GETTIN' HAD, GETTIN' TOOK, SAVING MELBOURNE MUSIC IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS

By Alex

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SLAM went down the other day; a symbolic recreation of ACDC’s classic Long Way To The Top video clip in support of Melbourne’s live music scene. If you’re not from around these parts, many small, inner city band venues have been hobbled with tough new liquor licensing stipulations such as high fees and expensive mandatory security measures. Yep, it’s pretty gay. The places that are really suffering are the bars and pubs where new acts start out. Kind of a proving ground for young musicians. Seeing them close down is like watching Jeff Kennett close down all those state schools in the early 90s all over again.

One good thing about all of this is that we’ve all been reminded how tenuous society’s grasp on common sense is. It’s heart warming to know that so many people are willing to fight to hold on.

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If you're an Aussie, you might recognise some of these people from bands you like, as well as some from bands you don't really listen to.

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This is Victoria's Parliament House. Apparently it has machine gun turrets on the roof. Would we see them in action?

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The rally brought heaps of people from heaps of different music genres together.

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Though some of these genres were difficult to place.

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Anyone?

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Rabble rousing.

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Roused rabble.

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This guy's pretty famous here. He's sort of like Australia's Bruce Springsteen

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Yeah, fuck you government!

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Best protest ever man.

WORDS BY RUSH MOUNTMORE

PHOTOS BY CLAYTON WOODLEY

By Alex 2 years ago

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