There are many reasons to avoid Ipswich —its stale history has given it a reputation for being a rural, cultural backwater. Still, I found myself driving there on a Sunday afternoon in search of an end to the dreary boredom, chasing anything to avoid the twin evils of bed rot and brain rot, mostly brought on by social media. Sundays are nothing days, we lie in bed -or on couches staring at the ceiling- stomaching the prospect of another week's servitude, feigning bliss in stagnation, as we benignly savour our free time by remaining as comatose as possible.

Ipswich's main drag is a dead, dust-filled snow-globe of a street. Stagnant of life, its frequently changing shopfronts are a sign of the gentrification that is to come. Yet, the entire town is still held in the grips of its country town past, almost vacant, a picture postcard of a conservative hell-scape fantasy. Except for Banshees Bar and Art Space, a small window front that hides its existence from much of the world. Not really calling out to passers by, it chooses instead to remain noticeable only to those worthy of its sheer awesomeness. Inside, you are far removed from everything else in the world. It is distinctive and unique, whilst an electricity hangs in the air. It is an "originals" bar, demanding the same from both its performers and its patrons.

This afternoon, Banshees are hosting another of their Live and Local gigs, a Queensland government initiative designed to revitalise rural areas. On the lineup are three bands I have never heard of before: Greg McInes Band, My Station and Recepts. A dream come true, new music in a bar that ignores both space and time, happening in a town that resembles every nightmare I left behind on the mid-north coast of NSW.

The night began with the Greg McInnes band, a three-piece performing together for the first time.
Featuring help from his brother Peter and their recently discovered friend Chris, The Greg McInnes Band delivered a nineties pop sound, with a fresh country twist, blurring the lines between the two genres until they no longer existed. Suddenly, I was where I wanted to be. Not in some stale, dusty, former rural hub, but in a world where life evolved and moved forward, forgetting tradition whilst still embracing it. “It’s so nice to be able to play some originals instead of the usual covers I’m forced to play,” McInnes said.

The crowd heartily agreed. Descending into brief moments of air guitar as Greg shredded his way through a back catalogue of original music. The sound was safe, trustworthy and familiar, but also fresh, invigorating and infectious —lingering in your ears for a moment while you waited for the next blast of goodness.

They were followed by My Station, a group of local musicians who met through a series of open mic nights. As they began, I got the feeling that I had somehow snuck into someone’s lounge room for a family jam session, which wasn’t far from the truth. My Station possesses an experimental sound that —quite frankly— slaps as it melds together onstage. There is a great joy in listening to them fuck about and figure it out, jamming their way through a roster of tunes written when the daily grind allows enough time for the band to get together and rehearse. 

Then Recepts took to the stage, in support of their new EP, Artificial —a particularly appropriate title, given it is only available online. Their tone is distinctively and unmistakably psychedelic, but at the same time, Fresh, vibrant, and energetic. Recepts’ engineers a definitive vibe, one that is capable of rocking you out of the mundanity that plagues our everyday lives. Their combination of ethereal keyboard wizardry and deep Stratocaster tones creates the perfect canvas for the band’s lead singer, whose high-pitched howls culminate in a powerful crescendo in every song.

Midway through the set, the lead singer begins to unashamedly rock out. Devolving into sheer manic movement, for a brief moment, it appears he is lost in some kind of musical flashback and is no longer here with us, the audience, in rural Ipswich. His actions are infectious, encouraging the enthusiastic crowd to join in; to let loose, tune in and drop out. This energy transports the audience whilst the band's skill ensures that anytime you see Recepts, you’ll be guaranteed of rock and roll experience worth searching for.

 

Words by Jimbo Baggins

Photo Courtesy of Discover Ipswich