One of the best nights of my life was when I played live music with 2 very good friends Tim Philips and Claudio Kirac in our band Starchild. (28.4.2007)
Maybe it's me building up the hype in my mind, but it felt amazing, our 1st live appearance played to a very large crowd (so I was told) in what was the best live music venue on the GC. The Chophouse. Ok the acoustics weren't like the opera house but the decor and design were so eclectic, imagine an admirals cigar lounge complete with fireplace and oceanfront views.
Like the Playroom, (the old) Fishermans Wharf, Brisbane's Festival Hall and lot's of others, it was knocked down in the name of development.
Don't get me wrong, I'm no granola eating, tree hugger and I'm no cappo (capitalist) either, Australia is very young *in some respects*, Queensland even younger and the Gold Coast younger still.
So we are always getting made fun of for having no culture, I disagree and I think this is both pretentious, ignorant and narrow minded, we have culture, not nearly as much maybe, but we do. It just breeds away quietly and strongly, but what doesn't help the artists (of any discipline) here, is the way there is little or no support at all.
Sure cash trickle's through, but cash won't bring back these fantastic venues that may have stood in the way of the developer's $$$.
These venue's may have had a bad reputation or been on great land that a new development would far better suit. But we kill a bit of culture and lifeblood of our society everytime this happens.
Holly Woloszyn, I and the patrons that had a chance to go there thank you. I loved going to the Chophouse and especially loved playing there. One of my fondest memories before getting sick. Playing music in front of friends and my sister at such a memorable show and venue. If you happened to be there, I don't know if you could tell I was thoroughly loving it, I hope you had as much fun being there as we did!
Thanks to Mark Duckworth too, who we supported. It's an odd fact, but my old band Mustard Seed and I, supported Duck and his old band Julian Date almost exactly 10 years ago at (the old) Rose & Crown.
You may think this is irrelevant, but I can't drum or sing anything like I used to. So this is a subject VERY dear to my heart.
Usually Grandparents tell their Grandkids about their "glory day's". Well my "glory days" were 3 years ago and I'm only 34!
OK I am ranting.
xp
