THE NAKED CITY – THE PUB WITH NO CHEER

The fractured history of Sydney’s live music venues and dance clubs is symptomatic of much that is wrong with this city – like greed, fly by night operators, officious council compliance and the staggering price of real estate. Whilst some venues like the Metro and Factory have achieved a well earned longevity, others come and go like strangers in the night. When a well known music venue does finally call it quits there is invariably a public outcry fuelled by an outpouring of nostalgia for its halcyon days. 

The Lansdowne Hotel in Chippendale, once described as the “beloved pub of last resort”, has had a controversial and chequered life ever since it was first constructed almost 100 years ago. Designed by noted architect Sydney Warden, with an elaborate art deco interior, it was originally considered a fine and prominent addition to the city’s urban landscape. In the 1930s it soon became less an attraction for well heeled socialites and more a haunt for the criminal milieu. 

The notorious gangster and stand over man Chow Hayes was a regular frequenter, often contributing to its fast growing reputation for stoushes and punch ups, culminating in 1937 when he shot a man outside the pub. Some 50 years later heroin dealer Barry McCann, who ran the Lansdowne at the time, was shot dead in a park in Marrickville, after a supposed gangland war with Lenny McPherson.  

The colourful history of the venue is just littered with such stories and a cavalcade of characters from Sydney’s underworld, certainly deserving of a book or documentary feature. However it’s the pub’s role as a music venue over the last three to four decades that has triggered the most discussion, following the recent withdrawal of the current leasees and its demise as an entertainment venue. 

During that time the Lansdowne has hosted hundreds of local and overseas bands, from aspiring indie outfits to big name artists like You Am I. Even the nomadic Tuareg guitar shredder Bombino played a gig there in the funky first floor music room. Yet it was the once spacious downstairs area, with its iconic central bar, that was home to one of the pub’s most successful and enduring nights. 

‘The Sounds Of Seduction’ was a dance club/live music/performance concept – the creation of counter cultural entrepreneurs and DJs Miss Death and Jay Katz. It began as a low key free Wednesday back in 1996 but soon blossomed into a Saturday night institution, regularly attracting an audience of 500 or more. Mixing guest DJs with bands such as the Phantom Surfers, the Atlantics and Rocket Science (featuring members of Radio Birdman) along with projected visuals and caged go go dancers, it was a shamelessly retro, old school, discotheque party. 

There were no steroid pumped bouncers or door bitches screening the ‘uncool’. Everybody and anybody were welcome at The Sounds, from the occasional middle aged cross dresser to the gay, straight and impoverished. And for its entire four year run the cover charge was capped at a modest $5, making it the city’s most affordable and egalitarian night out. 

Unfortunately, as so often happens in Sydney, the Lansdowne fell victim to the almighty dollar and the ‘cut throat developer syndrome’. A new owner took over, a roomful of pokies was installed and in an act of mindless vandalism, the historic centre bar was ripped out. That spelt the end of ‘The Sounds’ at the pub and whilst it then moved to a number of other venues, it never quite captured the buzz and energy of the original location. 

When the ‘Sounds’ disappeared along with the centre bar, it was like the pub’s heart had been mercilessly torn out. Had it indeed fallen under a curse? Bought, sold and leased a number of times, it suffered a third floor fire in 2013 and fell derelict in 2015, awaiting redevelopment as a proposed art school. Under the most recent leasees, Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham from the Mary’s group, the venue enjoyed a new injection of life and live music from 2017, cut short of course when the pandemic hit in 2020.  

With the current owners deciding to turn the first floor music room into backpacker accom, Jake and Kenny have now pulled out and the ‘music-less’ building has returned to its old descriptor as ‘the pub with no cheer’. At least most of the original structure remains, soon to mark its 100th anniversary, and one can only hope that this unique, albeit troubled Sydney landmark will once again ring to the sounds of noisy rock bands, DJs and boisterous punters. 

Check out Miss Death and Jay Katz from the Sounds Of Seduction at: www.patreon.com/mumesons