Canberra rockers Teen Jesus prep for national tour and Foo Fighters gig
Since forming eight years ago while in high school, rock quartet Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers has patiently built a strong following, and will soon support Foo Fighters at a stadium gig.
Since forming at a Canberra high school eight years ago, rock quartet Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers has patiently built a strong following, with its music currently clocking more than 500,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
The band has just released its debut album, titled I Love You, which offers a sparkling collection of fast-paced, melodic rock ‘n’ roll backed by gang vocals.
“I feel like in this era, the way [for artists] to go is to release singles forever, because everyone has the attention span of an ant,” said drummer Neve van Boxsel, 22. “But being able to release an album shows that we have been working hard for a really long time, and that we’ve got a pretty solid group of people that like our music.”
There is one striking exception to the band’s bold rock style, however: penultimate track Never Saw It Coming, which provides a distinct change of pace as the musicians opt to foreground an acoustic guitar and gentle string embellishments.
It’s the only track to feature lead vocals by van Boxsel, who chose not to add drums to the arrangement, and it’s a highly personal song that details her experience with sexual assault.
“I never saw it coming / Now I don’t see myself the same,” she sings. “Since you took a piece of me / I haven’t felt good again.”
Written slowly, across the space of about 18 months after her assault, the drummer was initially shy about showing it to her bandmates, only to be bowled over by their enthusiasm and their insistence for recording and releasing this powerful work.
“They encouraged me so much, and I’m so grateful,” said van Boxsel. “It’s helped me so much, releasing this song. I’m not very good at reaching out and talking to people; this was my weird way of doing it, even though it probably seems 10 times more vulnerable – but I’m really glad I did it.”
Circled on the quartet’s calendar is the biggest gig of their young lives: a plum spot supporting Foo Fighters – the US act fronted by renowned rock drummer and songwriter Dave Grohl – in Melbourne on December 4.
“It’s such a large jump; the pipeline from [800 capacity venue] Corner Hotel to AAMI Park is insane,” van Boxsel said with a laugh. “I feel like I have to start practising my stick twirls, and really amp it up for Dave Grohl.”
“I’ve always been a big Nirvana fan, but I grew up with Foo Fighters as well – so when we heard the news and I called my parents, my dad was freaking out,” she said. “They’re going to travel down from Canberra to Melbourne to see us play at a stadium. “
Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers’ six-date album tour starts in Brisbane on October 27 and ends in Sydney on November 17.
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