JIMMY EAT WORLD

The band returns to Melbourne for their first visit in six years in support of My Chemical Romance.

Words by Luke Carlino

When asked about the secret to this level of success, Rick’s answer is modest and simple, “our longevity stems from our short-term goal approach. We don’t really plan things for a decade down the road, so we’ve always just had the idea of setting our sights on short-term accomplishable goals and then adding more to that. Next thing you know, it’s 30 years down the road.”

As for what a short-term goal is when you are a band that has accomplished nearly every goal possible, Rick again keeps things straightforward, “it’s simple things; what kind of gigging do we want to do? Is it a performance year or a creative year? Once we decided that, it can quickly turn into two or three years of a schedule.

“We’re super excited to be doing these gigs, we were devastated in 2020 when literally four days before we were getting on a plane, Australian borders shut. We were very sad about that tour because we had the support of A. Swayze and the Ghosts, and we were very excited about playing with them.

“These gigs will be super fun, high-energy and a lot of people finally back together celebrating good music and great times.”

The My Chem tour has been tricky to get going, as the new dates are the touring parties’ third attempt to play. The original trip to visit our shores in 2020 was nixed by the pandemic, then the re-announced tour for 2022 had to be pushed back to the current dates in 2023.

The quartet from Mesa, Arizona, rounded out by Jim Adkins on lead guitar and vocals, Tom Linton on rhythm guitar and Zach Lind on drums, found commercial breakthrough success thanks to the now twenty-two-year-old Bleed American, which spawned the legendary single The Middle, a track that hit the top of the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart and spent 33 weeks on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

From there, it was all systems go, and the band’s consistent output has built large followings worldwide, allowing them to tour seemingly non-stop. If you are new to Jimmy Eat World, the 2008 re-released deluxe edition of Bleed American, which has a huge 32 tracks, including live recordings, demos and B-sides, is the ultimate way to understand the group.

The trade-off? Extra shows were added to the run to allow more people to head along to the very quickly sold-out shows. According to Rick, the weight of a much-anticipated event finally *touch wood* happening is not lost on the band, “We don’t take things for granted; we never had, but now we have an acute awareness of how important it is to be in front of a live audience.”

My Chemical Romance and Jimmy Eat World play Rod Laver Arena on March 16 and March 17.

LIVE MUSIC happens right in the crowd. Whitehart Bar hosts an electric mixture of genres - including some very funky live bands – right in the thick of the action downstairs. They also host some of Melbourne’s best DJs right below the stairs in a gorgeous jungle atmosphere.

FAMOUS FOR their beautiful environment. Whitehart Bar is overflowing with natural touches, palm trees, vines that weave their way along staircases, plants exploding out of the walls, bathroom fixtures set into concrete – this is one of Melbourne’s most beautiful bars.

INFAMOUS FOR Whitehart Lane itself. If the reputation of Whiteharts weren’t enough, you’ll be entranced by the industrial edge and huge barbed-wire fence (adorned with fairy lights, of course) that greet you when you uncover the container bars, tucked down a heavily graffitied laneway.

One glance at Whitehart Bar and you’ll be hooked. Two levels and a large concrete courtyard scream Melbourne, as do the curated range of live music, pop-up food stalls, delectable cocktails and multi-storey wall murals that make Whitehart one of the city’s favourite haunts.

The importance of aesthetics is hard to overstate - the owners pride themselves on the projections that often transform their narrow space into a spectacular visual feast. But punters still attend for the DJs or jazz-funk bands as much as anything else – if you’re worth your salt in Melbourne’s local scene, you’ll have played here before.

They boast a fantastic range of events as well. In March, they host the I Hart Rum Festival, aimed at introducing rum lovers to our emerging independent rum scene. Expect immersive tasting experiences (meet-the-maker style), Caribbean cocktails, Jamaican food, a Fever Tree Highball zone, a Tiki mug store, and free masterclasses all day that culminate in an expert rum panel championing new styles.

Discover Whitehart Bar at 22 Whitehart Lane, Melbourne. They’re open seven days per week.

LIVE MUSIC is a staple of the Retreat, taking place every day of the week except for Mondays. Swing by to hear indie, folk, blues, electronic, punk and everything in between. For the bigger acts, the cover fee sits around $15, but there are a ton of free gigs as well.

FAMOUS FOR the massive beer garden out back. Spacious and accommodating, the patio makes for the perfect space for afterwork drinks with a big group. It’s half covered and half open air, with umbrellas and heaters to ensure you’re feeling just right.

INFAMOUS FOR the Sunday roast (and roast sandwich), back and better than ever. While pub roasts are pretty standard, this one is like no other, featuring succulent meat with all the fixings and plated beautifully. Expect to leave stuffed.

In the reviews for The Retreat, someone wrote “if Brunswick was a pub then this is it”. We wholeheartedly agree. It shares the same essence of our favourite suburb – a little rough-and-tumble to look at, but warm and social when you step inside and not at all lacking when it comes to quality.

For musos, the Sydney road joint is a lot more than your average pub – it’s a place to show the community what they’ve got. Over the years, the stage has been graced with many a Melbourne legend. The bandroom is loud and high capacity so it can make for a big night depending on who’s on. Minors are welcome until 10 pm if accompanied by an adult, and for the big kids, DJs keep the party going ‘til 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays. The old-school vibe is a big part of the charm, with a pool table on site, fairy lights twinkling through the courtyard, and a disco ball hanging overhead. On the menu, find elevated pub fair that is made to please everyone, from the vegans to the carnivores.

From the crafty selection of beers to the ever-changing entertainment, we can’t think of anywhere we’d rather sip away the hours on a lazy afternoon.

Head down to 280 Sydney Road, Brunswick for a good time. They’re open from midday, every day.

LIVE MUSIC fills the mid-sized, 200-capacity bandroom niche that’s becoming increasingly important for the local performance and arts circuit. A space that’s small enough to sell out, and big enough to feel like a proper gig for local and touring bands alike.

FAMOUS FOR eclectic gigs, open mic nights, lazy afternoons of beer and DJ sessions and passionate audio-tech pros bringing it all together in a custom-built performance space.

INFAMOUS FOR being the big, gig-focused younger sibling to the beloved little local front bar that is the Bergy Seltzer proper.

It’s a big deal for Bergy, a famously snug little venue tucked away at the park edge of Sydney Road. Bergy made its name by being the friendly hole-in-the-wall and unpretentious local favourite. That dive-style haunt will remain, with more of a focus on cocktails and boutique drinks in the front bar, but the new space next door lets them beef up their renowned regular gig schedule.

For this bandroom, they’ve gutted the old warehouse space next door and built their dream venue basically from scratch. This means audio tech industry pro and Bergy owner David ‘Frankie’ Cudmore and his team have been able to assess and curate a perfect acoustic setup. Sound-treated walls and airlock doors ensure not only an excellent audio experience in the bandroom, but that the new beer garden out back is completely insulated. And that beer garden is spacious, bright and light-filled, with retractable roofing to accommodate the changeable Melbourne weather. Hanging greenery meets post-industrial grunge for a cool, year-round chill zone with a fully stocked bar. There’s another bar in the bandroom - lovingly decked out in reclaimed wood - which will have a simpler, gig-friendly offering tailored to the crowd.

The spirit of the bar you love remains. Really, it’s just like the Bergy, only bigger.

Visit the Bergy Bandroom at 68 Sydney Road in Brunswick.

FAMOUS FOR their unique split-level venue that provides the perfect space for a function of any size. Whether you’re looking for a place to grab a quick drink after work or somewhere to spend a leisurely evening with friends old and new, Bar 61 is the perfect spot.

INFAMOUS FOR their wide variety of stand-out drinks that will leave you with choice paralysis - like the El Picante Margarita, which features tequila, topped with cucumber and jalapeños, or even a Coco Dreams cocktail, which has some Mozart Milk Chocolate and Bacardi. How could a poor soul be expected to pick just one? Guess you’ll just have to try them all.

Nestled right in the heart of Northcote, this hidden gem is just a short stroll from Westgarth Station and is the perfect place to start (or end) your evening. Known for slinging a variety of local craft beers and the best in Australian and imported wines, their unique split-level and retractable roof over their all-season beer garden sees Bar 61 stand out amongst its High Street peers. With bartenders who are knowledgeable and passionate about what they’re pouring, this relaxed and intimate venue sports an aforementioned cocktail list like no other - serving up a variety of interesting and unique drinks amongst the positive vibes, great company and chill tunes. Its laidback atmosphere paired with its contemporary elegance makes it a perfect event space for a party of any size.

And if you’re feeling hungry, the bar also serves up a delicious menu of pub-style food. From their classic beer-battered potato chips and selection of pizzas to their divine Sicilian arancini, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste. For the vegetarians amongst us - there are plenty of meat-free options available from their wide selection of sharing platters. Located just a stone’s throw from Westgarth Station and with the 86 tram right outside the front door, Bar 61 is waiting for you to discover it.

Check out Bar 61 at 61 High Street, Northcote. They’re open from 5 pm ’til late on Fridays and 4 pm ’til late on Saturdays.