Well hi.

For whatever reason, I've recently decided to upload scans of band gig posters from my early days in Sydney, when I used to regularly go out and see at least two or three bands a week. I'm talking 1979 - 1990 ish here. At that time, Sydney had a healthy, thriving pub band culture which f
ostered the careers of many of the top Aussie export bands of the last couple of decades. The Angels, The Radiators, Midnight Oil, INXS, (Le) Hoodoo Gurus, The Church, etc etc etc. Anyway, being a lifelong collector of strange and irrelevant things, I find myself with scraps of paper, flyers, set lists, coasters and more from many of the gigs I attended, so at least I have something to remember them by. Most of that era is a total blur in my memory, but I just know that I had a really good time, and my tinnitus and foggy brain was worth it all.

Now, I'm not claiming to be any kind of expert or authority on any of these bands, or the era in general, I'm just sharing what I remember, and a few bits and pieces that may bring back memories for some. Feel free to add your own recollections, tell me if I'm wrong, share stories of gigs you went to.

You can click on them and they get bigger.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Metropole Gig Guide


Must confess I'm not familiar with this place.
I am, however familiar with The Laughing Clowns. I remain a fan of their music and the majority of the subsequent Ed Kuepper solo records. Laughing Clowns were very avant garde and different from most of what was going on in the early eighties. I think to a lot of people it sounded like dischordant, messy moaning. Me, I loved it. Still listen to them every now and then.

The Hitmen. I think they are largely responsible for the lingering ringing in my ears twenty five years later. Saw them heaps. Always at the front of the stage, or with our heads in the W bins to enhance the distorted buzzing effect. So stupid! Seemed fun at the time.

The Riptides had the best telegraph pole posters ever. We used to go out at night and untape them from the poles and stick them on the ceiling of our hang out room. Well, we were young. Give us a break,

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Metropole tavern was under the CAGA building at corner of Bent and Philip Streets, ..or was it Bridge street?

Anonymous said...

Cnr Philip and Bent. You would walk in and there was an alcove with pinball machines.walk up, sometimes the kitchen would be open, load up on chips then throw down gallons of beer and enjoy the likes of the Hitmen...ahhh...

veryfashion said...

the posters of the Riptides and many other bands in those days were done by John Foy, there's a great book out called Plastered, an Australian collection of band posters from the 50s onwards, a very good companion to this site