Some bands might be slowing down as they approach 30 years in the business, but this is clearly not the case with Grinspoon.
The boys from northern New South Wales have a great new album, 'Whatever, Whatever', their first release in over a decade, and have embarked on a massive tour of the country. 'Whatever, Whatever' contains a mix of true-to-form Grinners music, along with some heavier works, and even a ballad. The tour is playing well in excess of 40 gigs across Australia, a mix of larger venues, and much smaller local pubs and RSLs. Those who attend the shows won't be disappointed. The music is very well-known, and what they play off the latest album appeals equally to the crowds.
The tour is supported by fantastic Melbourne act Press Club and for part of the Queensland leg, the up and coming Ixaras. Miami Marketta is one of Gold Coast's iconic band venues, so everything is set for a great Sunday evening (22 September).
Ixaras kicks off the evening with a 30-minute set of mainly cheery singles released over the past three years or so. It's been hard for them to build a longer-term catalogue, if only because lead singer Ixara Dorizac is still in her teens.
We were told early in the set how lucky Ixara is playing with Grinspoon, telling the crowd she has been playing Grinners songs since she was 13. The music was great, with guitarist Tom Horton playing relaxed lead breaks over Ixara's lyrics and rhythm guitar.
Ixaras - image © Bill Prendergast
The highlight of the set was 'What The F...', which I was lucky enough to see twice in a week. Ixara brought an old-style telephone onstage (many in the crowd probably wondered what it was!), and used that as her mic for the song.
She contorts herself onstage, with a huge amount of movement, then moves down into the pit, eagerly singing to one of the vocal supporters in the crowd. It was wild and slightly chaotic – at one stage almost ripping the mic chord out of the phone – but I loved it, and the crowd certainly seemed to.
The second support was Press Club, and they were even wilder. The Melbourne quartet ground out an amazing 40-minute set, from their 3-album discography.
Singer Natalie Foster was incredible, leaping about, sending her hair flaying wildly throughout their set. At some points she was in the crowd, singing face to face and up close with the audience. Press Club are variously described as punk and indie; either way their music is fantastic.
They kicked off with 'Eugene', the opening track from 2022’s 'Endless Motion' album. They were shortly into 'Headwreck' off their first album, 2018's 'Late Teens'. After an early visit into the crowd, the poor security guard caught the opening verse of 'Headwreck' at very close quarters, with Foster really putting on an energetic show.
A couple of songs later, they were into what I think is their best song, 'Untitled Wildlife', again off the latest album. The song brings vibes of New Order, although at a significantly faster pace, and the lyrics are great, and fitting of Foster's wild onstage persona. Tonight it had a softer introduction, with Foster adopting the tambourine, but guitarist Greg Rietwyk was bringing a real wall of sound.
Foster played guitar on 'No Pressure', creating a much louder sound, and after a few more they finished on their best-known hit, 'Suburbia'. Press Club are fresh off a tour of UK, Holland and a range of gigs in Germany – and I can certainly see the appeal to the European crowds. Press Club were the perfect introduction for Grinspoon, and it looks like many will be lucky enough to see their show over the next three months.
Press Club - image © Bill Prendergast
When Grinspoon were due to come on, the crowd had been completely energised by the two support acts. The Grinners came on to 'Unknown Pretenders' off the current release. The opening guitar riff hits hard, and is the perfect track to start on.
Next up is the iconic 'DCX3', Phil Jamieson moving wildly and pouting at the crowd. The mic stand was held over the pit for the crowd to sing the four-word middle part (Dead. Far. King. Cat!). 'Just Ace' followed and I was surprised how quickly the first outbreak of crowd surfing was shut down by security.
A shimmering guitar led into the next one, which was one of my top picks for the evening: 'Rock Show'. To me, this song harks back perfectly to the '90s and every time I listen, I get shades of Rage Against The Machine's fantastic 'Bullet In The Head'. With 'Lost Control', the band were really hitting their straps; it's another of their classic songs.
'Jamieson then notes they have just released their first album in 12 years, and they're going to play a few off the new album. Ordinarily this is met with some disappointment, but that was not the case this evening, such is the quality of the new songs.
First up was 'Never Say Never' before they were shortly into what I consider the best song of the album, 'Nasty'. 'Nasty' featured a creative guitar solo by Pat Davern and this is the first time of the evening where Jamieson is screaming through the megaphone.
Grinspoon - image © Bill Prendergast
'Hard Act To Follow' is up next and there is a nice call and return between bassist and guitarist, and some more sustained attempts at crowd surfing. The trio gathers around drummer Kristian Hopes for 'No Reason', which is very catchy – the crowd was in full voice on this.
'ILYSM' is short and sweet, again off the latest release, followed by 'Better Off Alone'. The introduction to '...Alone' was showing some influence of 'The End' by The Doors, with a shimmering guitar style, which then moved into a more strummed style, but it was almost ballad-like and Jamieson played the beautiful Maton acoustic on the piece.
Feedback and distorted guitar led into 'Secrets'. Shortly after, Jamieson was up on the riser yelling "are you ready? Are you f...en ready," so everyone knows what's up next: 'Ready 1'. Jamieson really perfected his pout during this one, swinging his hips sensually (perhaps not unlike Michael Hutchence).
Grinspoon - image © Bill Prendergast
Phil then says he wants to welcome one of his favourite singers, and Nat Foster from Press Club is back on for a duet; she really showed some subtlety to her voice in what was effectively another ballad.
With Foster again departed, Jamieson introduces the band members, and of course the crowd knows every one, and in many cases has known them for 30 years. A drum solo introduces '1000 Miles' and there is a mass of stroboscopic light focussed on Hopes as he plays.
The INXS hit 'Don't Change' is a feature of Grinners' shows and it lifted the roof off, and right in front of the stage was yet another crowd surfer, bizarrely attempting to take a selfie of himself during the song – and with that we were down to the last three songs.
The real highlight of the night, and the one which gained the biggest crowd cheer, was 'Chemical Heart'. I love the guitar playing in this, and on both nights I saw them over the past week, I thought Davern's playing sounded almost bell-like on this number.
'Champion' was up next, another massive hit with the crowd, before Jamo cunningly asks whether they have time for one more. Of course, no one is fooled and the crowd is aware the Grinners usually finish on 'More Than You Are', a huge wind up, complete with red streamers strewn throughout the stage and venue. A great song to wind up on.
Grinspoon - image © Bill Prendergast
All up a fantastic evening, three great acts, and this tour is definitely one not to miss.
More photos from the concert.
