In a bid to address street violence, Liquor Licensing Victoria (LLV) has introduced sweeping changes with unintended consequences for the local music scene.

These are some shots from yesterdays 20,000 strong demonstration. The march from the state library to the steps of parliament re-enacted AC/DC's classic 1976 video clip for It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock'n'Roll) on the back of a flatbed truck.

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[Sailor]

Interesting series, Carl - #6 is outstanding.

Plus, I'm curious - I gather the local - what we would call - the liquor control board as placed restrictions on pubs and clubs that somehow restrict live acts?

Great street shots.

Jer

[JesseDavis]

As Sailor said, and in addition #2. Just wish that there wasn't a huge white block on the right of it; a 2:3 portrait crop perhaps?

[MRRiley]

Great series Carl. #6 is my fav!

Mike

[fractal]

Interesting series, Carl - #6 is outstanding.

Plus, I'm curious - I gather the local - what we would call - the liquor control board as placed restrictions on pubs and clubs that somehow restrict live acts?

Great street shots.

Jer

Much appreciated Jer. They have basically upped the fees, or created new ones, because they believe live music could/can incite violence. They are also stating that security presence needs to be increased. Some of these small time pubs can't handle the fees, and thus cannot afford live bands anymore. We have already lost one very well known, live band pub at the start of the year because of the crazy fees slapped on them.

As Sailor said, and in addition #2. Just wish that there wasn't a huge white block on the right of it; a 2:3 portrait crop perhaps?

It was a sign saying ‘Don’t Kill Live Music’ and I originally was thinking of trying to get her hand in front with the slogan behind. Thanks for commenting.

Great series Carl. #6 is my fav!

Mike

Cheers mate.

[Sailor]

Much appreciated Jer. They have basically upped the fees, or created new ones, because they believe live music could/can incite violence. They are also stating that security presence needs to be increased. Some of these small time pubs can't handle the fees, and thus cannot afford live bands anymore. We have already lost one very well known, live band pub at the start of the year because of the crazy fees slapped on them.



It was a sign saying ‘Don’t Kill Live Music’ and I originally was thinking of trying to get her hand in front with the slogan behind. Thanks for commenting.



Cheers mate.

Wow, Carl - live music can induce a number of things (usually good), but I never heard anyone contend that live music produces violence. I played in bands back in the day and still like to go to jazz and blues clubs; I hope you guys get things back to where you want them.

Jer

[fractal]

Wow, Carl - live music can induce a number of things (usually good), but I never heard anyone contend that live music produces violence. I played in bands back in the day and still like to go to jazz and blues clubs; I hope you guys get things back to where you want them.

Jer

Yeah it's a load of crap. The Victorian Government did signal it would back down on it's liquor licensing laws on same day as this rally occurred. Who is to know if they stick by their word.

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Last edited by fractal; 02-26-2010 at 12:44 AM.

[rawr]

Yeah, it's sad.

The Vic Govt is responding too quickly and stupidly to tabloid TV and press calls for action to stamp out steet crime. Somehow it assigns the blame for drunken yobbo street crime to music venues like pubs staying open late, without actually commissioning anyone to actually study the problem and recommend sensible solutions.

So it heavy-handedly clamps down on live venues with a mountain of new red tape and licensing/security requirements. Which adds to costs and overheads and legal liabilities and so forces perfectly innocent live music-oriented pubs with decades of history to either shut down or go broke. And which then makes the State of Victoria seem like a hick community unfriendly to the arts.

Then when thousand of ordinary, sensible people take to the streets to protest the changes the Govt realises: 'Duh. Maybe we got it wrong'. Idiots. How can politicos be so out of touch?

[Bob Harris]

Great photo documentary, reminds me of the 50's when so many in the USA were against the new "rock and roll" that had invaded the USA. Many protests by local radio stations and religious groups. I remember a public breaking of Elvis Presley records in our small town in California. Long live "Rock and Roll", thanks for sharing.

[xjjohnno]

What you will find is the Victorian government laws targeted all licenced venues due to increases in street violence and not specifically live music venues. A one tax fits all which unfortunately failed to take into account the fact that certain types of venue are more likely to attract violent patrons. Hence the impact also on the live music venues.
A better solution might be to let the trouble makers get so blind drunk that they are incapable of causing greivious bodily harm to anyone other then themselves.

[RichardS]

Wow, Carl - live music can induce a number of things (usually good), but I never heard anyone contend that live music produces violence. I played in bands back in the day and still like to go to jazz and blues clubs; I hope you guys get things back to where you want them.

Jer

This has been a typical one-size-fits-all policy that socialist governments seem to go for. If your pub can fit 20 people and has a folk singer playing a harp and an audience of polite, middle-aged people who drive Volvos, the potential for violence is considered to be the same as a booze barn that fits 5,000 people and has heavy metal bands with the hells angels and banditos in the audience killing each other while they get fired up revving their Harleys.

I'd say more, but that would be more appropriate for a general conversation thread

Richard.

[fractal]

Great photo documentary

Thanks a lot Bob.

A better solution might be to let the trouble makers get so blind drunk that they are incapable of causing greivious bodily harm to anyone other then themselves.

This is the worst solution i've heard yet.

I'd say more, but that would be more appropriate for a general conversation thread

Correct. Enough has been said on the matter.

[Sailor]

Carl, I'm very impressed with second image in the second series - it is, in my view, exceptionally well done. Conversions are great.

Jer

[Iris]

I love #6, but the second series is also very nice!

[fractal]

Carl, I'm very impressed with second image in the second series - it is, in my view, exceptionally well done. Conversions are great.

Jer

Thanks again mate

I love #6, but the second series is also very nice!

Thanks a lot Iris.