ED'S NOTE

Last month was crazy busy. No time for romantic, dog-killing holidays in June. No siree, Tsunami Manager Eliza Hall and I trekked to Melbourne and Sydney to spend a week meeting clients, publicists and some of our interstate contributors.

The trip got off to a bad start when I jinxed myself by uttering the words you should never utter before boarding a plane: 'Imagine the poor prick who has to sit next to that lady with the baby'. Yep, sure enough it was yours truly who got plonked next to the lady and her baby, who she proceeded to breast feed within squirting distance of my arm. All I could do was sit frozen like a deer in the headlights, staring here, there - anyway that wasn't in the direction of the boob/baby combo.

Melbourne was a blast. Its thriving music scene offers everything to anyone, on any day of the week. Sure it was freezing cold, but it was a nice change to be able to walk around without that pesky thing (commonly called a penis) getting in the way all the time. The reliability of the public transport system never ceases to amaze. Not only can you get everywhere in Melbourne via bus, tram or train, but you're almost guaranteed to share a carriage with someone who is either talking to themself, has just pissed themself, is drunk/high, or a combination of all three. Sydney was as chaotic as ever. We got to meet Grumpy in the flesh. He was surprisingly un-grumpy, and no amount of alcohol could get him to confirm if his story about his drunken best mate and her tiny panties will ever end, but we've got a feeling he'll have it wrapped up before 2009.

It was nice to get back to Queensland and have my inny turn back into an outty, but Melbourne left more than just an impression on my person. It made me realise how much the Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast music scenes could improve. There are so many more venues for local acts to play and a noticeable sense of community among punters. The venues are there because of the demand and the only way our music scene will ever get to the same level is if everyone starts supporting local music more. So get out there and support all of our great up and coming bands - it will benefit everyone in the long run (Gav).

LETTERS TO THE ED

Cringe Worthy
I'm an ex-Queensland musician now residing in Melbourne. I was in Brisbane for the Easter holidays recently and picked up a copy of Tsunami, where I read 'Nate's Spray' on the cultural cringe. I have to say that I totally agree with Nate's sentiment. I have nothing against the Brisbane venues as such - places like The Zoo and The Tivoli rival anything Melbourne has to offer - it seems the problem lies with the punters more than anything. Take a band like Múm, for example. Here is an internationally acclaimed group that plays to packed venues the world over, yet barely enough people to half fill The Zoo bothered to show up and watch this fantastic act. This would never happen in Melbourne. It seems the stifling impact of the Bjelke-Peterson era is still being felt. It's as if there is now a flow-on culture that sees Queenslanders preferring to sit on the couch and watch the footy or spend $200 out on the town instead of supporting live music. The Victorian street presses are, as Nate correctly pointed out, twice as big as the Queensland street press. But that is mainly because they are full of advertisements, and a greater public demand for music + more gigs to meet this demand = more advertising. More gigs means more venues, more support slots and more opportunities for local bands to be heard. Sure, the increasing number of festivals eat up a lot of our discretionary income, but surely there must be some extra money being saved from all that illegal downloading that could be spent on seeing more live gigs? Are there not more music fans hiding out there in Queensland? The only way Queensland's music scene is going to improve is through its people - that means you - getting off their lazy bums and helping make it happen. Until then, see you next holidays - I'm off to 'the place to be'.

Ex-Patrick
(Richmond)

Unattractive Politics
I just finished reading the March issue of Tsunami and, in particular, the three pages profiling the local mayoral and councillor candidates. The piece got me thinking about some big issues: firstly, is there anyone out there who doesn't want to fix a bike path? And secondly, that must be a record for the most rough-heads in a row. Seriously, I've seen some crook noggins in my time but that bunch take the cake. Why are Queensland politicians so god-damn weird looking?

Trevor 'I don't ride a bike anyway' McGrath
(Redcliffe)

Ill-defined
Can someone please tell me why men think it is funny to degrade women? Tsunami should be ashamed for publishing 'The International Council of Man Laws'. Just because the email was circulating via spam doesn't mean you should print it. By spreading this distasteful nonsense you are in effect condoning the mistreatment of women. I for one do not think "coming home late after a night out with the guys smelling of perfume and beer, lipstick on your collar, slapping your wife square on the ass and saying, 'You're next fatty" is ballsy at all. In fact, I think this type of behaviour should have stayed back in the dark ages where it belongs. Shame on you Tsunami.

Ellen Foster
(Coolangatta)