Mudhoney, the Seattle legends of dirty rock’n’roll, certainly seem to love Australia. Even after decades of making the long haul flight southwards they can’t seem to get enough of our country, having become habitual visitors in recent years. They were here in 2011 (playing sideshows around their high billing slot at Meredith Festival’s 21st birthday bash), they returned in 2012 (slotting in shows around their inaugural appearance at Splendour In The Grass and a sold out Melbourne show) and now they’re coming back once more as one of the experienced faces of the stellar 2014 Big Day Out line-up in what will be their eighth trip to Australian shores.
Even though their veteran status and vast back catalogue – on top, of course, of their ferocious live show – has seen them become stalwarts of the festival scene, it’s in the more dingy confines of pubs and clubs where Mudhoney are really in their element, which is why Handsome Tours are so excited to announce that the legendary outfit will be playing headlining shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane this January alongside these already-announced BDO appearances.
Very few bands ever get to celebrate their Silver Jubilee – the milestone signifying 25 years as a functioning unit – let alone a band as rough and uncompromising as Mudhoney. And while fewer again are still producing vital and relevant music a quarter of a decade into their voyage, earlier this year Mudhoney released their ninth studio album Vanishing Point, a record which has already been lauded by pundits worldwide as being up there with the best work of Mudhoney’s long and venerated career.
Forming back in 1998 from members of respected Pacific Northwest bands Green River and the Melvins, Mudhoney – named after a 1965 flick by smut king Russ Meyers – soon signed to burgeoning indie behemoth Sub Pop which is still their home after all these years. They became one of the most recognisable faces of the grunge revolution, especially once bigger fish such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam were co-opted into more commercial waters. Mudhoney’s early single Touch Me, I’m Sick became a call-to-arms for the ocean of disaffected and disenfranchised youth for whom grunge was an all-encompassing panacea, and that song – and others of its ilk from the band’s early canon – have lost none of their power in the intervening years. Being left to their own devices in the alternative realms suited Mudhoney down to the ground as their commercial aspirations were virtually non-existent, the band completely content to keep making the music they wanted to hear rather than pandering to any fads or prevailing trends.
Don’t miss this opportunity to see one of the best rock acts in the business do their thing in the sweaty surrounds where they forged their fearsome reputation. Come and see the legends in the flesh!
Mudhoney – January 2014 Australian tour
Presented by Handsome Tours, supported by Triple R
Melbourne: Wednesday 22nd, Corner Hotel
Support from Kim & Leanne and The Paul Kidney Experience
Tickets here
Sydney: Wednesday 29th, Oxford Art Factory
Support from feedtime
Tickets here
Mudhoney will also appear at Big Day Out nationally
Tone Deaf are giving away a couple double passes to the shows. Enter your details below to win!
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