I’d like to preface this article with something I feel is important: I have a feeling that the following article may come across as disingenuous to some. Trying to “suck up” to the people behind the new venue. Some may suggest we were paid for the article. But neither is the case. I very much mean everything I am about to say.
Let me paint you a bit of a picture.
When Justin Hemmes’ Merivale bought the Excelsior, deciding to replace it with yet another Mexican restaurant, I, like many of you, was rather outspoken about my distaste of the whole thing. Then, when Hemmes came out and said he had a new, larger venue to replace it, it was like digging into the wounds of the Sydney music community. Knowing his past preference for venues, most were expecting the birth of some Home-esque dance club, which would occasionally get an international act, and try to pass that off as a replacement. In other words, set up a venue that would never support the local scene like the Excelsior did.
But I was wrong.
Indeed, it will never be the Excelsior, but I don’t necessarily think that will be a bad thing. When was the last time you actually went there? If all of us who complained about its closure actually visited the place more than once in a blue moon, it would never have been sold in the first place. For myself, I think I may have been to El Loco more times since it opened than I visited the Excelsior in its lifetime. Kind of depressing really, considering what I do. But what can I say? I work around the corner and I’m a sucker for delicious midnight tacos.
Sure, the argument can be made that the Excelsior didn’t have to go in order for the Beresford to exist. With that I’ll completely agree. But the team behind the Beresford have created a world class venue which will, in every way, breathe new (much needed) life into our city. This in mind, looking into the past simply isn’t a good use of our time. The venue is a positive thing for Sydney and something to move our city forward. Part of the problem with Sydney is our resoluteness with the past and our inability to make up our minds about where we want to go from here. This is a carefully considered move away from this.
And let’s face it… over the last few years (months in some cases) we’ve lost the Raval, Forum, Hopetoun and indeed the Excelsior… just to name a few. I’ve said it before: any new venue in Sydney is beyond a positive thing. Meanwhile, other venues like the Landsdowne and Kings Cross Hotel have picked up much of the slack left in Excelsior’s wake, while venues like Oxford Art Factory, Beach Road Hotel. The Gaelic, World Bar etc. have always been working hard to support the local scene. And they do it with a style that won’t be stopping anytime soon. Even the recently opened Rock Lily has been using its powers for musical good.
Beresford will run alongside all these venues in supporting local music. Jam Music has got some people extremely passionate about local live music in charge of the place, and I have no doubt they will treat the Sydney scene with respect, care and provide it with infinite value. And tonight, when Hemmes stood up to give a speech about how much he himself was passionate about the venue, I was totally sold. This venue is here to stay, and ultimately for all the right reasons. The sound system is incredible, the lights are spot on, the size is PERFECT (at 600, it will be the venue the Forum at Moore Park always wanted to be). I don’t know about you, but this seems like a pretty good place for the music scene in Sydney to move forward.
OK, so moving on to what will have to be a very brief review of the music of the night, I genuinely enjoy New Zealand artist Zowie, who opened things up after a bit of circus/burlesque. I last caught her and her band at the Perez Hilton party in Texas, so it could be the booze talking, but she creates some damn fun music. Easy to dance to, played expertly and tightly. Nothing groundbreaking, but then again neither is Gaga. Zowie’s just taking a genre and doing it well. What more needs to be said? As for The Vines, it was very much same old same old, but it was good to see them christen the venue with their dose of rock and roll. It’s obligatory isn’t it?
In conclusion, I can’t wait to see how this new venue helps the Sydney scene in its current state of transformation. I think in a year or so we’re going to be living in a stable, exciting period for the scene here… and I think many would agree that it’s been a long time (too long) since that’s been the case. Bring it on!!
Photo of Zowie by Johnny Au. Taken at SXSW. Vines by Kerrie Geier. Taken at BDO Adelaide.
