Melbourne collective Darling James journey to their spiritual home to headline a night at one of their favourite Australian venues, Black Bear Lodge.
While cutting their teeth in the bars and pubs of Brunswick, Victoria, each member of Darling James has spent formative time in the northern capital. Their namesake and songwriter James O'Brien spent many years fronting Brisbane then Melbourne based group The Boat People and in more recent years has found a role as sought after side-man, touring with Kate Miller-Heidke and Machine Translations among others.
James shares five things he misses about Brisbane. “As a resident of the northern capital for around ten years I often feel a pang of nostalgia when I think back to my sweat-soaked formative years, playing in bands, negotiating uni exams and trying not to get punched in the face for wearing a scarf (which was partly my fault for going to the Paddo Tavern wearing a scarf). Here's what I miss the most about Brisbane.”
Hills
You learn to appreciate hills once you live somewhere very flat. Being able to take in the view of Mt Coot-tha or watch the sun go down over rows of Queenslanders in West End or Red Hill is something I always try to do when I'm in town. And the best thing about a city full of hills? Even the shittiest sharehouse, like my notorious pad on Caxton Street, gets an A-grade view.
Humidity
Yes, this is a grass-is-greener type situation but there's something about heading out into a sticky night to watch bands or meet up with friends that provides a special sense of anticipation. Of course I'll be complaining about it after two days when I next visit, but during the long, southern winters I dream of a muggy, Brisbane night.The River
Brisbane's river is a good one as far as water bodies go. It's wide, beautiful and the public transport that scoots over it provides better views than most tourist attractions. Sitting at the Powerhouse, the Brisbane Jazz Club (What? You've never been?? SHAME ON YOU) or if you're lucky a house in Bulimba; watching the Brisbane River ease on by is one of life's great joys.
The Alley Bar
I guess even if you live in Brisbane you might miss this place. Or maybe not. It was kind of a shit-hole. But it was OUR shit-hole! Whether it was shooting pool while the bar staff played their favourite selections of speed metal on a quiet Tuesday night, or doing a killer gig on a packed-out Friday, The Alley Bar was home if you lived in the inner west. It was genuinely unpretentious. Or maybe just a shit-hole.
Image © FacebookJacarandas
I was devastated to find out these aren't native. Oh well. I recently went to a Charles Jenkins gig at which he performed a song called ‘Trees Of Brisbane’, and I almost shed a tear into my soda water. November in Brisbane is just beautiful, and even though it took me a while to lose my association of jacarandas with the stress of uni exams, I just love the way the city looks when they're in bloom. Now excuse me while I download a rom-com and eat a tub of ice-cream.
Darling James Tour Dates
Thu 18 Dec - The Workers Club (Melbourne)Sun 21 Dec - Black Bear Lodge (Brisbane)
