Light Of The Quasar: Review of Killing Heidi Concert/Decline Of Live Music

Traralgon, Victoria, Australia, a night at the Inferno and I'm privileged to see what feels like the last of a dying breed - live musicians with passion for their work. The band is Killing Heidi, promoting their new single from the Spiderman 2 soundtrack, I Am. Is this the only way a band can get noticed on Australian television? By being in a film clip for a blockbuster film? This song is not even on the international version of the sound track and is only on the Australian version so it gives locals a reason to buy it.

For a gig that featured an effervescent and popular group that has been established in the industry for a few years now, the size of the crowd was a bit of a disappointment. The door charge was reasonably priced, so it wasnt like punters (audience) couldnt afford it. I guess they arent the it band of the moment, like for example, international success Jet (who played there recently with a packed out crowd and a very expensive door charge).

To describe their music would be to call it poetically rocking. This band performs stadium rock out songs just as well as ballads. Despite the small turnout they smacked their way through older songs in the first half and focused on the newer album present and brand new release Killing Heidi for the latter half.

The band was discovered in Violet Town, about 150 kilometres north east of Melbourne, by the national youth radio network Triple J (government owned). This is approximately the same distance to Traralgon. It was plain that those who attended were big fans. The band really appeals to non-city audiences as they are from a town much smaller than the one they played in this review. As a bit of trivia for you, the lead singer and guitarist are brother and sister.

This is a band that has definitely evolved with time. I caught them at Melbournes Big Day Out about seven or so years ago and they sounded terrible, the vocals were weak and the instruments sounded like they would have been better off bashed against the floor.

I had the chance to see them again at Traralgon about five years ago and frankly despite having a ticket, I couldnt be bothered (that may or may not have been for other reasons).

Now they just rock, its as if they have found a new confidence and focus that lets their performances shine through the darkest corners of a room. If you ever get a chance to see them in action or get a hold of a disc, do so.
[BB]
During my mid to late teens this region of Victoria had so many bands coming through on tour that I actually had trouble finding the time and money to catch them all. The local University and concert hall were so busy that the tours flowed over into local pubs and bars; there were that many performances. Today this is become a trickle of shows, virtually none at the Uni, no one decent at the pubs and with only the faithful punters or those out to see the latest cool group attending the local gig spot.

A former singer, who once played locally, that I watched as a teen, was working for Killing Heidi selling their merchandise. This is a guy who should have been on stage, but because of the decline in demand for bands, is stuck selling for other bands rather than his own. He was defiant about continuing to perform despite the downturn and it wasnt just a matter of not being able to do anything else, but he had to play music as if it was in his blood. He agreed that the old scene was a very privileged time to be a music lover, for those involved in putting together the events and those who attended.

What caused the decline? It could have been any number of things, music piracy, less national support for the arts, the reduction in state grants for underage gigs, increases in costs and the moving away from live performances to TV and movie idols who have the power of big advertising machines on their side (Delta Goodrem is one performer who is way over exposed).

The worst part about this decline is that the young people have nothing to do and in my own town they are even turning to Country and Western Music (sorry, I'm not a big fan). This change in musical emphasis has alienated the majority of locals and international uni students who spend time here. They feel they have to buy a big hat, a big dusty Ute and cowboy boots just to fit in. This has happened in a place that was once more interested in diversity than the status quo and has been virtually invaded by people from far off smaller towns.

Heres hoping that the trends and conditions change again for the better.

For more on the band visit: http://www.killingheidi.com.au

For Violet Town info go to: http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/multimedia/gazetteer/list/violettown.html

See Matts blog at: http://lightofthequasar.blogspot.com/

Copyright Matt Holt, 2004

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