Regional musos impress The Go-Betweens drummer
"I AM overwhelmed by the musical talent that resides in regional Australia," ex-Go Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison said recently, on the cusp of returning to Longreach to host an intimate songwriting workshop.
While her days of playing live alongside the legendary The Go-Betweens’ front men, Robert Forster and the late Grant McLennan, have since faded, Ms Morrison’s enthusiasm and passion for the music scene – and all that it entails – still burns bright.
Her days are now full of what she affectionately refers to as "community music".
"It’s about getting people to tell their story or explain their environment through song," Ms Morrison explained.
Longreach songwriters and music buffs were quick to sign up for the opportunity to work alongside Ms Morrison’s two-day songwriting workshop at the Cultural and Civic Centre this weekend.
"What we aim for is to get a whole bunch of people together, with their instruments, and go through some basic song writing techniques, as well as writing and playing.
"At the end of the weekend they should have a couple of songs ready to perform.
"It’s about setting up a situation that is light-hearted and fun.
"Lyrics are hard things to write so we play a few games and I will teach them a few skills to help with that."
From 1980 to 1990, Lindy was the drummer for Aussie band The Go-Betweens, a band still referenced as one of the country’s most influential rock groups.
In 1996 – nearly 20 years after the band was formed – the UK’s Select Magazine wrote: "The only problem with listening to The Go-Betweens now is they can’t help but remind you how crap the 80s were. An example? The Go-Betweens produced records of quiet brilliance and got nowhere. Sting sang about a sodding turtle and became a millionaire."
"It probably sounds weird, but at the time I did realise that the band was going to be lasting," Ms Morrison said.
"When doing those six albums, I thought of each one as a great Australian novel.
"I knew those songs would be lasting because they were written by two skilled and talented songwriters."
Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his Brisbane home on May 6 this year, a time that Lindy simply described as "very hard".
Not only was Ms Morrison creating songs that would still be idolised by young people all these years later, she was forging a pathway for women in what she saw as an "incredibly sexist industry".
"I received an enormous amount of attention because I was a woman who played the drums.
"Sometimes I really resented it, but sometimes I enjoyed it. I like being interviewed and being given the opportunity to dispel the myths about musicians.
"I was intelligent enough to handle these discussions and was able to share my thoughts about women on drums and how inherently sexist it all was.
"It had its positives and negatives."
The Go-Betweens were responsible for a number of cult classics including Cattle and Cane, Hammer the Hammer and Streets of Your Town.
The band was based in London and toured extensively through the US, Europe and Australia, sharing with the world their songs and performances.
However in 1993 – two years after the birth of her only child – Lindy traded in her performance sticks, preferring to concentrate on sharing her love of music with smaller audiences.
Through workshops and community productions, Lindy believes she has found another pleasing dimension to music – teaching others the joys of musical expression.
"It has been a really great opportunity to see regional Australia.
"But more so it has been overwhelming to see people give through their music – people give so much of themselves.
"The problems, the benefits and the quality of life in regional Australia are all shown through this music.
"There is the most extraordinary local talent in places like Longreach.
"If only more major record companies signed these local acts we would have a very vibrant Australian music scene."
While her days of playing live alongside the legendary The Go-Betweens’ front men, Robert Forster and the late Grant McLennan, have since faded, Ms Morrison’s enthusiasm and passion for the music scene – and all that it entails – still burns bright.
Her days are now full of what she affectionately refers to as "community music".
"It’s about getting people to tell their story or explain their environment through song," Ms Morrison explained.
Longreach songwriters and music buffs were quick to sign up for the opportunity to work alongside Ms Morrison’s two-day songwriting workshop at the Cultural and Civic Centre this weekend.
"What we aim for is to get a whole bunch of people together, with their instruments, and go through some basic song writing techniques, as well as writing and playing.
"At the end of the weekend they should have a couple of songs ready to perform.
"It’s about setting up a situation that is light-hearted and fun.
"Lyrics are hard things to write so we play a few games and I will teach them a few skills to help with that."
From 1980 to 1990, Lindy was the drummer for Aussie band The Go-Betweens, a band still referenced as one of the country’s most influential rock groups.
In 1996 – nearly 20 years after the band was formed – the UK’s Select Magazine wrote: "The only problem with listening to The Go-Betweens now is they can’t help but remind you how crap the 80s were. An example? The Go-Betweens produced records of quiet brilliance and got nowhere. Sting sang about a sodding turtle and became a millionaire."
"It probably sounds weird, but at the time I did realise that the band was going to be lasting," Ms Morrison said.
"When doing those six albums, I thought of each one as a great Australian novel.
"I knew those songs would be lasting because they were written by two skilled and talented songwriters."
Grant McLennan died in his sleep at his Brisbane home on May 6 this year, a time that Lindy simply described as "very hard".
Not only was Ms Morrison creating songs that would still be idolised by young people all these years later, she was forging a pathway for women in what she saw as an "incredibly sexist industry".
"I received an enormous amount of attention because I was a woman who played the drums.
"Sometimes I really resented it, but sometimes I enjoyed it. I like being interviewed and being given the opportunity to dispel the myths about musicians.
"I was intelligent enough to handle these discussions and was able to share my thoughts about women on drums and how inherently sexist it all was.
"It had its positives and negatives."
The Go-Betweens were responsible for a number of cult classics including Cattle and Cane, Hammer the Hammer and Streets of Your Town.
The band was based in London and toured extensively through the US, Europe and Australia, sharing with the world their songs and performances.
However in 1993 – two years after the birth of her only child – Lindy traded in her performance sticks, preferring to concentrate on sharing her love of music with smaller audiences.
Through workshops and community productions, Lindy believes she has found another pleasing dimension to music – teaching others the joys of musical expression.
"It has been a really great opportunity to see regional Australia.
"But more so it has been overwhelming to see people give through their music – people give so much of themselves.
"The problems, the benefits and the quality of life in regional Australia are all shown through this music.
"There is the most extraordinary local talent in places like Longreach.
"If only more major record companies signed these local acts we would have a very vibrant Australian music scene."
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