This Friday (22 April) marks the 32nd anniversary of a local Brisbane blues act, Howlin' Moondoggies, one-year residency show at The Orient Hotel which at the time was a nurturing pool of untapped music talent that would shape the direction of rock music – locally and nationally.
The trio of Donnie Burke, Coojee Timms, Trevor Casey, Howlin' Moondoggies were a staple of The Orient's live music reputation, with 'Blind Dog' Donnie soon taking over booking the venue's music line-up alongside local music lover Andrea Smith (and later music journalist and Big Lummox guitarist Richard Kwong) between mid 1989 and late 1991.The Orient would host an early incarnation of Custard (billed as Custard Gun), while a band known then as Huxley Family (soon to morph and become Regurgitator) as well as Powderfinger made their respective live debuts at The Orient during this time.
Another icon of Brisbane's indie music scene, Screamfeeder (then billed as The Madmen) venture from their Townsville base to play their very first Brisbane show at The Orient in early 1991.
"When the downstairs bar opened again after renovations to accommodate more punters, you could tell all Donnie's and Andrea's hard work had paid off. Success!" declares Toxic Garden Gnomes (another mainstay of Brisbane music at the time) drummer Johnny Le Bong Edwards.
"Toxics played and I think there were 12 bands on in a night! Utter mayhem ensued. At the after-party upstairs, Donnie jumped on the coffee table and with his cowboy boots kicked all the bottles shouting 'biggest f...en goal eva!'."
Gig poster from The Orient early '90s - image supplied
Fast-forward to April 2022, the Oriental crew are hosting another party as only they know how. Oriental Rock 4 will be a night out to reconnect with old friends and make new ones, honouring Donnie, Andrea and Richard while looking to pass the baton onto future generations.
"Running The Orient was a really fun time," begins Andrea, "getting to see masses of fantastic bands, making lifelong friends and a real contribution to a burgeoning original industry.
"But the flipside was that it was really hard, we battled covers venues that used every trick they could to shut us down and I personally experienced incidences of misogyny as a female in the music sector.
"I feel our legacy has never been properly recognised, and with my dear mate Donnie now unwell, I thought it was about time we celebrated the contribution he made to the industry."
Andrea Smith at The Orient Foyer (1990 or 1991) - image © Kathy Dora
Oriental Rock 4 will be headlined by Toxic Garden Gnomes who'll be joined by another Orient stalwart Blackwater alongside Captain Richie Fish & Michael Worm (both of The Worms fame) as well as Donnie's All Star Jam Band featuring special guests Danny Widdicombe, Dana Gehrman, Dillion James and Annie Peterson.
"Well, we haven't had one of our gigs for ages, so we're super-pumped that not only are people still into it but we've got a blisteringly gifted bevy of Brisburg's best to make a whole lotta noise - and love," Richard says.
"Each of our gigs has had its own vibe – from the delightfully in-your-face Five Hanks, to slinky Wendy and the Blur, to the gargantuan psychedelics of the Avenger boys.
"And this time? Well, expect an alluring alloy of our on-stage noise-makers, our palpitating post-vax punters, the great arch above us and, oh yeah, the zeitgeist, man!"
Oriental Rock 4 takes place at The Triffid (Brisbane) 22 April.
Oriental Rock 4 2022 Line-up
Toxic Garden GnomesBlackwater
Captain Richie Fish & Michael Worm
Donnie's All Star Jam Band
