For over three decades, Custard have been a defining fixture in Australia's indie rock scene.
With their signature blend of quirky humour, heartfelt lyricism, and offbeat charm, the Brisbane-born band have built a cult following both at home and abroad – although, admittedly, the latter has been a more recent development.Now, Custard is back with their latest album, 'Suburban Curtains', a sprawling 21-track double record that's as ambitious as it is nostalgic. As they prepare to hit the road for their upcoming national tour, frontman Dave McCormack opens up about the band's creative process, the significance of this new release, and how Bluey brought Custard a surprising new wave of fans.
When you first hear that 'Suburban Curtains' boasts 21 tracks, you may think 'why so many?'. McCormack has a simple answer. "It takes us so many years now to put out albums, you may as well put everything you've got on there."
It's an unapologetically full-bodied approach, with the band leaning into the idea that when you finally get around to releasing new music, you might as well do it in a way that feels momentous.
As Dave further explains, the goal was more than just about the content. "I wanted a double album," he says. "It was more the process over content for me. I just wanted enough songs that we could warrant having a double gatefold album."
This record feels like a time capsule of Custard's journey, a testament to their past while simultaneously pushing forward. For a band that found its footing in the 1990s, a time when vinyl was starting to fade and CDs reigned supreme, the resurgence of vinyl now feels like a perfect fit for Custard's nostalgic ethos.
"Back in the '90s, everyone just put out CDs. We missed that whole vinyl thing," McCormack reflects. "Now, since we've released something [the last] ten years, we've always made sure it's on vinyl; and just for the kitsch aspect, I wanted a cassette. How good is that?"
"Through 'Bluey', we're getting lots of different people who want to go and see the band that Bandit's in. . . our songs are played all over the world now." - Dave McCormack
Released today, the album is available in multiple formats — vinyl, cassette, CD, and digital — and also showcases the artistry of Glenn Thompson, Custard's drummer and multi-talented band member.
"Glenn's a great drummer, a great singer, a great songwriter. He does all the artwork, he mixes all the recordings, and he finds great studios for us to record in. F... he's good," McCormack praises.
The band recorded at MONA's Frying Pan Studios in Hobart, where the vintage gear and former Abbey Road mixing desk added a rich texture to the album. As Dave points out, recording to an eight-channel tape felt like a return to simpler, more spontaneous times.
"You know how these days with Pro Tools, you've got like 192 channels or whatever? We had eight tracks," he says. "Often when you go to a studio, there's so many f...ing mics, and that's just on the snare drum, but we only had eight in total, so it was like, 'okay, great. Sounds good. Let's record.'"
That quick, raw energy permeates 'Suburban Curtains'. The band recorded much of the album in just two days, which lends a sense of urgency and authenticity to the final product. "We didn't have time to do many takes. . . It wasn't like, 'Oh God, we're going to play that song again'. It was like, 'Oh wow. I've got to remember how that song goes,'" McCormack laughs.
The analogue process also forced them to be more intentional with each take, and that first-run energy is palpable throughout the album. Among the many highlights of 'Suburban Curtains' is the single 'Someday', a track that holds deep personal significance for McCormack.
Written two decades ago with Canadian singer Serena Ryder, the song unfolded during a jam session at the home of Custard's late manager, Sarah Longhurst. Longhurst's passing last year hit McCormack hard, and it was only after her death he decided to resurrect the track.
"It was like, 'why didn't I record it while she was alive?' She made that song exist by getting me and Serena in the same space at the same time," he says. "So, it was very important to recognise what an influence Sarah was."
The theme of loss is something that runs through several songs on the double LP, a reflection of Dave's musings on time and mortality. 'Someday', along with tracks like 'Getting Over You' and 'Heart Attacks', capture the bittersweet reality of getting older, losing people, and facing the inevitable march of time.
"We're getting older," McCormack says frankly. "So many people that we grew up with have passed away. It's one of those things – you always think you'll see them again. Then they're gone."
However, as sombre as some of these themes are, there's still plenty of Custard's trademark humour and whimsy scattered throughout the album. McCormack's love song to Far North Queensland, 'I Love You FNQ', was inspired by a tour stop in Townsville last year.
"I foolishly forgot to get thongs. . . I just fell in love with the vibe there," McCormack recounts. "The streets were so wide, it was like a hot subtropical or tropical heat, and I just had to write a love song to Far North Queensland."
On another track, 'Never Liked Melbourne', McCormack offers a tongue-in-cheek ode to the southern city, a place he once dismissed as pretentious, only to change his mind after meeting close friends who helped him see its charm.
For all of its nostalgia, 'Suburban Curtains' feels fresh, in part due to the band's collaborative approach. With contributions from all band members, the album showcases a variety of tones and perspectives.
"It's great having three songwriters. . . Imagine if it was just one person singing all 21 songs. Oh my God, how awful would that be?" McCormack jokes. "Glenn's singing f...ing heaps of songs. I love it."
Custard's upcoming national tour promises to be just as exciting as the album itself. McCormack is keen to get back onstage, although he admits the late-night gigs feel a bit different now.
"It always seems very late to me now. . . If we're starting later than 9:30pm, the band has a collective sigh," he laughs. But there's something new in their audiences these days, thanks to McCormack's voice work as Bandit Heeler on the globally beloved animated kids series 'Bluey'.
The success of 'Bluey' has brought a new generation of fans to Custard's music, even leading to international interest in the band. "Through 'Bluey', we're getting lots of different people. . . our songs are played all over the world now," he says.
"We get a lot more kids coming along just through parents and parents who watch 'Bluey', and they want to go and see the band that Bandit's in. So, we're getting lots of different people."
Conversely, fans are bringing band memorabilia to comic conventions for McCormack to sign, particularly in America, where the 'Bluey' fan base is huge. "They make the connection, and they bring along Custard stuff for me to sign," McCormack laughs. "I don't think we're going to be world famous over there, but we've definitely got more interest than we had before 'Bluey', that's for sure."
As Custard hits the road, 'Suburban Curtains' stands as both a reflection of the band's storied past and a fresh step forward. It's a double album that encapsulates everything Custard does best: humour, pathos, and a knack for storytelling that can make you laugh and cry, often at the same time.
With the juxtaposition of tracks like 'Someday' and 'I Love You FNQ', the album is sure to be a fan favourite, and although the nights may end a little earlier than they used to, if McCormack gets his way, the band's national tour will undoubtedly deliver the kind of rollicking fun the band has built its reputation on.
After all, as McCormack himself puts it: "We don't know if and when we'll get to do it again."
Custard 2024 Tour Dates
Sat 9 Nov - Crowbar (Sydney)Fri 15 Nov - Republic Cafe (Hobart)
Sat 16 Nov - The Gov (Adelaide)
Fri 22 Nov - The Prince (Melbourne)
Sat 23 Nov - Live At The Bundy (Gippsland)
Sun 24 Nov - Theatre Royal (Castlemaine)
Fri 29 Nov - The Baso (Canberra)
Sat 30 Nov - The Marlin (South Coast)
Fri 6 Dec - Milk Bar (Perth)
Sat 7 Dec - Mojos (Fremantle)
Fri 13 Dec - Dalrymple Hotel (Townsville)
Sat 14 Dec - Edge Hill Tavern (Cairns)
Fri 20 Dec - Miami Marketta (Gold Coast)
Sat 21 Dec - The Princess Theatre (Brisbane)
