The merchants of rock
When it comes to concerts, most punters weigh up their love of a band against the cost of the ticket, then consider the night of the week and the venue. All they have to contend with on the night is getting a good spot and being happy but not so messy they have forgot about the show by morning.
A new book called The Promoters reveals what goes on backstage behind the scenes, including the politics behind the deals, the sex, drugs, riders (we know about Van Halen asking for the brown Smarties to be taken out of the bowl, but what about Yes requesting six-dozen cream pies for foodfights?), freeloaders, allegations of money laundering, the success and horror stories and the worst artists to deal with. Sydney author Stuart Coupe has seen just about all of it in his career as a music journalist, band manager (of Paul Kelly and the Hoodoo Gurus), promoter and label owner. Thinking it might be fun to promote tours of some of his favourite artists, hang out with them and make a few dollars on the side, he brought out Lucinda Williams, Guy Clark, Chris Whitley, Ted Hawkins, Harry Dean Stanton (as a musician - now that's cult) and writer James Ellroy. But his fling as a promoter of cult artists was short lived when he realised his theory that "if people get a chance to hear this artist they'll love him/her just like I do" was flawed. Soon he would appreciate fellow promoter Michael Coppel's adage: "If you are principally touring people you love, you are better off buying a first-class ticket to America, hiring a limousine and being driven to see them six times."
Who would want to be a promoter? There are more per capita in Australia than any western country, so the margins are always tight; the Australian dollar has been weak for years and they have to pay artists in American dollars and British pounds; plus they have to outlay huge sums, usually for relatively small returns. Coupe focuses on pioneer Lee Gordon and the "Big 5" - Michael Gudinski, Michael Chugg, Paul Dainty, Michael Coppel and Kevin Jacobsen (above, with Kiss). He analyses their fierce rivalries, concluding that it generally comes down to two factors: ego and a gambling instinct. "What other businesses are there where you can potentially make so much money by being a gung-ho answer-to-nobody entrepreneur?" Coupe explained to Sticky.
Apart from Kevin Jacobsen, they don't answer to anybody (his is a public company) - it's all so in keeping with rock'n'roll being the last bastion of the outlaw." Does Coupe think that sometimes the big promoters are out of touch with the common fan because they are too busy hanging out with the stars? "The majority of the time they get it right, but sometimes they drop their game," he says. "A lot of promoters could learn a lot from actually spending more time at their own shows."
Unfortunately for Coupe's book, lawyers removed many of the names involved in the juicy stories, and there were more scandalous sex rumours about the Australian cricket team in the '80s than in this book. But despite it being Sydney-centric (the Falls Festival's herculean 24-hour move from Lorne to Torquay and the Victorian Major Events/Paul Dainty/Paul McCartney tour cock-up are missing), it's an entertaining read for gig goers and industry types.
Promoters will be launched at Dymocks, 234 Collins St, city, at 6pm next Wednesday.
Silverchair out front at APRA's
Silverchair lead the nominations for this year's APRA song of the year award, with The Greatest View and Without You up against Kasey Chambers' Not Pretty Enough, Grinspoon's Chemical Heart and The Waifs' London Still, to be announced on Monday, May 19. Local band Coco's Lunch, whose song All The Wild Wonders has been nominated for APRA's most-performed jazz work, have taken out two gongs at the US Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards. Their song Thulele Mama Ya, written by Lisa Young, won best folk/world song, and their new album A Whole New Way of Getting Dressed (out on Newmarket) was runner up in the best folk/world album. Another Melbourne band, Black Majesty, have just signed a five-album deal with major European metal label LMP.
Jolly rollickin' Cajun
The joyous rollick of Cajun dance music will ring through the Paramount Cinema Club, Brunswick, tomorrow and Sunday nights. Screening is Les Blank's Louisiana documentary film Spend It All, which features music and conversation with Nathan Abshire, Marc Savoy and the legendary Balfa family. Live music will be provided by Andy Baylor's Cajun Combo. Tickets available from the venue, 43 Melville Road, Brunswick (phone 9386 7390).
Gigs:
Catch Ross Wilson tonight at Gaslight Records from 6pm. Chicago bluesman Steve Arvey is at Basement Discs, city, at 12.45pm. The Dice Age rock the Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne; Hey Gringo are at the Lomond Hotel, Brunswick; Her Majesty's Finest are at the Evelyn Hotel; catch Peabody and Smallgoods at Fitzroy's Rob Roy Hotel; Mrs Pinkwhistle play the Duke of Windsor, Prahran,
Diving Bell launch their debut album Alpine Fantasy at the Empress; and for the open-minded, Des Hefner and Chris Dyson play a continuous piece of instrumental music for an hour inside a cardboard box (above right), with 16mm film images by Marcus Bergner projected onto it, at Bright!Sounds, free, at 8pm, 8 Martin St, St Kilda.
Tomorrow, Legends of Motorsport play the Empress Hotel with Riff Random and the Frustrations; Icecream Hands are at the Evelyn; and Geelong's thedayafter launch their debut EP at the Dan O'Connell.
On Sunday, catch the Brewster Brothers at Milanos, and at the Cornish Arms it's Mother's Day with Andy Cowan and Heart & Soul. On Wednesday, Audrey Auld (left) is at the Old Bar, Fitzroy.