As I sat in Lizotte’s Kincumber on Sunday night, I couldn’t help but do it with a twinge of sadness. It was the second-last show I had booked before the venue’s closing. I thought about that as I ordered the tempura prawns and herby battered fish and chips, two of my favourite items from Lizotte’s ever-changing menu. I poured over the wine list and figured it was time to try the Lizotte’s label sav blanc, knowing that I’d soon to have to drive to Newcastle for a glass. I thought about it as I watched the bands play intimate music so close to me, so easy to hear in this crowd of music lovers. The Central Coast is very lucky to have this venue which always makes a concert just that little bit better.
After all, I have only a vague recollection of Michael Duchesne’s time on The Voice, yet as he graced the Lizotte’s stage I was captivated from the first note. I think a venue like Lizotte’s encourages you to listen to lyrics and subtle nuances. Small songs work well here as opposed to network TV, and that’s where Michael excels. I could have listened to his voice all night, its warm richness and its raspy breaks. His originals were so impressive and his covers of songs by Bread and the Doobie Brothers were inspired. Needless to say, I left with his EP.
I was there to see another TV show success, Uncle Jed. I’ve actually never watched a full episode of Australia’s Got Talent, but they captivated me on the ads so I’d religiously get on YouTube and see what they were doing. They were one of those bands that I always meant to see, but hearing they were wrapping up Uncle Jed to launch another musical project gave me the impetus I needed. Again, Uncle Jed is a band that really deserves a space like Lizotte’s. Their songs are intimate and personal. They draw you in with lyrics that perfectly match their sublime harmonies. I knew I’d enjoy the songs they did on AGT like “Brother” and “Give Me Love,” but covers I hadn’t heard like “Latch” and “Everybody Here Wants You” were revelations. New songs from their next band Luna Grand ensure that this isn’t the last we’ll see of this talented act.
I wondered as I left where bands like this will play on the Coast when Lizotte’s Kincumber closes its doors. It’d be a shame to put them into pubs with inattentive patrons and poker machines. Perhaps bands will just start bypassing my local area and only playing Newcastle and Sydney. Whatever happens, I’m just glad I could see artists of this calibre playing at Lizotte’s Kincumber one last time.
Image source: Stephen Katulka
Melbourne’s 
Sadly the weather gods didn’t realise just what a perfect evening it was supposed to be. My husband and I were soggy in ponchos, umbrellas overhead as we waited on the zoo’s concert lawns. Support act Caterina Torres provided a pleasant enough distraction from the gloomy weather. She’s got a lovely voice, but this Voice graduate never really wowed me. Her originals showed some real promise, and I appreciated her decision to play with only the accompaniment of a bandmate on acoustic guitar. However, her predictable covers of top 40 hits were a bit bland. I suppose you’ve got to appeal to the masses at this sort of show, but it all never got to the next gear for me.
It was almost as if the weather gods understood that Anthony Callea was the main event and that we should be focusing on him rather than the rain when he took the stage. We were treated with clear skies for his set chockfull of George Michael hits. I had a ball when I went and saw George a few years back, and I wondered whether Anthony could do the songs justice. I knew he had the voice for them, but I had a question mark over the charisma. However, he charmed the pants off me. His connection to these songs is evident, so you feel them just as deeply as you did when George sang them originally.
I consider myself an optimistic, but also a critical thinker. So when I got an email claiming to tell me “How The Foundry will change Brisbane’s music landscape forever,” I was sceptical but hopeful. It’s a massive claim, but if this unique music hub can be all of the things the press release suggests it’s going to be big news for the Sunshine State.