CinefestOZ launched in Sydney at the Hyatt Regency, so or course Tim Ferguson and Maynard turned up for the finger food and the berets.
CinefestOZ has a $100,000 prize for their favourite Australian film as well as a unique opportunity for the Australian industry to get together in WA.
Tim and Maynard meet local actors directors and producers with some tips for getting through the off season.
Hear Travis Jeffery (Spin Out), John Howard (everything) Carolyn Constantine (Madhattan), Thomas Cocquerel (In Like Flynn) and James Sweeney (Celebrations bottleshop, Newtown) explain how they make it through their part of the maze that is the Australian film industry.
The Record Store in Goulburn Street, Darlinghurst is where you find Stephan Gyory (after 11am, “we keep civilised hours here”) surrounded by vinyl records of almost every genre (“but we don’t want your old Trance or Prog vinyl”)
He’s been in the vinyl record trade since he started at BPM Records in Oxford St (above the old Army disposal store) in 1994. At one stage, in the late 90s, there were fourteen dance music record stores in Darlinghurst. Sometimes at night in Darlinghurst it’s now difficult to find fourteen people.
But Stephan is optimistic about the future of the Oxford St precinct. “I run the local Chamber of Commerce. I’m currently on the City of Sydney late-night advisory panel, which is looking at how to diversify nightlife.”
But is the Oxford St too far gone?
“We lost the Flinders and it came back. We lost Q Bar, but that place was going to fall through its own floor anyway, we lost The Shift, and it’s just been bought by a group that are going to reopen as a club. This area and the community here is very resilient. The thing about Oxford Street is if you walk up it, Yeah, it’s a bit tatty, but if you walk across it, you don’t notice, because there’s lots of really cool things around it.”
So how about some advice to anybody thinking of opening a record store in 2018?
“Don’t go back in time and open a record store in 2003 because the following ten years will be terrible.”
So why do you still do it, with your not-so-silent-enough partner?
“Fucked if I know! Vinyl turned the corner probably five years ago and that was a function of music becoming a utility. When music went to streaming it just became like water and electricity. I think people seek to have relationships with music beyond pure consumption and the utility model is just a consumption model. But why am I in retail. I don’t know.I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. But I am my own boss and I don’t have a mortgage, no kids, and it’s a very fun lifestyle.”
Stephan caters to most styles of music at The Record Store, but there is one type of person he won’t tolerate in his shop.
“We don’t serve audiophiles. I mean, they don’t come here because we’re a very pedestrian shop to the point where if someone comes to us with a collection of rare collectible vinyl, we’ll send them to another store. When I buy second-hand, I want to be able to sell it for not very much money. I want you to be able to come in and buy more than one album. I don’t want people coming in with magnifying glasses looking at the grooves because they’re a fucking pain in the ass. They might be very lovely people but I don’t have the time or patience. I think I’ve only ever had to kick three people out of this store in 20 years, and all three were like that.”
So you and your magnifying glass can tell your story walking.
But a final word on musical taste from Stephan.
“I used to be quite intolerant of music I wasn’t into. This music is better than that music and then recently some Liberace got through and into our rock and pop section. Ordinarily I would give that stuff to Vinnie’s. This young Chinese girl came in, a full vinyl junkie, she bought Barry Manilow, Liberace and Richard Clayderman, and I thought”, “you know what these records bring you joy, and you’re into this format as much as I am.” “Cool.”
Enjoy some sucking as Tim Ferguson and Maynard thank you personally for being a Patreon of Planet Maynard & Bunga Bunga. July’s Patreon Pandering comes from the Tim Ferguson fortress of arrogance and redoubt of famed alt right feline Kitler.
This month, as well as your own name praised, Tim and Maynard offer their private opinions about you all, as well as bringing the profession of psychology into doubt.
You can do the same and get a monthly show that panders to YOU personally, that only the pandered Patreons can receive. Join us!
Tim Ferguson and Maynard in Bunga Bunga 46, a shenanigan that will live in infamy, answer the questions other podcasts even fear to speak aloud. We even crack open our Crankmail.
When is unfunny funny?
Should you be polite to Hitler?
Why can’t Tim Ferguson ever be friends with Paul McCartney? “If that’s the level of clarity Paul McCartney has about his own lyrics, no wonder John Lennon hated his guts.”
What music does Maynard really play in his VW?
Plus speculation on $2 wine and Buddha’s bladder. Sure, it’s not a great wine, but it is WINE.
This is a podcast described by a 9 year old who didn’t get an ice cream as “this is bullshit”.
We find out that Tim has given Maynard a valuable gift for his Bug Out Bag (maybe).
Maynard becomes the Grammar Guy. “I don’t even know what a split infinitive is, but I know what I like.”
Tim saves Canada and but more importantly,finally uncovers the Greens fiendish endgame.
Time for a serious Oxford Street lunch with Lance Leopard, but not till after an even more serious viewing of Valley of the Dolls, a movie Lance agrees is a “great starting point for any camp movie collection’.
Join Maynard as he visits Lance Leopard, high in his ivory tower of scuttlebutt, where all secrets are hidden and revealed, overlooking the inhospitable wilds of Darlinghurst.
Topics covered in this show include, Delilah, The Gibson Brothers, Madonna’s movie career, Jane Fonda, Liberace, Marilyn Monroe on the piano, Bill Collins, Village People, Claire de Lune, Joe Hasham and ABBA.
Lance declares two “stupid films” that should never have been made. While Maynard gets the best scene from Tank Girl wrong.
And the next time someone you know isn’t getting what you are saying, just do what Lance does, and ask them; “can you hear the drums Fernando?”.
Lance did have a few other things he wished to be quoted on;
“I’m glad you’re working hard on this show Maynard, I’m as lazy as Dean Martin.”
“I thought the Madonna film Body of Evidence was a great film in a genre I’ve made up called faux Hitchcock.”
“Madonna can act, when she’s directed well and she’s not the leading character.”
“My favourite Bond film is Moonraker, it’s James Bond in space AND Shirley Bassey belts out the theme song.”
“I ironed Neil Tenant’s pants once backstage because the Pet Shop Boys wardrobe assistant had gone missing at The Phoenix Bar on ecstasy or something. I blame the gays.”
“I have long arms, so it never looks like I’m taking a selfie. It looks like I’m just waving.”
“I’ve been called a gay icon, and I’ve been called worse.”
“Now a new audience has rediscovered me, I’m trapped with my quiff, my perfect eyebrows and my matte complexion.”
” Now that I’m older, I’ve realised timing and lighting is EVERYTHING.”
Enjoy your lunch with Lance, see you at the buffet….
A regular monthly micro show, Patreon Pandering, is very secret squirrel with the intention to thank all the Patreon supporters that keep Planet Maynard spinning.
This month Lance Leopard and Tim Ferguson open a bottle of thank you cream, and spread over where it is needed most, the supporters, who, month after month give Planet Maynard the goose it needs to keep going.
March for Science happened in Sydney Saturday morning, with Adam Spencer, Kirsten Banks and many others putting their feet forward for all things evidence based.
We were there for The Skeptic Zone, with Richard Saunders doing the camera and editing work.
The Skeptic Zone show #495 with the audio from the morning is here.
Lance Leopard is a gay icon and legendary gossip columnist from the glamorous 1990s of the Oxford Street strip, and beyond. Join us in Lance Leopard’s new spot. An ivory tower high above the fray, overlooking Darlinghurst, where secrets are both hidden and revealed.
During his tenure as chief gossip and stirrer of The Scene in his weekly columns in The Star Observer, Capital Q, Out Biz and more, he dished the dirt and smeared the eyeliner without fear or favour.
Lance even has celebrity advice for Dannii Minogue (a child superstar), Cybill Shepherd (selfish bitch) and his Mum (Ikeep my manners around her and try and teach her a few).
Join us for drinks won’t you?
I present short history of quotes from Lance Leopard;
“I can admit it now because I’m retired”
“People “remember” me doing all sorts of things. It might not have been me they actually remember. It could have been Sexy Galexy for all I know.”
“The more you do something, the better you get at it. Or else you’re always dreadful and no one will tell you.”
“Brisbane is like Baltimore, it’s one of those nutty little towns that just has its own thing.”
“I don’t know if I should say this.”
“If people are complaining there isn’t a scene. They can go out there and make one.”
“I liked it when my columns were in magazines people had to actually buy. I made more of an effort then.”
“Everybody has an opinion now days. But if it’s not an informed opinion, it’s a lousy opinion, and who needs to hear it?”
When asked at what point in history Lance would have liked to have lived;
“I would have picked the good years of Versailles. Before everybody got angry and started demanding cake.”
On the world of gossip a learned Lance quotes Ru Paul;
“What people say about you behind your back is none of your business.”
As part of their Can’t Stop The Music world tour, Village People played the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia on 25th May 1980. Triple J (that had went to FM only in January) recorded for Rusty Nails dance show “Number One Song In Heaven” to go to air on Sat 7th June.
Some of their greatest hits are played live, as fast as 140 BPM…
The Can’t Stop The Music movie opened on 1st June at The Pavilion cinema, with the after party at Maxys.
Hear the voices of David Hodo, Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo, Felipe Rose, Alex Briley, Rusty Nails and more.
Includes IDs from David Hodo at beginning from Maynard breakfast show Triple J 1989.
Audio engineer Barry Smith describes the recording day (and night);
“There were probably four or five of us there. Keith Walker, Ian Davies, John Diamond, Michael Byrne and myself. A very long day on recall, about 0700 to +0400. I remember it well because of the effort needed to get rid of earth loops caused by the amount of effects gear on stage. Also because of the volume from the edge of stage sited main speakers that I was forced to jump in front of, to get off the stage mid-show. My left ear was ringing for days and is now way down on my right ear. They used Aphex processing on their main speaker feed making it extremely bright. It certainly cut through the air at the Hordern Pavilion that night.”
Audio engineer and mixer Keith Walker describes the night;
“My memory of the show was great band, great time and serious fun to mix later. It was the late great David Ives that put the deal together for the Jays.”
Keith continued;
“After listening, now I know why I had such great time. Where do I start. Ray Simpson a star, sensational band of musicians and the off stage backing chorus. Listening to the mix, I’m thinking at least six vocalist in the chorus, more like a serious Broadway show chorus, rhythm section insanely cool. Horns, keys, killer guitarist – hottest grooves and feels. Sensational. Only downside was the onstage feedback. The stage monitor mixer was fired after that gig. I spent time with the bands musical director, I remembered spending time with the band’s MD so I could get my head around the arrangements. Beautiful written arrangements, fab to mix.”
Thanks to Keith Walker, Barry Smith, Chris Norris (for the David Hodo ID), Ian Davies, Micheal Byrne, John Diamond and all of you who appreciate good disco…
