The interview all about Meanjin/Brisbane, with the city's finest creatives.
Birthed in South Brisbane/Meanjin - Altandi is a 4 piece band of bothers - bound by blood, law and spirit. With their most recent release 'Gutter' the band continues to showcase their sonic versatility. With a wide variety of influences, the band isn't so easily defined by a single song. Elements of pop, punk, alt, rock, emo and indie can be heard all throughout their discography - and, just like any good book, Altandi has so much to offer within its pages.
Find out some of Altandi's favourite things about the city we call home.
Starting with the big question… Northside or Southside, and why?
Southside! I suppose it's just that all 4 of us have always lived on the Southside! In fact, we got our band name from Altandi Station, which is in Sunnybank! I am still yet to learn what exactly Altandi means, which I think was a subconscious motivation in naming the band after it. So that maybe one day it would come up in conversation and someone would go: *insert incredibly insightful history behind the name Altandi*
What’s been your favourite venue to play in Brisbane so far? What made it stand out to you?
The Zoo is just a vibe, front to back. It is such a sick place to go see shows! So being a patron, let alone playing a show there, just fills my cup! Ben's Burgers in the alley out the back has also become a tradition in itself, once again, whether we are playing a show are simply seeing one!
Time to give some local businesses some love. What are your go-to restaurants and bars in Brisbane and why?
I guess sort of got a little ahead of my self dropping Ben's Burger in the last question, but also, Uh Oh Spaghetti-o! It's this little Italian restaurant just up the road from The Zoo on Anne St, and the host small shows upstairs. Such a cool vibe seeing a show there because the standing area is right next to the bar, so you literally don't have to walk away mid-set to grab another drink! Personally, I had my first ever cannoli there and holy heck was it de-LISH.
While we’re on that topic, do you have a favourite cafe?
Extraction Coffee in Slacks Creek deserves a lot a love. They import the good stuff and roast it themselves and their menu is so unique, very artisan. I have never found a place with a menu quite like theirs. Plus, like any good hipster place, it is tucked away in an industrial jungle which adds to the vibe.
What local acts have you been digging lately?
Oh man, there are so many bloody GOOD bands in Brisbane at the moment. I have been listening to Meleluca's latest EP, which slaaaps, also Bad Neighbour, Verum, BRAT, Profanity Fair, Plain Colours, Honeychurch, Acid Cherry, Tragic Me, Grim Richard, and honestly I could keep going because I am digging EVERYTHING right now!
Who was the last local band you went and saw live?
I am a dad so I don't get out as much as I would like, but Odin recently filled in for drums for Plain Colours (and it was my birthday so I had some brownie points to go out for a night) and they are really frickin good!
What venue in Brisbane would you love to play that you haven’t yet?
The day we land a slot at Tivoli, I know I will cry for sure. We all saw Semantics play with Beddy Rays there during the peak of covid, and then Mayday Parade played there with Real Friends and that was the first international act post-covid that we had seen. Both very special shows for us.
From photographers to visual artists, videographers or booking agents, do you have any Brisbane creatives that you’d like to give a shout out to?
Big big love to Gabi Rankine and Darcy Goss! They have done live photography for lots of our shows. Also a big shout out to Jesse Moore who did our music video for our Debut Single 'Better Man' and Colin Jeffs from Ten of Swords Media who did our latest single 'GUTTER' - both of which we couldn't be happier with!
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