Most of us are locked in, all of us have lost the chance to socialise, to meet and drink and talk and eat and see music and work out and enjoy things outside the house. But music doesn’t have to stop and The Great Confinement has opened up a chance to explore at home, to dig up old favourites and find new pleasures.
In this series we ask: what music is making your life better? Today, the owner and operator of music venue and historic Macedonian home, The Great Club in Marrickville.
WHAT ALBUMS OR ARTISTS HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING SINCE BEING CONFINED TO HOME?
Ashe - Ashlyn
The Teskey Brothers - Live at The Forum
Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Norah Jones - Day Breaks
5SOS - Calm
Delta Goodrem - Bridge Over Troubled Dreams
Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever
Lawrence - Hotel TV
WHICH HAVE BEEN GETTING MULTIPLE SPINS?
I’ve been (gladly) stuck at home in Mt Gambier, South Australia with my dad who has clearly passed down the music obsession gene. We have coined Thursdays “T[h]eskey Thursday” which means The Teskey Brothers, come Thursdays, are getting an absolute thrashing every week. We never tire of their bluesy sound while we sit by the fire with a few brews. The Teskey Brothers Live at The Forum has probably got the biggest beating with their cover of the cover Jealous Guy being a stand out for me and their meandering blues ballad Honeymoon being my dad’s all-time favourite.
HOW HAS LOCKDOWN CHANGED THE WAY YOU CONSUME MUSIC?
I read some earnest meme on Insta the other day as I was doing the daily doom scroll that lockdown has made us return back to the things we found comfort in during our adolescent years. It couldn’t be more true about what music I am consuming during lockdown. Contrary to probably every musician on the Internet over 30 at the moment, I am loving listening to JJJ again in the same way I did as a teenager when I’d have to drive 25km drive to school or the closest supermarket. I loved that time to be able to discover new music and am relishing being able to relive that once more (just in a better car and sound system this time).
It’s easy as a live music venue operator to feel fatigued when listening to music but lockdown has certainly reinvigorated my love for doing that.
WHAT ALBUM FROM YOUR PAST HAVE YOU REDISCOVERED? WHAT DO YOU STILL LOVE ABOUT IT?
Alanis Morrisette - Under Rug Swept
Jagged Little Pill obviously hooked me into the magic of Alanis but if that was her breakthrough, Under Rug Swept was her coming of age. She’d done all the soul-searching second album syndrome thang with Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie so Under Rug Swept feels comfortable and settled. I have loved blaring the opening track, 21 Things I Want In A Lover while sorting through old memories and generally working through the angst of closing my business for the 3rd time in 12 months with the same soundtrack of my angsty adolescence.
HAVE YOU FOUND NEW MUSIC – OR AN ARTIST OR GENRE - THAT WAS UNEXPECTED? WHAT’S EXCITED YOU ABOUT IT?
I am completely obsessed with Ashe. I happened to hear one of her songs via a Billie Eilish song radio on Spotify and thought I’d give her album a try. I was halfway through my mandatory 14 day isolation day here, not being able to do much but walk around the block and clean the house so it just grabbed me. I love that it’s unadulterated pop but her honest emotions shine through in her vocals amidst the slick production. In 47 minutes she covers her divorce at 23, the grief of losing her brother, anxiety and dating post break-up. It’s a lot to pack in but she manages to do it and sing with such rawness and efficacy. I pretty much want to be her friend now.
WHAT’S THE BEST MUSIC TO FLATTEN YOUR (ANXIETY) CURVE?
Walks around the famous Blue Lake (WarWor) and the Glencoe Woolshed block to the tune of my JJJ findings are flattening the (anxiety) curve.
Don’t Lose Sight - Lawrence
Mixer - Amber Mark
Skeletons - easylife
Edamame - bbno$, Rich Brian
I’m Bored - Thomas Headon + Lizzy McAlpine
Ali Avron’s The Great Club will have gigs again soon but in the meantime, buy a tee or your very own personalised bar stool for your very own music loving/venue supporting backside!
https://www.thegreatclubsydney.com/merch