As one of Australia's most productive bands, The Grogans have managed to balance both quantity and quality; the hype around new album 'Find Me A Cloud' is intense as they come off their raucous European tour to a flurry of Australian gigs.
Despite forming less than a decade ago, The Grogans already have an extensive discography spanning a number of EPs and five albums, soon to be six. This impressive output is the result of prioritising their natural creative flow, as guitarist Angus Vasic elaborates."We don't limit ourselves to strategic releases, we just love recording and sharing music so we're always pumping out ideas. Basically, anything we write goes out if we think it's good enough."
Their records span a varied range of sounds from garage rock to blues and punk, the result of a huge array of musical influences.
Always motivated by what they're listening to, early Grogans songs were inspired by the likes of early Tame Impala and Drunk Mums. The writing of 'Find Me A Cloud' was soundtracked more by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Angus reveals.
"We listen to a really broad range of genres which helps us, as we're influenced by a bunch of different artists and ideas."
The Grogans hard work has certainly paid off; of late they've been playing sold-out gigs across Australia, embarked on their first UK/ European tour, and have been booked to support staples of Aussie rock like Ocean Alley.
"It's awesome seeing people come down to the shows, and to play with big Aussie bands – it's really cool to get our foot in that door. It's all thanks to the team around us and the hard work we're putting in. We're keen to keep pushing it."
As for performing on the other side of the world, that was a new experience entirely for the band. "It was a really surreal trip," Angus says.
"We had no idea what to expect, we were kind of going over blind and thinking maybe there would be five or ten people at each show, but we got some amazing turnouts, we were super thrilled.
"During the first France show, mid set I had this moment like 'far out. . . we're on the other side of the world, and there are people here singing our songs'.
"The UK crowds were very similar to Australia, but in Europe the audiences weren't as hectic. . . less moshing, they were really listening, just paying attention and bopping their heads, it was cool."
The Grogans favoured recording spot is in surf town Ocean Grove on the Bellarine Peninsula. A family holiday home of sorts bought by Angus' grandparents back in the day has served as their HQ, but the time has come to say goodbye as it’s soon to be sold.
"We thought we'd go down one last time, set up for the week and write our new record. It was a cool experience writing there rather than just recording like we usually do."
This setting heavily shaped the album's sound. "We stayed very true to ourselves whilst writing, there's no real theme to the album, just us."
This authenticity followed through the recording process, as the band headed to Wellington to record with Bones and Jones' Jasper Jolley. "We recorded all the guitars and drums live, playing together rather than to a click by ourselves."
The album is thus very raw and real in its sound; true Grogans essence. The future for The Grogans is bright, and very busy. With upcoming gigs at BIGSOUND, another huge European tour, shows with Ocean Alley and a spring tour of Australia, they're raring to go.
"We're just gonna be playing live, a lot. We're real keen."
The Grogans' new album 'Find Me A Cloud' is released 20 October. Pre-order it.
The Grogans 2023 Tour Dates
Tue 5 Sep - BIGSOUND @ The Brightside Outdoors (Brisbane)Wed 6 Sep - BIGSOUND @ Soapbox Beer 6 (Brisbane)
Thu 7 Sep - BIGSOUND @ Prince Consort Hotel (Brisbane)
Thu 7 Sep - Felons Barrel Hall (Brisbane)* late show
Fri 8 Sep - The Northern (Byron Bay)
Sat 9 Sep - Miami Marketta (Gold Coast)
Sun 10 Sep - Solbar (Sunshine Coast)
Fri 15 Sep - Torquay Hotel (Torquay)
Sat 16 Sep - Gods Kitchen (Mornington Peninsula)
Sun 17 Sep - Pelly Bar (Frankston)
Sat 7 Oct - Pockets Moorabbin (Melbourne)* u18 show
Thu 12 Oct - Oxford Art Factory (Sydney)
Sat 14 Oct - Yours & Owls Festival (Wollongong)
Sun 15 Oct - Drifters Wharf (Central Coast)
