The Jonathans
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Music
Press
PEOPLE power in the form of Melbourne's recent vocal (but peaceful) street protest is about as rock 'n' roll as it gets in this modern world of political correctness and nanny state overlords. Which is appropriate, in the wake of the apparently (so far) successful rally in Melbourne last week to save live music in the city's hotels.
Live music is still just as relevant and vital as any other art form, like strands of DNA linking generations.
I was reminded of this multi-generational relevance during my recent holidays. Did I go away? No. It's often a struggle to get off the lounge, but I made the effort to get out a few nights, and I got lucky. I found myself at a hotel named the Birmingham in Fitzroy. It was something resembling the Hollywood club scene in Valley Girl. A glittering, chattering crowd, posturing, pretentious; Goth, surf punk, hair bears in leather and boots; nerdy, weird, even scary, but threatening nothing more than drunkenness and bad dancing.
And rather than the Plimsouls, I saw the Jonathans. Raw, straight out of the garage, and I feel at home.
A cool blonde behind the bar handed me my Coopers as an older couple (Did I say older? I meant my age) wandered in, bemused. Band parents. Dad caught my eye and nodded.
It wasn't all glorious nostalgia. I had a "senior" moment; the two laid-back security guys asked to check my backpack and I showed a jumper, bottle of water and, oh yeah, an apple. Not content with telling them, I held it up. I really wanted them to see it wasn't a dangerous apple.
It was time. The band room thumped to a three-piece. Good sound, dreadful name. Straight Love.
They're done, and Jonathan frontman Ari almost sheepishly sets up his guitar and tries to work out how he'll negotiate the cramped stage without crashing into bassman brother Surya or fellow guitarist Robin (19, the youngest, but all four look barely voting age).
Mick the drummer is grinning, always; the raw, unparalleled joy of playing in a band.
The sticky patch in front of the stage now bristles with punters.
His axe round his neck, a microphone and just enough space to rock, Ari is sheepish no more, although still struggling with the front man persona: "I dunno what to say between songs," he mumbles, "but we can't just go into the next song. We'd be finished too fast."
Waves of something distant crash in my gut. Drunken iron butterflies. Nostalgia's better than it used to be.
The Jonathans write and play songs like it hurts and thrills all at once.
Watching them, I feel better about that sweaty punk who never grew up; who took for granted that electric feeling, cranked up really high.
And my son got to share it. I'm passing on the baton. And that's why we need to preserve the culture of live music in Melbourne.
Sean Keeble is a senior Herald Sun journalist
- Herald Sun, Australia
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
It started from growing up sitting and watching our parents having jam sessions, but never knowing how to play instruments. When life becomes boring and it feels like everyone is just doing the same thing, it got frustrating and the only way to express those feelings was through music, and this is where the band got together and started learning the instruments to make the songs.
Our cousin Jonathan's passing was a pivotal point, and we knew at that point we had to name our band after him, because of his major influence on our lives and music. This is where it became serious, about not wasting time and getting a move on, doing the things that we love, which is playing music.
Our influences came from the music our parents played whilst growing up. Neil Young was one of the raw sounds we got attracted to.
The first goal we had was to play at the Espy in Melbourne, which seemed impossible at the time. But once we reached that goal, the next one was to play at festivals, and keep growing from there. People always say that we get ahead of ourselves and that we are too ambitious, but we have high hopes for the band, and being together with brothers and close friends keeps it a fun, enjoyable experience, and just see how far we can take it.
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