When you travel, your best source of know-how on where to drink, eat, dance and sleep is a local, or someone who has been there before. AAA Backstage contributor Yolande has just ditched Brisbane in favour of Melbourne and is working her way through the city's best and worst musical venues based only on what is recommended to her.
What: Cherry Bar, AC/DC Lane, Melbourne CBD
When: Saturday night
Cost: Tues/Wed 6pm-3am FREE, Thurs Soul Night $10, Fri/Sat $13 from 8pm $10 from 11pm, Sun 8pm-3am FREE
Rating: 6.5/10
The word: Cherry is "cool in a dishevelled way that they've tried to dress up like a cheap hooker" according to my trusty, gallavanting and many-a-gig-playing friend. He said I would find the bar smallish and poky and with a mixed clientele - not a set of full-blown Melbourne hipsters like some other bars. He said there was too big a gap between the crowd and the stage, but said the place would be great when full.
The truth: Arriving about 11pm, things were getting going but not in full swing yet (that would come about 1am). The floor was sticky, the band was grimy and loud (The Arcane Saints - check them out, very good) and the hair was big. Dimly lit and full of bartenders whose friendliness belied their hardcore exteriors, it was a good place to hang out with old friends or make new ones. The average age of the crowd was about 28-35, and no matter whether the punters were bald or dreadlocked, the biggest fashion statement was the hair. Oh and lots of leopard and leather. I understood my friend's statement about the cheap hooker, but even cheap hookers have soul. I'd come back.
Drinks: Standard range of beers on tap, plenty of spirits and a damn tasty signature drink, the Cherry Bon (Shot of Jagermeister and Bundaberg Ginger Beer $5)
Food: If you're really hungry, I'm sure the staff would offer you a lime wedge or two. Otherwise, you can get a packet of chips. Real rockers don't need food, right?
Toilets: Nicer than you'd expect. Clean, operational and grafitti'd with enough humour and controversy to make the visit interesting.
Fun facts: Founded by ex-Cosmic Psychos drummer Bill Walsh, who DJs every Saturday night. Apparently Noel Gallagher wanted to buy the bar on a visit down under. The jukebox only plays vinyl. There are two rooms - one for watching the band and one for posing seductively on the leopard print couches.
For more:http://www.myspace.com/cherrybarmelbourne
WORDS Yolande Schefe
