This Friday, Brisbane live music venue the New Globe Theatre will celebrate its third birthday.
Two of the musical guests performing on the night will be Flynn Effect and Bertie Page Clinic. We asked the two frontwoman – Tomina and Bertie – to interview each other. We find out why Tomina wants to play Rupert Murdoch's birthday (searching for horcruxes) and how Bertie survives the music industry (by smelling cats). All quite normal stuff, really.
Bertie Page Clinic Interviews Flynn Effect
Do your parental units still buy you undies for your birthday?Yes. They have pictures of my brother on them. He's much more successful than me.
Have you ever been to a Maccas birthday party?
I went to a McDonald's birthday party when I was an obese child. Everyone else had a small cheeseburger meal and I felt peer pressured to order the same, even though I wanted a large Big Mac meal. I'm not still bitter about it, though.
Have you ever done a nudie run or played 'spin the bottle' at a party?
I played spin the bottle at a party once, and when it was my turn to kiss Cindy Knight she burst into tears and ran away. We were 27.
Why is 'Showgirls the greatest film of our times?
Timothy Scott Ralston's breakthrough performance as 'Man' revolutionised method acting for a new generation.
Are you a member of the Brumby's birthday club? Or any other birthday clubs and what are the perks?
I'm a member of the Pyromaniacs Anonymous. We have birthday celebrations sometimes, but they don't let us have candles. At least it was better than the Marie Antoinette birthday club. They didn't even let us have cake.
If you could play a set the birthday party of anyone in the world who would it be?
Rupert Murdoch. It'd be a good opportunity to search for horcruxes.
Flynn Effect Interview Bertie Page Clinic
So, you're awesome. What does it take to be as awesome as the Bertie Page Clinic?Well, thanks for thinking we're awesome; it just takes one or two people, every now and then, telling us we're awesome. After that it is all fuelled with cat energy; the cats give us the drive to go out and earn the dollars to buy cat food. On the artistic side I have to admit that I am thoroughly addicted to cat sniffing. I love the smell of their fur, it gives me a real buzz. As long as I can bury my face in some quality cat fur and inhale I can face the depressing slog of the music industry.
What would you do to solve the housing affordability crisis?
Oh shit, this is a serious one. We need a political overhaul, currently tax perks favour rich people who are buying their fifth house over those who have almost no hope of buying their first (bad luck for a lot of youngsters). A complex problem but, overall, we need to see housing as necessity rather than a commodity: negative gearing and capital gains tax and a whole lot of other boring stuff needs a total overhaul. Houses should be for living in, not for the rich to make huge profits on.
What's the worst birthday party you've ever been to, and was it horrible because of children?
I never got invited to parties when I was a kid. I wasn't smelly but I was endowed with an 'untouchable' status; you didn't invite me if you wanted other kids to think you are cool. Tagged along to a few as a little sister of a more popular older sister. It was all a blur of salt and vinegar chips, soggy with pool water and slimy, sucked-out cheerio skins. Kids are animals, add the preservatives and colours of party food and every party is 'Lord Of The Flies'.
Bertie Page Clinic
Which is the best 'Back To The Future' movie, and why is it Part 1?
Well, I know these are movies. I have seen bits of some of them. There's a cowboy and somebody's mum tries to seduce them in the '50s? Really racy stuff. Yes, that first one is totally the best.
Best show you've played at the New Globe Theatre?
It has to be the time we played support for Martha Davis! She is an absolute legend, so talented, so hard working and she loves cats! Loved talking to her about her journey to becoming whoever the fuck she wanted to be. In the '80s it was hard to be as special as her with record labels breathing down everybody's neck to fit the youth idol mould. Now, she still has her music career and a house filled with all of the lucky animals that she's rescued. Couldn't ask for a better role model.
When are you going to give up this silly music rubbish and get a real job?
Not going to happen any time soon. I have been learning koto (Japanese harp) and learning about the traditions of Japan's classical and folk music. Lately, I've become a huge fan of Enka, which is a genre of Japanese popular music that has a traditional essence mixed with vibes that are like Tom Jones and Judy Garland (what more could you ask for?).
This is now a part of my postgraduate study in music, so I'm locked in there for at least three years. From the historical studies that feed into the writing of music, costume making, rehearsal and touring there's a lot going on, I feel very safe in saying that music is a real job for me. :)
Flynn Effect and Bertie Page Clinic join Ghost Audio and Sun Haus to celebrate New Globe Theatre's Third Birthday Party (Brisbane) Friday 4 November.
