You Am I: New label, new album, new tour

For over 20 years You Am I have been kicking around the Aussie music scene, and they are still going strong. Just about to release their ninth studio album and embark on a rather extensive tour, Rusty Hopkinson had a little chat with The Dwarf from his home in Marrickville, Sydney before the mayhem starts.

It was back in 1989 that the enigmatic Mr. Tim Rogers started a little band called You Am I with his brother Jaimme and school mate Nick Tischler. It wasn't exactly smooth sailing and this line-up wasn't exactly long lived, with both Jaimme and Nick exiting in 1990. In walked their one time sound mixer Andy Kent on bass. Rusty became their drummer in 1994.

"Davey is still known as the new guy," Rusty laughs. He has only been with the band for about 11 years. Eleven months is a long life span in the current musical climate!

There have been a few changes in the air though. A new record label brings a fresh edge to the band, allowing them more artistic freedom and creative space. "We are with Other Tongue Records now. They are just more suited to our current agenda, and really fitted into what we wanted," Rusty reveals. The label has only been around about a year. "It's a nice new company, and they were good people to work with," Rusty says.

The new album is due out at the start of October and the guys are really happy with it. "The album took a lot of time, but it's a really great progression, especially from the last album. It's a very deep album and we had a great time making it." Rusty recalls.

It wasn't an easy album to make either. All the boys have pretty packed schedules so it was a little chaotic in it's creation. As well as being the drummer in You Am I, Rusty also played for a bit with Radio Birdman, runs the Aussie arm of Daptone Records, an amazing soul based label that boasts the likes of Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings and in his spare time works with a friend running a music school for kids in Sydney. Rusty basically recorded his drums, and then left the next day to go overseas.

"It was a bit weird and disjointed in its creation," Rusty confesses.

Andy recorded some of the bass at his home, Davey at his, the jam room at the Love Police warehouse was used once or twice, Tim whenever he could fit in recording around his schedule and Megan Washington even jumped on board to record some guest vocals. It was recorded in bits and pieces all over the place, but comes together beautifully. It is without a doubt one of their best albums to date. Just don't ask Rusty which one is his favourite song. "Today, it's probably Trigger Finger. I love it, it was lots of fun to make, and the drums sound really good. But my favourite on the album change every day," he says.

In between writing and recording the new album, the boys even took time out to get together and feature in a made for TV movie by Rock Island Productions and Goalpost Pictures. It's a disaster movie, set at a rock festival at Sydney Harbour,so keep an eye out for that in the near future.

A new album is always a good excuse for a tour....

So throughout October and November this band of dilettantes are hitting the road in a rather extensive jaunt across this great country. Roaming everywhere from Wollongong to Warnambool, this tour will see them play everything from intimate rock gigs to festivals and sporting events.

Except they seem to be going everywhere except Tassie.

"There's really no excuse for that one. We'd love to come down there soon though. Please direct any complaints to management," Rusty laughs.

With varied support acts along the way, anyone fortunate enough to have been picked up by the guys to help out should count their blessings. It seems that You Am I are a bit of a lucky charm when it comes to picking support acts, with many of the bands they've toured with going on to bigger and better things. Besides bands like Eskimo Joe and Tame Impala who are causing a huge stir at the moment, Powderfinger, who are on their fairwell tour in November used to support You Am I in the 90's.

And they've asked You Am I to come on board and help see them off in their final shows in PF's home town of Brisbane, along with Jet.

"We played together a lot in the early 90's and are still all good friends. They are a massive band with a long history. It was really nice of them to ask us along." Rusty says.

The guys are also headlining at a new festival that hits the Northern NSW coastal town of Cabarita in November called That Festival with the likes of Regurgitator and Miami Horror. Then there's Newton's Nation Festival at Mount Panorama with Philadelphia Grand Jury, Children Collide, Birds of Tokyo, Operator Please and Bliss N Eso.

For those fans looking for something a little special, the You Am I chaps are also putting together a special show package for those smaller gigs, for a little extra you can join the band for a pre show drink, get a digital recording of the album, a personalised CD, vinyl and set list all in your very own YAI tote. It's called the GBTFLoU pack.

"We've got a really good fan base." Rusty says. "We wanted to take more control of our direction and shows and create something special for them."

So, with a new album due out, and about to embark on a huge tour, these four guys have been doing what they do best for the past 10 years together.
"It's easy to stay fresh with the way Tim Rogers writes. We've been together this long, and been successful because we love playing together and we love doing this," Rusty revealed.

And we are hoping they'll be together for a good many more years to come. As they say, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

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