Why Australia’s alternative rock bands are making a big comeback

Australian rock is still going strong selling streams and dreams, tickets and T-shirts – with one band announcing a marathon 45 shows on an album tour.

The last time Australian rockers Grinspoon played 45 shows on an album tour was … never.

As they close out their third decade as one of the country’s most loved rock bands, they just booked the biggest tour of their career. And one of the biggest in Australia in 2024.

“Yes, 45 shows, I really wanted to get back out there and do this kind of a run,” frontman Phil Jamieson said.

“I was a little tired of every time we would announce a tour someone would go ‘What about Cairns?’ OK we’ll go to Cairns. Now they’re like ‘But it’s on a Tuesday.’ Well, we’re still coming.”

Grinspoon returned with new album whatever, whatever. Picture: Supplied

The Grinners – every Aussie band has a nickname – have just released their first album in 12 years.

‘whatever, whatever’ – note the lower case which was popular in the mid 1990s when Jamieson, guitarist Pat Davern, bassist Joe Hansen and drummer Kris Hopes exploded on the scene as unapologetic, frenetically energetic rock brats – is both a remarkable return to the punk vibes of their formative youth and the sound of experience.

The new album is also defiant middle finger to those who have declared rock music is dead. While it may not command the cultural Zeitgeist as pop, hip hop and electronic dance music do now, Australian rock is still selling streams and dreams, tickets and T-shirts.

So if you look at the gig guides, or your Spotify Discover page and it’s throwing up You Am I’s Hourly Daily album and Powderfinger’s Internationalist, it feels a lot like the great altrock revival.

Grunge gods Pearl Jam are playing Australian stadiums in November preceded by the solo tour by Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke. Seminal American punk rockers Superchunk return for their first tour in more than a decade in December.

Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey recently debuted at No. 3 on the ARIA album charts. Picture: Cybele Malinowski

Two of the altrock’s 90s figureheads, Powderfinger’s Bernard Fanning and Something for Kate’s Paul Dempsey just debuted at No. 3 on the ARIA album charts with The Deluge from their hilariously titled duo Fanning Dempsey National Park.

Spiderbait are on the road celebrating the 20th anniversary of Black Betty summiting the ARIA singles charts and Regurgitator head out on their Hotter Than Hell tour in October with Jebediah in tow.

Jamieson feels that warm glow of nostalgia even as he wrestles with how to shoehorn new songs Unknown Pretenders and Never Say Never into a setlist jammed with Grinspoon “classics” like Chemical Heart, Just Ace and Lost Control and the deep album cuts demanded by fans who like to prove their allegiance by shouting out obscure requests.

“These are turbulent times to be putting out a record, and there’s a lot of emotion that goes with that as well, and it does feel like there’s some 90s full circle stuff going on,” the Grinners frontman said.

“I love that Pearl Jam are touring and Superchunk as well, and this year Regurgitator have released a record, so have the Jebs (Jebediah) and The Living End have recorded a new one but haven’t announced it yet cuz we released ours.”

Davern joked: “Yeah, they’re scared.”

Grinspoon are taking Melbourne punk rockers Press Club on their marathon tour. Picture: Supplied.

As competitive as these bands would have been 20 to 30 years ago about such matters as their position on the bill, and the poster, of the Big Day Out, Homebake or Livid festivals, there was not only a camaraderie among these rockers but an enduring desire to champion each other.

Bands would curate their line-ups with mates and select an up and comer to open the show; that tradition remains strong among rock acts compared to pop shows which tend to be packaged by promoters.

Grinspoon are taking Melbourne punk rockers Press Club on their marathon tour while Spiderbait have booked a bunch of mates – Polish Club, Adalita, Private Function and Abbe May – as their support acts across the tour with a local opener at each gig.

“It’s a bit of a responsibility for us when it’s our own show and we can select the bands we want to have on the lineup,” Spiderbait’s Kram said.

“It’s a great way to feel that wonderful feeling of seeing someone play that you might not have seen before. We’re really excited about all the amazing local talent that will be joining us on this tour.”

Spiderbait celebrate the 20th anniversary of Black Betty No.1 hit with national tour. Picture: Supplied.

The indie rock revival isn’t confined to young fans discovering the 90s heroes after falling down streaming and social media rabbit holes.

You can hear the altrock sound and attitude in a raft of exciting acts commanding local and intentional attention including Royel Otis, The Buoys, King Stingray, The Rions, Teenage Dads and Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers.

There is one vital ingredient missing from the alternative rock revival to make it feel like it’s 1994 again – old school festivals.

Grinspoon, along with every band of the era, would love to see the return of Homebake or Livid or Big Day Out, any of the seminal 90s festivals which shaped the era.

“Oh yeah, bring Homebake back, and do it at the old Belongil site because there’s no Byron festivals anymore, and at The Domain in Sydney,” Davern said.

Jamieson added: “Do it in December and January and get Tame Impala to headline; they’re quite a good Australian band.”

Grinspoon’s whatever, whatever album is out now and tickets to their national tour are available via https://grinspoon.com.au/

Originally published as Why Australia’s alternative rock bands are making a big comeback