friends, and I lost my only brother. It’s been very tough, but keeping strong is my only option.”

Jeremiah has put his energy back into his work and his mission, not letting any of these events become an anchor, as it potentially could become or would do for so many.

“I got my family counting on me, and my band, so I can’t let anything deter me from achieving success and happiness, no matter what,” he tells me.

Resolute and driven, he’s ready to draw strength from his pain and place the energy into something with worth. He finishes up saying, “I keep that in mind and just keep moving forward with positivity. Not gonna sit around feeling sorry for myself, that’s for sure.”

We’re chilling at the so-called post-show party now, at the Crowbar in Brisbane where a strange sort of scene has assembled for a few drinks and some mellow times. Jeremiah is in control of the music and he’s blasting out some Faith No More as if it were his gospel for the evening - there are no complaints.

As each punter walks in the door they’re captured by MC Trauma on the microphone, blasting them for just being, and ordering them to go to the bar and get a drink and join him. It’s as bold as it is hilarious given the propensity for the odd nutter to swing first and talk second after midnight in the Valley.

Nonetheless you can’t fault Jeremiah’s toxicity - his positive effect on people is almost superhero instantaneous. He really has delivered a calm sort of happiness to the room which sets

the tone for the next hour of conversations, random happenings and custom playlist.

In walks new mate, who happens to be one stellar fucking guitar player, Greg Harrison - aka Gregzilla. I’ve only just met him but you can tell straight away he loves what he does and loves to see people enjoying his art. He’s smiling all the time, a lot, even when he’s in the middle of some intensely complex riff and transitional shred moment, he’s still oozing happiness.

Another evolutionary newcomer to the Hed(pe) mantelpiece, Greg is however not new to axe playing, and tells me of his intense interest in guitars and the many things he gets up to on them. In fact the multifaceted approach he describes instantly parallels the performance I’ve just witnessed, well not every part of it haha, but the musicianship for sure.

“I started playing guitar about twenty years ago after playing piano for a few years.

Early on I got into and learned a lot of Hendrix, Metallica, Pantera, Death, Yngwie Malmsteen and Racer sort of stuff.

“Twelve years ago I moved to Hollywood and studied at G.I.T. (Guitar Institute of Technology) and focused on jazz, blues, Latin, gypsy jazz and country music. After I graduated I began teaching there and even wrote a book called Shred Guitar (available on Hal Leonard).”

Hed(pe) is not Greg’s only gig either, he’s into some pretty diverse stuff and he tells me he takes on many forms when behind his guitars.

“I also have an extreme metal band we play 9 strings in, called PDP. For me personally, my favourite stuff I like to play in my downtime is gypsy jazz. I also have a gypsy jazz group in Los Angeles called the Hot Club Of North Hollywood, and we’re releasing our first LP early in 2016 on vinyl, which was all recorded live and on video as well.”

The savagery and awesome array of audible arsenal that this band carries with it might be packed into a suitcase every night, but unleashed on stage it is a force to be reckoned with - now more than ever it seems. If there was one thing I do miss from times past, it would be my old mate Doug, or rather DJ Product, the skate fiend. You always knew where he was because you could smell the paint and hear the can rattling away as he dropped his next masterpiece, whether it be on some wall behind a venue or on a recycled skate deck he pulled out of nowhere. His art is pretty slick.

For what seemed like an eternity, Product was spinning records and scratching up a storm behind the band. It’s strange to not see him now but my mind twists on the possibility that we’ll see evolution take its course - some young protégé step up to the plate.

Every time I see this band they put on a killer show, and I’m not talking about some overrehearsed dazzling show of strobes and flashy moves but a genuine storm straight from the heart - heavily influenced by singer Jared’s deep commitment to the Hed(pe) institution and philosophy. He’s a private person for the most part but always fronts up to sign merch and share his time with his flock. In a way he’s a sort of father figure to a lot of the kids his music has inspired over the years and the proof is in the audience.

I’m talking to a couple in Brisbane after the show, who’ve flown over from New Zealand just solely to see two of the shows. Such is their commitment they’ve literally travelled 2,300 kilometres - nearly 1500 miles - just to spend a few hours in front of some bands. They tell me they’ve got to get out of here soon - they’ve got a flight to catch but they’re still, in a strange sort of way, losing their collective shit over the excitement of the gig.

As people stream in to the after party they’re coming up to Jeremiah and reaching out to

Good times past as Jared Gomes fronts a soldout crowd at the Coolangatta Hotel in 2008. He’s spitting, singing, roaring and rapping his heart out, sharing the bill that night with the infamous Kottonmouth Kings // Photo Luke Sorensen

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shake his hand, but he’s recoiling. His arm is a mess after playing hard and he’s dealing with a new kind of repetitive strain injury that appears as painful as it is frustrating. He is coming to terms with managing the physical side that comes with the job, explaining his routine.

“Well I’m not 25 anymore that’s for sure haha! So now at 32 years, I find that putting a lot of consideration into my nutrition and overall health makes a huge difference on how I feel while I play. Some drummers are more stiff while some are fluid - I’m quite fluid and move around quite a bit while I play, so being healthy, sober and hydrated on stage is one of the most important things,” he says.

But it’s certainly not a stale point either with a balanced and measured approach to

True Trauma grit, Brisbane 2015 // Photo Luke Sorensen

maintaining maximum functionality without sacrificing parts of the touring life that some might argue are also mandatory.

“Now, after the show, as you know, we’ll do something about that whole sober business, hahahaha - but during the show it’s always sober and amped up to shred. That really is the key for me.”

“Being healthy, sober and hydrated on stage is one of the most important things”

Jeremiah is a big swinging cyclone of a drummer, and with such motion comes the physical sacrifice - you got to pay to play!

Brisbane 2015 // Photo Luke Sorensen

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On tour this year with Hed(pe) is the long awaited and rare performance from the US band Snot, whose turbulent history makes way for the full original line-up to return, minus their original singer Lynn Strait who was tragically killed in a car accident shortly after their debut album was released way back in 1997.

The band erupted on stage in Brisbane, doing the whole debut album Get Some in its entirety - a sort of tribute to Strait. This time it’s with the mighty Carl Bensley on the microphone who doesn’t hold back from the start to the end. Carl is a beast of a vocalist and frontman, driving his piercing stare into the crowd in between launching himself around the place. It might have taken a long time but wow this band is just packing punch after punch after punch! I think both bands this night were equals. This was truly a tour that will be talked about for some time.

Greg resonates exactly what I’m thinking when he tells me, “Australia has been an amazing experience, both the shows and the people.

The dudes in Snot are badass and it’s been an honour to shred with them every night.”

Snot’s guitarist Mike Doling needs little introduction, having played not only with Snot from the beginning, but with bands like Soulfly, and currently with Channel Zero formed out of Belgium. He’s going off this night, destroying the place with his incredible playing - stopping late in the set to pour gobfuls of whiskey straight from a bottle into the mouths of those in the front row.

I’m watching this all go down, the electricity and purity and perhaps the abandonment and organised lawlessness of it all, and thinking how truly fucked up the Gold Coast is in respect to the lack of venues, governance and a cultural environment that can attract such amazing events. Save for the odd show at the cramped Cooly Hotel, our so-called tourism city seems to work very hard to shield itself

Snot is an explosive and brutal assault on your ears that will keep you bouncing from start to finish. Spectacular in every sense.

Brisbane 2015 // Photo Luke Sorensen

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Snot’s Mikey Doling whips up some intensity and thrash as Carl Bensley bellows out with buckets of power straight in the faces of a sold out Brisbane show at the Woolly Mammoth, 2015. Inset whiskey for the punters // Photos Luke Sorensen

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from high energy acts of metal, punk and thrash - despite the massive underground popularity of such things, as evidenced by the addition of an extra show in Brisbane after the first one sold out.

Jeremiah gets to talking again and tells me, “Snot was a whole lot of fun. Great bunch of guys that love to laugh so we were in good company!”

His role in the band has become more involved as he has progressed, from simply playing drums in the beginning to a more managerial support role. We’d all love to think that those things handle themselves but the truth is this is a working-class band and a damn good one at that. Each show’s success is of course measured foremost by the reaction of the fans and the performance, but to travel and do these things whilst paying the bills at home takes a dedicated approach and discipline.

“It’s now seven years since I joined Hed(pe) and I definitely have more vested interest in the band,” he says.

“Jared and I have gotten much closer now as well after Jackson and Mark left the band, so it’s much more hands-on stuff now compared to only playing

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the drums. Now I’m dealing with agents, promoters, management, but it’s great, I wouldn’t have it any other way at this moment and I’m happy where we’ve come after all these years.”

Hed(pe) has outlived and outshone everything and anything that has been thrown at it over the years, from record deals gone sour, personal conflicts and tragedies through to an endless liquid state of identity in respect to its members. Somehow it’s a beast under its own power though and today more than ever maintains a relevance and strength most bands would envy. I ask Jeremiah why he thinks that is, and just how it is that some bands fall and stumble, yet they don’t.

“make no misatke about it, it’s goTta be heavy!”

“Well there are many reasons why, in my humble opinion, Hed(pe) has secured such longevity. First and foremost, no matter who is performing, Hed(pe) will always be committed to musical excellence and explosive performances. I think that has a huge part in why we continue to thrive in this industry,” he says.

“Also, we are a very diverse band. Where a lot of times a band will stick to one genre of music, we enjoy toying with all sorts of sounds and styles to spice up the creativity.

In 2015, it is rarer to find someone who is stuck in, listening to ONLY metal or ONLY reggae. Most people like this and that, and a great advantage we have with Hed(pe) is that we play all sorts of music. But make no mistake about it, it’s gotta be heavy!”

Jared Gomes - Brisbane 2015 // Photo Luke Sorensen

As for the longstanding political and social themes that are underlying in much of the

Hed(pe) body of work, there’s a tendency to easily see another reason for the band’s longevity. Staunch as fuck and proud to make a stand, Jared’s lyrics have always gone straight for the throat of every issue he tackles.

Whether you like it or not, or more so whether you agree or not, there’s no doubting his conviction and passion for the things he sees as wrong with his country and the world, and seeks to change.

A family man, a parent and a husband, Jared is not short on advice for politicians and leaders who want to fuck with the little guys and uses his powerful music to disseminate ideas and information in line with his strong views - much to the liking of the Hed(pe) tribe who draw strength from it.

As it is, we all have differing views of the state of the world today, and Jeremiah is no different to any, however I have to ask him if he’s down for the entire Hed(pe) mission and mantra and if it’s something that affects his drumming.

Political, social and straight to your face - Hed(pe) are never mincing words when they’re belting out their amazing music // Photos Luke Sorensen

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He laughs and doesn’t want to get too deep into it, but tells me, “it’s a great question!. The lyrical content is Jared’s and while I agree with some things, others are debatable haha!”

I look around the room of dwindling sore heads in the Crowbar, late is the hour and the tour manager has just rocked up to drag these guys off to another city - such is the life of the touring musician. Boarding the submarine to surface again the next day - new town, new crowd, new high-impact show.

Greg wraps up telling me, “Joining Hed(pe) has been awesome. The guys are super rad and we all gel really well together musically and personally. It’s been a real easy fit, we’re really looking to the future right now and it’s looking bright.”

It’s been good to see my friend Jeremiah showing us all how keeping your chin up and your attitude straight can take you places.

Woolly Mammoth, Brisbane 2015 // Photos Luke

He reckons, “I love performing more than doing anything else. It feels so great to be able to meet so many great people on the planet. I mean hey, it brought me to you Luke haha! I’m honoured to have this chance to do such things and I don’t take it for granted.

“Australia has always been good to us and I hope to be coming back as much as possible.” // Jermiah Stratton throws shout outs and thanks to Pearl Drums, Scorpion Stix Percussion, Sullen Art Collective, Soultone Cymbals and Greg from The Drum Cartel //

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The Cove, dawn, deep - enough said // Photo Barry Stalwart

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Quinn Bruce whipping his fins out and showcasing just why he’s well on his way to making a serious push at a successful surfing career // Photo Luke Sorensen

Alley ups! Twilight at Dbah // Photo Luke Sorensen

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Cronulla legend and Shark Island charger Greg ‘Ox’ McKinley doing what he does best, earlier this year - styling through a section that would have most of us puckering up into a ball // Photo Shannon Glasson - www.shannonglassonphotography.com.au

Fresh dawn and perfect Strads almost all to yourself. Half an hour from now and this place will look like a meat grinder of thrashing bodies and fibreglass // Photo Luke Sorensen

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If we had to spend our lives behind bars we’d hope the view was as good as this. Kirra Point earlier this year turning inside out with barely a soul on it // Photo Luke Sorensen

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Knocked off, made the call and turned up - if every arvo late session looked as good as this there’d be a lot more half-day workers on the coast // Photo Barry Stalwart

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Rocketing through the Pizza Hut section earlier this year - brown stinky Kirra can be just as inviting as the blue version // Photo Callum Hardie

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VARIOUS // Stranded: The Chronicles of Australian Punk (Out now, ABC Music) FOUR FOUR presents a retrospective tour of the world-class Australian Punk Music scene spanning 3 decades, so grab yer Docs or Jimmies and start stomping on some bodies. The music is actually pretty varied and the timelessness speaks for itself, so listen up to what’s in store on this double disc fist-to-the-head bonanza … Radio Birdman – New Race, The Sunnyboys - Alone With You, The Stems - She’s A Monster, Died Pretty - Winterland, Frenzal Rhomb - Punch In The Face, Violent Soho - Covered in Chrome, Cosmic Psychos - Nice Day To Go To The Pub, and that’s just for starters.

ERYKAH BADU // But You Caint Use My Phone (Out now, EMI) She’s won four Grammys for her forward-thinking, eclectic and cerebral sound, so expect the best from this mixtape that weaves Erykah Badu’s trademark soulful vocals with psychedelic soundscapes, Hip Hop-inflected beats, smooth R&B, jazz, art-rock and found sounds into a new genre Erykah describes as TRap & B. Badu and Witnessin dedicated a lot of time to precise mixing work, toying with EQs and other filters so that the sound’s frequency and vibration move in tandem to capture a feeling she refers to as ‘sympathetic vibration’. Badu also used a tuning fork and Tibetan singing bowls to fine-tune these details, with the goal of creating a sound that brings peace and tranquillity to its listener. It is a sound that Badu herself referrers to as a ‘whole new frequency’ for fans.

JOE COCKER // The Life Of A Man – The Ultimate Hits (1968-2013) (Out now, Sony) From Woodstock onwards his music drove itself into almost every corner of the world with his powerful presence - he was the mighty Joe Cocker ... and here’s 36 tracks of his absolute best! This is the first comprehensive greatest hits collection in 12 years, and the first covering his entire career from 1968 with all of the benchmark and iconic hits - across all labels in their original versions. We’re talking She Came In Through The Bathroom Window, Unchain My Heart and With A Little Help From My Friends, as well as Up Where We Belong with Jennifer Warnes. So don’t go off half-Cockered, go the whole way with this and get the lot.

DAVID BOWIE // Blackstar (Jan 8, Sony) He’s done it again. One of the Godfathers of modern music itself is still full of surprises with his artistic genius, and has taken his music to yet another new level with the single Blackstar from his forthcoming album with the same title. Just one look at the music clip – a short film directed Johan Renck who has also featured Bowie’s music in his new TV series The Last Panthers – and you’ll see what all the fuss is about. The video clip is a masterpiece and will alter your state of mind almost instantaneously. We recommend little kids leave the room before you turn this up, it’s that twisted and good.

VARIOUS // Molly – Do Yourself A Favour (Out now, Liberation) When your kids see the ad on telly for the new TV mini series about Countdown’s music guru Molly Meldrum and ask you “Who the hell is he and why is called Molly?”, you know it’s time for some serious education in Australian music history.

It’s all about one of the most revered music interviewers of the modern age, and it starts with this collection of tunes that defined a generation of Aussie kids growing up hanging out each Saturday night to watch the man in the crazy hat on Channel 2. The first two discs include the songs featured in the mini-series. The third CD is a bonus disc with tracks handpicked by Molly, including some iconic pop classics like Rock Lobster, April Sun in Cuba and Down Under.

VARIOUS // Triple J – 40 years of music (Out now, ABC Music) Hard to believe it was January 19th 1975 when they pressed the play on Double J and everything that’s happened in between then and now. But the brave crew from ABC’s first youth radio station have actually put together 4 CDs in an attempt to capture the brilliance that’s been entertaining us over the airwaves ever since. It’s almost too good to be true, but here’s a selection: The Cure, Flowers, Devo, Cypress Hill, Garbage, Custard, Beastie Boys, Stone Roses, L7, Augie March, Lorde, Tame Impala and so many more. Just get it already!

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e’s an underground Gold Coast music legend with a legacy of sublime shows spanning decades together with his brother in the band Finkler, and now as a solo artist. Big Fella Linc, aka Lincoln Hillard, is back with a hand-picked selection of some of his sweetest sounds. Lincoln is just at home on a 6-foot Straddie peak as he is behind his guitar and microphone, and has been a staple cornerstone of the local music scene for as long as we can recall. His album is a diverse array of heartfelt and pure songs produced right here on the Coast. We’ve had a listen and have no hesitation naming it the must-have soundtrack for this Australian summer. Family, humanity, culture, love and the ocean drive the themes behind his body of work, including such instant classics as Burleigh As A Left, Mr Sunshine and Grace.

“This is the album I’ve always wanted to make, a wide mix of moods and sounds, many of my favourite genres all thrown together,” says Lincoln.

Big Fella Linc // Self Titled Out now (Independent)

Hook in to this lavish local selection of pure audible gold!

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thumping fusion of metal and booming Latin influence is personified by Cristian Machado and his band Ill Niño. Brazillian born and New Jersey forged, Cristian started on bass but quickly took the helm quickly leading this band to become a powerhouse of style and influence in an emerging sub genre of metal. Ill Niño is headed our way for Soundwave next year - not before a massive show in Mexico at Knotfest - and LiQUiFY recently ended up on the phone for five minutes with Cristian to talk about it all.

LM: Hey mate you’re back for Soundwave 2016 yeah? You came also in 2011 and 2014 and we caught a little bit of your set in Brisbane last time, it was night time I think with all the drums and that, but hey it was pretty mighty!

CM: Yeah we’ve been coming for a while and we’re looking forward to seeing all our friends and fans again, we didn’t think we’d be here but we feel really honoured to be coming back for Soundwave again - it’s a great festival and there’s some really great bands on this time.

You guys are known for having some pretty hectic touring schedules, especially back in the beginning you did some mammoth runs to get established - do you think these days for bands, that hard-work approach is still the way, or do you think it has shifted to where success for metal and bands now comes down to how tech and internet savvy they are?

We toured pretty heavy in the first part of our career and you know, for 8 to 10 years we just toured a lot and it was special and it certainly helped us to get to see all these places and get our music out. It’s hard sometimes when you are touring a lot and you’re away from your family and your home but we’re looking forward to travelling and to be able to get to the corners of the world where we’re yet to travel, the amazing places that we haven’t been before, but Australia is definitely an amazing place to be on tour, and we’ve got a lot of great friends there.

Photo // Tom Valdez

You guys toured with our mates Darkc3ll from the Gold Coast this year on the Civil Unrest tour, it was their first time to the States and Jesse Dracman told us how stoked he was to be on the road with you guys.

He’s such a nice guy ...

Yeah that’s right, we had a lot of fun on that tour and Jesse is an awesome dude, and we’re looking forward to hanging out with him again for sure.

A lot of bands these days have really taken a lot from the whole South American scene and style, and we’ve seen Latin beats and sounds slowly infuse their way into a lot of nu-metal and heavy acts over the past decade - thinking about the influence that Latin bands and yourselves have now had on the metal scene globally - how does it feel to be a part of that?

Yeah it’s really something that’s in a lot of metal music now, and it’s inspirational to be a part of it along with bands like Sepultura, but it’s not just South American and latin sounds. We consider ourselves to be Latin Metal, but the bigger thing is it’s more Culture Metal as well, and there’s a lot of bands that

are bringing their home culture into their music now, bands like System Of A Down, bands like Skindred from the UK - they’re what I call a culture metal band and that’s something we’re part of and it’s good to see.

Any chance we’ll see you at a sideshow when you’re out here for Soundwave - away from the festival for your own gig?

We hope so, we hope we can get some side shows happening but it’s not really up to us on this tour. We hope we’re thrown into that mix with the other bands and we get to do a few more shows while we’re in Australia. We’d love to do some shows with maybe Slipknot one day.

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You’re doing Knotfest in Mexico soon with them right?

Yeah that’s up real soon and we’re looking forward to all of it, and being in Australia soon to see all of our friends again // You can catch Ill Niño doing their thing across the nation, well a couple of cities anyway, at next year’s Soundwave Festival in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

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Official Ill Niño FACEBOOK

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he LiQUiFY crew has just ingested bangers and mash for dinner, which Felix White from Brit indie band The Maccabees finds to be amusingly fitting as we begin our trans-global communiqué. He’s looking out at grey skies in London, and we’re looking forward to clear skies at Falls Festival in Byron Bay where he’s headed for New Year’s with a plethora of stellar acts, so there’s plenty to chat about …

LM: First of all, Felix feels that since he’s talking to LiQUiFY, he should clarify that he’s the only band member who doesn’t surf.

FW: “Me and the sea are not one - I do not enjoy being involved in the sea. Normally what happens is, when we were last in Australia and they were surfing at Manly Cove, I’m always the one that’s looking after the shoes. It is an important role, definitely. But I’ve watched them surf and they’re not very good anyway.”

Now that elephant’s left the room, have you heard much about Byron Bay where Falls Festival is held?

The lead singer of Foals told us she can’t wait to get back to Byron Bay because they have such a good time there so other than that I don’t really know much about it. But I want to get there now because I’m staring at grey London out my window so …

Since it’s shite weather in London today, what’s something positive you guys are into over there at the moment?

In terms of extracurricular stuff for the band, we do try to help a few charities that are really close to us, rather than getting too involved in political things. That’s kind of where our first instincts go first as a band.

Which charities in particular?

Well the MS Society is very close to us, multiple sclerosis, so we’re trying to help that out as much as possible, because my mum had MS. She passed away when I was 17, quite a long time ago, but we try and raise as much money as we can for it. Then also we help the people living with Alzheimer’s as well - we know some people affected there.

It’s been a while in between visits to Oz, hasn’t it?

“Yeah, we haven’t been since 2012, but personally I came to Australia this year for the Cricket World Cup, just

came on my own, and went to Melbourne and Sydney when we finished our record. I spent about three weeks there, having some alone time and catching up on sleep.”

It’s good to be a tourist sometimes though, because if you’re touring all the time you don’t really get much time to explore, right?

Well that’s it, you end up sitting inside of venues and some bars and hotel rooms and around the world they’re all pretty similar and it’s quite a disorientating thing - you’ve travelled across the world and it’s kind of the same.

I suppose that was a bit of an escape for you too since we heard the recording process for your new album Marks To Prove It (out through Caroline Australia/Fiction Records) was a huge journey for you guys, taking around two years in the studio. No wonder you needed a bloody holiday after that!

Yeah well, we have been playing together as a band since I was 17 and now I’m 31 so it’s a long time you know, and sometimes it’s kind of, there’s lot of build-up and history and relationships and there’s more than one writer in the band so things become … well, it requires quite a lot of work to get it done.

Sometimes I wish we weren’t as honest about it, because I’m sure it’s the same for most people who are just trying to make something good, and we’re being straight up about it and saying it was really hard.

Do you see an irony in that it was like you were in a bunker in the recording studio, locked up for two years but the critics are hailing some of the tracks on the album as festival anthems that need to be played to a sea of people out in the sunshine, dancing on the grass?

Yeah, well that’s what’s kind of nice about a lot of music I think - if you’re taking a situation that isn’t always positive and making it something beautiful, you know? That can often be the case I think with music and, because sometimes of the claustrophobic

nature of the situation, some of the music was actually like a release from it and there’s screaming and that all needs to get out there to a festival full of people, so there’s totally irony in that. But I think sometimes you need the first thing for the second thing to happen.

Have you played any festivals since the album release - have your songs had a chance to be freed out in the wind?

Yeah, well that’s a good way of putting it. We did do loads of festivals this summer just as the album was about to come out so we haven’t actually done many with people who know the full record so we’ll try and like explore a little bit more the dimensions of the album in the live set by the time we get to you.

Would you agree that maybe Spit It Out would be your favourite festival track for playing live?

Yeah I think it’s one of them, it’s one of the things that translates to big crowds. That’s a nice way of summarising the record, if you just take one song from the record it could be that one which kind of sums it up – it’s got some certain things that are new to us in there like the piano groove and high female vocals, but it’s also very obviously and specifically Maccabees.

Regarding the acts you’ll be playing with at the festival – anyone in particular as a fan you’re excited seeing?

I like Mac DeMarco a lot – I’ve just really got into his records recently so I’m up for seeing him and I’ve never seen him live. So yeah, we’re really looking forward to getting out there soon //

Felix White // Photo Niklas Pivic

The Maccabees are touring Australia 29/12 2015 to 1/1 2016 // Falls Festival 4/1 2016 // Metro Theatre Sydney 6/1 2016 // 170 Russell (Billboard) Melbourne 8/1 to 10/1 2016 // Southbound Festival

www.themaccabees.co.uk

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