In November, Adelaide punk rockers Grenadiers released their third full-length studio album, 'Find Something You Love And Let It Kill You'.
The band is in the middle of a national tour with shows already played in Melbourne and Sydney. The 'Find Something You Love And Let It Kill You' album tour sees the band finish up with a home-town show in Adelaide next month.
We catch up with the band's bass player Phil Meakin to discuss the new album and their upcoming tour.
The band released your most recent album 'Find Something You Love And Let It Kill You' in November last year. How did you approach writing and recording the album?
[Phil] This record was written in a much more collaborative fashion. In the past, Jesse [singer] would have normally come to a jam with a complete or near complete song, which we would flesh out a bit and that’d be that.
This time around, we all brought riffs and ideas to the table. Even writing melodies and lyrics, we would sit in the control room in the studio and round-table ideas while listening to the track play. None of us had done that before, even in past projects that we have been in so that was new; challenging but a pretty cool experience.
I feel a lot more attached to this record because of the way we approached it.
How have you found the response to the album?
Overall, I think it has been pretty positive. Some good reviews along with general commentary from friends, family and fans has been encouraging.
This record has some fairly different moments on it compared to ‘Summer’ and ‘Songs…’ (the first record). So testing new waters can be a bit nerving [sic] but in the end you just got to write songs you like and if other people dig them too then that is a bonus.
Being the group's third album, how does it build on (or diverge from) previous releases?
I guess one notable thing is that we have stopped screaming as much. I mean, we still scream and yell and carry on but there was a conscious effort to try and write more melodically.
Sometimes it's easier to just scream sh#t rather than think of a good melody, so we tried to focus on that part of our songwriting. We experimented more sonically as well. Different drums kits were used for most songs.
We borrowed a bunch of other music gear from friends too. I think we had about 15/ 16 guitars to choose from at one point, plus countless amps etc. Lots of time just f*$#ing around with sounds and trying to find something cool and different.
What can fans expect when you hit the road in February-March?
Sweaty, old men drinking too many beers playing some rock and roll.
What are your own hopes and expectations for the upcoming tour?
I just want to have fun with my two best mates, play good shows and fingers crossed some people rock up to check it out.
Over the last few months we have all been ridiculously busy with life shit [sic]. Jimmy has been recording the Luca Brasi record in Tassie, so we haven’t hung out a lot. It’ll be good to get in the van and start pissing each other off again! Haha.
You recently celebrated ten years since playing your first show. Is that a fond memory for the band?
Jimmy and I weren’t in the band in its initial formation, so I can’t comment on that first show.
I do remember the first time I went to watch Grenadiers though. I left a party in town to run down to venue they were playing at just because I heard good things. I think it was the second or third show they had played. I took a demo afterwards and played it until the CD was too scratched to listen to anymore.
Fast forward three, four years, my first show with band was at the same venue. It was a hot, sweaty, drunken full-house and was the first time I had played a show playing bass. It was a good time! Actually, Perth legend Grim Fandango were also on that line-up. (RIP Grim)
Is there a highlight that stands out from a decade on-stage?
There has been a bunch. Playing, touring and making friendships with some teenage heroes in Unwritten Law and Millencolin was a pretty awesome time. Playing with Cold Chisel in front of 15,000-odd people was also pretty nuts.
I rarely get any sort of nerves before playing, but hands were definitely sweaty and shaky before we went on that day.
In all the years of performing live, what's the hardest lesson you've had to learn?
Some nights are great. Some nights are not. Both performance wise and attendance wise. You just gotta roll with them. That and learn to know how much you can drink and still play your instrument before a show. I think everyone has been that guy once or twice.
What's happening next for Grenadiers in 2018?
We’ve already been working on new music so who knows – another release? You’ll just have to see.
Where do you see the band heading over the next few years?
We’ll just do what we do. So long as we are still enjoying making music and people come to shows, we will be doing it.
What's something you love that you'd let kill you?
Puppies. Killer Puppies. Who doesn’t love puppies?
Grenadiers Tour Dates
Fri 23 Feb - The Northern (Byron Bay)Sat 24 Feb - Black Bear Lodge (Brisbane)
Fri 9 Mar - Mojos Bar (Fremantle)
Sat 10 Mar - Prince Of Wales (Bunbury)
Sat 17 Mar - Crown & Anchor (Adelaide)
