Ryan Barwick from Gold Coast band Loose Goose gives us a wrap-up of the Coast’s most Golden Gigs each month.

While 2023 is coming to a close with summer on its way, the Gold Coast is going off with a bang. This December has seen some of the finest local talent. And they are wrapping up the year in style. So push back your Bali flights, crack open a cold one, and get ready for the moshiest pits yet.  

International Attention

The spike-and-leather forefathers of hardcore US punk band, BLACK FLAG (main pic), once fronted by Henry Rollins, will forever be one of the most influential bands to come out of California. Let alone the US. It’s hard to believe they’ll be taking stage at MO’S DESERT CLUBHOUSE on December 7. A full 48 years after their debut, it wouldn’t be wrong to call this a lifetime opportunity. This is no doubt guaranteed to be one of the sweatiest, roughest mosh pits you’ve seen. With the event already sold-out, count yourself lucky if you’re locked in with tickets. And move heaven and earth to grab one if you haven’t.  

Earning Their Stripes

There’s a nice slate of local bands cutting their teeth throughout early December that you’d be silly to miss. Splashing onto the scene at Mo’s on December 2 (TONIGHT!) is the rising Burleigh surf-rock outfit LOOSE GOOSE (my band!). They celebrate their debut single, “Tin Shed”, with their first ever local headline show. They’ll be supported by everyone’s favourites, COSMIC VICE and MERMAID WATERS, who are making their live debut, from 12pm-4pm.

Port Macquarie punk rockers CHINWAG are taking over VINNIES DIVE on December 1. With support from PUFF, GOON GREMLINS and Goldie boys UPDOG (formerly Jungle Punch), this is going to be one head-banging night.  

No stranger to Vinnies, THE BENNIES, will bring some Christmas cheer on December 16. There’s likely no other band out there that will make you move as hard as The Bennies. And with PVCKER UP and the rapidly-rising BRIXTON ALLEY, this might just be the perfect gig for the edgier types.

Miami Marketta Classics

It wouldn’t be a Goldie wrap up if it didn’t come with a cracker at Marketta. The music gods have blessed us with two stacked line-ups that will get you sinking tinnies like no tomorrow. First up we’ve got MALLRAT on December 26 (Boxing Day recovery, yo!), which features HOPE D, BUTTERED, MOLLY MILLINGTON, and Gold Coast Music Awards’s Young Artist, LYRIC.

This is the kind of lineup you get your dancing shoes on for, and have a nice little boogie… BEST NIGHT EVER on December 30 is not. This is the show where the seven-year-old faded vans and docs will come out. Boasting the likes of DUNE RATS, SMITH STREET BAND, WAAX, SUN ROOM and so so many more, including Southport three-piece, THE SEX GUYS, there’s absolutely no way you go home without feeling like you’ve been thrown in a washing machine of sweat and Young Henry’s. 

Pick Of The Bunch

While there’s so many epic shows this month, there’s one which just stands out like a sore guitar strumming thumb… it’s Mo’s Xmas Party, on December 16, and have a go at this lineup! They’ve got DAY WE RAN, SUNDAY SESH, LAMU, TOMORROW’S FORECAST, FERNY FAIRWAY, SHED FIENDS, UPDOG and THE RENTONS!!

It’s the ultimate blend of Gold Coast powerhouses mixed in with some absolute heavy hitters, and it’s all for such a great cause with all proceeds going towards THE SANCTUARY REFUGE. It’s easily the pick of the Golden Gigs when you know it’s gonna have all those warm fuzzies and good vibes.  

Main picture: Black Flag (1985). From left Henry Rollins, Greg Ginn, Kira Roessler and Anthony Martinez. Naomi Petersen.

Ryan Barwick And His Band Loose Goose

If big splashy surf tunes had a love affair with good old Aus-indie rock, then Burleigh surf rockers Loose Goose would be the baby.

With a huge soaring sound of guitars drenched in sweat, spit and a touch of salt, these four scrawny lads are the perfect merry-go-round of chaos, you never want to leave.

Taking a leaf out of the books of bands such as Beddy Rays, The Grogans and Sun Room, they even mix in a touch of that Spacey Jane swagger.

And they wear their hearts on their sleeves, never leaving the stage with an ounce left in the tank.

After playing to packed crowds across South-East Queensland, Loose Goose dropped their highly anticipated debut EP, “Not a Big Fan”.

Cranking the dial up another notch, the album gives fans a series of tracks which are sure to get your goose looser than grandma’s knitted sweater.

Members

Wil Wood, Max Humphrey, Ryan Barwick, Greg Pheasant.