Bleeding Knees Club made something of a surprise splash back into global music charts with the release of their Chew the Gum EP earlier this year.
The short-player marked their first official release since their debut album, 2012’s Nothing to Do. And while that gap may seem like a long time between drinks – while also marking some definite changes in the band, including co-founder Jordan Malane exiting the act – the four-piece have not spent that time sitting on their hands.
Bleeding Knees Club originally exploded out of the Gold Coast in 2009 and 2010, riding high on the fact they were doing something no-one else on the Gold Coast was doing at the time: being a straight-up, no-frills garage rock band.
“We actually got started because, really, there wasn’t anyone else doing what we were doing,” other original member Alex Wall said.
“There weren't really any similar bands that were around to inspire us or anything. We started in 2009, and at that time the Gold Coast was basically just dance music, there was nothing else.”
Luckily for Wall, having such a unique platform allowed the band to be thrust into the global spotlight in the especially genre-hungry late noughties. Big words from the like of triple j, NME and Rolling Stone meant the band were very quickly able to tour the US, a little over three years after forming.
“We started going to the US as much as we could, because we loved so many of the bands there, especially the California and New York-based bands,” Wall said.
“We were really lucky as well, because we ended up spending so much time with these bands that we really respected and made us want to try harder. Not everyone gets to do that, so it’s something I always have in the back of my mind.”
The time spent overseas had a definite impact on Wall, with Bleeding Knees Club becoming one of the stronger imprints of the South Cali garage punk revival, driven by bands like WAVVES, on Australian shores.
“We knew the way we wanted to make music, so when we came back to Australia we just kept at it,” Wall said.
While the core of jaunty, seemingly carefree garage-driven rock and pop is still prevalent, Wall’s songwriting has fittingly grown along with his experience.
He still splits time between the Gold Coast and New York, an obviously energizing experience for songwriting.
“They’re like two complete opposites,” he said.
“New York has all this energy, it’s just so inspiring. There’s always something going on.
“But then it’s good to come home. You need that space to find yourself again, I think.”
Bleeding Knees Club hit Brighton Hotel on June 2, supported by Verge Collection and Good Doogs. Tickets through Oztix.
