If Jerry Craib had to describe his band, Bluejuice, in one (hyphened) word it would be ‘bubble-wrap’. Popping their way around the nation this indie five piece are co-headlining the current (starting tomorrow!) ‘Less Talk More Problems’ tour with The Paper Scissors. This is the first time the two bands are heading out together but Craib explains to Loconut that there were many reasons for the two bands to unite and tour around the country.

“We like their music. Me and Tom are also from their band, we play in another country band actually, here in Sydney. There’s a few connections, different members from both bands has got individual friendships with different people so there’s a whole bunch of collective friendships and ideas that all came together; and as a matter of fact a good idea I think.”

Although very keyed up about the ‘Less Talking More Problems’ tour, which is hitting fourteen different towns all around Oz, Craib admits that there are always nerves involved in the performing process too:

“I’m nervous but I’m not nervous whether it’s going to go alright or not. Not that I’m arrogantly assuming that its going to go incredibly, its more that I just chose not to worry about that kind of thing. I think we’re just going to have a good time and we hope that a lot of people will turn up.”

With previous shows being quite known for their spontaneity, Craib’s response to what plans they have for their on-stage performance this time round, was equally as spontaneous:

“Hopefully a bit of nakedness, some clowning, face paint, eating on stage. Yeah we might eat a few meals on stage - I think that would be new for people, just maybe having dinner in front of everyone with the soundtrack behind. Maybe a bit of dancing… backwards! Like face backwards, do all the moves backwards, just backwards or diagonal!”

Having supported some big names such as The Specials and Dizzy Rascal in shows gone by, Craib agrees that much was learnt from these past tours but the band is ready to embark off on their own adventure with, of course, The Paper Scissors.

On touring with The Specials, Craib looked at downside of being the support act, rather than the headliner:

“It was a lot of fun but…we were very inappropriate. It’s more that it’s an old, excellent established band; it’s a niche. You know the people that listen to The Specials, they’re a unique audience who have loved them for a very long time and we’re a whole bunch of whippersnappers supporting this big act. We were just not the right thing.”

In saying this, Craib also believes that Bluejuice learnt and grew together from supporting such a unique established band:

“It was still a valuable experience for the band to have and they gained things which they will take on tour with them this time around. The main thing we learnt from them was tightness. They’re one of the tightest bands I’ve ever seen. Their focus is one hundred per cent.”

Since then, Bluejuice have definitely tightened their work. The single ‘Vitriol’, from their latest album ‘Problems’, débuted at number eleven in Triple J’s biggest Hottest 100 to date.

“I felt excited and honoured and really surprised as well. There was a good feeling that [Vitriol] would drive the album, yet not to the extent that it went, obviously.”

To be able to reach each destination to play hits such as ‘Vitriol’ the boys will be driving around the nation in a big van. This makes Jerry think of the thing he likes least about going on tour: “(Laughs) I think constant talking for hours on end especially on long trips…just hours and hours and hours of jokes and talk and not shutting up and no rest. That’s to be avoided at all costs.”

Craib assured Loconut that he would be just fine though as long as he had his large supply of clean socks “I can’t live without clean socks - the rest of me that can stink as much as it wants!”

If you want to see Jerry (and his clean socks!) and the Bluejuice boys, along with The Paper Scissors, hurry and head down to The Amplifier this Saturday at 8pm, April 26th. Or find your way to The Newport Hotel in Fremantle the following night at 6pm, April 27th. Door sales are available for $25 (pre-sale $18).