I first went to the Night Cat in the 90’s. For a decade it was one of my go-to places for live music and dancing. It was cool, it was hip, and I adored the music.
Fast-forward twenty years and I stepped past the crowd of black-coated security staff to revisit my youth and support and honour the venue that led to a life-long love of dancing to live music. [ed.note: If you haven’t heard, the Night Cat has been facing some serious legal threats from a nearby property developer (of a yet non-existent property, no less) — unless they can reduce the sound levels that come from the venue even further. Imagine, choosing to build next to one of the city’s most vibrant live music venues, and complaining about the noise, before even anyone moving in!]
The ‘Soundproof the Future’ fundraiser gig at The Night Cat was everything I love about Melbourne music and more. A veritable melting pot of musical culture and style; multi-cultural, multi-age and cumulative decades upon decades, of honed skill and talent.
Immy Owusu‘s high energy West African Psychedelic Rock warmed up the crowd and our feet and took to us Sunday with some fine gospel.
The Meltdown warmed our insides with their Southern Soul, looping horns and rhythmic grooves – the night was popping.
You can’t dance to jazz? Think again. The Rookies‘ slick and joyous tunes inspired the most enthusiastic and unique movers to the front of the dance floor. Even the most awkward punters were inspired to shuffle a little to their powerful music.
Black Jesus Experience’s Ethio jazz funk took us on an epic journey with new fans and old pumped by the power and primality of instrument and voice.
By the time Kylie Auldist and band took to the stage, I had to quit the dance floor or risk getting wiped out by the intense dance moves of the tightly packed crowd. Kylie is a powerhouse singer, commanding attention with the sail and scale of her voice. The crowd adores her as does her band. A joy to watch and listen.
After five bands my feet gave out and I flaked off home. When I left, the vibe was still electric and I’m pretty sure Squid Nebula and Milo Eastwood would have continued with high calibre performances leaving the crowd as happy and satisfied as I was.
It wasn’t just a fundraiser for The Night Cat. The stage was a platform for advocacy — supporting artists and live music venues in Melbourne. Each band shared their unique and fierce gratitude to The Night Cat. And their performances gave the crowd every reason to step up and be dedicated punters and advocates.
Greg Sher from the Rookies roused the crowd with a speech on the importance of voting with your wallet (and to commit and book tickets early) to save and support musicians and the venues that are facing the increasing costs of gentrification that chases developer profit and sucks the soul out of suburbs like Fitzroy.
Justin’s battle to meet the cost of increasing sound regulations was not the only reminder on the night to take nothing for granted as unexpected shocks happen. The Black Jesus Experience recalled Enushu Taye’s collapse at the Night Cat a few years ago – and that musicians living with disability also need us to show up and be strong supporters.
There will be better days (I’m still hearing that Meltdown riff) for The Night Cat, other live music venues and for the artists themselves because enough of us are committed to supporting what we love.
Live music is part of the heart and soul of Melbourne. Keep nurturing musicians and the venues (often the incubators) that invite us in for the shared experience. Pride, elation, reflection, hope, acceptance and connection — it’s all there in the music. We need music artists, and they need us. Symbiosis.
