8 February 2010

Where's Rockin' Around Canberra???

8 February 2010 | Rockerchick

I moved to Canberra from Melbourne about 3 months ago. Back in Melbourne my partner and were very much into the live Rockabilly music scene with a particular interest in dancing. On a visit to Sydney we were lucky enough to see Charlis Greaser perform live and were delighted to discover that he and his band are from Canberra as our move was allready on the cards by that time.

We heard that there was a Rockabilly scene in Canberra but upon attending a recent dance event, discovered that it was all a bit “Strictly Ballroom!” Not a girl with tats in sight! There was some kind of rhythmless geriatric Duane Dibbley and the Ding Dongs outfit providing the music; it was all so not our scene, which brings me to my line of questioning:

1. Is there a regular venue for more “hardcore” Rockabilly music in Canberra?

2. Whilst on that subject – Is there anywhere that one might be able to purchase clothing in the Rockabilly / Pin-Up style? Buying online is getting pricier as the AUD slips downward!

3. Where can a girl get a decent “old school” tat?

And Please – Let’s not have a tirade of comments about girls with tats! They float my bloke’s boat and mine are cute and girly anyway!

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eitak8:50 pm 20 Jun 10

Rockerchick . . Im new to canberra, any more specific suggestions as to where I could find more of a rockabillly scene? Do you know if any gigs are coming up soon etc??

Rockerchick11:37 am 10 Feb 10

rockinghorse said :

Don’t know if its just me feeling this but the entire converstaion angle has been a little strange, Rockerchick you are very interested in finding new stores, bands and touching base with the scene in general but it appears you are not taking much of it in, rather spinning it around and portraying yourself a lot like a billboard.
It seems to refer back to Hoolahoop and how good their products are and how cheap they are.

If you are really into the shop and want to spread the word about it then that is great, im sure there are stacks of people who would be interested in a plug about a good shop, no need to beat around the bush.

Just had a squiz at their site and a lot of their products are made in USA, anyway doesnt make much of a difference, I will go in there and check it out just the same, all I was saying is what I seen online seems to be overpriced.
I am not comparing the products or prices to cheap dresses made in China, I am comparing them to products I have bought from all around the world, most of which have been excellent quality and long lasting.

Anyway enough said….Hoolahoop for president 2010

People get really snippy in here!!!!

I thought we were having a grown up conversation about fashion retail. I really only made those comments after you had made a statement about “mark up!”
My comments were more a statement about fashion retail in general than they were about a particular outlet. I also know that for dresses in the rockabilly / pinup style, that often require a lot of fabric, you have to spend upwards of $100 if you want something of a high quality.
I simply thought that your comment was unjustified, having recently purchased items from that business with which I was very happy. I only commented AFTER you had made a comment. Whilst that shop is not cheap – I agree! I reacted to a comment that you made in regards to “Mark Up” being “Overbearing.” I was merely stating that what you might find “overbearing” is the retail price and not the mark up!
Mark up is the amount that has been added to the wholesale price and is measured in percentage. You can be guarunteed that quality garments imported from the US or for that matter purchased in Australia will cost a lot more at wholesale than 95% of all fashion items that are retailed in Australia. They are therefore marked up less than average in order to remain sellable!
I have worked in high end fashion and I understand this! The reason for the Australian manufacturing infrastructure is up the shit is because we have been duped into a perception of price that’s based on virtual slave labour in China.
The company that I used to work for sold Australian made formal dresses. Each dress had around 5 metres of fabric in it – even at wholesale, that fabric costs around $20 per metre, cutters cost and machineists cost around $30 per hour, there was an average of 3 hours work in a dress – that’s $190 just to make the garment! That’s what happens in a country with decent labour laws in which people with skills are paid for them appropriately! How much do you think it costs to make a dress outside of a sweat shop!

So, it seems I’m now getting a bit snippy. But I always find it necessary to support retailers of quality fashion at an affordable price as they are an endangered species!

rockinghorse8:11 am 10 Feb 10

Don’t know if its just me feeling this but the entire converstaion angle has been a little strange, Rockerchick you are very interested in finding new stores, bands and touching base with the scene in general but it appears you are not taking much of it in, rather spinning it around and portraying yourself a lot like a billboard.
It seems to refer back to Hoolahoop and how good their products are and how cheap they are.

If you are really into the shop and want to spread the word about it then that is great, im sure there are stacks of people who would be interested in a plug about a good shop, no need to beat around the bush.

Just had a squiz at their site and a lot of their products are made in USA, anyway doesnt make much of a difference, I will go in there and check it out just the same, all I was saying is what I seen online seems to be overpriced.
I am not comparing the products or prices to cheap dresses made in China, I am comparing them to products I have bought from all around the world, most of which have been excellent quality and long lasting.

Anyway enough said….Hoolahoop for president 2010

UrbanAdventure.org6:43 am 10 Feb 10

I have heard a strong rumor that Mr Charlie greaser himself will soon grace this board with his prescence and may even now be registering an account! Go Charlie!

Charlie Greaser for Queanbeyan Mayor 2010!

Rockerchick11:16 pm 09 Feb 10

Hazza said :

sorry Rockerchick, i didnt mean to offend. As ppl have said, you’ll find alot of cynics on this site, its best to ‘keep a stiff upper quiff’ – i mean stiff upper lip.

http://www.myspace.com/fireballsaustralia

that link may be of some interest – its a band i used to slick my hair back too when i was younger (and less cynical)

No offence taken my friend! I just didn’t want to seem to be whinging when my quest to date had not been totally fruitless! I possibly should have outlined that I’d had some success in my first post!

As for Rockinghorse’s comment. I guess it depends what you are using as a comparison in order to conclude that somewhere is “overprice(d),” but it’s not a phrase I’d use to describe Hoola Hoop! Today I bought a number of items from them (over the phone) for less than I can buy them for on line. They also have a better selection than some of the stores I shopped at back in Melbourne. I’ts the kind of quality that I’m looking for and don’t mind paying for. I work in upper management and whilst I like to go out and “rock,” I also want to be able to wear the same frocks for work (though accessorised differently). I need quality if I’m going to do that. I suppose it’s all about what you’re looking for and how much dough you have to spend! I’m not rich, but I’m not hard up, so I choose quality.

Prior to working in the broadcast industry, I worked in fashion retail (high end bridal and formal) and I know the industry well. In my experience, where mark up is “overbearing,” is in the mainstream stores where you buy a $50 Chinese made dress that was purchased for no more than $5 wholesale! I’ll take my chances on the $120 US or Australian made garment! I can assure you that the mark up wouldn’t be anything like the typical 500% that the high street stores mark up. I’ll spend up to $500 on a dress that’s truly special and made by hand to last. I know plenty of people who have purchased 10 x $50 Chinese dresses in the time since I made my last purchase of a $500 dress. I bet those ten dresses will have gone into landfill while I’m still wearing my dress!

CharlieGreaser11:01 pm 09 Feb 10

BTW – Ruff N Ready (same people as Bad Attitude) have awesome clothes if your into Lucky 13, Felon, etc and will have their website up shortly.

Canberra/Queanbeyan has talented tattoo artists but are always booked out. I always get my ink when we are on tour. Sydney is just down the road! I got all of my ink done by a bloke in Byron Bay called Ben Milliken. He can do ANYTHING and do it well. Like I said though, most Canberra based artists are pretty good.

CharlieGreaser10:57 pm 09 Feb 10

Hey Ya’ll, Charlie Greaser here. Details for the Canberra Psychobilly show are below (the Facebook Event:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/#!/event.php?eid=301464538782&index=1

If you make it, please come and say hi! I am keen on meeting any local People that are into Rockabilly/Psychobilly. If you have heard of Zombie Ghost Train, two of the members are in Captain Reckless and the Lost Souls with myself on upright bass. Reckless then will play upright for my band ‘Charlie Greaser’. This way we are NEVER double booked. lol.

Perpetual End and the Glaciers are mates of ours and go off! Will be an awesome night.

Cheers,
Charlie.
http://www.charliegreaser.com

rockinghorse10:01 pm 09 Feb 10

Rockerchick i have seen the Hoolahoop shop and site and found it to be interesting but quite overprices, am surprised as I know the stuff they stock is good quality and has a certain value but the mark up seems to be a little overbearing.

Hazza7:10 pm 09 Feb 10

sorry Rockerchick, i didnt mean to offend. As ppl have said, you’ll find alot of cynics on this site, its best to ‘keep a stiff upper quiff’ – i mean stiff upper lip.

http://www.myspace.com/fireballsaustralia

that link may be of some interest – its a band i used to slick my hair back too when i was younger (and less cynical)

TheDJPea2:25 pm 09 Feb 10

Yeah pretty much keep an ear out for rockabilly gigs, the are decently plugged around town. Don’t know much about clothing but for tatts I swear by Tattoo Power in North Lyneham *awaits flaming*

Rockerchick9:22 am 09 Feb 10

Hazza said :

1. No
2. ebay
3. Melbourne

Should be Wowza, not Hazza!!!

No there isn’t a regular “hardcore” rockabilly venue in Canberra, but there are a number of great rockabilly acts that put on events that will be more atuned to your tastes. Charlie Greaser is a good starting point – Check the gig guides and check out their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/charliegreaser – I’m not sure how the “My Face” thing works but I’m sure that there’ll be other like minded Canberrans in there!

Clothing is a bit more of a Challenge – Hazza’s ebay suggestion ain’t a good one in my opinion. Ebay changed their listing rules back in September and you now have to trudge through listings of super low quality Chinese made rubbish. I personally don’t like buying clothes online! Even if the sizing looks right on paper, you never know how it’s going to look on you. I also like to feel the garment quality.
You have some great shoe options in the rockabilly / pinup style: Red Path in Civic have some great stuff – Like soooo many Canberra retail businesses, they don’t have a website!
Also, it may seem a little odd, but some of the adult shops in Fyshwick sell amazing shoes! Adam and Eve stock Pleaser, which are a range of pin-up style shoes ranging from classic to wild to stripper! Again no site -arrrrrggggh!
We might not have much in the way of Rockabilly / Pin-up style clothing here in Canberra but there’s Hoola Hoop in Braidwood (about an hour away). It’s one of the best shops of it’s kind in Australia and a hell of a lot of fun – Well worth the drive. http://www.hoolahoop.com.au
On the music front – when I was at Hoola Hoop last week, I was told about a “Rocka Hoola” event that’s being planned in one of the local halls for late March or April. Apparently it’ll be a dinner show with a multi headline bill of hardcore Rockabilly and Hawaiian grooves – something tells me that there’ll be a delightfully kitsch vibe to the whole thing!
As for tats – why would anyone suggest that you’d have to got to Melbourne? Tattoo Extreme in Queanbeyan is excellent! Now, I know it’s Queanbeyan and you might expect nothing but tribal armbands and Holden logos, but they excell in the “Old School” styles – up there with the best! See Matt or Katie.

OK, Canberra might not have the world’s most Rockin’ scene, but there’s a good time to be had if you’re willing to make the effort!

Chupachup9:06 am 09 Feb 10

Hi Rocker Chick

I’m a fan of psychobilly/rockabilly music and culture but I’ve never been searching for the scene myself. My girlfriend and I are swing dancers here in Canberra and I can tell you all about that and my knowledge of the cross over between the cultures.

1. Swing dancing is different from Rockabilly but it’s where Rockabilly evolved from so if you wanna come check that out Jumptown Swing run regular classes and social events. Otherwise it’s just keeping an ear open for the bands when they come to town and going to whatever venue they play – usually Psychobilly bands play The Basement in Belconnen, and the Old Canberra Inn used to have some Rockabilly/Blues bands every Friday night but there is no regular Rockabilly venue that I know of.

Check Out:
http://www.jumptown.org/
http://www.canberrabluessociety.com.au/
http://gigguide.letscreate.com.au/index.php

2. As for Rockabilly/Pin-Up style clothing there is nothing much here Felt in Civic might be worth a look and there is a great shop called Hollahoop in Braidwood which is about 40mins drive away, also the Darling Sisters sell some vintage products and run various vintage workshops. Otherwise King Street in Newtown Sydney has plenty of great shops or of course wait for Melbourne when you’re three.

http://www.hoolahoop.com.au/aboutus.html
http://www.thedarlingsisters.com/

3. I have no personal experience but many of my friends have had tat’s done through Tattoo Xtreme & BodyPiercing in Queanbeyan and they all say great things about them, I knew people who would travel from Sydney to get their tat’s done there so they might be worth a call. That said I’ve also had friends travel up to a famous place in Bondi to get their tat’s done (can’t remember the name sorry)

Also last year the Canberra Roller Derby League kicked off which attracts a lot of people from the Rockabilly scene so might be worth checking that out to find like minded people
http://crdl.wikispaces.com/

Hope that helps and all the best

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