The Rubens

Davis: Coming up on "Studio 3 LIVE."

It's the Rubens.

♪ After homer, afternoons spent dancing with the bulls ♪ If you can love what you do and you can nerd out on it and enjoy it.

I think that's, you know, sort of the secret sauce to a little bit of happiness in this crazy world.

♪ Things get heavy at the wrong time ♪ ♪ All wrapped up, what does that feel like?

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[ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] Good evening, and welcome to "Studio 3 LIVE."

I'm your host, Mickey Davis.

Tonight, we're excited to welcome The Rubens to the stage.

Hailing from New South Wales, Australia, the five-piece band has traveled the world in the decade plus since their formation, performing everywhere from small club stages to some of the world's biggest music festivals.

Not content to rest on their earlier chart topping releases, the band continues to evolve and explore new sonic landscapes with their most recent album, "Soda."

Please help me welcome to the stage The Rubens.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Cornerstore" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ I met you at the Cornerstore ♪ ♪ Now I'm bettin' I could beat you home ♪ ♪ And delete the pictures from my phone ♪ ♪ And drown myself on Côte Du Rhône ♪ ♪ I believe in love, but I'm bleeding out ♪ ♪ I can feel the fire because I'm feeling low ♪ ♪ Please don't call my ma, tell her I'm the one ♪ ♪ Please don't call my ma, tell her I'm the one ♪ ♪ I'm a saint till I ain't, till I ain't, till I ain't ♪ ♪ When you figure it out, then you'll know ♪ ♪ Pain in the chest, it's the shape, it's the shape ♪ ♪ Of promises made years ago ♪ ♪ Now I need a pacemaker, I'm old ♪ ♪ Shoulda never brought you along ♪ ♪ I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'd rather be a plagiary ♪ ♪ Unique among the friends I keep ♪ ♪ I believe in love, you gotta feel it out ♪ ♪ If you're losing fire, gotta stomp it out ♪ ♪ Please don't call my ma, tell her I'm the one ♪ ♪ Please don't call my ma, tell her I'm the one ♪ ♪ I'm a saint till I ain't, till I ain't, till I ain't ♪ ♪ When you figure it out, then you'll know ♪ ♪ Pain in the chest, it's the shape, it's the shape ♪ ♪ Of promises made years ago ♪ ♪ Now I need a pacemaker, I'm old ♪ ♪ Shoulda never brought you along ♪ ♪ I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint ♪ ♪ I'm a saint ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And I'm bleeding out ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Bleeding out ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Bleeding out ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'm bleeding out ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Bleeding out ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Please don't call my ma, tell her I'm the one ♪ ♪ Please don't call my ma, tell her I'm the one ♪ ♪ I'm a saint till I ain't, till I ain't, till I ain't ♪ ♪ When you figure it out, then you'll know ♪ ♪ Pain in the chest, it's the shape, it's the shape ♪ ♪ Of promises made years ago ♪ ♪ Now I need a pacemaker, I'm old ♪ ♪ Shoulda never brought you along ♪ ♪ I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint ♪ ♪ I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint ♪ ♪ I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint ♪ ♪ Now I need a pacemaker ♪ ♪ Till I ain't, till I ain't, till I ain't ♪ ♪ Now I need a pacemaker ♪ ♪ I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint ♪ ♪ I'm a saint, I'm a saint, I'm a saint ♪ ♪ Till I ain't, till I ain't, till I ain't ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you guys so much for being here.

Uh, to start, can you tell me a little bit about how the band came together and kind of how you all got connected?

Yeah.

I mean, um, so myself and Elliot are brothers, so we were on the way.

We meet in the hallway.

Yeah, we met at home.

Yeah.

Um, we started writing music together.

We never really played music as kids together, but we all played separate instruments.

Um, Zach, our other brother who's not here.

This is Helmsi, by the way.

Helms's, uh, replacing Zach for this tour and doing a wonderful job because Zach's having a baby.

Um, so let's pretend you're Zach for this.

I got you.

[ Laughter ] So, we're brothers.

Um, so we met there, and then, um, me and Scotty went to school together, High school.

Um, really close mates, music class together.

So when we decided to, like, start mucking around with a band, um, I called Scotty and said, "Hey, we're going to try this thing.

Do you want to be in?

You're in?

I was in.

You're in, and then things started to sort of snowball and, like, we started to get a bit of attention.

And there was talk of record deals and stuff.

And to cut a long shory -- long shory stort.

[ Laughter ] To cut a long story short, we ended up in New York City, and that's where Will comes in.

He came along for the ride.

He plays bass and guitar really well.

He's also an engineer.

And he's an engineer.

Yeah, um, and we basically just said, hey, well, do you want to play bass on the record?

He said, yes, but I'm not necessarily going to be in the band.

So it took him a little bit and -- I still haven't decided actually.

[ Laughter ] So that's how it all kind of came together.

We're all from the same hometown of Camden, New South Wales, Australia.

Um, so yeah, small world, but here we are.

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much for having us here.

I didn't realize that we'd get to do this in our career.

So this is very, very cool being on TV.

Um, thank you for coming down.

I'm sure most of you people have no idea who we are.

So we've got, like, I don't know, 12 more songs to try and win you over.

So we'll do our best.

But all I can say is we're nice people.

[ Laughter and applause ] [ "My Gun" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ I gave her the means, she had the will ♪ ♪ I kept on pushing for the kill ♪ ♪ I never thought she'd finish me ♪ ♪ But she shut me down, and left me to bleed ♪ ♪ With my gun, my gun, my gun ♪ ♪♪ ♪ With my gun, my gun, my gun ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Opened my eyes, my body cold ♪ ♪ It shouldn't end this way, I want to grow old ♪ ♪ Scrambled to my feet, and stumbled home ♪ ♪ I forgave my girl but I don't want to be alone ♪ ♪ She took me back and stitched me up ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The whole time smiling 'cause she'd won ♪ ♪ But one day I'll get back ♪ ♪ My gun, my gun, my gun ♪ ♪♪ ♪ My gun, my gun, my gun ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ She took me back and stitched me up ♪ ♪♪ ♪ The whole time smiling 'cause she'd won ♪ ♪ But one day I'll get back ♪ ♪ My gun, my gun, my gun ♪ ♪ Oh, one day I'll get back ♪ ♪ My gun, my gun, my gun ♪ ♪ One day I'll get back ♪ ♪ My gun, my gun, my gun ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] It seems like you kind of all connected, especially as brothers.

You know, you were young, kind of starting out the band.

Was there a moment when you felt like, okay, this is what we're going to try to do, right?

Like, we're going to chase this for our profession.

Was that an intentional thing, or is this just something you guys have just continued to work at?

We're lucky that it happened really quickly for us.

I don't know if we would have had the stamina that a lot of bands have had to have to stick it out for years and years and years.

We are so lucky that within six months of the band starting, we were on the radio in Australia.

Um, so yeah, I mean, I don't know, like... It's hard to say as well, but like, looking back, there's like a lot of naivety in that we probably shouldn't have put all our eggs in one basket, but we were lucky in that it worked out.

I don't know if it was like a one-snap decision like, hey, we're doing this now.

I think it was just a lot of things happening, you know, booking shows, eventually you playing too many shows that you can't have your job anymore.

And so you just kind of have to quit your job.

And then now you're a musician and that is your job.

And I think it happened in like an organic way.

Like if we think back to like, it started with, you know, hobbies, it was like what we were interested in.

It was like, we're going to learn how to record music very badly, but we're going to learn how to write and record music using a laptop.

That was the first thing.

Now we're going to upload that to this website, and then it got some attention there.

So I was like, well, now we get to learn how to play shows.

And it was all just sort of just like, what's the next step?

It wasn't like, we're going to make money and have a career.

It was just like, that's the first step.

That's fun.

Now we get to play shows.

That's fun.

What's the next thing?

Maybe we get to play a bigger venue, et cetera.

so it's just -- it's all fallen into place just from, you know, having a great job basically.

Uh, Will, a question for you.

A number of local musicians that we talked to on the show I think are probably living in that same place you are, whether you're a musician, you're an engineer.

A career in music might be a couple of different mini careers in one, right?

Was there a moment for you where kind of, you know, are you still doing the engineering?

Do you still find time for that as well?

I definitely do.

I do it because I just love doing it.

I just love sound and creating and any of that sort of stuff.

And if you can make some money on the side, then totally.

I suppose most artists have to have some sort of side gig.

That's just what you have to do.

Um, if you -- if you love it, that's a bonus.

Um, but yeah, I'm not, that you're asking for advice or anything, but I would -- yeah, I'd probably put everything that I... Yeah, I would focus 100% on it, because if you don't do it properly, there's always someone better that'll cut you over, and -- and put as much money as you can into it.

That's one.

Buy all the gear that you can justify.

Will, has literally spent every penny of his, like, his whole growing up, like buying gear or just nerding out and just, like, totally.

That's yeah.

That's true.

Gear and bitcoin.

Yeah.

But that's the hope, right?

Like, something you're so passionate about can turn into something that can sustain you, right?

Totally.

Well that's the dream for anything I think.

Like, if you can, yeah, love what you do and you can nerd out on it and enjoy it, I think that's, you know, sort of the secret sauce to a little bit of happiness in this crazy world.

So, that's just my theory.

[ "Pets and Drugs" play ] ♪♪ ♪ Two bad weeks that could tear you apart ♪ ♪ If I could wipe it clean, take it back to the start ♪ ♪ I should have listened, listened, listened ♪ ♪ Before opening up ♪ ♪ I couldn't wait to be your loser, I'm a loser at heart ♪ ♪ The night goes on, the night goes on and on and on ♪ ♪ And then it stops, we need someone to blame this on ♪ ♪ And when they call keep me out of your thoughts ♪ ♪ Don't give them too much because too much ♪ ♪ Is much more than enough ♪ ♪ All the guys, all the guys play their part ♪ ♪ Don't know a thing unless they're looking it up ♪ ♪ All the girls, all the girls they go hard ♪ ♪ We build a life upon the things that we love ♪ ♪ Pets and drugs ♪ ♪ Pets and drugs ♪ ♪ Keep it clean ♪ ♪ And they'll keep their hat on ♪ ♪ We let the moonlight bleed ♪ ♪ On the man at the door ♪ ♪ He casts a shadow that is capable of ripping it off ♪ ♪ Your head remains upon your shoulders ♪ ♪ But you're pushing your luck ♪ ♪ You don't belong, you don't belong ♪ ♪ With anyone ♪ ♪ That sticky thought, no sleeves on which to wipe it on ♪ ♪ You are a wall between heartache and harm ♪ ♪ Collect yourself and take a walk ♪ ♪ I want to see you perform ♪ ♪ All the guys, all the guys play their part ♪ ♪ Don't know a thing unless they're looking it up ♪ ♪ Eh ♪ ♪ All the girls, all the girls they go hard ♪ ♪ We build a life upon the things that we love ♪ ♪ Pets and drugs ♪ ♪ Pets and drugs ♪ ♪ One more morning ♪ ♪ One more chapter ♪ ♪ One more story ♪ ♪ Do we want this?

♪ ♪ All these habits ♪ ♪ Am I sorry?

♪ ♪ Perpetually ♪ ♪ Everyday to everybody ♪ ♪ It's on my mind ♪ ♪ It's on my mind ♪ ♪ All the guys, all the guys play their part ♪ ♪ Don't know a thing unless they're looking it up ♪ ♪ Eh ♪ ♪ All the girls, all the girls they go hard ♪ ♪ We build a life upon the things that we love ♪ ♪ Pets and drugs ♪ ♪ Pets and drugs ♪ ♪ Two bad weeks that could tear you apart ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Out of my mind, I'll be outside ♪ ♪ Sayin' what I want, tryin' to pick a fight ♪ ♪ You could not care, did you bat an eye?

♪ ♪ Icy cold pride ♪ ♪ Lookin' at your phone, lookin' for a ride ♪ ♪ Guess I'm really done this time ♪ ♪ Guess I'm really done this time ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ A purple sunset, just a taste of the weather ♪ ♪ The air is dense as my back sticks to the leather ♪ ♪ Pull up and stall, I keep my beer in the cellar ♪ ♪ The year was good and all in all, I'm alright ♪ ♪ Forget her ♪ ♪ It's not the way you mix up all of your letters ♪ ♪ It's not the page but there's some beautiful errors ♪ ♪ These scenes at night are shockin', shakin' me now ♪ ♪ I'm great, I'm good, but I might need talkin' down ♪ ♪ Out of my mind, I'll be outside ♪ ♪ Lookin' for you in a different life ♪ ♪ You came out feelin' like a princess, right?

♪ ♪ Perfect, awesome, right?

♪ ♪ Baby, I'm fine, kinda wanna die ♪ ♪ And I kinda wanna live in life ♪ ♪ Think I'm gonna live in life ♪ ♪ Life, life ♪ ♪ The truth is out that I have truly lost it ♪ ♪ The music's loud but there's no tune, I don't want it ♪ ♪ Who's usin' who and got their hands in whose pockets?

♪ ♪ I've never known just how to mask all of my problems ♪ ♪ Choosin' moods, my face is frozen fast and ♪ ♪ Boots and shoes left with the coats and hats and ♪ ♪ Have you seen my heart tonight?

♪ You seem to be the guilty type ♪ ♪ alright, alright, alright ♪ ♪ Out of my mind, I'll be outside ♪ ♪ Lookin' for you in a different life ♪ ♪ You came out feelin' like a princess, right?

♪ ♪ Perfect, awesome, right?

♪ ♪ Baby, I'm fine, kinda wanna die ♪ ♪ And I kinda wanna live in life ♪ ♪ Think I'm gonna live in life ♪ ♪ Life, life ♪ ♪ Tonight I'm on the highway with wind and the sky ♪ ♪ And the lights off and the right song ♪ ♪ Tonight I'm going sideways, I'm in, it's my time ♪ ♪ It's the last stop, got to get off ♪ ♪ Out of my mind, I'll be outside ♪ ♪ Sayin' what I want, tryin' to pick a fight ♪ ♪ You could not care, did you bat an eye?

♪ ♪ Icy cold pride ♪ ♪ Lookin' at your phone, lookin' for a ride ♪ ♪ Guess I'm really done this time ♪ ♪ Pick me up a Gemini, I, I ♪ ♪ Out of my mind, I'll be outside ♪ ♪ Lookin' for you in a different life ♪ ♪ You came out feelin' like a princess, right?

♪ ♪ Perfect, awesome, right?

♪ ♪ Baby, I'm fine, kinda wanna die ♪ ♪ And I kinda wanna live in life ♪ ♪ Think I'm gonna live in life ♪ ♪ Life ♪ ♪ If the end of the world ♪ ♪ Gets me close to you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, baby, I'm finished ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] You mentioned this earlier, but, you know, I'm curious with that kind of initial spark that you had as a group, what has kept you all going and kept you all interested both in -- in kind of performing and being on the road, but also in writing new music as well in the time that you've been a band?

I think, well, this is I'm just speaking for myself.

But, like, I think performing for -- for me is like, why we do it?

And, like, that's what feels so good, touring and being with your buddies and stuff, seeing the world.

But yeah, like, the kick you get out of it.

But yeah, and just sort of giving back to fans and things like that.

Um, that's what really feels good and why I love it.

Um, but probably Elliot and Sam, they have, like, a more -- I don't -- I don't write any of the songs, but Elliot and Sam have done such a great job, and they get a kick out of, you know -- you know, going into new avenues and, you know, creating new fun music and finding new ways to do it and stuff like that, so... I think it's, yeah... For me, it's just like chasing the dragon.

Like you get that feeling of performing in front of live audiences and knowing that it's not going to last forever and that we're going to get old.

And ideally, even if we're still playing in front of 100 people when we're old, I think that sounds pretty good.

So it's for me, it's just like... You're holding onto a dream.

You're holding onto a dream that you're like don't -- I just love it.

We just love doing it.

So it's just like we create, we write music because we love the process of writing music.

We record music because we love the process of collaborating and recording music, but that's all in service of getting to go out on tour, you know?

Um, so I think it's yeah, for us, just we make the music so we can go and perform it, and hopefully that happens for as long as possible.

That's the-- that's the drive.

[ "Sunday Night" plays ] ♪ Midnight morning ♪ ♪ The cars with their headlights talking ♪ ♪ But I see shadows ♪ ♪ They move through the black like cattle ♪ ♪ Cattle, glass and metal ♪ ♪ Is this place open ♪ ♪ For healing the hearts we've broken?

♪ ♪ Look through the window ♪ ♪ So we can see normal people ♪ ♪ People, good and evil ♪ ♪ This is how a fall begins ♪ ♪ This is how a story ends ♪ ♪ Are you thinking the same thing?

♪ ♪ I hate dancing, I hate Sunday night ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This is what it feels like ♪ ♪ This is how the atoms collide ♪ ♪ We say it at the same time ♪ ♪ I hate dancing, I hate Sunday night ♪ ♪ Tell the story ♪ ♪ Or would it do nothing for me?

♪ ♪ 'Cause nobody's laughing ♪ ♪ Does it mean that I did a bad thing?

♪ ♪ Bad things never happen ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This is how a fall begins ♪ ♪ This is how a story ends ♪ ♪ Are you thinking the same thing?

♪ ♪ I hate dancing, I hate Sunday night ♪ [ Guitar solo ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up, yeah ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up, yeah ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up, yeah ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up ♪ ♪ Sunlight ♪ ♪ In the dark, it's a lot looking outside ♪ ♪ Not a walk in the park but a fun ride ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be alone ♪ ♪ Is it aright, alright, alright?

♪ ♪ Too much ♪ ♪ But the voice in my head singing not enough ♪ ♪ Is it white, are they red?

♪ ♪ Is it the good stuff?

♪ ♪ I don't wanna be alone ♪ ♪ Are you alright, alright, alright?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ This is how the fall begins ♪ ♪ This is how the story ends ♪ ♪ Are you thinking the same thing?

♪ ♪ I hate dancing, I hate Sunday night ♪ ♪♪ ♪ This is what it feels like ♪ ♪ This is how the atoms collide ♪ ♪ We say it at the same time ♪ ♪ I hate dancing, I hate Sunday night ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up, yeah ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up, yeah ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up ♪ ♪ I hate dancing, I hate Sunday night ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up, yeah ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up, yeah ♪ ♪ Give it up, give it up, give it up ♪ ♪ I hate dancing, I hate Sunday night ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] Thank you.

[ "Muddy Evil Pain" plays ] ♪ In a while ♪ ♪ I'll be wishing I had more time ♪ ♪ To plan your escape ♪ ♪ To lift that sadness away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ If a smile ♪ ♪ Would pull you back from the other side ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'd pinch both my cheeks ♪ ♪ And tear them off of my face ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Bucket of oil makes it slippery ♪ ♪ Makes you hard to chase ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Bucket of water washes everything ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When the time comes ♪ ♪ Can I be the one to inspire?

♪ ♪ Make sure we're only drinking the spiked punch ♪ ♪ And tipping out the lemonade ♪ ♪♪ ♪ No that's not love ♪ ♪ To play like its all part of the fun and games ♪ ♪ Pretend like you were walking in front of me ♪ ♪ Then kick the ladder away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Bucket of oil makes it slippery ♪ ♪ Makes you hard to chase ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Bucket of water washes everything ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪ Muddy evil -- ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Bucket of water ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Bucket of water ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When the road splits ♪ ♪ And you feel like you don’t want any part of this ♪ ♪ Paint cracks to show where the color is ♪ ♪ Give me another day ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Bucket of oil makes it slippery ♪ ♪ Makes you hard to chase ♪ ♪ Bucket of water washes everything ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪ That muddy evil -- ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Bucket of water ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Bucket of water ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪♪ [ Fingers snap rhythmically ] ♪ Don't hold back ♪ ♪ Don't be only living like a heart attack ♪ ♪ Wash that muddy evil 'til the water runs black ♪ ♪ Watch you be defeated, I won't stand for that ♪ ♪ Stand for that ♪ ♪ Don't hold back ♪ ♪ Don't be only living like a heart attack ♪ ♪ Wash that muddy evil 'til the water runs black ♪ ♪ Watch you be defeated, I won't stand for that ♪ ♪ Stand for that ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Bucket of water ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Bucket of water ♪ ♪ Muddy evil pain ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Don't hold back ♪ ♪ Don’t be only living like a heart attack ♪ ♪ Wash that muddy evil 'til the water runs black ♪ ♪ Watch you be defeated, I won’t stand for that ♪ ♪ Stand for that ♪ ♪ Don't hold back ♪ ♪ Don’t be only living like a heart attack ♪ ♪ Wash that muddy evil 'til the water runs black ♪ ♪ Watch you be defeated, I won't stand for that ♪ ♪ Stand for that ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you very much.

I think as a band, you've had such a wide variety of -- of types of performances.

You've played big festivals, you've had pretty high profile opening slots where maybe you're playing to an arena full of people who don't know who you are.

Then, of course, to club shows touring the US.

For each of you, is there a specific show that kind of sticks out as -- as quite memorable or one of your favorite?

And what about that stuck with you?

Uh, I'll say one that I think we're all going to say the same kind of thing.

I would say there's one good memory for me, which is a bit different.

Like, we supported Bruce Springsteen on two separate tours, which is insane.

Um, it wasn't necessarily the performance that was amazing.

It was after the performance going out and like, standing next to my mum and dad and then hearing Bruce Springsteen like, thank the Rubens, you know, for supporting.

Yeah.

Like that, that was, like, a crazy moment.

It wasn't our performance that was particularly crazy.

It was just that moment.

Hearing those words come out of his mouth was pretty cool.

Mm-hmm.

Um, first one that comes to mind is probably, I think it was the first gig that we had people singing lyrics back to us in like a dingy little club in Sydney in Kings Cross, which used to be the party area kind of town downstairs in this tiny, sweaty room, we'd started to get some radio play on one -- one of our songs, the first song we released, and I remember hearing for the first time, people singing the lyrics back to us and like it was a visceral reaction for all of us, like being like kind of shocked, like, "No, we sing this.

What the heck?

They're singing it back to us?"

Then afterwards, just kind of like pinching ourselves, being like, "What the hell?

This is the best feeling ever."

Yeah.

That stands out as like a real payoff.

This is lovely.

I mean, we had no idea what we were walking into on our list of stuff to do on this tour, we're in the bus, we're just like this city, this city, this city, and it just said "private show."

And we had an idea.

We knew what PBS was.

But we had no idea how cool it would be.

Um, so thank you guys for making us feel welcome.

This is awesome.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Thank you" plays ] ♪ I'll leave it on the table, thank you ♪ ♪ I'd rather not know what makes you ♪ ♪ Act like you do, it's disgraceful ♪ ♪ The keys are on the table, thank you ♪ ♪ Looking back, it's not the first or last time ♪ ♪ It's feeling just like last time ♪ ♪ Long before you were mine ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Thank you, I thought you were so good ♪ ♪ I'm a sucker for a bitter taste ♪ ♪ Damn, you, you almost had me fooled ♪ ♪ Getting out before it's too late ♪ ♪ I tell them we're not anymore ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I call it all off, drop a bomb ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You can tell your friends I'm scummy ♪ ♪ Tell them that you never loved me ♪ ♪ And that what we had meant nothing ♪ ♪ Pretty but acting ugly ♪ ♪ Tell me 'bout all the others ♪ ♪ 'Cause you wanna see me suffer ♪ ♪ But I'm happy all of a sudden ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Thank you, I thought you were so good ♪ ♪ I'm a sucker for a bitter taste ♪ ♪ Damn, you, you almost had me fooled ♪ ♪ Getting up before it's too late ♪ ♪ I tell them we're not anymore ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I call it all off, drop a bomb ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Thank you, I thought you were so good ♪ ♪ I'm a sucker for a bitter taste ♪ ♪ Damn, you, you almost had me fooled ♪ [ Music intensifies ] ♪ Thank you, I thought you were so good ♪ ♪ I'm a sucker for a bitter taste ♪ ♪ Damn, you, you almost had me fooled ♪ ♪ Getting up before it's too late ♪ ♪ I tell them we're not anymore ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I call it all off, drop a bomb ♪ [ Instrumental break ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I tell them we're not anymore ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I call it all off, drop a bomb ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] [ "Good Mood" plays ] ♪♪ ♪ Ooh I wanna be alive ♪ ♪ I wanna be in love ♪ ♪ I wanna take my time ♪ ♪ I wanna take enough ♪ ♪ To keep you in the light ♪ ♪ To keep you in the day ♪ ♪ Cicadas in the night ♪ ♪ They sing my praise ♪ ♪ It's way too way too cold ♪ ♪ Without you in my heart ♪ ♪ I cannot play the role ♪ ♪ I want a better part ♪ ♪ I tried to build a home ♪ ♪ But built a house of cards ♪ ♪ Tip me over ♪ ♪ It all falls down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Nothing to lose ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood now ♪ ♪♪ ♪ What do I do ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood ♪ ♪ All you want is the old me ♪ ♪ Ooh you got to be joking ♪ ♪ Bleeding mouth ♪ ♪ Spit me out ♪ ♪ Nothing to lose ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Mmm, my head is in the sky ♪ ♪ My head is taking off ♪ ♪ My head has lost its mind ♪ ♪ My head it never stops ♪ ♪ I see you in the stones ♪ ♪ I see you in the sand ♪ ♪ It's empty in my bones ♪ ♪ There's nothing in my -- ♪ ♪ It's way too way too cold ♪ ♪ Without you in my heart ♪ ♪ I cannot play the role ♪ ♪ I want a better part ♪ ♪ I tried to build a home ♪ ♪ But built a house of cards ♪ ♪ Tip me over ♪ ♪ It all falls down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Nothing to lose ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood now ♪ ♪♪ ♪ What do I do ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood ♪ ♪ All you want is the old me ♪ ♪ Ooh you got to be joking ♪ ♪ Bleeding mouth ♪ ♪ Spit me out ♪ ♪ Nothing to lose ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood ♪ ♪ I tried to build a home ♪ ♪ But built a house of cards ♪ ♪ It all falls down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ It all falls down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Nothing to lose ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood ♪ ♪ Bleeding mouth ♪ ♪ Spit me out ♪ ♪ Nothing to lose ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood ♪ ♪ Goodbye clouds ♪ ♪ Hello ground ♪ ♪ Nothing to lose ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood ♪ ♪ All you want is the old me ♪ ♪ Ooh you got to be joking ♪ ♪ Bleeding mouth ♪ ♪ Spit me out ♪ ♪ Nothing to lose ♪ ♪ I'm in a good mood ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Applause ] [ Guitars tuning ] [ Applause ] [ "Don't Ever Want To Be Found" plays ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Without a trace, you disappear ♪ ♪ You must have felt me, secret fear, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Try to save face, not seem to care ♪ ♪ Try to be brave, I was scared, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now I'm running crazy in the dark ♪ ♪ No idea where you are ♪ ♪ And I can't hear nothing, not a sound ♪ ♪ 'Cause you don't ever want to be found ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I'll search for years until the end ♪ ♪ Or till I find a better friend, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Then I'll look back on my despair ♪ ♪ And realize nothing's fair, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now I'm running crazy in the dark ♪ ♪ No idea where you are ♪ ♪ And I can't hear nothing, not a sound ♪ ♪ 'Cause you don't ever want to be found ♪ [ Instrumental break ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now I'm running crazy in the dark ♪ ♪ No idea where you are ♪ ♪ And I can't hear nothing, not a sound ♪ ♪ 'Cause you don't ever want to be found ♪ [ Instrumental outro ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Sam: Thank you so much.

Of the songs you're performing tonight, which one is your favorite to perform?

"Black balloon."

"Black Balloon."

"Black Balloon," yeah.

That one rocks.

[ All laugh ] "Black Balloon."

[ All laugh ] Uh, since I'm hearing some consensus from the band, uh, can you tell me a little bit about that song?

What was kind of the inspiration when you wrote it?

Um, it it's one of the weird ones that, like, the idea started years ago and I couldn't figure out what it was meant to be.

I just had maybe, like, the chorus and couldn't figure out, like, a verse that would make sense.

Um, and I think it might have been, um, writing around the time for our record before 0202, where a lot of the writing wasn't done on guitar.

And then eventually I started to write for "Soda" a little more on guitar and came back to that idea, and then it all kind of clicked and made sense.

Um, and as soon as, as soon as I did a crappy little guitar-based demo, it all locked and felt like the song had actually found, uh, how it was meant to be and then, you know, sent it through to the rest of the guys.

And it became -- I think, it was one of the first songs we recorded for "Soda."

And as soon as everyone put their parts on, Zaac putting, like, all the heavy guitars on there, Scotty the drums, Will the fat old bass, it became, um, like, a Rubens song that -- that -- It felt like -- I remember talking about it, saying like it felt like a culmination of all of the records before.

Like heavy guitars were kind of back in there, but there's still... Like well-produced stuff, yeah.

Pop-star sensibility.

Yeah, it's big and heavy.

It's a big song.

And then playing it live, it's one of those songs where the first time we played it live, it felt good right away.

And it wasn't no one -- Which, like, sometimes... it doesn't happen.

No one had heard it happen as well.

Yeah, yeah.

Which is a nice payoff.

We were playing it on, like, a lot of shows with without it being released and people were just, we noticed like people bopping and stuff, which always feels good.

Oh yeah.

Nothing worse than you're playing along and... Yeah, people are checking what their WhatsApp messages or.

Yeah, it's a -- it's a -- It's a -- I look forward to it in the set every time.

And it must be a good feeling too, right?

You expect maybe the audience to grab on to songs they've heard or your radio friendly hits or whatever, but when you introduce something new and you see people excited about it, maybe some, like, a bit of a feedback loop of like, "This is good.

We're --" Like, if we all feel good about this and we're seeing that from the audience that's -- there's something good happening.

Yeah, I think as well, because, yeah, there's something about having a song that does really well and seeing that song when you play that song live, like, seeing people react to it almost, and you think maybe it's just not by choice because they've been bombarded with that song on the radio.

Yeah.

Whereas if you're playing a song that they've never heard before and you see them perk up, then you know there's no trickery, there's no -- there's no marketing involved, there's no anything.

It's almost just like the lizard brain in them that kind of makes them snap to it, which I think is nice indicator.

[ "Black Balloon" plays ] ♪ Everyone in my head now ♪ ♪ Can get out ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be a let down ♪ ♪ So I float around ♪ ♪ Remember the day my feet found ♪ ♪ Solid ground ♪ ♪ Thought I couldn't see a way out when ♪ ♪ I saw you ♪ ♪ I saw you ♪ ♪ I saw you ♪ ♪ I saw you ♪ ♪ Heaven sent December fools ♪ ♪ After homer, afternoons ♪ ♪ Spent dancing with the bulls ♪ ♪ Red Corolla, black balloon ♪ ♪ Black balloon, black balloon ♪ ♪ Red Corolla, black balloon ♪ ♪ Black balloon, black balloon ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Throw the clothes in the bathtub ♪ ♪ Fill it half up ♪ ♪ Stains from paint and grass and mud ♪ ♪ Bleach in a cup ♪ ♪ All good things go belly up ♪ ♪ I'd had enough ♪ ♪ Cause I forgot what I was trynna do ♪ ♪ Fight for you ♪ ♪ Fight for you ♪ ♪ Fight for you ♪ ♪ Fight for you ♪ ♪ Heaven sent December fools ♪ ♪ After homer, afternoons ♪ ♪ Spent dancing with the bulls ♪ ♪ Red corolla, black balloon ♪ ♪ Black balloon, black balloon ♪ ♪ Red Corolla, black balloon ♪ ♪ Black balloon, black balloon ♪ ♪ Things get heavy at the wrong time ♪ ♪ All wrapped up, what does that feel like ♪ ♪ No more waiting on the outside ♪ ♪ Compost thoughts that want to ignite ♪ [ Instrumental break ] ♪♪ ♪ Time will wear you down ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And light will find you out ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But the ones who turned their chairs around ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Where are they now ♪ ♪ They don't see you ♪ ♪ Like I see you ♪ ♪ Like I see you ♪ ♪ Like I see you ♪ [ Music pauses ] ♪ Heaven sent December fools ♪ ♪ After homer, afternoons ♪ ♪ Spent dancing with the bulls ♪ ♪ Red Corolla ♪ [ Music resumes ] ♪ Black balloon ♪ ♪ Black balloon, black balloon ♪ ♪ Red Corolla, black balloon ♪ ♪ Black balloon, black balloon ♪ ♪ Things get heavy at the wrong time ♪ ♪ All wrapped up, what does that feel like ♪ ♪ No more waiting on the outside ♪ ♪ Compost thoughts that want to ignite ♪ [ Instrumental outro ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Sam: Thank you very much.

Thank you guys so much for being here.

Really appreciate it.

The last, last question I have is about the song "Masterpiece."

Um, can you talk a little bit about, uh, kind of the -- the recording process of that song and then maybe a little bit about how, you know, you've seen that song received by audiences you've played it as well.

I think it was during COVID because it was 0202.

So, um, that time was a bit weird in that for the first time we were recording and self-producing in -- in Will's studio and then working remotely with two producers for the record.

So it was a weird time where we -- it was just us locked in the studio and we would get all our parts down and, you know, edit and chop and change and do what we could and then send it to.

That song was produced by, uh, Kon -- how do you say his...?

Kon Kersting.

I won't try his full name.

Kon Kersting.

Um, sweet, sweet man.

A legend, uh, producer that lives in Brisbane, which is north of Sydney.

So we just send it to him.

Um, and he would do the extra bells and whistles on his end mix and then send it back, and it would be a back and forth thing.

We'd never actually even met him at that time face-to-face.

So it just would be zooms and talk about the mixes and changes we wanted to do production wise.

Um, but that was -- that was how that whole record was really done.

So it's -- it's a weird thing to think back to.

And then like "Live," it's like we've got a few songs like that.

There's another song called "Live in Life," and there's a bunch of other examples where we love the song.

We think it's good, but it was never, like, the focus track, particularly on the record.

Like it wasn't like a big marketing thing behind it.

But yeah, the same kind of thing.

Like the audience just tells you what they like.

And that one for a few tours was like the highlight above other songs that streamed way, way better, for example, or on the radio a lot longer.

So that one's just stood the test of time.

It's kind of just got this sort of euphoric ending to it, and it's just it's a nice way to end the set as well.

Um, everyone sort of just gets together and just sort of, it feels like we end on a positive note after a few bits of darkness.

Which, you know, I would, I would imagine too, writing that song during the pandemic, recording it during the pandemic and then being able to perform again live.

You know, there's probably some emotional catharsis there as well for the crowd, too.

Oh, 100%, yeah.

I mean, the feeling for us getting back out after that was incredible.

Yeah, it was a weird time to release a record, but then getting to actually, like, go and perform it, yeah, totally cathartic.

Well, thank you guys again so much for being here.

All: Thank you.

We appreciate it.

[ Cheers and applause ] We got one more song.

Thank you.

What day is it today?

Woman: Tuesday.

Yeah.

Well done.

[ Laughter ] I actually didn't know.

Um, thank you so much for coming out on a Tuesday.

Um, you know, it's just been really cool.

And, um, I'm sure you're not the usual people that come to see a band like us, but hopefully we didn't disappoint you because we've loved playing to you.

And we're going to play you one more song.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ "Masterpiece" plays ] ♪ Forty stories up, it's night and day ♪ ♪ Never met but I could guess your name ♪ ♪ Said you reminded me of home ♪ ♪ In all of that time, we barely spoke ♪ ♪ So lessons learned can quickly be erased ♪ ♪ Pouring forties down the kitchen sink ♪ ♪ All your talking, I can't hear me think ♪ ♪ Pushing, pulling sees me on the brink ♪ ♪ If it's all or nothing, let's break off these links ♪ ♪ All of the best guys made you whole ♪ ♪ All of the rest I'll never know ♪ ♪ If this is a test, I'll take my leave ♪ ♪ And I'm on the run ♪ ♪ But now that I'm on the run ♪ ♪ Think I got it wrong, really all along ♪ ♪ You were just a masterpiece ♪ ♪ Masterpiece ♪ ♪ Chewing on Valium ♪ ♪ The jet is taking off, I can feel the rot spreading ♪ ♪ It's a killer disease ♪ ♪ Killer disease ♪ ♪ To say it would hurt too much ♪ ♪ So I boil it down, bottle it up ♪ ♪ And drink it like a remedy ♪ ♪ No good for me ♪ ♪ And now that I'm on the run ♪ ♪ Know I got it wrong, really all along ♪ ♪ You were just a masterpiece ♪ ♪ Masterpiece ♪ ♪♪ ♪ There's a place I could not let you in ♪ ♪ Now there's a lot to tell you, so listen ♪ ♪ I was keeping you out 'cause I've been hurt before ♪ ♪ Becoming a coward and I hate myself more ♪ ♪ I'm not proud, but looking back now, I had to run ♪ ♪ Now that I'm on the run ♪ ♪ Think I got it wrong, really all along ♪ ♪ You were just a masterpiece ♪ ♪ Masterpiece ♪ ♪ Chewing on Valium ♪ ♪ The jet is taking off, I can feel the rot spreading ♪ ♪ It's a killer disease ♪ ♪ Killer disease ♪ ♪ To say it would hurt too much ♪ ♪ So I boil it down, bottle it up ♪ ♪ And drink it like a remedy ♪ ♪ No good for me ♪ ♪ And now that I'm on the run ♪ ♪ Know I got it wrong, really all along ♪ ♪ You were just a masterpiece ♪ ♪ Masterpiece ♪ ♪ So with or without me ♪ ♪ Still felt you were drowning ♪ ♪ With so many options ♪ ♪ You pick the worst timing ♪ ♪ We don't talk about it ♪ ♪ Don't talk about anything ♪ ♪ My love didn't stop when ♪ ♪ I cut it all off, and -- ♪ ♪ La-la-la, la-laaaah ♪ ♪ La-la-la, la-laaaah ♪ ♪ La-la-la, la-laaaah ♪ ♪ La-la-la, la-laaaah ♪ ♪ La-la-la, la-laaaah ♪ ♪ La-la-la, la-laaaah ♪ ♪ La-la-la, la-laaaah ♪ ♪ I cut it all off and began to run ♪ ♪♪ ♪ But now that I'm on the run ♪ ♪ Think I got it wrong, really all along ♪ ♪ You were just a masterpiece ♪ ♪ Masterpiece ♪ ♪ Chewing on Valium ♪ ♪ The jet is taking off, I can feel the rot spreading ♪ ♪ It's a killer disease ♪ ♪ Killer disease ♪ ♪ To say it would hurt too much ♪ ♪ So I boil it down, bottle it up ♪ ♪ And drink it like a remedy ♪ ♪ No good for me ♪ ♪ And now that I'm on the run ♪ ♪ Know I got it wrong, really all along ♪ ♪ You were just a masterpiece ♪ ♪ Masterpiece ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you so much.

♪♪ Honestly, thank you so much.

Maybe we'll come back and play a show for you here sometime.

Love you all.

Davis: "Studio 3 LIVE" is also available as a podcast.

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Davis: Next time on "Studio 3 LIVE."

It's the Rubens.

♪ After homer, afternoons spent dancing with the bulls ♪ If you can love what you do and you can nerd out on it and enjoy it.

I think that's, you know, sort of the secret sauce to a little bit of happiness in this crazy world.

♪ Things get heavy at the wrong time ♪ ♪ All wrapped up, what does that feel like?

♪