For better or worse, the closure of gyms and fitness centres as a result of the latest lockdowns has unsurprisingly lead to most Aussies giving home workouts a go.
For gym buffs whose workout schedule, until recently, consisted exclusively of group fitness classes, the realm of solo home exercising may be a little daunting — particularly where technique is concerned.
But for those of us just jumping on the iso-workout bandwagon, there are two moves we should be particularly wary of, according to National Group Fitness Manager atGoodlife Health ClubsLuke Marino: squats and planks.
In many ways these common exercises are perfect for an at-home workout — after all, both can be done without any equipment, and in a confined space. However, when not performed correctly, injury isn’t just a possibility, but very likely.
To show just how wrong things can go, Luke shared with 9Honey Coach the four pressure points to watch out for, where squats and planks are concerned. Watch him demonstrate in the footage above, and continue reading for his tips.
The squat
Most common mistakes: Knees tracking too far inwards towards each other, putting pressure on your knees and lower back. Also, knees extending over the front of your toes.
How to fix it:Keep your feet at a comfortable shoulder-distance apart, with your feet facing straight ahead, and focus on tracking your knees directly over your toes.
Make sure you bend your knees with your first movement so your rear moves backwards and down (as if sitting on a chair). Keep your back straight throughout the entire movement.
Your knees should generally only go to 90-degrees (for beginners), and once you get some strength and range of motion in the knee and hip joints, you may then squat a little lower, which will increase the strength of your legs and glutes.
The plank
Most common mistakes: Dipping your hips too low, causing pain in the lower back, and dropping down through your shoulders.
How to fix it: In a correct plank position, your shoulders, hips and knees should create a straight/neutral spine position, with your weight mainly sitting through your elbows, forearms and feet.
Try to brace your core tightly by drawing your belly button up towards your spine, and keep your back straight as if you have a glass of water balancing in the middle of your back.
Luke Marino is the National Group Fitness Manager at Goodlife Health Clubs. VisitGoodlife at Homefor more online home workouts, recipes, fitness tips and expert Q&As.
Physical punishment does not appear to improve a child’s positive behaviour or social competence over time, according to a review of 69 studies from the US, Canada, China, Colombia, Greece, Japan, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
The review,published Monday in the journal Lancet, found physical punishment such as spanking is “harmful to children’s development and well-being,” said senior author Elizabeth Gershoff, a professor in human development and family sciences at The University of Texas at Austin.
Research shows that physical punishment does not improve children’s behaviour, it only makes it worse. (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
“Parents hit their children because they think doing so will improve their behaviour,” Gershoff said. “Unfortunately for parents who hit, our research found clear and compelling evidence that physical punishment does not improve children’s behaviour and instead makes it worse.”
Children acted out more after punishment
To measure the impact of spanking and other physical punishments that parents might typically choose to discipline a child, the review excluded verbal and “severe” types of physical punishment that would be characterised as child abuse.
That included such actions as “hitting a child with an object; hitting or slapping on the face, head or ears; throwing an object at a child; beating; hitting with a fist; punching; kicking; washing a child’s mouth out with soap; throwing down; choking; burning; scalding; and threatening with a knife or gun,” Gershoff said.
Some studies in the review found mixed results, seeing some positive and negative effects associated with physical punishment. But the majority of the studies showed a significant negative impact in a number of ways.
The most “consistent support,” in 13 of 19 independent studies, was that spanking and other forms of child punishment created more external problem behaviours over time, Gershoff said, such as “increased aggression, increased antisocial behaviour, and increased disruptive behaviour in school.”
Acting out by children who were physically punished occurred no matter the child’s sex, race or ethnicity, the review found.
One study, done in Colombia in South America, found that young children who were physically punished gained “fewer cognitive skills” than did those who were not physically punished, the review found.
Seven of the studies Gershoff and her team reviewed examined the association between the frequency of physical punishment and a child’s negative behavior over time. Five of the seven found a “dose-response effect,” she said.
“In other words, as physical punishment increased in frequency, so did its likelihood of predicting worse outcomes over time,” she said.
Some studies in the review found physical punishment increased conduct problems and signs of oppositional defiant disorder, which is characterised by temper tantrums, argumentative and defiant behaviour, active defiance and refusal to follow rules, spitefulness and vindictiveness.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Another outcome was that physical punishment increased the risk that children would experience severe violence or neglect that might trigger involvement by child protective services.
Finally, the review found that any negative outcomes of corporal punishment were not eased by parenting style. Four out of five studies found that an overall warm and positive parenting style “did not buffer the effect of physical punishment on an increase in behaviour problems.”
Spanking still allowed worldwide
As of 2017, some 63 per cent of children between the ages of 2 and 4 — or some 250 million children — live in countries that allow spanking and are regularly subjected to physical punishment by their caregivers,according to UNICEF.
In the US, all 50 states say it’s legal for parents to use physical punishment on their children. Nineteen statesstill have laws on the booksthat allow schools to use corporal punishment during the school day, although some school districts in those states havebanned the practice.
Some change is underway. Astudy published in Aprilfound spanking declined in the US between 1993 and 2017, partly due to changing attitudes among millennials and Gen X parents, who appear to be spanking their kids less than previous generations.
Some 50 per cent of parents reported spanking a child in 1993, but by 2017 that number was down to 35 per cent, the study found. However, that number is still too high by 2018 standards set by the American Academy of Pediatrics, said Dr. Robert Sege, who specialises in the study of child abuse,in a prior interview.
The pediatricians’ group suggests adults caring for children use “healthy forms of discipline” — such as positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviours, setting limits and setting expectations — and not use spanking, hitting, slapping, threatening, insulting, humiliating or shaming.
“Parents should never hit their child and never use verbal insults that would humiliate or shame the child,” said Sege, lead author of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ policy statement on corporal punishment.
Globally, 62 countries have prohibited physical punishment of children in all settings and a further 27 countries commit to doing so, according to theGlobal Partnership to End Violence Against Children. Despite this advance, “only 13%per cent of the world’s children are fully protected in law from all corporal punishment,” the agency says, and 31 countries still allow whipping, flogging and caning as a sentence for crimes committed by juveniles.
Children have the right to freedom and protection from “corporal punishment and other cruel or degrading forms of punishment, states the United Nations 2006Convention on the Right of the Child, and the UN General Assembly has included the protection of children from all forms of violence as a “sustainable development goal.”
“Given the high prevalence of physical punishment around the world, there is no time to waste — all countries should heed the UN’s call to uphold children’s human rights and promote their wellbeing by prohibiting physical punishment in all forms and all settings,” Gershoff and her team wrote.
If spanking doesn’t work, what does?
The American Academy of Pediatricsrecommends a number of alternativesto spanking, including taking toys and privileges away and the age-old technique of time-out.
Sege said the techniques depend on the child’s age.
“During the first year what infants need to learn is love,”Sege said in a prior interview, “while they discover their new abilities such as crying and making messes. So parents should distract, by giving them other things to do that are less disruptive or picking them up and moving them to a different place. That’s all they can do.”
As kids grow to toddlers and persist in doing things you don’t want, he said, the best technique is to tap into their need for attention.
“Toddlers crave their parent’s attention, so use that to your advantage,” Sege said. “Pay attention to the things your children do that are wonderful; reward them for those with praise. Then when they do something you don’t like, put them in time-out and take the attention away. Use that. That’s how time-outs work.”
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
As children get older, he suggests letting them learn the natural consequences of their behaviours.
“Instead of shielding, help them learn the lesson, as long as they are not in danger,” Sege said. “Things like, ‘You didn’t put your toys away, so instead of playing, you have to clean them up before we can play.’ It takes parents out of the loop.”
Teenagers, he said, also need to learn to take responsibility for their actions.
“And you do that by calling them out on their behavior and its consequences and then help them figure out how to resolve those consequences.
“It’s hard, because it requires, at least at first, a level of mindfulness and thought on what you are doing as a parent,” Sege said. “Parenting isn’t easy. The good thing is that our children excuse us for the mistakes we make.”
Stepz Fitness is on a roll, with two new gyms set to open in July. When the gyms open their doors in Eastwood and Shellharbour in New South Wales, slightly delayed because of the current lockdown, there will be 16 outlets in the Stepz Fitness network.
Stepz Fitness Eastwood is taking over the space of a former Plus Fitness gym which has relocated, and will have a mezzanine added to increase the gym’s footprint to 400sqm.
The Shellharbour gym is the second outlet for franchisee Daniel Hotchkis, something franchisor Sam Waller is keen to see and encourage.
“I am heavily focused on multi-site ownerships as this indicates the franchisee has achieved great success in their first gym. Daniel has fully subscribed to the new Stepz Fitness model and is a true believer in the business model and what the brand represents.”
Former franchisee Sam Waller bought out the franchisor in 2018, shifting the business with a brand refresh and the addition of a functional group fitness studio to the existing 24/7 gym setup to help it stand out from the competition.
Sam is ingrained in the business, starting as a personal trainer before buying his own gym, and taking on the top job seven years later.
The unique insight he garnered from working at all levels in the franchise allowed him to transition successfully.
Group training was added not just to improve the business profitability but to achieve the fitness goals of Stepz Fitness members with a value-driven program of classes ideal for the more budget-conscious gym users who can access up to 26 classes a week, says Sam.
The 2021 Stanley Cup Final is filled with contrasts. On the one hand, the Montreal Canadiens are the most storied franchise in hockey history, with 23 Cups on the club’s resume. But they haven’t appeared in the Final since winning the last of those in 1993. On the other hand, the Tampa Bay Lightning had just become a team when the Habs last lifted Lord Stanley. Despite the franchise’s youth, the Lightning have become one of the league’s best teams this century. They won their second Cup last year and have established themselves as a mainstay in the playoffs.
Now the two will meet with everything on the line. The Canadiens emerged from the league’s pandemic-created North Division, a collection of the NHL’s six Canadian franchises (all grouped together because of COVID travel protocols and restrictions), and then beat the Vegas Golden Knights in the semifinal round to claim their spot in the Final. The Lightning took the Central Division and beat the prickly New York Islanders in a seven-game series to earn their shot at a repeat championship. The games start Monday night and run every other night until there’s a winner, with American broadcasts on NBC Sports Network for the first two games and NBC after that. Each game starts at 8 p.m. (EDT), except Game 7, which will start at 7 p.m. (EDT) if needed.
Here are four storylines that will define the series.
How will the Canadiens deal with the Lightning’s significant talent edge?
On paper and in reality, Tampa Bay has the better players. Center Brayden Point has 14 goals in this year’s playoffs; no other player has more than eight. Winger Nikita Kucherov, who missed the entire regular season with an injury, has 27 points. Nobody else has more than 20, and nobody outside Tampa Bay has more than 16. (Kucherov and Point, along with teammates Alex Killorn, Steven Stamkos, and Victor Hedman, lead the league in playoff points.) Montreal has two players, winger Tyler Toffoli and center Nick Suzuki, with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
The teams haven’t faced each other yet this season because the NHL limited teams to playing within their divisions. It’s not entirely clear how the Habs will try to neutralize the Lightning’s big guns. It’s also not clear how involved head coach Dominique Ducharme will be for the first two games: Due to a positive COVID test, he can’t get behind the bench until Game 3.
Both teams have elite goalies. Will either one crack?
26-year-old Lightning backstop Andrei Vasilevskiy is the best goaltender in the world right now. In 18 playoff games, he has allowed 36 goals, despite facing enough high-quality scoring chances that the analytics say he should’ve given up an additional 23 goals.
Vasilevskiy’s 22.8 goals saved above expectation in the playoffs are 11 more than the next-best goalie, who happens to be Montreal veteran Carey Price. The 33-year-old is a former league MVP and Vezina Trophy winner (awarded to the league’s top goalie), and he remains one of the best in the world. The likeliest outcome is that both netminders play well. If one of them surprisingly does not, that’ll change the entire dynamic of this Stanley Cup Final.
Where will Montreal find offense?
It’s obvious enough who will do the scoring for Tampa Bay. The Lightning have the best collection of forward talent in the world, and they’ll continue to get goals from those players. Their ace line of Ondrej Palat, Point, and Kucherov has been entirely unstoppable this spring. Their second line of Killorn, Stamkos, and Anthony Cirelli has been only slightly less superhuman.
Montreal doesn’t have scorers of that caliber, but the Habs do have some notable talent. They’ll need a lot from leading scorers Toffoli and Suzuki, certainly, but they’ll also need secondary scoring. One candidate who could provide it: Tiny rookie Cole Caufield. The 5-foot-7, 20-year-old winger didn’t make his NHL debut until April 26, but he has emerged as an important player for Montreal. After not scoring in his first nine playoff games, he’s scored four in his last six.
What effect will home crowds have on the series?
Home-ice advantage belongs to the Lightning, who will host the first two games, as well as Game 5 and Game 7 if necessary. When the Lightning are at home, they’ll enjoy the backing of a crowd of around 14,800 people—about 80 percent capacity for Amalie Arena. On the other hand, when the Canadiens host Games 3, 4, and (if necessary) 6, they’ll likely only have some 3,500 fans in attendance due to COVID regulations in Quebec. While those 3,500 people might make enough noise that they sound like 20,000, the varying crowds could affect how much of a boost the teams get at home.
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It’s never too late to start exercising and get in shape for your ideal beach body. Enjoy the rest of this summer feeling good!
Editor’s note: This story was originally published on March 7, 2018 and was updated on June 28, 2021.
As this summer heat comes in and we start to enjoy activities like lounging by the pool or going to the beach, it often brings with it the dreaded thoughts of getting in shape. It’s never too late to start your fitness routine. Here are 5 ways to conquer your goals.
Put more cardio into your workout. Most of us dread the thought of cardio, even though aerobic training is an important component to losing fat. If the treadmill is too stressful, try an outdoor hike.
Add strength training to your workout. Building muscle is a vital way to conquer stubborn body fat. If you don’t want to bulk up, try lifting lighter weights with higher reps.
Watch what you eat. Consider switching to a healthy low calorie diet with plenty of lean protein, fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid processed foods.
Swap sugary drinks for water. Sweetened beverages add lots of unnecessary calories. If you want flavor, add a lemon, lime or orange slice to make your water fun. There are also some delicious zero-calorie water enhancers. Remember, alcoholic beverages have calories and dehydrate the body, so enjoy them sparingly.
Be realistic. Losing weight takes time. For every pound, it requires burning 3,500 calories. If you take 350 calories out of your diet every day, it will take 10 days to lose one pound. Set a realistic goal for yourself and remember that depriving yourself isn’t the answer.
Leading exercise facility group Genesis Health and Fitness has been promoting a sponsored post on Facebook, in which it claims to be the “#1 Growing Fitness Franchise” as ‘news’.
It’s a move that has surprised Australasian Leisure Management Publisher, Nigel Benton who explains “it’s remarkable that a major fitness operator like Genesis – which has a pretty credible brand – should go down this route with a piece of poor quality motivational-style speak posted as paid for sponsored content.
“When something pops up on your Facebook feed saying ‘news’, you expect it to be that, not a poorly written piece of promotion.
“News should be about real achievements, like the wonderful piece we ran yesterday on Lift Brands investment in Fitstop which has not only been reported by us but has also been reported as a ‘serious’ business success in the pages of the Australian Financial Review.
“That’s the type of coverage credible fitness businesses should be looking for, not rubbing shoulders with the increasingly dodgy advertisements that all-too-often appear on Facebook and other social media platforms.”
Since its creation in 2003 and its explosion in use across the world over the last decade, Facebook has offered may marketing opportunities for brands. It, and other online platforms, have made it easier than ever before to reach highly targeted audiences with the information that sellers want them to see.
However, in the last few years, and particularly during the Coronavirus lockdowns of the past 12 months, scam and fraudulent activities have grown significantly.
Recording the extent of online scam activities, market research company Gallup revealed last year that in four Americans is a victim of cybercrime each year, from relationship scams to fake IT support to Ponzi schemes to phishing. Last year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 467,361 complaints, with reported losses exceeding US$3.5 billion.
Trying to halt this is a challenge, with the USA’s Time magazine reported that shopping scams on Facebook are ripping off significant number of customers while, in April, UK consumer watchdog Which? found Facebook, as well as Google, either failed or was slow to remove online scam advertisements after fraud victims reported them.
Australasian Leisure Management knows Genesis Health and Fitness to be a credible business and is not suggesting its social media advertisements are fraudulent activity in any way.
However, Benton suggests that being in this marketplace is not good company for Genesis to be keeping, adding “there is so much misinformation, fake news and the like, all responsible businesses have a responsibility to not undermine media that aims to be factual and accurate.”
In addition, he commented “the brand must have some great news to share but doesn’t seem to have a grasp on media relations.”
Benton cited an example of Genesis not having a culture or tradition of media engagement, recalling “in 2017 when the business reached its 20th anniversary it didn’t see such an operational success story as being newsworthy. Australasian Leisure Management was the only media outlet to report this success.”
Genesis has not responded to a request for comment.
The item posted by Genesis as news is as follows:
The happiness formula is simple. “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life” – Mark Twain If you’re lying awake at night staring at the ceiling… Counting how many hours of sleep you have until your dreaded alarm goes off… You need to listen closely… Why? Well, what you are about to discover could be the secret ticket to take you from a dead-end job that just ‘pays the bills’… To a fulfilling and stable business, that gives you purpose… Meaning… And sets your soul on fire. Look. We all regret something at one time or another. Regret that we never completed that uni degree… Regret that we didn’t take up that insane job opportunity because it seemed too good to be true… And even regret that we decided to take ourselves down a path that was never on our internal vision board. It can be soul breaking. But we’ve all been there before… And no matter what age… What type of family responsibilities… Or how far into a career we are… We can ALWAYS redirect our life’s path… And set us down a road that puts the fire back into our lungs… Sets us up financially… And gives you something to jump out of bed for. Before I go any further, let me introduce myself… I’m Magdalena Schoeman, business manager for Australia’s largest family-owned fitness and leisure business group – Belgravia Group. With over 200+ locations and an annual turnover of $500m… My team and I know what it takes to run a successful business. We’ve recently put together a FREE guide on the 5 critical questions you MUST ask before you buy a gym franchise. Because by not asking these questions… The financial (and emotional) risks you might face could be devastating. Click the link below to secure your copy now: https://offer.genesisfitness.com.au/5-questions/ Here’s what’s covered inside: ✔️ The #1 biggest mistake new gym owners make when buying a franchise…and how to avoid it (Don’t make this rookie mistake and it could save you thousands!) ✔️ The formula Magdalena uses to pinpoint to perfect suburb hotspot – You’ll discover the exact checklist they use to find the best suburb that will support long-term growth for your new gym. ✔️ The one question that could save you THOUSANDS in franchise fees: This simple question could make a HUGE difference to the profitability of your gym Sounds jam-packed, right? Now, I have to let you know… This guide isn’t just some fluffy piece of writing to make you feel warm and cuddly. It’s cold hard, laser-focused steps and checklists that you can implement TODAY to get yourself a business to call your own. You won’t just find out my winning formula…
Images show Genesis’ sponsored Facebook posts.
About the author
Bill Gillies
Staff Writer
Bill Gillies is a staff writer at Australasian Leisure Management.
Asking a small favour We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you’re here can we ask for your support?
The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.
However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine – if you don’t already do so.
Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.
As thecoronavirus pandemic continues, and Sydney is plunged intoanotherlockdown, getting back to your pre-pandemic fitness levels has just taken another blow.
With gyms and fitness centres closed combined with extended periods of time at home, most likely on the couch, you may be wondering how to maintain your exercise regimen.
Fortunately, there are simple ways you can work on your fitness from the comfort of your home — and the best part? You don’t need equipment, or a lot of space to work up a sweat.
(Getty)
If you’re looking for core, cardio and high-intensity interval training-style workouts, with just five steps to follow,we’ve got a selection for you here— just remember to warm up before you get started.
The calories-in-calories-out (CICO) theory of weight management is simple: if you eat more food than you need, you’ll get fatter. Eat less than you need, and you’ll get skinnier.
This is, of course, an oversimplification of how our bodies work. Everybody needs a different amount of food, and everybody processes that food a little differently — but the basic equation still always applies at a big-picture level.
Knowing this, many people then wonder: is it possible — considering all calories were equal — to lose weight eating only junk food?
Strawberries versus iced doughnuts, (Getty Images/iStockphoto)
To find out why, we posed this hypothetical question to the dietitians:
What’s the difference between 1000 calories of healthy food, and 1000 calories of junk food?
According toThe Nude Nutritionistand dietitian Lyndi Cohen, there’s a multitude of differences — the main one beinghowyour body actually uses the food you put in your mouth.
“If you’re eating 1000 calories of junk or processed food, your body won’t actually process the energy the same as if you were eating 1000 calories of whole foods,” Cohen tells 9Honey Coach.
“For instance, if you were to have a 200-calorie piece of chocolate cake, those calories would be absorbed differently compared to 200 calories of nuts.
When it comes to being as healthy, (and frankly,as good-looking as possible) having an adequate amount of muscle mass is key. This doesn’t mean you have to walk around looking like a competitive bodybuilder, but the more muscle you can keep on your frame the less likely you are to become injured, sick or frail.
“For wellbeing, it’s the quality of the calories you’re eating that matter,” Cohen tells 9Honey Coach.
“If you eat a diet that’s high in protein and fibre and nutrients, you’re much likely to build and retain muscle mass, which burns calories even when you’re resting.
“Conversely, if you eat a diet high in sugary, processed foods high in unhealthy fats, you’re likely to lose some of that muscle mass and generally not look or feel as good.”
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Your energy will be more sustained
Technically, 1000 calories of processed food contains exactly the same amount of raw energy as 1000 calories of healthy food — after all, a calorie is defined as being the amount of energy that’s required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree Celsius.
So no matter whether you’re eating Mars Bars or salads —– provided they’re both equivalent to 1000 calories — you’re still getting the same potential energy.
But as Cohen explains, if you choose to eat your total days’ worth of energy in Mars Bars, you’re essentially telling your body that you’ve decided to dump all of this energy at once, instead of slowly releasing it in timely bursts over the day.
“If you were to eat 1000 calories totally from processed food, you’re likely to go through peaks and troughs with your energy, and feel hungry for much of the day,” explains Cohen.
It’s a sentiment that sports dietitianAlison Pattersonagrees with, arguing that just because a food is dense with calories, doesn’t mean it has the nutrients required to keep you going.
“Highly processed foods are typically low in fibre, which can lead to gut issues such as bloating and stomach pain,” Patterson tells 9Honey Coach.
“It’s also likely that you’d feel fatigued as many of the essential nutrients needed for good health — such as iron and other vitamins and minerals — are often lacking in heavily processed foods.”
You can eat bigger meals
The biggest difference between 1000 calories of junk food and 1000 calories of nutritious food isn’t so much avoiding the inevitable sugar coma – it’s in the sheer amount of food that you actually get to eat.
As Cohen explains, because foods like chips, sugary drinks and fast food are so calorie-dense, you simply don’t get to eat as much for the same bodily “cost”.
“It’s what we call food volume – 1000 calories of healthy food will fill up potentially a few plates, where 1000 calories of junk food would look tiny in comparison,” says Cohen.
“Plus, because the healthy food is likely to contain wholegrains, healthy fats and protein, so you’re much more likely to be satiated and you won’t feel hungry again soon after eating.”
Your body composition will be better
If you’re looking to lose sheer weight, then making sure you’re eating less calories than you need is key. But if you simply want to look better — no matter what the number on the scale is — then you’ll needto focus on building muscle mass, and losing fat.
The best way to do that, unsurprisingly, is to improve thequalityof your diet. As Cohen explains, we’re beginning to understand that the type of foods you eat can actually play a role in how your body stores fat.
“Research has shown that a diet high in processed foods could actually cause your body to store more fat — particularly around your stomach.” says Cohen.
“Essentially, if you can sacrifice the instant gratification of processed foods you’ll reap all the rewards of long-term health — like more muscle mass, improved mood and lower risk of chronic disease — from healthy foods.”
It really depends on who you talk to, but considering the noise generated by the Veronicas a fortnight ago, this Aussie pop act had some shoes to fill for Origin II.
Queensland-based band Sheppard filled the pregame entertainment honours in Brisbane, playing their omnipresent 2014 track ‘Geronimo’ to Suncorp Stadium.
Their debut album Bombs Away hit No. 2 on the ARIAs album charts, with the lead single spending three weeks at No. 1.
Considering the near-impossible logistics of providing stellar live audio to viewers at home, the band didn’t sound half bad. But, as always, the official #Origin Twitter handle lit up once the six-piece took the stage with punters sharing a piece of their mind about the NRL’s pre-game entertainment choice.
Again, it really depends who you talk to. For some, ‘Geronimo’ is a beautifully carefree tune reminiscent of days in the sun as a teenager. For others, it’s just another shamelessly clean-cut example of where pop music went horribly wrong.
As mentioned after Game I, it’s fair play to Sheppard. With gigs scarce post-Covid, booking a 5-minute slot warming up Origin in Queensland is a goose egg Aussie musicians can’t pass up, even with the expected social media baggage that follows.
The general consensus appeared to be against the pop mainstays performing at yet another Australian sporting event, after recently having played at halftime for the 2020 AFL Grand Final.
“It’s really a dream come true, we’ve been watching Origin since I moved to Brisbane for boarding school,” lead singer and keyboardist George Sheppard told 4bc radio on Saturday.
“We used to get together in the boarding house, it was a huge event. Now I’m apart of it, it’s a real pinch yourself type moment.
“(The AFL Grand Final) was next-level. We got to pretend to be Coldplay for a moment,” he said.
“When the industry fell off a cliff in 2020, we just felt so lucky to be able to do something like that.”
When asked where the inspiration for the title track of their upcoming LP Kaleidoscope Eyes came from, Sheppard referenced his own lyrics and not the recurring line in Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds made famous by The Beatles.
“How do you come up with all of those titles?!” Sheppard was asked.
“Well, Kaleidoscope Eyes is actually a lyric in the first track of the album,” he replied. “I just thought it summed up the entire album and summed up what we were trying to say, and the thematic tone of the thing.”
