Melbourne power-pop trio Icecream Hands hit the road this March to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their most successful album, 'Sweeter Than The Radio'.
'Sweeter Than The Radio' was released in 1999 and spawned tracks such as 'Nipple', 'Dodgy' and 'Yellow & Blue', which remain favourites among fans.
Bassist for Icecream Hands, Doug Robertson recalls the period around writing and recording 'Sweeter Than The Radio' as a distinct peak of the band's career. “When we recorded that album we were at the top of our game really,” Doug says.
“We were playing live constantly so we were a pretty slick unit, and the songs came together in a real live sense, which was something we'd never really done before.
“We'd done a lot of multi-tracking and layering up stacks of harmonies and different guitars, so it's really quite a true representation of where we were at the time and it really comes across in the recording; it's got that real 'live' feel.”
'Sweeter Than The Radio' is a truly 'Melbourne' record, having been tracked at Bakehouse Studios in Fitzroy and recorded at Hothouse Studio in St Kilda. “It was just a lot of fun to be locked in a room for a couple of days,” Doug reflects.
“We sort of went a bit stir crazy and drank too much beer and whatever else was going around,” he laughs. “We had fun. It was hanging out with your mates and making good music, and nothing beats the feeling of that.”
The album also secured Icecream Hands a trip to Sydney for the ARIA Awards when it was nominated for Best Adult Contemporary Album in 2000. Although they didn't win, Doug specifically remembers not leaving town empty-handed.
“Basically everyone at the ARIAs was staying at the Sebel Townhouse the night before it was [to be] demolished, so there was quite a few people who got a little piece to take home with them.
“There were door handles missing and pieces of the wall taken out; I don't think they had any bathrobes, towels or slippers left, put it that way,” he laughs.
In 2004 Icecream Hands called a hiatus, occasionally reconvening in the years since to play one-off shows.
Looking back on the decision to call it a day, Doug says it was a natural departure point for the band. “I think Marcus [Goodwin] our guitar player was pretty keen to settle down and we all had young kids at the time as well so your focus shifts,” he explains.
“We've never essentially broken up, we've never said 'that's it'. We've just had long breaks in between but we're all still really good friends.
“I’ve been collaborating with Charles [Jenkins, vocalist/ guitarist] for quite a few years on his solo albums and that sort of stuff, so we've still got that connection and we're all each others' best mate.
“When you share something like being in a band in your 20s and 30s, it's something that never leaves you.”
Icecream Hands 2019 Tour Dates
Sat 9 Mar - Northcote Social Club (Melbourne)Thu 21 Mar - The Zoo (Brisbane)
Fri 22 Mar - Factory Floor (Sydney)
