Feature: Katey's Aussie Bands 101 - Lesson 2
Being the resident Aussie, I thought I’d teach our new (and existing) fan base a little about Aussie bands, seeing a majority of you appear to be from Europe and the UK. After all, I don’t want you to miss out on the unique culture and talent that we have over here!
Each edition I will be introducing you to two bands – they could be ‘Classics’ (an old/gone/split band), ‘Faves’ (current/popular bands), or ‘Newbie’ (up and coming and/or unsigned bands). I’ll try to mix it up every issue. This month I am only going to cover one band. The reason for this is because I feel that they have made such a significant mark in Australian music that they really deserve their own review. They are, without a doubt, one of my personal favorites, but don’t worry, I have not been biased (or tried not to be). Ladies and gentlemen, I give you GRINSPOON.
Classic Aussie Rock: Grinspoon
Affectionately known by fans as ‘The Grinners’, the Australian punk/grunge/funk band, Grinspoon, hail from the North Coast of New South Wales, an area noted for attracting an alternate lifestyle community to its rural seaside setting. Guitarist Pat Davern and bassist Joe Hansen met vocalist Phil Jamieson and drummer Kris Hopes in 1995 on jam night at the main hotel in Lismore, the major town in the area. They decided to form a band specifically to enter a national competition looking to unearth new music. The contest was the first of its kind being run by the government-funded national youth radio network, Triple J. They won the competition with "Sickfest", the first song the band had ever written. The name Grinspoon comes from pro-marijuana activist Dr. Lester Grinspoon.
On the back of their Triple J success Grinspoon began touring and recorded a self financed five track CD Licker Bottle Cozy in July 1996. They were then signed to MCA's Australian subsidiary Grunge, recording another EP before the September 1997 release of the band's first album Guide To Better Living, named after a Sunbeam booklet of white goods from the 60's. They insisted on recording their album locally in Byron Bay rather than heading for a big city studio. The album reached #3, spent 26 weeks on the national charts, achieved double platinum status, and generating a number of hit singles. After extensively supporting the American release of Guide To Better Living with live performances, the band re-entered the studios in Sydney with expatriate American producer Jonathan Burnside (Nirvana, Melvins) to record the second album Easy, released in November 1999.
The Grinners' third album is a powerful burst of prime rock and roll. New Detention captures both the adrenaline-charged highs of the band’s celebrated live shows and the more subtle craftsmanship of their now finely-honed songwriting. This is an album with immediacy and depth – the first listen will knock you around, but subsequent plays will reveal new layers.
The singles that have preceded the release of New Detention represent Grinspoon circa 2002: the melodic, heartfelt ballad Chemical Heart has been the bands most played track on Australian radio across many radio formats, clocking up an incredible 12 weeks at the top of Triple J's Net 50.
Having toured Australia and North America extensively while selling over 250,000 copies of their first two albums, Grinspoon concentrated on pushing boundaries for their third album. The first step was an intensive stint of songwriting - only the best tunes were considered. Grinspoon played at 2002’s Big Day Out festival (I was there!) then embarked on a brief national tour on the back of the Chemical Heart single. A sellout national tour to introduce New Detention followed. Then main stage appearances at all major Australian festivals including Homebake, Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival.
2002 was a huge year for the band. New Detention reached gold status in ten days, and has subsequently gone double platinum. For 47 of the 52 weeks in 2002 a Grinspoon track featured in the top 10 of the Triple J Net 50 program. They also received three ARIA nominations including the much coveted Best Group and Single of the Year.
The Panic Attack EP released in early 2003 gave Grinspoon the honour of having the highest ever debut single in the Australian charts. The cover of INXS's Don’t Change (which just happens to be the song on my myspace page at the moment) was a huge hit and was followed by a national tour in which Grinspoon played to over 30,000 fans.
In late 2004, Grinspoon released Kills, Thrills & Sunday Pills, a CD whose title raised a few question marks about lead singer, Phil’s, drug problem. In an interview with radio station, Triple J, however he reassured his fans that ‘Sunday pills’ were simply aspirins or pain killers. Hard Act To Follow was one of the 50 songs Grinspoon took with them to producer Howard Benson’s studio in Los Angeles earlier that year to begin work on the new album. While Hard Act To Follow might sound like a classic slice of Grinspoon, the rest of the new album was something of a surprise. The boys decided that they wanted a change of scenery – and a challenge – hence the change in style.
Finally, to mark their 10 year anniversary in the biz, Grinspoon released Best In Show, their first (of many, we hope) best of album. The album also came with a bonus disc of six cover songs from other great Aussie acts. As one reviewer said, “Yes, ‘Best In Show’ has all the hits, but most importantly, it illustrates Grinspoon’s ability to rock your socks, bound around the room, wave your lighter in the air and sing at the top of your lungs.” I couldn’t have said it better myself! Here’s to another ten years of The Grinners!
Official website: Grinspoon
NEXT ISSUE I’m going to tell you about a couple of new bands – Kisschasy, and End of Fashion – so stay tuned.