If you're from anywhere else in the world apart from Australia, thinking of the word Sydney will probably conjour up images like the one above - the Opera House and Harbour Bridge making the place look nice, our NYE parties (that seriously do shit all over the rest of the country), and what is essentially Australias biggest city. The one that all the yanks mistake for the capital because no ones heard of fucking Canberra.While I DON'T live, let alone work in the CBD, I've lived in the Sydney surrounds my whole life. I've also been a musician playing venues across the city, from East to West, for nearly a decade too and from the situation I have seen evolve over the years, Sydney is no longer what it once was. Whose fault is that? I'm not entirely sure, but let me regale you with a few stories.
Sydney and Melbourne have always hated each other. Melbourne hated us because we were awesome, and we hated Melbourne because... well.. we just thought we were awesome. And it rained there alot. Hell, the whole reason Canberra is where it is today (somewhere right between the two cities) is because the Free Traders and Protectionists from each city didn't want to let the others have the satisfaction of winning. Now we have a capital city in the middle of fucking nowhere. We had the Olympics (yes I know Melbourne did too but back in 1956 no one gave as much of a shit), we had the aforementioned Bridge and Opera House, Bondi, and a whole bunch of other stuff while Melbourne had... Frankston (and yes, that IS a dig).
Before you Mexican Latte-Sippers all get on your vespas and angrily proclaim 'to Daves house!' with your handbags in tow (another dig) calm down. Sydney is no longer the king, that seat quite safely belongs to Melbourne, and given that you've got nothing down there apart from ridiculous architecture, graffiti and places to eat its more a sad indictment on Sydney if you ask me. The gradual collapse of our state government and a complete lack of development with infrastructure as well as tourism incentives, despite Oprah coming here and all, has seen the last 5-7 years of Sydney's existence become a misery. Melbourne may be pretentious and annoying but it is an efficient and effective city. If you're from Sydney and you think we're still #1, sadly you are kidding yourself.
You're undoubtedly starting to think 'OK, this is all well and good but where is it going? this is a music blog you idiot' - and you have a point. Unfortunately the whole issue of 'status' is only one part of Sydneys demise.
traffic, capitalism and prostitutes - welcome to SydneyI have been to a shitload of gigs in this city, from East to West. I used to be in a band that could have been considered relatively successful when we were teenagers. Every week we could play in a local venue and bring a well-sized crowd of people who were enthusiastic to support local music and enjoy a night out with their friends. I now play in another band, and while we're not gigging at the moment, we'd go through phases of doing multiple gigs in short bursts at various points throughout the city or west, and much of the game has changed. The responsiveness of the people there is generally commendable but its the number of people that has begun to dwindle. You could blame it on a variety of factors;
Poker Machines - When I obtained my RCG certificate I was hit with the alarming fact that, at the time (2004 or so), New South Wales had the second highest amount of Poker machines per capita in the world, second only to LAS VEGAS. I have worked in RSLs and been exposed to the horrors of gambling. Trying to sleep at night with the music still going in my head. More and more amazing venues in Sydney are having space sacrificed for the building of pokies, while more and more people would rather sit in front of it and waste their paycheck as opposed to watching a band.
Poker Machines - When I obtained my RCG certificate I was hit with the alarming fact that, at the time (2004 or so), New South Wales had the second highest amount of Poker machines per capita in the world, second only to LAS VEGAS. I have worked in RSLs and been exposed to the horrors of gambling. Trying to sleep at night with the music still going in my head. More and more amazing venues in Sydney are having space sacrificed for the building of pokies, while more and more people would rather sit in front of it and waste their paycheck as opposed to watching a band.
Cost of living - Reports and studies, like THIS ONE from Charles Sturt University, have all concluded that Sydney is an expensive place in which to live. Comparatively speaking Melbourne is heavenly. Everything from the necessities to recreational means are more expensive in Sydney, another factor making it difficult for bands up here. Venues are reluctant to put on a show unless its going to be financially viable. At least with a Poker machine the profitability sells itself. You may notice on that fact sheet that the only thing cheaper is Beer. Why? If you've studied politics and society you'll know that this is just the age old tactic of keeping alcohol prices low to help keep the 'proles' quiet and ignorant of the fact that their lives suck.
Venues Closing - From the Kelts bar up in Blaxland in the early 00's to the impending sale of the Annandale, many of Sydneys primary venues are either closing, or being readjusted to something that doesnt cater so much for live music and moreso for pokies and a DJ. The battle is seemingly lost as more venues shut. I understand the fact that a business needs to make money and the sale, especially of the Annandale, poses the idea that maybe gigs just aren't viable in this town anymore. In the city that holds the Enmore (the best live venue in Aus as far as I'm concerned) that's so freaking depressing.
So what am I saying here? That its impossible for a band of any stature that isn't huge to play a successful gig here? No, not so much. I know people in bands that are doing alright, I know some that are doing well, I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that this isn't what most would consider a 'nurturing' environment anymore. I only started thinking of the whole idea, and wondering why, this year. When the BDO, and also Soundwave came out, the hesitance of certain bands to put on a sideshow in Sydney was noticeable, and some of the bigger ones just didn't put on a Sydney sideshow at all, while still playing in Brisbane and Melbourne. Lately I've had to witness all-ages shows, something I never really had to do before, so that bands could sell out venues. Meanwhile those same bands play in Melbourne and can afford to put two shows on, for both groups, and still sell out. Is it because of the factors above? Or just general apathy from the people of Sydney? I'm sure its a mix of both. The fact that the Sydney Big Day Out manages to sell out so quick all the time doesn't counter this argument when you look at the people who attend. To a majority of these people a Big Day Out is about seeing how many beers you can drink, pills you can swallow and people you can start a fight with, not about seeing great bands and enjoying a communal atmosphere with your fellow festival goers.
Our venues are being sold, the people are generally depressed, poor and retarded, and development is going nowhere fast - Sydney is really in a tight spot. While you Melbournians can sit there reading this, nodding your head approvingly and laughing quietly to yourselves, just remember that everything in life is cyclic. We will be back, or we will be destroyed, and the same will happen to you. Meanwhile I'll be over in Berlin, thankful of the fact I got out of here when I could.
So if you still want to be able to see a band play live in Sydney in 5 years without it being at an arena and $100 a ticket, if you still want to be able to go to the pub and enjoy seeing (or heckling, who cares, you're THERE) a band then stop going to these stupid fucking clubs every Friday and Saturday where its all about pretense and how you dress while paying shitloads for cocktails, and head to a bar or pub or one of the few venues we have left! See a band! Spend $10 on a ticket instead of throwing it into a Poker Machine. And drink some Beer knowing its the only thing cheaper here than in Melbourne. Your city, and your cities bands, need you.
Sydney Live Guide
Wots On
Metro Theatre
Enmore Theatre
Venues Closing - From the Kelts bar up in Blaxland in the early 00's to the impending sale of the Annandale, many of Sydneys primary venues are either closing, or being readjusted to something that doesnt cater so much for live music and moreso for pokies and a DJ. The battle is seemingly lost as more venues shut. I understand the fact that a business needs to make money and the sale, especially of the Annandale, poses the idea that maybe gigs just aren't viable in this town anymore. In the city that holds the Enmore (the best live venue in Aus as far as I'm concerned) that's so freaking depressing.
So what am I saying here? That its impossible for a band of any stature that isn't huge to play a successful gig here? No, not so much. I know people in bands that are doing alright, I know some that are doing well, I suppose the point I'm trying to make is that this isn't what most would consider a 'nurturing' environment anymore. I only started thinking of the whole idea, and wondering why, this year. When the BDO, and also Soundwave came out, the hesitance of certain bands to put on a sideshow in Sydney was noticeable, and some of the bigger ones just didn't put on a Sydney sideshow at all, while still playing in Brisbane and Melbourne. Lately I've had to witness all-ages shows, something I never really had to do before, so that bands could sell out venues. Meanwhile those same bands play in Melbourne and can afford to put two shows on, for both groups, and still sell out. Is it because of the factors above? Or just general apathy from the people of Sydney? I'm sure its a mix of both. The fact that the Sydney Big Day Out manages to sell out so quick all the time doesn't counter this argument when you look at the people who attend. To a majority of these people a Big Day Out is about seeing how many beers you can drink, pills you can swallow and people you can start a fight with, not about seeing great bands and enjoying a communal atmosphere with your fellow festival goers.
Our venues are being sold, the people are generally depressed, poor and retarded, and development is going nowhere fast - Sydney is really in a tight spot. While you Melbournians can sit there reading this, nodding your head approvingly and laughing quietly to yourselves, just remember that everything in life is cyclic. We will be back, or we will be destroyed, and the same will happen to you. Meanwhile I'll be over in Berlin, thankful of the fact I got out of here when I could.
So if you still want to be able to see a band play live in Sydney in 5 years without it being at an arena and $100 a ticket, if you still want to be able to go to the pub and enjoy seeing (or heckling, who cares, you're THERE) a band then stop going to these stupid fucking clubs every Friday and Saturday where its all about pretense and how you dress while paying shitloads for cocktails, and head to a bar or pub or one of the few venues we have left! See a band! Spend $10 on a ticket instead of throwing it into a Poker Machine. And drink some Beer knowing its the only thing cheaper here than in Melbourne. Your city, and your cities bands, need you.
Sydney Live Guide
Wots On
Metro Theatre
Enmore Theatre
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