13-19 November 2023 – various venues, Southport – words & pictures by Justin Gittins
It is a Friday night and I am out the back of a dive bar in Southport. Paul Curtis has been Regurgitator’s manager for decades and I asked him how the band had come to be playing two nights at such a unique venue. Vinnie’s Dive Bar started off its life as a mobile phone store in Nerang Street Southport. The subsequent purchase of the neighbouring store (formerly the Black Cat News Agent) meant that the wall could be knocked out and a second stage was built with the capacity of about two hundred patrons. It is definitely rough around the edges and does its own thing hosting international and Aussie bands when they visit the Gold Coast.
“I can’t recall anything like this.” Paul says “There was nothing like this. This reminds me of early Brisbane stuff. There are still a few venues like this in Brisbane but it’s less right now. Glenn (the owner of Vinnie’s Dive bar) wrote to me and said ‘Hey, I’ve got this 5th Birthday gig. It would be my dream to have Regurgitator play. Is that possible?’“
Paul weighed up the options and talked to the band, “Hey we really can’t do a tour, it’s too much on the back of what we just did. Hold on a sec, sure, let’s do this. Let’s make it two nights and you know… Bang!” I asked about the band’s reaction to the idea and Paul recounts “Ben (Ely) was freaking out on how great it was. “Oh my God! This place is awesome”. I’m like “Glenn that runs it is awesome too and I like this small-scale scenario, so it’s great. We love it!”
Regurgitator – Vinnies – photos by Justin GIttins
I love it when a plan comes together. The Down Town Sound festival in Southport was a celebration of the newly announced Special Entertainment Precinct (see below for more info on this) with over 150 artist playing at three venues from Monday through to Sunday. Throw in a Birthday celebration and it was the perfect storm that kicked off the inaugural event for this area. Three venues were hosting artist throughout the festival. The other two venues were: “Last Night on Earth” sits on the corner of Nerang Street and Davenport Street. With multiple levels overlooking Chinatown it has its own style that makes it stand out from other generic Gold Coast venues. Mr PP’s is a multi-level pizzeria, wine bar and rooftop space that hosts live music in the laneway area and on the verandah. With such a diverse range of artist performing across the three venues everyone’s experience of this festival would be unique. The Down Town Sound for me would be a very eclectic mix of music genres. Wednesday afternoon was when it really kicked off for me.
L-R Harry J Hart – Inoxiam – Jackson James Smith – Tractor Pull – photos by Justin Gittins
A wander up and down Nerang Street had me enjoying the busking performances of Devu, Inoxiam, Harry J Hart and Jackson James. In the evening Last Night on Earth was hosting “Live Band Karaoke “with the talented Lachypuss and the Lobster Men. I caught a few songs but headed off to Vinnie’s before hearing the rendition of ‘Teenage Dirtbag’ that is a quintessential part of the Southport karaoke experience.
“I’ve got two tickets to Iron Maiden baby. Come with me Friday, don’t say maybe.” (or as Lachypusscalls it, the “girl part”) It was then over to Vinnie’s for the international guests that were part of the line-up. I caught the set by Brisbane punk band TOY and ducked for cover with my camera as the punters bounced their way around the pit. Dinah Corona fronted the U.S. hardcore punk band Electric Chair. He was absolutely exploding with energy bouncing on and off the stage, doing handstands, flips and climbing on speakers and even hanging off the metal bars on the wall at one stage. Still buzzing from the frantic punk rock show, I jumped on the nearby tram and left Southport to the karaoke rendition of Nirvana’s ‘Come as You Are’ blasting from Last Night on Earth. There may have been cats howling at this courageous song choice. Thursday would see DJ’s set up in Mr PP’s and Last Night on Earth. The Southport locals didn’t know what hit them as there was beat-boxing and retro DJ sets filling their ear holes.
Friday would be Regurgitator’s first night at Vinnie’s Dive Bar. I was waiting around and I hear the lead singer of VOIID wander past and say “Let’s check out that Elvis thing” (or something like that). What “Elvis thing?” I wondered. On the original stage was a band called Disgraceland and they were on “house band” duties as the other bands set up on the main stage. I have since heard them described as (and I am para-phrasing) “The Gimme Gimmes but with Elvis as a frontman”. It was a punk rock Elvis experience complete with the sequin jump suit and awesome hair. Definitely an unexpected highlight. The all-female Brisbane punk band Voiid warmed the crowd up for “The Gurge”. The set included songs from their 2023 album Watering Dead Flowers as well as ‘Sour’ and other punk favourites. A guy dressed in a mirror-ball suit wandered in amongst the crowd as they played. I am yet to work out what that was all about.
L-R Electric Chair – Disgraceland – Brixton Alley – photos by Justin Gittins
Two hundred patrons were packed in front of the main stage awaiting the very intimate performance by Regurgitator. They didn’t disappoint as they took the stage in “custom” overalls that were definitely NSFW. Some of the illustrations and wording on their jumpsuits appear to be inspired by their first song ‘I Sucked a Lot of Cock (to get where I am)’. The Gurge sweated their way through an awesome set list in the venue that was packed to capacity. In no particular order they blew us away with ‘! (The Song Formerly Known As)’, ‘Polyester Girl’, ‘Kong Foo Sing’, ‘Everyday Formula’, ‘Fat Cop’, ‘Blubber Boy’, ‘I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff’, ‘Social Disaster’ and lots more. As the venue got hotter the NFSW overalls came off and glasses fogged up. It was an awesome show and my highlight of The Down Town Sound. Regurgitator backed up with another show on Saturday night. (and apparently the addition of some extra fans on stage)
There was late arvo country music with Tractor Pull, late night goth renditions of classic songs by Jedd from Chiffon Magnifique, Latin music in the Mr PP’s laneway, awesome DJs and more hardcore music at Vinnie’s just to name a few of the 150+ artists visiting Southport for the event. The festival wrapped up on Sunday evening with a bit more a chilled vibe up on Mr PP’s deck with Bobby Alu and his ukulele serenading us as the sun seton the massive musical event.
L-R – Bobby Alu – DJ sets – photos by Justin Gittins
It was an awesome effort by all involved to coordinate so many artists and looks to be the beginning of something that will grow and attract more awesome artists. What is a S.E.P? (Special Entertainment Precinct) I spoke to Arran Woollams, the owner of Mr PP’s about the SEP and what it means for the area. “Hopefully there is going to be a bit of interest from other venue operators to come into the area. That is our bigger vision is to see multiple venues come into the area. For us we are seeing more patronage and what we call a ‘late night economy’. It is getting busier as it gets later. So, we are looking at extending our hours and having a later venue. Southport is unique in that we don’t have a lot of residential in the CBD core, so when they have done the acoustic testing it has given a better result. It is hard to implement this into areas that are already built up as it is hard to put in place these acoustic treatments. The way that it is working is that new developments must have certain acoustic extenuations, so that a venue that may be increasing their DB limits isn’t closed down because someone has complained when new buildings have gone up. That is our sort of security and for a bigger venue that is investing millions into a venue then you want to make sure that in six months later the block next door doesn’t sell and towers go up and you get closed down. Definitely a good thing and it will help with investment into live music.“
