We All Want To relive the golden era

Brisvegas in the late 1980s and early 90s was a golden era for musicians.

In sharp contrast to the days of the Bejelke-Peterson autocracy, the Queensland capital was synonomous with music, art and indie rock and home grown acts like Custard and The Melniks ruled the airways, supported by community radio station 4ZZZ.

A sense of freedom and creative possiblity pervaded the air and there was more live music than you could shake a drum stick at.

‘‘Oh yes, they were the golden days,’’We All Want To’s Tim Steward said.

‘‘We had an awesome time, we were so innocent, everything was so fresh and easy.

‘‘IfI could sum it up in one word,I would say naive.’’

Naive is not a word often associated with rock ‘n’ roll.

‘‘This was before the internet, in those days we still posted cassette tapes to radio stations for airplay,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s different now, these days there’s an industry based on the industry, which effectively is sanitising the whole thing.’’

Steward has a rock pedigree that spans 25 years and is perhaps best known for his work with Brisbane band Screamfeeder in the 90s, but these days he performs with We All Want To.

Two and a half decades in the music biz has taught him a lot, like the value of simple things over fancy gimmicks.

‘‘The difference between a good show and a great one can be as simple as knowing your parts and playing to the best of your ability,’’ he said.

‘‘That, and having a good manager.’’

We All Want To are appearing in Bunbury for the first time tonight and Steward says audiences can look foward to an upbeat and polished show, where audience participation is appreciated.

‘‘We do one song where we hand out hand percussion instruments and ask the audience to play along,’’ Steward said.

‘‘It’s all about good energy.’’

We All Want To play the Prince of Wales Hotel tonight and will have copies of their CDs for sale on the night.

Entry is free.