Fortitude Music Hall - Brisbane, QLD

Written by: Rashid + Sarah AlKamraikhi - Sense Music Media
Photos by: Rashid AlKamraikhi >> SEE PHOTOS

We arrive into the valley to the sight of families lined up around the block representing all the various subcultures that skateboarding, the Tony Hawk Pro Skater video games, and their soundtracks have influenced over the years.

Today these worlds will indeed collide at The Fortitude Music Hall as they all come together to celebrate a quarter century of the video game franchise and to see the legend himself, Tony Hawk, hit the vert ramp.

The event is split into two sessions; All Ages in the afternoon, and Over 18 in the evening. Both sessions have common elements but also some that are unique to each one. Being that we are here to attend both we decide to preserve our strength and avoid the oppressively hot weather by hiding out in a nearby watering hole until the doors open and the queue has died down. 

Unfortunately we hide out a little too long because by the time we get in first act, TEENAGE JOANS, has already wrapped up and left the stage, and locally sourced skaters are beginning to rip up the vert ramp which had been set up smack bang in the middle of the venue.

The Fortitude Music Hall itself has been dressed up with both fake and real skateboards mounted on all the walls. Kiosks are playing videos about the THPS games, and consoles ranging from PS2’s on CRTs to the latest Xbox’s on Flatscreens are running various iterations of the games for people to play. This even includes one behind the sound desk that is hooked up to the cinema screen at the back of the stage for people that really want to show off their combo skills and high score runs. 

Merch stalls are selling tshirts, skateboards, and other related paraphernalia. Platypus Shoes are vending fresh kicks, Dominos are slinging greasy disks free of charge, and a tattoo parlour sponsored by Sailor Jerry is providing free tattoos for anyone wanting to take home a more permanent reminder of the day. They even have a sweet Fingerboards course setup for those who are more dexterous with fingers than feet.

Back in the main hall YOURS TRULY are busting out their alt rock jams. The audience which is spread out around the ramp, and crowded around the mezzanine, are locked into their engaging performance. It’s very cool to see parents and kids getting into the music at what must be many of the younglings first taste of it. 

It’s now time for the BIRDHOUSE SKATE TEAM to utilise the plywood and coping. We are treated to tricks from pros such as Lizzie Armanto and Jaws who appeared in THPS5 but the whole crowd goes wild every time Tony Hawk drops in.

They take turns going run for run, amping each other up to go harder and higher. Finger flips, tailbones, nose grabs, crooked grinds, big spins, you name it the team are throwing it out as DZ Deathrays DJ from the top of the ramp. 

The crowd don’t want it to stop but after several calls for ‘last run’ the Birdhouse team depart the ramp and Birdman or The Unexpected Virtue of a Tony Hawk Pro Skater Cover Band enter the stage. I’ll talk more about them in the second session suffice to say they blow the crowd away. As the first session draws to a close host Danny Clayton remarks “How amazing for everyone whose first live event this is, although you’ll be wondering at the next one why there’s no free Pizza.”

The All Ages crowd flood back out into the heat of the Valley and we go back to hiding out to await Session Two, determined not to be late this time. Thankfully we’re on it and get back in on time to be welcomed to the land it is held on courtesy of Songwoman in training, BARINGA.

ALEX LAHEY, whose song Misery Guts was featured on the THPS 1+2 soundtrack, is the first artist to perform at the Over 18 portion. Big hooks, sing-a-longs, and rock out moments litter her set and fires up the mostly fresh crowd that are arriving at the venue.

I glossed over them before while reporting on the first session but the local crew had really set a high bar for the international skaters, and they’d be damned if they weren’t going to do it again. Hopefully this event encourages more people to support the shredders we have here. Yes it is mind blowing to see Tony Hawk but head down to your local and get stoked by what’s in your own back yard!

Australian punk rock royalty are next to grace the stage as BODYJAR slam harder than a 10ft bail out on the vert ramp. Their track Not The Same was a standout on the THPS3 soundtrack and they rock it as well as a bunch of other rippers from throughout their over 30 year career. 

Session Two for the Pros sees them pushing harder to nail some tricks that had eluded them in the first. Tom Schaar seems determined to launch through the roof of the Fortitude Music Hall and Gui Khury is trying to spin up another cyclone for the season, nailing a 720 in the closing minutes of the session. It’s another Masterclass of skating on the Y-Axis.

To wrap things up BIRDMAN are back on stage to put it down. They tear through a plethora of standout tracks from the THPS soundtracks including MOTORHEAD’s Ace of Spades, OPM’s Heaven is a Halfpipe, PRIMUS’s Jerry Was A Race Car Driver, and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE’s Gorilla Radio. 

To cram in even more songs they perform a couple of medleys that hit several key songs from the games. They don’t do it alone though with several guests joining them throughout their set including members of DZ DEATHRAYS, OFFICER DICK to help control the crowd and provide skanking two steps, and finally TONY HAWK takes the mic and belts out a couple of songs including GOLDFINGER’s Superman.

At the end of the set the entire crew of artists and skaters are up on stage (or off depending on who’s dived into the crowd) and Tony gives his heartfelt thanks to all involved. This has to have been one of the coolest events we’ve ever been to and we’re so unbelievably grateful that we got to do it twice in one day!

Photos by: Rashid AlKamraikhi
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