In a hopefully regular feature on local live music venues, we got together with James Geekie to talk about Club Phoenix and how it fits into the brismusic scene.
BrisbaneMusic : Hi James, thanks for your time. First and foremost, tell us about Club Phoenix.
James Geekie : Club Phoenix is located at 235 Edward St in the CBD, right next to Rowes Arcade. You’ll find us open from 5pm on most nights, except for 7pm on Thursdays and 4pm on Fridays to catch the early finishes that need a drink after a long week!
BM : Explain the philosophy behind the club in regards to supporting the local music scene and promoting alternative music.
JG : It sounds cliché but the premise from the start would be “A venue by the people FOR the people” because as punters and band members ourselves, we saw all the failings of various other live music venues new and old, and wanted to learn from the mistakes. We want to push and promote and give opportunities to local bands who work hard at what they do and have that drive that’s becoming rare in modern bands.
Mostly I think we want to create an environment that’s a home away from home for all the alternative genre’s that you won’t generally hear on the commercial radio stations and see on the ARIA charts like punk, hardcore, metal, hard rock, goth and all such music types that attract people of a more…’alternative’ nature.
There was also a big demand for live venues in the CBD, as it turns out a lot of people are sick of the Valley!
BM : Can you give our readers an idea of what they can expect in a normal week at Club Phoenix?
JG : Wednesday nights are our hard rock/metal nights, it’s free entry and free pool which is becoming a fast favourite of our crowd.
Thursday night is our hardcore/punk night, only $6 entry and you can still enjoy a round of free pool.
Friday nights can be a mixture of things, but generally we like to give the bands a rest and just let our resident DJ (DJ Hoops) spin metal, rock, hardcore, metalcore, punk and gothic tunes all night long. Entry to that is only $5 and it’s open from 4pm with the free pool, perfect for after work drinks!
Saturday night is our ‘headliner’ for the week, and you’ll generally find the biggest underground bands from around the country strutting their stuff with some of our incredible local talent always there to support. These nights are a mixture of genres depending on what bands want which dates, but you can always check our myspace (www.myspace.com/clubphoenixbrisbane) for upcoming events.
BM : Of all the performances at the Club so far, what’s been your personal highlight?
JG : Tough one, we’ve had some sterling shows at Club Phoenix in only 10 weeks! If I was going to only choose one show, it would have to be black metal legends Astriaal return to the stage after a long hiatus and see their home crowd turn out in force to welcome them back. Local bands Excruciate and Empyrean were amazing in their support of the show with each bringing a different crowd, but I have to make special mention of the best local death metal act in Brisbane at the moment The Dead who absolutely laid waste to the venue with a crushing set.
A close second would have to be the release of local prog masters Arcane’s album launch because it was great to see a new crowd getting behind the venue.
BM : I know that on the opening night of the club, you had over 800 people to support you. That gives a pretty promising insight into the health of the local scene. What are your thoughts on how the scene is developing?
JG : Brisbane is the new home of Australian alternative music, no argument. Every day I receive emails from one young band after another all hungry for gigs and to get their original sounds out there and it never ceases to amaze me how many are emerging from the shadows.
Add to that a plethora of ‘old-school’ quality acts that are now being coaxed back into the lime light now that they have a venue they feel at home in, and you get a range of acts fit for nearly all tastes.
BM : If I was in a young local band, what would be the best way to get a gig at Club Phoenix?
JG : Email me at james_geekie@hotmail.com, or contact us through our myspace. Another great place for everyone in the community to find out what is coming up at Phoenix is on two local forums, www.brismetal.com and www.ozprog.com where a lot of the people who make Phoenix happen hang out and chat all day along (instead of working for the most part).
BM : So what’s the future hold for Club Phoenix? Any big tours? Interesting developments?
JG : We’ve got our first International playing at Phoenix on the 29th of March in the form of Arcturus, a symphonic black metal act featuring members of Dimmu Borgir. After that we have Vader, Agnostic Front, Gospel of the Horns, Obituary, Defiled, Stargazer, BloodDuster and the hotly anticipated return of “Brutalfest” which will showcase a lot of Australia’s best underground Death/Grind/Black metal.
Soon we’ll be installing a permanent merchandise stand so that local acts can always have their releases/T-shirts on display for the public to peruse and buy which will be a great leg-up for the hard working bands in the area.
Club Phoenix will continue striving to provide the best possible venue for all alternative genres and their fans, and unlike venue’s in the past we’re more than open to suggestions/constructive criticism to make the place better and better than anything we’ve ever seen in Brisbane.
BM : Thanks for your time
JG : Thanks
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