Jet: Australians Go Green for St. Pat’s

It was only seven years ago when Australian rocker’s Jet burst onto the international music scene with their hit song “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” with a little help from an Apple commercial. Seven years and 4 million albums sold later, Jet is still on the world stage touring the States and performing at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Jet will be in town this Saturday headlining a St. Patrick’s day lineup that includes a variety of acts, including Saosin, Robert Earl Keen and Sequoyah Prep School.

We had the opportunity to chat with Jet’s Mark Wilson about the evolution of music over the last ten years, their performance at the Olympics, the fact that advertisers love their songs, their advice for local bands trying to get ahead in their music scene and how they celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Australia.

Jet On Playing at the Olympics

Just two weeks ago, Jet took the world stage performing at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.  “It was kind of crazy because we played right after an event and everyone came running up to the stage when we started.” Jet took the stage for an hour and ten minute set, playing in a one inch puddle from the rain pouring in on them.  Good practice for a St. Patrick’s day that has in recent years, been more renowned for the amount of rain than anything else. Unfortunately for Jet, the Olympics were an in and out event. Hopefully they’ll have time to enjoy a green beer or two in 5 points Saturday. Will Group Therapy have Green Fosters on tap?

The Evolution of Music in the 2000’s

“I think we were the first ones to do the IPod commercial and now it has become an almost sacred spot. Bands die to get on that you know.”

The evolution of music and the way it is promoted has changed more in the last ten years more than it ever has. As a band, Jet has grown up and changed with the times of music promotion and made the most of it. “When we started there was no such thing as Youtube, Myspace, Twitter and Itunes…I guess Itunes was where we started.” Mark discussed in a kind of nostalgic way how no one really understood how these things were relevant at first. “It was weird to have none of that, then have your managers telling you, you need to be online more.” We basically went from an era where rock stars seemed untouchable and inaccessible, to an era where they are forced to be more “in touch” with their fans.

This led us into the discussion about the fact that advertisers seem to be drawn towards their songs. In the last couple of months their songs have been used by Bud Light, Victoria’s Secret and they set the bar being featured on the IPod commercial in 2003. “I think we were the first ones to do the IPod commercial and now it has become an almost sacred spot. Bands die to get on that you know.”

Jet on getting started as a band

“Before you start something, you want to make sure it’s fucking awesome before you do it”

From there we brought the conversation back down to our level and discussed how local bands should work to try and get ahead and what they did to get their music career started.”When we were starting out, instead of trying to just book shows every weekend in our local area, we would rehearse a lot and really work on recording ourselves, just on four tracks really cheaply. Just make sure your songs are really good before you go out. There’s not many things you would go out there and do a shit job of. Before you start something, you want to make sure it’s fucking awesome before you do it”

This is really some of the best advice you could give a band.  Bands often rush the fact of playing shows, before they have a quality product to push.  Before Jet signed to Elektra their Dirty Sweet EP was good enough to get their music in front of the right people.

Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s day in Australia?

“America has this thing where you’ll celebrate being Irish if you weren’t born there…”

“I’m sure we do a little, but you guys kind of get right into ya know.  There’s not that many Irish people in Australia.  America has this thing where you’ll celebrate being Irish if you weren’t born there, but Australia you wouldn’t really do that.  I guess we really do celebrate it in Australia, but it’s really just the Irish people I guess.”  I don’t think it could have been said better.

Come out Saturday to the St. Patrick’s day festival in 5 Points and drink some Green beer with 1,000’s of people that aren’t Irish and sing along with your favorite Jet songs.