A Decade To Remember

The Age

Friday April 18, 2008

Patrick Donovan

WHEN Sticky Carpet first rolled across the pages of EG 10 years ago, naysayers were predicting the death of rock. But we knew it was just having a breather. And from the moment the Strokes' The Modern Age single landed in 2001, we knew the beast had awoken. Sure enough, before long kids were swapping their turntables for guitars, mussing their hair, donning skinny jeans and starting bands. Still, rock'n'roll has changed, as has the broader music scene, with sounds splintering into so many genres it's hard to keep track. Moreover, rampant file sharing and piracy make it harder than ever to make a living out of music, let alone run an independent record store. Instead of trawling through CD racks and bargain bins, kids now download their music, and rather than meeting like-minded people at the pub, social networking takes place on MySpace and Facebook.

But, in Melbourne, the scene remains reassuringly vibrant. Some put it down to the cold weather, forcing people to be creative indoors. Whatever the reason, there are always people wanting to make and hear a racket in this great rockin' city, and that makes it possible to sustain a local music column.

We don't pretend to hear every record released or see every gig but we do our best to devour as much music as possible, and then act as a filter to present you with the highlights and critique the over-hyped duds.

Occasionally, your correspondents leave the state to report from the various festivals and award ceremonies around the country and overseas. Dispatches have even been filed from as far afield as Greece, Russia and Prague.

There have been plenty of surreal times, too - ending up on stage with Neil Young at the Myer Music Bowl, for example, or on the front page of The Age alongside Bob Dylan. A guest appearance on the Warner Corner album cover, and cooking whisky chicken with Bob Log III at a charity cooking competition.

We've also been involved in several local (rock'n'roll, of course) issues, such as the campaign to have a city laneway named after AC/DC (below left) and helping promote worthwhile causes and benefits such as the Tsunami Concert and the EG Music Awards, which raise money for Support Act Limited.

Along the way Sticky has been lucky enough to meet some true musical heroes. While it can be one of the perks of the job, there is some truth to the argument that you should never meet your heroes because they won't live up to your expectations. And interviewing them can also demystify their art. I was horrified, for instance, when Ross Wilson informed me that Eagle Rock was named after an American dance fad, not the Aireys Inlet beach where I spent many summers.

Memorable interviews include chatting to Neil Young while he was racing through Japan on a train, all four members of the Rolling Stones, David Bowie, AC/DC, rock pioneers Sam Phillips and Ike Turner, Inspirations' Mavis Staples, Ray Charles, Chuck D and Joe Strummer, and more contemporary musicians such as Josh Homme, Nick Cave, Tim Rogers, P. J. Harvey and Spiderbait at a bowling alley. Hell, I suppose I even got something out of grillings from grumpy reformed alcoholics Lou Reed and Tom Waits.

Getting to know some of the classic characters of the local scene has also been a pleasure. You can count on a laugh and some insight when running into musicians Fred Negro (below), Ronnie Peno, Pete "Dr Pump" Lawler, Howlin' Wind, Wayne Duncan, Ross Hannaford, Spencer P. Jones, Kerri Simpson, Renee Geyer, Rebecca Barnard, John Nolan, Joel Silbersher, Tim Rogers, Tex Perkins, Phil Gionfriddo and the late Tim Hemensley (above).

And then there's the radio identities such as Neil Rogers, Max Crawdaddy, Brian Wise, Jeff Jenkins, Billy Pinnell, Tony Biggs, James Young, Hugo T. Armstrong, Sophie Best, Systa BB, Kim Walvisch, Marieke Hardy, Glenn Dickie, Stephen Walker, Kenny Lightfoot, Richard Moffatt, and Ritchie 1250.

Like Sticky, they act as conduits between the music and the fans. And speaking of the fans, here's to you - the readers and hardcore gig-goers - such as Julian Wu, Michael Barry, Miles Gallagher, Andrew Delaney and Gerald McNamara, some of the many who help keep the industry afloat with their regular attendance.

Rock on, and stay sticky.

And the winners are...

There have been many musical highlights of the decade, but here are the best of them:

Top 10 Australian albums:

1. Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of your Enemies will Float By - the Drones

2. The Lyre of Orpheus/Abattoir Blues - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

3. Soaking Red - Tendrils

4. Wolfmother - Wolfmother

5. Spencer P. Jones and the Last Gasp - The Last Gasp

6. Dark Horses - Tex Perkins and the Dark Horses

7. What Rhymes With Cars And Girls - Tim Rogers and the Twin Set

8. The Friends of Rachel Worth - The Go-Betweens

9. The Hard Road - Hilltop Hoods

10. The Tabloid Blues - Dan Kelly & the Alpha Males

Top 10 Gigs

1. Iggy Pop (below) at the Falls Festival

2. The Rolling Stones at Sydney's Enmore Theatre

3. The Pixies at the Northcote Social Club

4. Gillian Welch at Hepburn Springs' Palais Theatre

5. Nick Cave and Grinderman at the Forum Theatre

6. The Flaming Lips at the Palace

7. Dead Moon, the Powder Monkeys and the Double Agents at the Corner Hotel

8. The Dirty Three at Meredith (right)

9. Toots and the Maytals at East Coast Blues and Roots Festival

10. P.J. Harvey at the Triple R Rooftop

And here are a few words from Andrew Murfett:

It's been roughly two years since I started contributing to Sticky Carpet, and it's certainly been a colourful ride.

Former EG editor Gary Munro and I had previously taken to dubbing Patrick by his now-universal moniker "Sticky", such was his attachment to the column. Years earlier, as I studied at Monash and wrote earnest reviews and features for Beat magazine, I used to read of Sticky's travails with a tinge of envy.

As it goes, writing for Sticky has given me the opportunity to meet many of Australia's most talented, passionate and articulate musicians. Folks such as Mark Seymour, Paul Kelly, Ian Moss, Charles Jenkins, Tim Freedman, Tim Rogers, Missy Higgins, Kasey Chambers, Bernard Fanning, Colin Hay, Chris Cheney, Rob Hirst, Jack Howard, John Butler, Ben Birchall, Katie Noonan and Josh Pyke have been generous in both the time they have offered and the insights they have shared. In the past couple of years, a slew of slightly younger acts - Augie March, the Living End, Dallas Crane, the Whitlams, Jet, Grinspoon, Kisschasy, Magic Dirt, Youth Group, Spiderbait, the Cat Empire, Eskimo Joe, Something For Kate, Operator Please, British India and Evermore - have crossed the Carpet. Then there are the passionate stalwarts who loom behind the scenes of Melbourne's live music world and have been an inspiration for Sticky. Names such as Wally Kempton, Mary Mihelakos, Glenn Dickie, Jeff Jenkins, Craig Kamber and so many others. Looking ahead, numerous bright young bands, including Cut Copy, Midnight Juggernauts and the Presets, promise to keep Australian music lovers on their toes over the coming months. And, much like the Melbourne music scene it covers, here's hoping Sticky Carpet remains thrillingly divergent, doggedly sturdy and thoroughly entertaining for years to come. -- ANDREW MURFETT

GIVEAWAYS

Sticky has a CherryRock008 prize pack to give away featuring a double pass to the event, plus a CD prize pack featuring the bands performing at CherryRock008 this Sunday at AC/DC Lane from noon. To be in the running, tell us in 100 words or less about where and when you lost your rock "cherry"- that special moment when you discovered what rock'n'roll was all about. Email your entries to stickycomp@cherryrock.com.au by noon today. Four runners-up will receive double passes to CherryRock008. Winners will be notified by email. For playing times and line-up info, check myspace.com/cherryrock008.

The Sacred Cowboys celebrate their latest release with an Anzac Day Eve show at the Northcote Social Club. For your chance to win one of five double passes to the gig next Thursday, email lou@lancerock.com.au at noon today.