People who are willing to say no to Lady Gaga and her impressive entourage would surely be few and far between these days, given the musician’s current status as pop queen. Who woulda’ thought that one of those few was the owner of Melbourne’s very own Cherry Bar, who thumbs down’d the idea to honour a previous booking.
Co-owner and booker James Young has told The Age that he “was gobsmacked and thunderstruck with the thought: ‘have I done the most stupid thing in Australian music?'” but finds solace in the fact that he will now be known as the guy who stuck to his word, which goes a long way these days.
The 200-capacity club that can be found on ACDC Lane is known all around Australia, and even throughout other countries, having hosted world class events such as Motorhead, Kasabian, Jack Black, Queens of the Stone Age and Oasis. The bar was so impressive that Noel Gallagher even offered to buy it. Last night, however, the stage was booked for Jackson Firebird’s first show of their residency. The Gaga after party could have still been squeezed in, but her band didn’t like the idea of having to move their gear by 9pm. As Young explained, “But they were polite enough to say ‘sorry we’re going to go with Northcote Social Club’.”
And the Northcote Social Club is where it took place. Gaga was even snapped there appearing to be having a great time.
Young finished off by adding that “I’m expecting this huge crowd at Cherry next Wednesday and I think the band will enjoy knowing, and saying on stage, that they were preferred by Cherry ahead of Lady Gaga.” You just hope that Jackson Firebird are grateful! One thing’s for sure, Cherry Bar will now be known as a genuine rock club that doesn’t care about hype.
