The Second Best Live Music City in the World??

[Pointy Birds]

Maybe someone out there could lend me a hand.

I recall reading somewhere that Melbourne is considered the planet's second best live music city behind Austin. Texas.

On what basis is this claim made? Who made the claim? Do you agree?

Also, just as an aside, I've been given a lazy $60 voucher from Sanity. What should I buy? Lately i've been gravitating towards late seventies music - Stranglers, Gang of Four, Kraftwerk, etc. My last purchase was the new Air album which I think has been criminally breft of bouquets. I particularly like Beck's contributions.

I heard the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on some show the other day and liked it, although I thought they sounded a bit too much like T-Rex at times. Is the album worth getting?

Any advice gratefully devoured. Cheers.

[Rusty Brookes]

Ten to fifteen years ago, then yes Melbourne would have easily been the second best live music city in the world. There were heaps of venues, lots of great (and different) bands and good support from radio, street press and the like. These days I'm not too sure: lots of venues have shut, the music is becoming very generic and radio/press play their favourites (e.g. latest hype band). However I reckon this same trend would be evident all over the world.

For a good late 70s CD, pick up Do the Pop. It is a compilation of 50 tracks by Australian Garage Rock bands from 1976 to 1987. Incredible stuff.

[Captain Sensible]

Originally posted by Rusty Brookes
Ten to fifteen years ago, then yes Melbourne would have easily been the second best live music city in the world. There were heaps of venues, lots of great (and different) bands and good support from radio, street press and the like. These days I'm not too sure: lots of venues have shut, the music is becoming very generic and radio/press play their favourites (e.g. latest hype band). However I reckon this same trend would be evident all over the world.

For a good late 70s CD, pick up Do the Pop. It is a compilation of 50 tracks by Australian Garage Rock bands from 1976 to 1987. Incredible stuff.


What you say about Melbourne 10 or 15 years ago is right. We had venues like The Old Greek Theatre, Prince Of Wales, The Corner, The Richmond Club, The Tote, Le Club and The Venue and bands like I Spit In your Gravy, Cosmic Psychos, Painters and Dockers, Harem Scaremand any number of others that I have forgotten (Lots of chemically induced brain non activity there)

These bands and venues are now all sadly gone or pale imitations of what they once were.



BTW where do I get a copy of that CD?

[Mooster7]

I thought Branson, Missouri had taken over as the biggest Country Music City?

First, Second or Third, I avoid that part of the State like it was Chernobyl.

Austin, Texas is one of the best party towns I've ever been to. I lived in Central Texas for a little over two years. For a time, I was going to Austin every weekend. It seemed to me to be more Blues oriented than Country.

Melbourne is enourmous compared to Austin. Places like that or Sydney, NY etc. They can pretty much be the biggest at whatever they set their mind to, I figure.

[Rusty Brookes]

Originally posted by localyokel



What you say about Melbourne 10 or 15 years ago is right. We had venues like The Old Greek Theatre, Prince Of Wales, The Corner, The Richmond Club, The Tote, Le Club and The Venue and bands like I Spit In your Gravy, Cosmic Psychos, Painters and Dockers, Harem Scaremand any number of others that I have forgotten (Lots of chemically induced brain non activity there)

These bands and venues are now all sadly gone or pale imitations of what they once were.



BTW where do I get a copy of that CD?

Most shops like JB should have it: it was released on Shock. I know Missing Link, Augogo and the like have it. It has a fantastic booklet included as well.