Music / Irregulars
Why We Love The Old Bar -
Melbourne musicians on their favourite local
Melbourne musicians on their favourite local
Ask someone what they love about The Old Bar and the answer is never the same.
For some, it’s the beer garden, open all afternoon and into the early hours of the morning, sometimes empty except for a few quiet punters, or teaming with post-show gig goers, tightly packed and smoke-drenched, jumping from table to table. For others, it’s the band room, covered wall-to-wall in posters of iconic bands who’ve graced the stage, the sticky carpet, the sound system, the shimmering backdrop and the buzz before the show.
Some even just love the dingey bathrooms, stickers and sharpie from roof to floor.
Musicians recall the first time they saw their name written in chalk on the board out the front, like a tangible sign they’d broken onto the scene. Not to mention the Satellite Gallery upstairs, showcasing some of the city’s best underground art and music photography.
What all these people have in common is that they want The Old Bar to be there when the world opens up again, because it isn’t just a venue, it’s a community.
Joel Morrison, Old Bar’s band booker and co-owner, says they are doing everything in their power to make sure the venue survives. “It's incredibly stressful and just trying to figure out a way to make some funds so we can re-open is an ongoing battle,” he says. “At least we have some dates we can work towards, but the stages don't really help us much as we don't have any real outside tables and we don't serve food and the space is small so it's all still up in the air of the best way forward for us.”
There are a few ways Oldie lovers are able to continue supporting the venue, including by purchasing some of the bar’s forthcoming merch which will include bandanas, t-shirts and facemasks. “Buy the merch we have going on all the time from our social sites, subscribe to our Patreon account when we get that happening and most importantly, when we re-open The Carringbush for food, come and support us there,” Joel says.
The venue booker is “beyond proud” of what Old Bar has accomplished creating a safe space and ensuring the diversity of Melbourne’s community is reflected in who plays there. “From the bands, the staff, the crowds and all the good times that have happened here has made it a really special place for Melbourne,” he says.
Trouble Juice spoke to some Melbourne musicians about why they love The Old Bar and why they can’t wait to get back there, to remind us all what we’ve been missing.
Georgia Knight
Some even just love the dingey bathrooms, stickers and sharpie from roof to floor.
Musicians recall the first time they saw their name written in chalk on the board out the front, like a tangible sign they’d broken onto the scene. Not to mention the Satellite Gallery upstairs, showcasing some of the city’s best underground art and music photography.
What all these people have in common is that they want The Old Bar to be there when the world opens up again, because it isn’t just a venue, it’s a community.
Joel Morrison, Old Bar’s band booker and co-owner, says they are doing everything in their power to make sure the venue survives. “It's incredibly stressful and just trying to figure out a way to make some funds so we can re-open is an ongoing battle,” he says. “At least we have some dates we can work towards, but the stages don't really help us much as we don't have any real outside tables and we don't serve food and the space is small so it's all still up in the air of the best way forward for us.”
There are a few ways Oldie lovers are able to continue supporting the venue, including by purchasing some of the bar’s forthcoming merch which will include bandanas, t-shirts and facemasks. “Buy the merch we have going on all the time from our social sites, subscribe to our Patreon account when we get that happening and most importantly, when we re-open The Carringbush for food, come and support us there,” Joel says.
The venue booker is “beyond proud” of what Old Bar has accomplished creating a safe space and ensuring the diversity of Melbourne’s community is reflected in who plays there. “From the bands, the staff, the crowds and all the good times that have happened here has made it a really special place for Melbourne,” he says.
Trouble Juice spoke to some Melbourne musicians about why they love The Old Bar and why they can’t wait to get back there, to remind us all what we’ve been missing.
Georgia Knight
Why do you love The Old Bar?
Easily it’s the staff. Old Bar could be any bar in town, but everyone who’s part of it is so obsessed with music and they just love it and want to share it around. There’s something of the temple about Old Bar you can’t deny. I was so stoked the first time I got to play there, I felt like I’d made it.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
I did a single launch at Old Bar in November last year, I think we might’ve even sold it out. It was a great night (Emilee South & band, Rosie Luby opened), though I spent a third of it upstairs with my head in the toilet because I’d never played in front of so many people. The place can have such big energy but also feels secure - there were some rogue Canadians who were getting up to some mischief but they didn’t stand a chance. That was an excellent night, lots of kissing and hugging, it was very moving to see.
Best gig you saw there?
Got to be Cash Savage with Cable Ties and I think Spiral Perm, full house on a Wednesday night. The walls were positively quivering and sweating. Cash did a trick on the wedge and disappeared, the band were laughing and kept playing and suddenly Cash popped up again; totally fine with the mic in one hand and a fresh beer in the other. Some others from last year off the top of my head would be Leah Senior, Foggy Notion and Masco Sound System.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about The Old Bar.
There’s been a few notables… I don’t kiss and tell... Truly, I love the Tuesday night opening slot at six because there’s always this one guy sitting at that little table, staring into his pint. He’s heard pretty much everything I’ve ever written.
Blake Scott
Easily it’s the staff. Old Bar could be any bar in town, but everyone who’s part of it is so obsessed with music and they just love it and want to share it around. There’s something of the temple about Old Bar you can’t deny. I was so stoked the first time I got to play there, I felt like I’d made it.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
I did a single launch at Old Bar in November last year, I think we might’ve even sold it out. It was a great night (Emilee South & band, Rosie Luby opened), though I spent a third of it upstairs with my head in the toilet because I’d never played in front of so many people. The place can have such big energy but also feels secure - there were some rogue Canadians who were getting up to some mischief but they didn’t stand a chance. That was an excellent night, lots of kissing and hugging, it was very moving to see.
Best gig you saw there?
Got to be Cash Savage with Cable Ties and I think Spiral Perm, full house on a Wednesday night. The walls were positively quivering and sweating. Cash did a trick on the wedge and disappeared, the band were laughing and kept playing and suddenly Cash popped up again; totally fine with the mic in one hand and a fresh beer in the other. Some others from last year off the top of my head would be Leah Senior, Foggy Notion and Masco Sound System.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about The Old Bar.
There’s been a few notables… I don’t kiss and tell... Truly, I love the Tuesday night opening slot at six because there’s always this one guy sitting at that little table, staring into his pint. He’s heard pretty much everything I’ve ever written.
Blake Scott
Why do you love The Old Bar?
It has an incredible sense of community and welcomes everyone into it. I have seen so much great music there and made many enduring friendships. It sounds great, looks great and is kept by a wonderful collection of humans.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
The last one we did there was absolutely bonkers. It was a 7pm midweek summer show. We got onstage to line-check and then couldn't get off. The bar staff passed some beers to us through the crowd and off we went. Was some serious body heat. Magical. Enjoyed every show I've done there, so far.
Best gig you saw there?
Dacios. I've seen heaps of bands there, so many awesome nights. This one was the best. Was about two years ago. I think I left my body. Absolutely astonishing... dominance.
Yes I'm leaving from Sydney played a rather special one too. Endless honourable mentions.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about The Old Bar.
I've heard some of the great stories at The Old Bar. I can't seem to recollect any of my own. I'm sure I'll have plenty to tell when I'm back there.
Rhysics
It has an incredible sense of community and welcomes everyone into it. I have seen so much great music there and made many enduring friendships. It sounds great, looks great and is kept by a wonderful collection of humans.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
The last one we did there was absolutely bonkers. It was a 7pm midweek summer show. We got onstage to line-check and then couldn't get off. The bar staff passed some beers to us through the crowd and off we went. Was some serious body heat. Magical. Enjoyed every show I've done there, so far.
Best gig you saw there?
Dacios. I've seen heaps of bands there, so many awesome nights. This one was the best. Was about two years ago. I think I left my body. Absolutely astonishing... dominance.
Yes I'm leaving from Sydney played a rather special one too. Endless honourable mentions.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about The Old Bar.
I've heard some of the great stories at The Old Bar. I can't seem to recollect any of my own. I'm sure I'll have plenty to tell when I'm back there.
Rhysics
Why do you love The Old Bar?
I love The Old Bar because the staff are always kind to me and my friends. It’s 100 percent my local drinking spot even though I live in West Footscray.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
Best gig I ever played there was the final show of the Rhysics residency a couple years ago, everyone I loved was there and we had a special 11 piece band for the show, including a crowd-surfing recorder player and someone knitting on stage as some extra percussion.
Best gig you saw there?
Best gig I ever saw was King Brothers. Their guitarist crowd surfed all the way to the beer garden while continuing to play and the drummer crowd surfed himself and his whole kit to the middle of the room during another song.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about The Old Bar. My favourite memories of Old Bar all involve staying there late and populating a table out the back with all my friends/friendly strangers. It’s incredible how many great people I’ve met at that pub.
Chris Drane (Batpiss/Tankerville)
I love The Old Bar because the staff are always kind to me and my friends. It’s 100 percent my local drinking spot even though I live in West Footscray.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
Best gig I ever played there was the final show of the Rhysics residency a couple years ago, everyone I loved was there and we had a special 11 piece band for the show, including a crowd-surfing recorder player and someone knitting on stage as some extra percussion.
Best gig you saw there?
Best gig I ever saw was King Brothers. Their guitarist crowd surfed all the way to the beer garden while continuing to play and the drummer crowd surfed himself and his whole kit to the middle of the room during another song.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about The Old Bar. My favourite memories of Old Bar all involve staying there late and populating a table out the back with all my friends/friendly strangers. It’s incredible how many great people I’ve met at that pub.
Chris Drane (Batpiss/Tankerville)
Why do you love The Old Bar?
Hmmm... I have an exorbitant tab there? I have an office there? It's been a constant through relationships, share houses and whatever else has happened in the last 12 years. But I guess it's the cliched thing of the friendships and bands and work that have been created through that place. I've worked behind the bar and fallen off the bar. I've played and seen some of my favourite shows ever. Cherrywood almost got banned from there but we were pretty much the house band, playing twice a month there for way too long. I play in a band with one of the guys who owns the joint. Where do I start!?
What's your favourite gig you played there?
I want to say something about an album launch or big musical experience here, but halloween parties at Oldie were always a highlight and way more fun than a normal gig. So I guess the halloween where we dressed as Crap Sabbath but then put KISS makeup on and came down the stairs to the air siren sounds of 'War Pigs', got up on stage and launched into 'Detroit Rock City' for the first few bars and then straight into 'War Pigs'. The crowd were all going berzerk and they were all dressed as ghouls and Freddy Kruger and whatnot, it was like a teenage dream mixed with a slightly scary acid trip.
Best gig you saw there?
I remember seeing Blake from the Peep Tempel play a solo show there on a Wednesday night in probably 2012 or so. Blake had shaved his head the week before for the 'Mr Lester Moore' video clip so he had a comb-over in the video and was trying to cover it up with a beanie. The fire was on and it was a shitty cold night. I just went in for a drink and ended up in silence with Joel or Thomy or Finch or whoever was there that night and just took it all in. There are so many memories of sweaty mosh pits and boozy trips up and down the stairs and international bands living up to their expectation, but I think of those cold quiet nights sometimes more.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about The Old Bar.
Another cold night story - Monday night in the dead of winter. Deer Tick from the States had played the night before at the NSC and me and my sister Katie were the only people in the place, sitting talking across the bar to Dan about the show. We were two albums into their back catalogue, reminiscing about the gig when the door swung open and the entire band walked in to their own soundtrack. Dan freaked out a bit and went to change the music and the singer in a surprisingly unassuming way said "man, I haven't heard this album in ages. It's a trip to come into our favourite bar on the other side of the world and hear it!" They'd been in the night before and loved the place and wanted to come back. They sat down and we all hung out trading stories like any other night in the front bar.
El Tee
Hmmm... I have an exorbitant tab there? I have an office there? It's been a constant through relationships, share houses and whatever else has happened in the last 12 years. But I guess it's the cliched thing of the friendships and bands and work that have been created through that place. I've worked behind the bar and fallen off the bar. I've played and seen some of my favourite shows ever. Cherrywood almost got banned from there but we were pretty much the house band, playing twice a month there for way too long. I play in a band with one of the guys who owns the joint. Where do I start!?
What's your favourite gig you played there?
I want to say something about an album launch or big musical experience here, but halloween parties at Oldie were always a highlight and way more fun than a normal gig. So I guess the halloween where we dressed as Crap Sabbath but then put KISS makeup on and came down the stairs to the air siren sounds of 'War Pigs', got up on stage and launched into 'Detroit Rock City' for the first few bars and then straight into 'War Pigs'. The crowd were all going berzerk and they were all dressed as ghouls and Freddy Kruger and whatnot, it was like a teenage dream mixed with a slightly scary acid trip.
Best gig you saw there?
I remember seeing Blake from the Peep Tempel play a solo show there on a Wednesday night in probably 2012 or so. Blake had shaved his head the week before for the 'Mr Lester Moore' video clip so he had a comb-over in the video and was trying to cover it up with a beanie. The fire was on and it was a shitty cold night. I just went in for a drink and ended up in silence with Joel or Thomy or Finch or whoever was there that night and just took it all in. There are so many memories of sweaty mosh pits and boozy trips up and down the stairs and international bands living up to their expectation, but I think of those cold quiet nights sometimes more.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about The Old Bar.
Another cold night story - Monday night in the dead of winter. Deer Tick from the States had played the night before at the NSC and me and my sister Katie were the only people in the place, sitting talking across the bar to Dan about the show. We were two albums into their back catalogue, reminiscing about the gig when the door swung open and the entire band walked in to their own soundtrack. Dan freaked out a bit and went to change the music and the singer in a surprisingly unassuming way said "man, I haven't heard this album in ages. It's a trip to come into our favourite bar on the other side of the world and hear it!" They'd been in the night before and loved the place and wanted to come back. They sat down and we all hung out trading stories like any other night in the front bar.
El Tee
Why do you love The Old Bar?
To me, The Old Bar is my local. Even if it technically isn't, it has the warm, friendly, familiar vibe that you want from your local. I love the intimate size of the band room, the beer garden that's prime for smoking a cheeky cig and talking shit, and the staff are great. You just always feel like home there, no matter if you're going it solo or know everyone there that night.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
I've played so many gigs at Old Bar (and so many good ones!). I'm a lucky gal. My favourite was probably when I played an event with my band called We Are the Daughters of the Witches You Could Not Burn. There was just a great crowd and a great lineup. Prior to The Old Bar gig that night, I had played a solo set that night at the Workers Club. No names, but the manager who booked me was a dickhead. So, it was great to run off afterwards and join my band at a packed gig at my favourite rock venue.
Best gig you saw there?
Georgia Knight's single launch last year. She played an incredible set - it was beautiful and full and engaging.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about the Old Bar.
Well, I usually frequent The Old Bar for gigs, both to play and to watch. But one night after a friend's single launch at another venue (and after a fewwwww drinks), we stopped by The Old Bar for a knockoff. Turns out a friend of mine was DJing, so I got behind the booth with him (uninvited, I'm sure) and had a boogie. That wasn't our last stop that night - that impromptu boogie got us in the mood and we ended up at a party dancing on a foggy dance floor until 6am.
Jarrow
To me, The Old Bar is my local. Even if it technically isn't, it has the warm, friendly, familiar vibe that you want from your local. I love the intimate size of the band room, the beer garden that's prime for smoking a cheeky cig and talking shit, and the staff are great. You just always feel like home there, no matter if you're going it solo or know everyone there that night.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
I've played so many gigs at Old Bar (and so many good ones!). I'm a lucky gal. My favourite was probably when I played an event with my band called We Are the Daughters of the Witches You Could Not Burn. There was just a great crowd and a great lineup. Prior to The Old Bar gig that night, I had played a solo set that night at the Workers Club. No names, but the manager who booked me was a dickhead. So, it was great to run off afterwards and join my band at a packed gig at my favourite rock venue.
Best gig you saw there?
Georgia Knight's single launch last year. She played an incredible set - it was beautiful and full and engaging.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about the Old Bar.
Well, I usually frequent The Old Bar for gigs, both to play and to watch. But one night after a friend's single launch at another venue (and after a fewwwww drinks), we stopped by The Old Bar for a knockoff. Turns out a friend of mine was DJing, so I got behind the booth with him (uninvited, I'm sure) and had a boogie. That wasn't our last stop that night - that impromptu boogie got us in the mood and we ended up at a party dancing on a foggy dance floor until 6am.
Jarrow
Why do you love The Old Bar?
One of the cosiest and most wholesome venues in all of Melbourne! Lots of friends performing onstage and working behind the bar. Plenty of spots to pull up a chair and enjoy a drink with friends. The best part is that it's only a 20 min walk from my house.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
Pretty much any Guffman show we've done at Old Bar has been iconic for one reason or another. Our first LP launch which lined up with Rhys' curated upstairs art show was one to remember. Here's the footage for proof:
One of the cosiest and most wholesome venues in all of Melbourne! Lots of friends performing onstage and working behind the bar. Plenty of spots to pull up a chair and enjoy a drink with friends. The best part is that it's only a 20 min walk from my house.
What's your favourite gig you played there?
Pretty much any Guffman show we've done at Old Bar has been iconic for one reason or another. Our first LP launch which lined up with Rhys' curated upstairs art show was one to remember. Here's the footage for proof:
Best gig you saw there?
Most Monday night shows at Old Bar are memorable for one reason or another. I remember back in 2015 seeing Donny Love from Brisbane supported by Gabriella Cohen, Lucas George and Gonzo. What a wild lineup! Also NOTS supported by Hexdebt in 2017 was a special one too.
Most Monday night shows at Old Bar are memorable for one reason or another. I remember back in 2015 seeing Donny Love from Brisbane supported by Gabriella Cohen, Lucas George and Gonzo. What a wild lineup! Also NOTS supported by Hexdebt in 2017 was a special one too.
Tell us a funny or cute or special anecdote or memory about the Old Bar.
Unfortunately I always end up too drunk at Old Bar to remember what happened 😛
To support The Old Bar at the moment, their sibling bar The Carringbush Hotel is currently selling takeaway food and drinks, as well as original Old Bar merch, with funds going towards keeping The Old Bar alive. Until they make their long awaited return, you can keep up with The Old Bar by following them below.
