Aussie rockers Grinspoon's renaissance continues, with the 'Chemical Heart' band returning with their first new music in 12 years ahead of a massive 45-date national tour.
'Unknown Pretenders' is trademark Grinners – heavy riffs, pounding drums, and charismatic vocals – and heralds a new era for the Lismore natives, who've been crafting their eighth studio album, 'whatever, whatever', with Holy Holy's Oscar Dawson (who has also produced for the likes of Amy Shark, Teen Jesus And The Jean Teasers and Last Dinosaurs) across the last two years."It's with a curious trepidation, but ultimately a feeling of unfulfilled wonderment that we reach into the caverns of our beings for a new journey of recorded endeavours, one which we are proud but tentatively a little scared of releasing," frontman Phil Jamieson says.
"'Unknown Pretenders' was written in the dawning of the pandemic in a small studio in Adelaide February 2020, with a number of other tunes as well. It's a magical riffy song about the end of the world and who will actually survive."
With 'whatever, whatever' to be released 9 August (pre-order it), Grinspoon worked closely with Dawson – who became almost a fifth member of the group – to shape the creative and sonic direction of 'whatever, whatever'.
"Oscar is an incredibly talented creative, engineer and producer," adds Jamieson. "We hadn't worked with an Australian producer for a very long time, and it was a refreshing change. Recording with Oscar became very collaborative, he's humble and understands the different dynamics within the band."
Fresh from proving they're still a 'Hard Act To Follow' last summer, Phil alongside Joe, Pat and Kristian return to the road September through to early December on a monster 45-date run of shows they've dubbed the 'whatever, whenever, wherever' tour that will visit every Australian state and territory.
"This thing ain't for the faint hearted," a clearly amped Phil enthuses, the zeal for touring life evident. "We're really trying to get to as many places as possible.
"It kind of harks back to the olden days of touring; four guys in a van with some guitars. With the release of new music we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to see Grinners, and we're going back to some venues we haven't played in 20 years.
"To say we're excited is a massive understatement! Over the last six years we have played arenas and stadiums and theatres, and what not, and it's all been tremendous and we have loved every minute of it.
"But there is nothing like the three-hour drive after a show, the 9am checkout from the hotel, and the first stop to get a chicko roll and strawberry milk – black coffee for me, I am now an adult.
"These gigs will be madness – sweaty Tuesdays, taking the day off work on a Wednesday, remembering the reason you go to pubs. Our venues are suffering out there in the regions, so we are bringing the show to them. We can't wait to see you all."
Tickets on sale from 9am (local time) on 27 May.
Grinspoon 2024 Tour Dates
Tue 17 Sep - Ballina RSL (Northern Rivers)Wed 18 Sep - Southport RSL (Gold Coast)
Fri 20 Sep - The Tivoli (Brisbane)
Sat 21 Sep - The Powerhouse (Toowoomba)
Sun 22 Sep - Miami Marketta (Gold Coast)
Tue 24 Sep - The Dag Pub (D'aguilar)
Wed 25 Sep - Brothers Sports Club (Bundaberg)
Fri 27 Sep - Harvey Rd Tavern (Gladstone)
Sat 28 Sep - Great Western Hotel (Rockhampton)
Tue 1 Oct - Seabreeze Hotel (Mackay)
Wed 2 Oct - Magnums Hotel (Airlie Beach)
Fri 4 Oct - Queens Beach Hotel (Bowen)
Sat 5 Oct - Dalrymple Hotel (Townsville)
Mon 7 Oct - Hinchinbrook Shire Hall (Ingham)
Fri 11 Oct - Burdekin Memorial Hall (Ayr)
Sat 12 Oct - Brothers Sports Club (Cairns)
Wed 16 Oct - The Station (Sunshine Coast)
Fri 18 Oct - Racehorse Hotel (Ipswich)
Sat 19 Oct - The Princess Theatre (Brisbane)
Sun 20 Oct - Distillery Rd (Brisbane)
Tue 22 Oct - Metro Theatre (Sydney)
Fri 25 Oct - Sawtell RSL (Coffs Harbour)
Sat 26 Oct - West Tamworth Leagues Club
Sun 27 Oct - Finnian's Tavern (Port Macquarie)
Tue 29 Oct - Bar On The Hill (Newcastle)
Wed 30 Oct - Drifters Wharf (Central Coast)
Fri 1 Nov - Sydney Coliseum
Sat 2 Nov - The Cube (Sydney)
Sun 3 Nov - Waves Towradgi Beach Hotel (Wollongong)
Tue 5 Nov - 170 Russell St (Melbourne)
Fri 8 Nov - Bridgeway Hotel (Adelaide)
Sat 9 Nov - The Gov (Adelaide)
Sun 10 Nov - Northern Sound System Event Centre (Elizabeth)
Tue 12 Nov - Commercial Hotel (Melbourne)
Wed 13 Nov - Village Green (Melbourne)
Fri 15 Nov - Pier Bandroom (Frankston)
Sat 16 Nov - All Seasons (Bendigo)
Sun 17 Nov - Barwon Heads Hotel (Surf Coast)
Thu 21 Nov - Discovery (Darwin)
Fri 22 Nov - Noonamah Tavern (Darwin)
Tue 26 Nov - Astor Theatre (Perth)
Fri 29 Nov - Mundaring Weir Hotel (Perth)
Tue 5 Nov - Country Club Tasmania (Launceston)
Wed 4 Dec - Frankie J's (Devonport)
Fri 6 Dec - Odeon Theatre (Hobart)
