YH: Gâday Brad, can you tell us a bit about Psyched As?
BK: Gâday! Psyched As started in 2016 when Millsy and I met at University. We were both looking to move out of our current houses and put on some gigs together, so we decided to combine the two. We moved into a house in Petersham, where we turned a retail shop space into a gig room. At its core, Psyched As represents community. Our events have always been somewhere for likeminded people to connect through good music, and now, theyâre also about Millsyâs legacy. He loved music, and poured his heart and soul into Psyched As. Everything down to the name reflects his outlook on life.
YH: Can you tell us a bit about Millsy and who he was?
BK: He was an icon in every sense of the word. A true larger than life character, a thrill-seeker, and the purveyor of many good times and laughs. He had an energy that lit up any room he walked into. I think everyone who knew him, even if just for a moment, felt like theyâd just made a best mate for life. A dear friend, bandmate, colleague, beer rep, brother, son, uncle, partner, local music icon; an all round legend loved by many.
YH: How did the first âPsyched As. Foreverâ gig of 2023 come together? What was the response like?
BK: We reached out to our collective network of bands and friends and pulled together the lineup really quickly. Everyone who played had played a Psyched As show before, or knew Millsy. We were blown away by the support of the artists, the local community, the sponsors, and friends and family who came out in droves for him. We sold the show out and managed to raise some money for BulaâBula Arts Centre in Ramingining. (Special shoutout to my dear friend Liz from YH who without a hesitation helped me pull it all together!)
YH: What were some of the most memorable moments from the gig?
BK: Every band on the day performed a cover of a song that connected them to Millsy.Pist IdiotscoveringThe Cleanwas definitely a highlight! Millsy was well known for not wearing shoes, so the lads fromPEELgot the crowd to go shoeless which was pretty special. The âPsyched As House Bandâ set was pretty wild too. Made up of housemates, friends, and Millsyâs partner Samara, we covered a set of songs that had a special story and connection to him.
YH: How has it evolved for year two? What are we in for on Jan 27?
BK: Weâve got three stages this year - bands across two (with no clashes!) and stacks of DJs. Weâve moved the gig to theSydney Portugal Community Clubin Marrickville, so the music will be spread across inside and outside stages, all day long into the late evening. Apart rom tunes, thereâll be pop up tattoos byThanks TattooandTattoo Rosies, plenty of good booze from YH and Grifter, and delicious food fromPizzamici.
YH: Can you tell us a bit about Millsy's connection to the BulaâBula Arts Centre in Ramingining, and why you've chosen to donate a portion of proceeds to them?
BK: Millsy and Samara spent several months working there in 2022, and the community loved him as much as we did! I feel like he wouldnât want us making a fuss over him, so this felt like the right way to give back to the Yolngu community. The money raised last year was used to buy artwork for what will become the Ramingining Community Collection. These pieces will be kept for the intergenerational transmission of culture and preserved for ongoing cultural teachings.
YH: Who are you most excited to see hit the stage at âPsyched As. Foreverâ?
BK: For me, personally itâsLos Tones- they were one of the first local bands Millsy and I bonded over way back in our Uni days, so to have them play is special. I also canât wait forDARTZ,who are making the trip over the Tasman to come play.C.O.F.F.I.Nas well - theyâre one of the best bands in Australia, so Iâm keen to see them tear up the stage. Honestly though, I love every band on this lineup. Iâm beyond stoked that theyâve all said yes to playing, so Iâll be in the mosh for each and every one one of them.
Cheers Brad!
âPsyched As. Foreverâ is going down on Saturday, January 27 at Sydney Portugal Community Club in Marrickville. See below for the full lineup andclick hereto grab your tix today.
On Saturday, January 27th, weâre teaming up with local music tastemakersPsyched AsandThe Grifter Brewing Co.to throw our support behind âPsyched As. Foreverâ - a celebration of the life and legacy of local Inner West musician, and Psyched As co-founder Richard âMillsyâ Mills, who tragically passed away in 2022. The stacked lineup features a bunch of Millsyâs mates from Sydney and beyond, with a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales being donated to theBulaâBula Arts Centrein Ramingining.
We caught up with Psyched As co-founder Brad Kafer to learn more about the gig, Millsy, and the legacy he leaves. Read on.
YH: Gâday Brad, can you tell us a bit about Psyched As?
BK: Gâday! Psyched As started in 2016 when Millsy and I met at University. We were both looking to move out of our current houses and put on some gigs together, so we decided to combine the two. We moved into a house in Petersham, where we turned a retail shop space into a gig room. At its core, Psyched As represents community. Our events have always been somewhere for likeminded people to connect through good music, and now, theyâre also about Millsyâs legacy. He loved music, and poured his heart and soul into Psyched As. Everything down to the name reflects his outlook on life.
YH: Can you tell us a bit about Millsy and who he was?
BK: He was an icon in every sense of the word. A true larger than life character, a thrill-seeker, and the purveyor of many good times and laughs. He had an energy that lit up any room he walked into. I think everyone who knew him, even if just for a moment, felt like theyâd just made a best mate for life. A dear friend, bandmate, colleague, beer rep, brother, son, uncle, partner, local music icon; an all round legend loved by many.
YH: How did the first âPsyched As. Foreverâ gig of 2023 come together? What was the response like?
BK: We reached out to our collective network of bands and friends and pulled together the lineup really quickly. Everyone who played had played a Psyched As show before, or knew Millsy. We were blown away by the support of the artists, the local community, the sponsors, and friends and family who came out in droves for him. We sold the show out and managed to raise some money for BulaâBula Arts Centre in Ramingining. (Special shoutout to my dear friend Liz from YH who without a hesitation helped me pull it all together!)
YH: What were some of the most memorable moments from the gig?
BK: Every band on the day performed a cover of a song that connected them to Millsy.Pist IdiotscoveringThe Cleanwas definitely a highlight! Millsy was well known for not wearing shoes, so the lads fromPEELgot the crowd to go shoeless which was pretty special. The âPsyched As House Bandâ set was pretty wild too. Made up of housemates, friends, and Millsyâs partner Samara, we covered a set of songs that had a special story and connection to him.
YH: How has it evolved for year two? What are we in for on Jan 27?
BK: Weâve got three stages this year - bands across two (with no clashes!) and stacks of DJs. Weâve moved the gig to theSydney Portugal Community Clubin Marrickville, so the music will be spread across inside and outside stages, all day long into the late evening. Apart rom tunes, thereâll be pop up tattoos byThanks TattooandTattoo Rosies, plenty of good booze from YH and Grifter, and delicious food fromPizzamici.
YH: Can you tell us a bit about Millsy's connection to the BulaâBula Arts Centre in Ramingining, and why you've chosen to donate a portion of proceeds to them?
BK: Millsy and Samara spent several months working there in 2022, and the community loved him as much as we did! I feel like he wouldnât want us making a fuss over him, so this felt like the right way to give back to the Yolngu community. The money raised last year was used to buy artwork for what will become the Ramingining Community Collection. These pieces will be kept for the intergenerational transmission of culture and preserved for ongoing cultural teachings.
YH: Who are you most excited to see hit the stage at âPsyched As. Foreverâ?
BK: For me, personally itâsLos Tones- they were one of the first local bands Millsy and I bonded over way back in our Uni days, so to have them play is special. I also canât wait forDARTZ,who are making the trip over the Tasman to come play.C.O.F.F.I.Nas well - theyâre one of the best bands in Australia, so Iâm keen to see them tear up the stage. Honestly though, I love every band on this lineup. Iâm beyond stoked that theyâve all said yes to playing, so Iâll be in the mosh for each and every one one of them.
Cheers Brad!
âPsyched As. Foreverâ is going down on Saturday, January 27 at Sydney Portugal Community Club in Marrickville. See below for the full lineup andclick hereto grab your tix today.
