End of an era in Croydon: Bodyjar headline final show at EV's Youth Centre

Bodyjar, one of Australia’s most prominent and successful punk rock bands, will this weekend play a sold out show at EV’s Youth Centre, as the iconic eastern suburbs venue readies to shut its doors for redevelopment. 

While many Australians might be focused on the federal election taking place on May 3, a tight crowd will be crammed into the very venue that helped catapult Bodyjar’s career, helping the band tour their albums, get airtime on the radio and be asked to play on international touring festivals like the first Vans Warped Tour in Melbourne in 1998.

Over the years, the venue also gained a reputation for hosting influential punk bands from overseas, including Bad Brains, D.O.A and Fugazi.

Bodyjar vocalist and guitarist, Cameron Baines, told the Eastern Melburnian EV’s – and all-ages venues like it – were fundamental to getting started.

“For us, they were a big deal because there weren’t many people organising all-ages shows and obviously all our fans were our friends who were all under 18,” he said.

“We played Bayswater Community Centre, Rowville Community Centre, and there were government organisations like FReeZA, which would put on all-ages shows.

“It seemed like a safe environment; you could stuff up and there weren’t too many consequences.

“EV’s became a venue that you had to play if you came to Australia. That exposed us to people who were fans of punk rock and that led to us playing our own shows which made our own profile bigger.” 

From 90s institutions to redevelopment

In the mid-to-late 90s and early 2000s, community spaces formed a regular weekend scene for upcoming punk and hardcore bands to fine-tune their stage craft and build their fanbases in front of all-age audiences in Rowville, Bayswater, Mooroolbark, and Croydon. Ticket prices were low and affordable. Music fans of all ages were welcome.

The original Bodyjar members – including Cameron – went to high school together in Vermont South where they used the school’s music equipment.

“We all went to Emmaus College, and we’d get to jam at lunchtimes,” he said.

“Early influences would’ve been Misfits, Descendents, The Cult, AC/DC, Metallica, Ramones and ALL.” 

This Saturday, EV’s Youth Centre is hosting the very last show of this kind before the venue and surrounding precinct undergoes a re-development. The building works will see the facade of EVs retained (it has local heritage significance) and incorporated into the design of a new community hub.

The EV’s Years: Passing the Mic event will feature influential and emerging Melbourne bands; a nod to the venue’s history and its importance to Melbourne’s live music landscape. Energetic bands including ARIA winner Slowly Slowly, as well as The Robbies and Baby Mullet, will appear on the bill alongside Bodyjar, and other prominent EV’s favourites including rockers Antiskeptic and hardcore heavyweights Nursery Crimes. 

Apart from an early finish time, what can ticket-holders expect at this sold-out show?

“A high-energy party vibe,” Baines said.

“I’m so stoked it is an all-ages show, and people can bring their kids, or kids who never get to see a punk show can go and see a proper punk show.

“I’m hoping lots of kids go, and their parents go, and everyone can have a blast.”

While previous band members won’t be joining Cameron on stage, a few younger guests are scheduled to join him instead. “My daughter, who’s 10, is bringing a few of her mates from school and they’re gonna jump up and hopefully help out at the end.” 

“We’ve got heaps of oldies - “Not The Same”, “One in a Million”, “Hazy Shade of Winter”, “Get Out Of My Head”.

“We want to play what people want to hear, it makes it more fun.”

The EV’s Years: Passing The Mic

• Date: Saturday 3 May

• Doors open: 3pm

• Venue: EV's Youth Centre. 212 Mt Dandenong Road, Croydon 3136

This event is all-ages and is strictly drug, alcohol, vape and smoke-free. 

This event is now sold out. 

Set times:

• 3.30pm: The Robbies

• 4.20pm: Nursery Crimes

• 5.10pm: Baby Mullet

• 6pm: Antiskeptic

• 6.50pm: Bodyjar

• 7.50pm to 8.50pm: Slowly Slowly