Local Melbourne punk rockers Press Club delivered a warm and energetic set to start tonight off. I personally hadn’t seen the band before but had heard great things about the band live and tonight any curiosity was sure to be answered.
Press Clubs brand of punk pop is distinct in their own style and singer Natalie Foster is a ball of energy as she worked the restricted stage doing hair windmills, hair tosses, headbanging, all of the standard rock moves on steroids. Most unfortunately by the time we were four songs in, what I heard simply blended into what seemed like one long song. Perhaps the mix had a lot to do with this too. It was quite muddy and almost lo-fi in many ways. Maybe I missed the magic I had heard of about this band.
Six songs into their set the crowd had certainly moved forward and I must admit the cheers and applause at the end of each song grew and the room starts to sound better as it filled. The last 10 minutes of Press Clubs forty-minute set was an improvement sound wise and I found myself starting to engage slightly. Unfortunately for Press Club tonight all of Fosters in between song banter was muffled and muddy losing any intended connection as it just sounded terrible and quite inaudible. During their set the top end frequency made Foster’s voice harsh in the mix it may have just been a bad night but as an observer tonight most of the bands obvious appeal was lost on me. Something was not quite right in the bands set tonight although I did speak with others at the front during the Press Clubs set who absolutely loved it and heard something different.
Judging by the number of Grinspoon shirts from past tours everybody seemed to be here for one reason the headliner.
I love the fact that Grinspoon after almost 30 years of bringing a smile to so many faces are back playing these smaller and more intimate venues. “Whatever, Wherever, Whenever” indeed summed up the nature of this tour. The Whatever reflected their setlist, the Wherever – The Commercial Hotel South Morang, the Whenever a Tuesday night. Grinspoon in many ways have gone back to their roots is so much fun on this tour. Smaller more intimate venues in outer city suburbs is just a great thing to do for the fans.
I first saw Grinspoon at the University Of Tasmania in Hobart in what must have been 1997. It’s all a bit of a haze that first show as I am sure it was to the guys as well, but I do remember being blown away by the energy and aggression of that era of the band. Loud brash and unapologetic they caught my attention and turned me into a career long fan. Tonight was the 15th or 16th time I have seen Grinspoon live and they did not disappoint as always.
I remember just how incredible the reunion tour of 2017 was. Again, that run was a return to smaller venues and nobody really knew how long it would last. From that run of shows we have been blessed with seven years of touring where Grinspoon have been able to flex their muscle as one of this country’s finest live acts as they went from strength to strength, bigger venues and incredible productions. Last night felt really special. Phil being healthy too has done the band no harm at all. He is an elite front man and just engages with you as a punter regardless of the size of venue.
This year we finally got a new album in “Whatever, Whatever” which shows a more mature side to Grinspoon while having all of the hallmarks of their career. It’s possibly their most thought out and planned record, one that has grown with their fan base never losing sight of the band they started out as. All of that grit and aggression is still there along with a new sense of maturity.
The amazing thing about seeing Grinspoon today is that fans of the band of the early days have now introduced their kids to the band live the mix of fans tonight were not only long-time fans but there quite a few that were just of the 18+ only age in the crowd. Grinspoon has a sound that is distinctly their own and a style that has grown with them. Live they have always been a powerhouse. The bands energy is second to none every single time.
In the minutes leading up to the band taking the stage we were treated to an eclectic series of songs, any of which could have been the band’s intro tape. The Muppets ‘Mah Na Mah Na’ started this and is just the kind of humour you would expect from the guys. Warren G’s ‘Regulate’ followed and Boz Scagg’s ‘Lido’ played before the bands actual intro tape. The band simply exploded onto a smoke filled red lit stage as they opened with ‘Unknown Pretenders’ From “Whatever, Whatever” the first of six songs to be included in tonight’s set. Phil, Joe, Kristen and Pat were in fine form and the sound that had hit a whole new level. Jamieson prowled the front of the stage smiling, waving, connecting and engaging. You couldn’t help but be drawn to the charismatic persona that Phil is.
To really kick tonight into gear, we were treated to ‘DCX3’ and ‘Just Ace’ in quick succession, The Commercial Hotel had no time to prepare for the singing, bouncing and energy that was thrust upon us, you just went with it and were all in. A brief thank you from Phil welcoming us all for coming out on a school night prefixed the hit onslaught that continued with ‘Rockshow’ and ‘Lost Control’.
Speaking of their new album “Whatever, Whatever” being their first new music since 2012’s “Black Rabbits” we got a twofer in ‘Never Say Never’ and ‘Nasty’ both of which felt completely at home among the back catalogue. Still smiling and being the huge personality that is Phil Jamieson on stage we were treated to waves, smiles and his own unique sense of dance. Always engaging and just so much fun to be in the presence of. Might I say the band were simply on point, tight, powerful, loud and precise. A mix of old and new interlaced itself for the middle of the set with the last of the new songs ‘Underground’ being performed as a duet with The Press Clubs Natalie Foster who sang the song beautifully with Jamieson who also played acoustic guitar.
In recent years Jamieson has become more and more comfortable with a guitar slung over his shoulder, his playing is tight and adds the exact spice where it’s needed. Six of tonight’s songs he played guitar on, most of which are from the back catalogue contained him but brought back just how damn good a front-man he is when he is without it.
‘1000 Miles’ picked up the pace and had the crowd in fine voice again. ‘Don’t Change’ was introduced as a song that they were told sounded great live and since 2005 has been a staple in their set. I have always loved their version of the INXS classic and what else can you do but sing along with one of Australian Music’s finest moments. ‘Chemical Heart’ followed with the biggest sing along of the night, the power, connection and beauty gave me goosebumps it’s an absolute classic.
With the tail end of a seventy-five-minute, twenty song set that showcased six songs from the new album looming, it became obvious that picking a set list for the band isn’t perhaps as easy as it once was. While it was great to hear the new material live for the first time, there were some holes in the hits and live set staples that you would usually expect to hear.
Announcing that ‘Champion’ would be their last song a frenzied Commercial Hotel gave their all back as the band simply dove head first into it. The response was insane and safe to say there would be another song for good measure. Phil teased the audience with what should they play as the last song Freezer, Boundary, Black Friday, Post Enebriated Anxiety? Jamieson addressed the crowd for one last time saying “Thanks so much this has been fucking awesome, we are Grinspoon from Lismore. Good night Australia” as the band absolutely sent the crowd into a frenzy with ‘More Than You Are’. Hot sweaty, deaf, exhausted and full of smiles The Commercial Hotel emptied.
If you don’t dance, sing, move, groove or mosh at a Grinspoon I fear for your vitals. If you don’t come away smiling and exhausted, were you really there? This tour which is their biggest in quite some years is now an incredible thirty-four shows into the forty-five dates of it. Grinspoon are a well-oiled powerhouse that needs to be seen, felt and experienced. I urge you to find your way to a show wherever and whenever you can.
Setlist :
Unknown Pretenders
DCX3
Just Ace
Rockshow
Lost Control
Never Say Never
Nasty
Hard Act To Follow
No Reason
ILYSM
Better Off Alone
Secrets
Ready 1
The Only One
Underground (Hell On Wheels)
1000 Miles
Don’t Change
Chemical Heart
Champion
More Than You Are
With thanks to On The Map PR for the media accreditaiton
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