When Grinspoon finally teased the release of their eighth studio album, Whatever, Whatever, fans knew they were in for a treat.
This Friday, August 9th, marks its official release, and since the release of the album’s two lead singles, anticipation has built to an all-time high.
But the band aren’t stopping there.
Vocalist Phil Jamieson, guitarist Pat Davern, bassist Joe Hansen, and drummer Kris Hopes are gearing up for a massive 45-date national tour, kicking off in September, and it’s set to be one of their most ambitious endeavours yet.
It has been 12 years since Grinspoon‘s last studio release, Black Rabbits, and the journey to Whatever, Whatever has been one of both individual growth and collective synergy. After such an extensive break from the studio, the band members focused on their individual strengths with this record, bringing a renewed energy and creativity to the recording process.
“It’s a mixed candy box of favourites,” Jamieson says of the project — perhaps the band’s most collaborative to date. “There’s a little bit of hardcore on this record, a little bit of punk, some emotional stuff with ‘Underground’ and ‘4, 5 & 7’. So yeah, there’s something for everyone.”
The ‘Whatever, Whenever, Wherever’ tour, which is set to accompany the album release, will follow in much the same vein. With up to five shows a week for 12 weeks, it’s a marathon that requires careful planning and preparation to see it through.
Jamieson explains the band’s planning process: “You write a set list that lets everyone work to the best of their ability without completely cooking themselves. There’s a fair bit of strategy behind the songs you pick and the songs you play each night, making sure that there’s enough peaks, valleys, troughs — lots of troughs — so we can actually deliver a gig every night that is close to a hundred percent if we can,”
The first 10 shows or so might still be a work in progress, he adds. “It’s just a matter of finding that balance during the first week, where we’ll be able to go, that works there, this doesn’t work. Let’s have Phil do a whole solo set on his own so everyone can have a break…”
Hopes isn’t averse to the idea of a mid-set break. “That sounds good, man,” he laughs. “I reckon it takes a good week for a set to settle in, so I reckon we’ll find our feet.”
The band will also be doing pre-production rehearsals in Byron to figure out where the newer material fits into the set list. “Obviously people are going to want to hear ‘Chemical Heart’ and ‘Just Ace’, so we’ll probably have to put those tracks in somewhere,” Jamieson jokes, “and then figure out where we put the newer stuff. But I love putting the thought into the live show. It’s one of my favourite things to do.”
Grinspoon encountered myriad challenges in planning the tour. “We actually tried to play more shows on this tour, and due to logistics and venue availability and some venues not having noise restrictions, we couldn’t actually do it,” Jamieson explains.
Despite playing 45 shows in some of the more regional towns that haven’t seen a band like Grinspoon visit in decades, they still copped some backlash online for not playing in certain locations. The band did, however, do their best to cover as much ground as possible — a lot of it thanks to the crew who will be journeying around the country with them. “We’ve got the best crew,” Jamieson says. “These guys are no slouches. They can make a show out of anything. So that’s part of the fun — turning a bowling club into a Grinspoon gig.”
Some people, though, will still find a reason to complain. “People are using excuses like it’s on a Wednesday, I can’t come,” Jamieson adds. “I’m like, well, okay, just don’t say next time when we announce a tour that we didn’t come to see you guys.”
“At least we’re giving them something to complain about,” Hopes laughs.
“But look, we’re playing venues we’ve never played before,” Jamieson continues. “We’re bringing a truck so we can bring all our fancy bits and pieces. Some of these venues haven’t really seen gigs like this before, so we’re really bringing 120 decibels of PA as well. It’s going to be fun.”
They’re also mindful of their fans’ schedules, with many shows starting earlier in the evening to ensure everyone can get home at a reasonable hour. “We’re purposely trying to start a little earlier and maybe only having one support, maybe only Press Club. So it’s just a two-band bill for those nights,” Jamieson says. “We’re trying to get everyone tucked in by midnight with a subway or a kebab and a Coca-Cola, ready for work the next morning.”
The early nights also make sense for the band, Hopes points out. “It also gives us enough time to get to the next town as well. We need to sleep, get up and drive.”
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Just so long as it’s not Davern doing the driving, according to Jamieson. “You just don’t let Pat drive. That’s one thing I’ve learned is that the guitarists always say he knows the way to go and then gets lost and then blames the map or the person sitting next to him that they were wrong,” he says. “I mean, I love Pat, but just don’t let him drive. That’s the one thing that I’ve learned. Joe’s a bit of a late breaker when it comes to acceleration and braking. Kris and me are probably the best drivers, I think.”
After nearly three decades on the road, Grinspoon have amassed a wealth of tour memories, both good and bad. Jamieson recalls a particularly eventful show in Deniliquin where he ended up hospitalised. “I got knocked out on stage,” he says, pointing to the scar on his forehead. “Head wounds really bleed a lot as a matter of fact.”
Hopes laughs. “You got smoked in the face with a VB,” he recalls. “Remember we burnt the PA down at Kingscliff?”
“Oh yeah, it actually caught fire,” Jamieson says. “We had to stop the show. That was crazy. And then they said they wouldn’t have us back to play there again. I’m like, we’re not going to come back, your PA blew up and caught fire. We don’t care if we’re never allowed to come back.”
Despite the challenges, the band members still find joy in touring. “Ultimately touring, wherever we tour, has always been incredibly fun. It’s a fucking great job and we love playing, so whether it’s somewhat negative, we try to find somewhat of a positive out of it as well,” Jamieson says.
Grinspoon’s new album is a testament to their versatility and creative prowess. From the high-energy “Nasty” to the emotional “Underground”, which features additional vocals by Ali Barter, the record offers something for everyone.
“’Nasty’ is a Pat Davern kind of classic rocker. It’s going to be fun to play live,” Jamieson says. “’Underground’ is probably one of my favourite songs off the record — maybe because I wrote it. It’s [a] song that I wrote that’s been floating around for almost 10 years and it went through many different arrangements and styles, and I think even Scott Russo from Unwritten Law ripped it off and used it on one of his songs, some of the lyrics of that.”
The band are also keen for fans to hear focus track “The Only One”, which is one song from the album that can easily transition to an acoustic performance. “It’s probably the most radio rock song. It could probably fit onto Black Rabbits in some ways. It’s pretty FM sounding, a bit classic,” Jamieson explains.
And of course, there’s “Never Say Never”, the second single — a Hansen composition which Hopes describes as having “lots of bits and stuff.” Jamieson adds: “It sounds like we were in 1997 being complicated and I’m just talking about all weird shit in the verses and then the chorus is super straight. So, it’s kind of classic.”
Last time Grinspoon toured, they offered a unique meet and greet experience which gave some fans the opportunity to play with the band at soundcheck. Logistically, that is impossible on this tour, but they’re still offering a fun experience for one lucky fan. “I wanted to do a hot air balloon ride and then Universal were like, no, we can do a Harbour Bridge climb,” Jamieson says. “I’m terrified of heights though. I might have COVID that day… Or I’ll get there, and I’ll be like, look, I’m just going to sing a song while you guys climb up there.”
After 29 years in the music industry — 29.67 years, according to Hopes — Grinspoon remain a force to be reckoned with. Their ability to adapt and evolve while staying true to their roots is a testament to their enduring appeal.
As they take Whatever, Whatever to wherever, fans old and new will get to experience the raw energy and passion that has defined the band’s music for nearly three decades. “It’s a big adventure, right?” Jamieson says. “I don’t know whether we’ll do this kind of extensive touring again, though. Or never say never.”
