When Spod beckoned music lovers to Taste the Radness in 2003, it appears many obliged, leading to rave reviews, incredible touring and an absolutely adoring fan-base. Now, Spod is back with Eternal Championz a “band based” sibling to the electro, drum-based debut album.

According to Spod, this new album was approached “with a plan that I wanted to do a backflip from the first album”. Thus, where Taste the Radness was all synthesised sounds, Eternal Championz has a real rock feel about it, thanks in part to the presence of Black Level Embassy as Spod’s backing band. Spod’s plan for aural domination has been in existence for quite sometime, Spod stating “I’ve had this plan in my head for years and years and years that for the first album it would be all drum machine based and the second album would be all band based. After that, I could do what I wanted… I don’t ever want to make the same album twice.” This new album is starkly different to the first. Whilst this album still has the same power the debut had to bring a smile to the listener’s face and fill them with joy, it’s definitely something new and different from Spod. 

Spod explains the philosophy of his work as “a license for ‘anything-goes’; having some fun and letting yourself go”. Spod’s music is an incredible amount of fun, but any good-times felt by listening to the album pale in comparison to the amazing, dazzling live shows presented. Spod, accompanied most ably by dancing gals Krylon and Axltronixxx, is unique to watch in performance: full of energy, love and gifts for his loyal audience. Spod’s approach to the live shows is simply summed up when he states “I just like to approach going into a live show thinking ‘what would I want to see, how would I want to be treated.’ I want to put on a show that gives people a reason to stay there.”

Important to Spod is that his shows have a polarising effect on attendees, clearly loving being seen in extreme, rather than safe, terms. On this point, Spod reveals that “some people love it and some people hate it which is what I always wanted to do…I never wanted to be in that middle-ground. I can’t stand that. If you don’t put yourself out on a limb, I don’t reckon you try hard enough.” Well, no one could ever accuse Spod of putting any less that 110% into his shows.  “We all go pretty nuts”, he says, “We all just do it ‘cos we absolutely love it. We’re celebrating music, celebrating live shows and doing everything out of appreciation that people are there watching it. You should never take that for granted.” But the audiences don’t take Spod for granted either, proving to be exceptionally loyal and adoring. Spod couldn’t be more delighted with the fans, gushing ”[Our audience] is full of random lovely, lovely people and I would marry every single last one of them.”  

Clearly Spod is the kind of guy who endears himself easily to the bands he plays with. Recently, after touring with Regurgitator, he rapped with the band in their bubble at Melbourne’s Federation Square and landed himself a spot on their soon-to-be released album. Of this experience, Spod laughs and tells a story which had him fly down to Melbourne from Sydney with 48 hours notice, rap his way through what he assumed was a ‘practice run’, only to find that rough copy was the actual take and the one which will be heard on the album. Spod says those who listen to the track when it is released will “hear me just falling to bits”, although given his talent one feels that the end result will be pretty good after all.  Also, Spod’s tour with Electric Six has led to Dick Valentine inviting Spod to play some shows in the United States with them. Spod says that, apart from getting into America, he’s also looking at getting to Japan. On this hope for overseas touring, Spod says “I want to get out the door and do a big, hard run” adding that “it’ll be pretty daunting and pretty exciting”.

Clearly, it’s a good time for Spod right now. Eternal Championz is a fantastic new release, Spod looks to continue those fabulous live shows and plans are laid for his conquering the overseas market. With all this in place, Spod’s dazzling star is guaranteed to shine even brighter as his career goes on.

Upcoming shows for Spod are:

September 22nd, Melbourne, Deejaying @ Revolver Upstairs – Prahan
ETERNAL CHAMPIONZ – LAUNCH SHOWZ!!!
September 24th, Melbourne, The Evelyn – with Wax Manniquin, Black Level Embassy, Look Who’s Toxic
October 1st, Sydney Spectrum – with Da Hawnay Troof (USA), Die Die Die (NZ), The Coolies (NZ)
October 2nd, Adelaide – The Jade Monkey with Nightstick & Matts Little Brother