Yup, you read right. After 12 long months we’re back.
We’re honoured to be playing with our good friends, the legendary Hoss, and the garagelicious The Bowers.
And we’re equally honoured to be headlining the Tote on Australia Day Eve.
Thanks to Todd and Paul at Small Studio for the rad poster design!
Gruntbucket are set to release their debut long player, ‘Receiving’, on 1 November.
Available on Torn & Frayed Records through independent record stores nationwide, this blistering slab of feedback-drenched psych-pop will be a sure favourite for dedicated Vandas followers.
Gruntbucket launch the album at Cherry Bar in Melbourne on Friday, 19 November, with very special guests Spencer P. Jones & The Escape Committee and Joel Silbersher & The Baggage Handlers.
Check out the following video for a brief taste of what to expect:
Yes, true believers, it has been ages. Call us slack but that’d be harsh, now wouldn’t it?
So, what have we been doing?
Well, making records! Not Vandas records (just yet), but great ones nonetheless.
Gus and his Gin Club cohorts released their brilliant fourth album, ‘Deathwish’, back in April. If you missed them on their current run of dates, never fear, they’ll be doing an even bigger tour in November.
Not to be outdone, Chris releases his debut solo album, ‘Que Paso,’ on CD and VINYL this week! You can steam the whole album, and purchase said CD and vinyl directly from Chris’s website, or pick up a copy from The Basement Discs, Pure Pop Records, and The Last Record Store shortly. Here’s a taste:
Chris and his excellent band, Que Paso (yes, album name and band name), launch the record at the Thornbury Theatre on Saturday, 18 September. Ticket details via the Thornbury Theatre website.
Last but not least, Mikey’s psychedelic jam outfit, Gruntbucket, are set to release their debut album in the coming weeks. If you’ve been lucky to have witnessed one of the band’s rare live appearances, you’ll know the kind of fuzz-drenched awesomeness to expect! Stooges, Schmooges!
We’ll keep you posted on Gruntbucket release dates and launches.
As for The Vandas, we can’t give any firm live or recording dates yet – as you can imagine, all of the above is keeping us purdy busy over the coming months, but rest assured gigs and a shitload of new songs are forthcoming!
Thanks for your patience – hope to see you at a Gin Club/Que Paso/Gruntbucket show!
You may or may not know that Chris has been busy writing a bunch of tunes in the key of country soul and bluegrass. Most of these tunes don’t quite fit the regular Vandas format, so Chris has harnessed a few good friends to form Chris Altmann & Que Paso.
The band made its grand debut with two sets at the Carringbush Hotel, Abbottsford, on Sunday, 28 June
We’ll keep you updated on key happenings here, but for more information and the latest news, visit Chris’s Facebook page.
And fear not Vandas fans – not only do The Vandas have a bunch of great gigs coming up, but Chris and Mikey have a slew of new Vandas tunes that the band will be demoing and debuting live soon. Stay tuned…
UPDATE: Chris & Que Paso now also have a Myspace page and are playing a Sunday evening residency in August at the Marquis of Lorne in Fitzroy.
The band also has a show at the Retreat Hotel in Brunswick on Sunday, 20 September before Chris heads solo to North America for a few gigs and a well-earned vacation.