'You gotta love this city': The Whitlams and inner Sydney

This analysis of music ill cultural geography, in the con of the inner Sydn ey-based band The Whitlams, traces thr creative links between sounds,'scene s' and places. Based bz Newtown, The Whitlams art associated with political values, evident ill the band's name, and social values tied to and opposed to urban changes, such as gentrification, where community is threatened Th e band's lyrics emanate from their experiences, challenging commercialisati on of city life at different)Ef scabs and reflecting the anomie of city liv ing, but defending its virtues, whilst also fostering place stereotypes. Th e audience was similarly inner-city based until th band's recent commercial success, which has challenged The Whitlams' identity and radicalism, and r esulted in mainstream appropriation. Though The Whitlam's continue to reaff irm their local identity, and local audiences have remained, the popularity and commodification of their music has challenged concepts of shared meani ng, the link between bands and their fans, and the connection between music and its place of origin. The Whitlam's music nevertheless remains a means of evoking and sharing a sense of place.