Grinspoon has been a big player on the Australian rock scene for years; with 7 albums and numerous EPs and singles they've spent their time perfecting their craft and rocking the socks off fans all across their home country. Now they're getting ready to conquer the UK; with their latest album and a UK tour on the cards, guitarist Pat Davern took time out from tour prep to let Room Thirteen know a bit about who Grinspoon are.

R13: Tell me a bit about who Grinspoon are and how you came together.
Pat Davern (PD): We met at university in the 90's and started playing music together. We spent our first years together learning our craft on the pub circuit in Australia. We were signed to Universal records on the back of a self-funded e.p.. We have toured extensively in the U.S. but have spent little time in
the U.K. or Europe.

R13: Where did the name come from?
PD: The name came from a book I was reading at college. The name Grinspoon kept coming up as a reference with all these great quotes. We used it and it stuck!

R13: How would you describe your music?
PD: Our music is a blend of hard rock and pop. We try to make it as exciting as possible. When we started we were basically a metal band, but our sound has mellowed a little, but is still very much hard rock.

R13: What inspires you?
PD: Travel, people, music, surroundings and all the experiences you gain from being in a band.

R13: You're getting ready to release your latest album 'Six To Midnight' in the UK. How does this compare to your previous releases?
PD: It's a very live sounding record, and that's the way we recorded it and wanted it to sound. We wanted to represent what you heard when you come to see us live. The songs are probably the best in a while, and we sound rehearsed and tight. No tricks just Grinspoon.

R13: I understand you started with an extraordinarily large number of tracks to choose from, how did you decide on the final mix?
PD: It was a combination of forces. Our producer (Rick Will) had strong ideas about the songs he wanted to record, as did the band. It was basically a process of elimination. We went through them track by track, discussed their merits and basically voted them in or out!

R13: And recording it together, live - how did that go?
PD: That was a lot of fun. Something we hadn't done for a long time. The producer was adamant that that was going to get us the best sounding record, and I believe he was right.

R13: What's the reaction to 'Six To Midnight' been like so far?
PD: Great. We debuted at No.6 on the charts here in Australia, and the response has been fantastic. Live we are doing really well, and we have so far released 3 singles off the record.

R13: You've been playing a few shows in Aus, and are about to start another tour - what's the appeal of playing live?
PD: It's why we started playing in the first place. I think from the moment you start playing air-guitar as a kid you goal is to perform in front of as many people as you can. It's how we learned to play and we are still learning from it.

R13: What can the UK audience expect - will it be a mix of old and new?
PD: Definitely. We will be playing a lot of tracks from 'Six To Midnight', but a good deal of old stuff as well.

R13: What are you most looking forward to on the UK tour?
PD: Playing to new people and hopefully garnering some new fans. Being so far away makes it hard to tour overseas consistently, so every opportunity we get we love.

R13: When you've conquered the UK, what can we expect next from Grinspoon?
PD: The World!

R13: Is there anything else you'd like to let fans - new and old - know?
PD: Come check out the shows while we are there. We are tour hardened these days, and you wont be disappointed...

And on that note, tickets for Grinspoon's 2011 tour are on sale now, catch them live:

February 2011
14 - Bristol Academy 2
15 - Oxford Academy
16 - Manchester Academy 3
17 - Birmingham Academy 2
18 - Nottingham Rock City
19 - Glasgow King Tuts
20 - Newcastle Academy 2
22 - Exeter Cavern
23 - Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
24 - Brighton Concorde 2
25 - London Garage
26 - London Garage

and look out for 'Six To Midnight' which will also be released in the new year.