Mess+Noise story: ‘The Go Between Bridge Opening’, July 2010
A half-story, half-live review for Mess+Noise that discusses the opening of Brisbane’s newest river crossing, The Go Between Bridge.
Go Between Opening: Here Comes A City
ANDREW MCMILLEN reports on the historic opening of the Go Between Bridge on June 25, which saw artists including Robert Forster, Yves Klein Blue and The John Steel Singers pay tribute to The Go-Betweens’ legacy to Brisbane. Photos by ELLENI TOUMPAS.
There’s both beauty and irony in the fact that Brisbane residents voted to name their newest bridge after a pop band that found wider appreciation outside Australia, rather than within this city’s streets. That it’s a toll bridge, not a free crossing, is a moot point by now. Though this particular structure – which links South Brisbane to the Inner City Bypass and Riverside Expressway – won’t be open for business for a couple more weeks, today’s concert is a novel opportunity to experience the new construction alongside a soundtrack that links The Go-Betweens’ past to its present.
Surprisingly for 4pm on a Friday afternoon, a significant early crowd has gathered to enter via gates on the western side. It soon becomes apparent that the majority in attendance are teens, presumably wooed in by the triple j-friendly fare on offer today. The John Steel Singers are in full flight atop a stage that stretches across four lanes. Their colourful music provides stark contrast to the threatening clouds overhead, and there’s a strong Forster connection too (he produced their forthcoming debut album Tangalooma). This afternoon they repay the compliment by providing a buoyant take on his ‘Too Much Of One Thing’ from the 2003 Go-Betweens album Bright Yellow, Bright Orange.
Full story at Mess+Noise.