Song Review - The Grogans - ‘Just A Kid’
Review By: Harry Hartney
Aussie band ‘The Grogans’ have dropped their new single ‘Just A Kid’, their first release in over twelve months. It marks the beginning of a big end to the year and launch into 2022, with the band announcing a number of new shows, including as the supporting act on ‘Hockey Dad’s’ upcoming tour. The track was released under Manager Will Stoeckel’s ‘Cousin Will Records’, who have worked with other acts such as Polly & The Pockets and Auntie Leo & The Backstabbers.
‘Just A Kid’ sees Quin Grunden (vocals/guitar), Angus Vasic (guitar/backing vocals) and Jordan Lewis (drums/backing vocals) back to their roots: the laidback surf-rock that saw them rise into the local indie scene previously on albums such as 2017’s ‘Twangs and Cans’ and 2018’s ‘Grogan Grove’. Being together for over five years and originally forming in high school, the band’s youthful energy is infectious. Sing-a-long choruses, echoing vocals, open snares and twanging guitars give ‘Just A Kid’ an exuberance that could slide into any 1970s coastal Australian movie soundtrack.
The song is simple, yet well-crafted, to the point where it doesn’t feel as if there is any part missing. The loud mixing of the drums really rounds out the sound well, and fills the void of a bass guitarist in the band.
Lewis’ drums are a real highlight of the single, with loud and abrasive snare hits that shake up the track, contrasting to the upbeat and light-hearted riffing contributed by both Grunden and Vasic. This masked anger is also found in the lyrics, which focus on the pain of not wanting to growing up: “Take a picture, it lasts longer/Look in the mirror, you might fall over/How come you’ve always gotta get in other people's face”.
The band’s singing is collectively strong. Grunden is able to seamlessly shift from an aggressive and more punk-oriented sound during ‘Just A Kid’s’ bridge, to the chorus’ easy-going falsetto that is much more akin to 1960s-70s surf rock. With the addition of a combined ‘la-la-la’ chorus, this release is infectious and feels true to the genre. After a year off, ‘The Grogans’ sound as strong as ever, and ‘Just A Kid’ feels like the promise of an exciting couple of years coming up for the band. The single is available on all streaming platforms.
UPCOMING SHOWS
Friday 31 December - NYE on the Hill, VIC (SOLD OUT)
HOCKEY DAD TOUR DATES 2022
Supporting Hockey Dad
Friday 4 February - Beer Deluxe, Albury
Saturday 5 February - UC Refectory, Canberra
Friday 11 February - Regent Theatre, Wollongong
Saturday 12 February - Marlin Hotel, Ulladulla
Sunday 13 February - The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
Friday 18 February - Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour
Saturday 19 February - Bowlo Sports and Leisure Yamba, Yamba
Wednesday 23 February - Seabreeze Hotel, Mackay
Thursday 24 February - Magnums Hotel, Airlie Beach
Friday 25 February - Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
Saturday 26 February - Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
Thursday 3 March The Northern, Byron Bay
Friday 4 March - Coolangatta Hotel, Gold Coast
Thursday 10 March - Pier Bandroom, Frankston
Friday 11 March - Barwon Heads Hotel, Barwon Heads
Saturday 12 March - Torquay Hotel, Torquay
SIDESHOWS
Tuesday 8 February - La La La's, Wollongong (rescheduled)
Tickets via Moshtix
Thursday 10 February - Crow Bar, Sydney (rescheduled)
Tickets via Oztix
Saturday 5 March - Great Escape Festival
