‘Heart and soul’: Rockers’ move for Aussie pubs

Live music is the “heart and soul” of Aussie pubs.

There’s something undeniably special about being packed into a band room at your local, beer splashed around in a tiny — but nonetheless very powerful — mosh.

But the price of putting on these special, intimate gigs are leaving pubs in the lurch, with high production costs, instrument and amplifier rentals, and even soundproofing venues among some of the costs local venues are juggling on top of the hefty price of actually booking a band.

Aussie rockers Dune Rats made a triumphant return to the iconic Beach Road Hotel in Bondi on Saturday night as part of Tooheys on Tour, an initiative to promote and celebrate live music at local venues.

The venue held a special place in the band’s hearts, being one of their first ever stops in Sydney after they first formed in 2010.

“That venue has got heaps of nostalgia in it for us, because we used to stay above the venue as part of the deal playing there,” singer Danny Beusaraus said.

“So crazy, you’d have $5 in your bank account, staying in one of the best spots in Bondi … Go downstairs, play the show, have a relay rad show, walk up the stairs with a pint of beer in your hand.”

Beusaraus said it was “surreal” to be back at the venue, with smaller gigs often offering a more intimate experience with the audience compared to larger shows.

“You’re eye level with the guy or girl that’s half a metre in front of you, it’s kind of like having a conversation with someone at a beer table,” Beusaraus said.

“At Bondi, if someone wants to scream something at you, they don’t have to go very far to let you know what they think.”

Beusaraus said smaller gigs were crucial for emerging bands.

“You don’t just get your start playing at Hordern Pavilion … or a 600 capacity venue,” he said.

“You get it playing in a 100 capacity pub. “

However, many pubs were struggling with the cost of putting on live acts, with Beusaraus saying many couldn’t survive following the pandemic.

He said while the bigger ones managed to pull through, it was important to keep “smaller pubs afloat”.

Owner of Beach Road Hotel Scott Whitehouse said he’d be unable to book a band as big as Dune Rats now without the help of initiatives like Tooheys on Tour despite having brought them in to perform years before.

He said it would cost between $10,000 and $15,000 to book a band of the same success, while other ongoing costs including increased security, renting out instruments and amplifiers, and hiring their own sound engineer added even more pressure.

“There’s other aspects than just flicking on the switch and putting on the bar,” Mr Whitehouse said.

“It’s not cheap.

“(We’re) a big venue, we can sort of put up with it, I suppose, cover the costs, but those smaller pub sort of venues, it’s a lot harder to sustain some of those costs.”

Beusaraus said the collaboration with Tooheys was a great way to not only give local venues a boost, but also spark a wider conversation.

“(Tooheys are) trying to foster in their campaign going back to the pubs, because it is such a genuine way bands can get their start,” he said.

“It is such an ecosystem (between bands and pubs), and we’re in it together.”

Dune Rats last stop on the tour is the Mona Vale Hotel on Saturday, after having already hit Bondi and The Entrance Leagues Club in Bateau Bay.

Owner Ben Hanson has been on a mission to bring live music back to the venue after taking over about 18 months ago.

“I wanted to bring the heart and soul back to the community with live music — a nice family friendly pub for 20-somethings to 80-somethings to go and have a good time,” he said.

“You need these spaces for people to get experience with getting better and becoming a good act, but it’s also for the patrons.

“It’s so important, live music is the heart and soul of the pub, you know?”

Mr Hanson echoed Mr Whitehouse, and said the cost of putting on gigs without the assistance of similar initiatives was tough.

“Live music is expensive — production is expensive, you need to get lots of security guards,” he said.

“But if you can get it right it can be successful.”

Having recently hosted The Terrys with the help of Aussie beer Stone and Wood, Mr Hanson said he “felt like he was 19” watching young people “having a ball”.

“They’re jumping around, bit of a mosh pit, and it was awesome. It was old school,” he said.

“Since covid it’s just nice to see that kids, teens, 20-somethings are back out there enjoying good live music, so all of us need the help to push it and grow it.”

Tooheys are set to donate $10,000 to music charity Support Act as part of the collaboration, with brand director Karen Sterling-Levis saying pubs and live music were “the beating heart of Australian culture”.

“Together, we’re raising a glass to the pubs and music that unite us all!” Ms Sterling-Levis said.