I remember 15 years ago going out in the city and on a Saturday night you could have shot a cannon up Swanston st and not hit anybody
I agree with Thirsty Boy.
As a working musician I would see more pubs and clubs from all angles and all times of day and night in a week than most people would in a month or more.
The worst brawls I have witnessed have been in the country and at suburban football clubs.
On particular one in Warracknabeal would have made King St. look like a boy scout boxing bout.
St Kilda, Carlton, Brunswick etc would only have very minor hassles if any.
Stage managed a heavy metal fire aid night in the city centre a couple of weeks ago and when I checked with the bored looking security as to whether their were any hassles..."Only a couple of girls having a go at each other." (That was at 5am)
Where Thirsty Boy has hit it on the head is that trouble moves from location to location. In the 70's and 80's it was the suburban beer barns that were the focus.
The pattern appears to be something like this.
New music scene starts.
The buzz goes out and it gets bigger.
It catches on in mainstream large venues and attracts people that don't necessarily go out to hear music.
Things get rough and the actual music scene moves onto something new somewhere else.
Repeat the pattern.
(At the moment there is a lovely underground movement in Dubstep and drum and bass. They have peaceful happenings in certain places. If it hits mainstream then we'll probably see those styles vilified if it gets to an incident.)
Cheers