Doors: 7:00pm//The Pictures 7:30pm//Phil Jamieson 8:30pm
"Phil Jamieson had a choice. Come back as the cryogenically frozen rockstar from Grinspoon's halcyon days or level up with swinging widescreen pop that shows off his acting chops and matured pipes. ‘Somebody Else’ opts for the latter, a bait 'n' switch belter that goes from collective introspection to busting out of the cocoon a beautiful butterfly. Sounds like a hit." - Mikey Cahill
The announcement comes as Phil prepares for rare performances with his old mates at Splendour in The Grass and Springloaded. The album’s release will be followed by a run of solo shows from Phil’s trio, which features Sam Raines on drums and Rob Muiños on bass.
The single “Somebody Else” has already been described by one insider as bearing connections to an early Grinspoon favourite. ‘“My friend Ben Rosen - who happened to record the first demo version of “Somebody Else” – described it as the sequel to “More Than You Are”, explains Phil. ”I hadn’t seen/heard it like that but I kind of get it.”
Whether or not that connection is there, “Somebody Else” – which was co-produced by Phil and Oscar Dawson of Holy Holy - is an immediate and arresting number which shows that Phil has lost none of his songwriting flair and bodes well for the upcoming debut solo album.
Phil has been working on his solo career for some years. Indeed, some of his ‘new’ material pre-dates his role in the Australian stage production of American Idiot. He has, however, up until now been nervous to christen it with an album. The long gestation of the album’s first single shows something of the struggle:
“It was born at Blueys Beach a few moons ago. It started life as a slinky Rolling Stones-type jam – with a bit more strut. Then Oscar Dawson of Holy Holy got his hands on it and changed it around, then I redid it as a dream pop major seventh sort of thing. That didn’t work so I
went back to Oscar, and we redid it in July/August last year, in an industrial area of Dandenong situated at the end of a cul de sac surrounded by Boats/Solar/Brothels.”
“The collective fear and loathing which has gone into releasing this has sometimes seemed insurmountable. But it’s a bit like an election, innit? If not now, when? If not me, who? Thanks for listening regardless, I hope you get a kick out of it…”
With Somebody Else the album due out July 29, Phil has not got too much longer to feel the fear. And all who have heard the record say that he’s got nothing to worry about anyway. As that doyen of the arts, Tim Rogers says of it: “Phil’s puckish performance style is underscored by a voice that can turn choirboy or demon’s spawn in a blinding grin. This has at times overshadowed his humour and empathy but no more. Teasing open his lapels to show heart and scars, but also hope and the lessons learnt from throwing yourself into this art that compels and damns us. Pop music with fire and finesse.’
The release of “Somebody Else” is accompanied by a video directed by Arlo Cook. Filmed in Melbourne, Phil enlisted cast and crew members from his time on American Idiot to lend a hand and the video sees Phil playing many roles from a cinema attendant, lasagne delivery driver & motorbike mechanic. “It was really fun working with Phil, he turned on all the charm and gave us plenty of fun moments to use,” says Arlo.
Somebody Else the album will be released July 29 on vinyl, CD and digitally through Cheersquad Records & Tapes, the Melbourne-based label run by Wally Kempton from The Meanies and Even.
