Rolling Stone: Bluejuice behind-the-scenes
“Basically I’m playing what I am, a 30-year-old loser, who gets stoned down in the park and spots this woman and seduces her,” explains Bluejuice singer Jake Stone on the set of the band’s new video for “Act Your Age”.
The kicker? His leading lady is old enough to be his grandmother. “But I want it to be romantic – shocking but also sweet and sincere,” he says genuinely. “At the same time, it’s important for us to grab people’s attention.”
“It’s also something other bands wouldn’t do, which is part of our schtick,” adds co-frontman Stavros Yiannoukas, who’s dressed today as Stone’s ‘good conscience’ in a white suit and hat.
This isn’t the first time the pair’s pashed. The band initially shot the man-on-gran action for some on-stage projections during their recent Splendour In The Grass set and this is the sequel. “I don’t know what it’ll be like this time but the first one had some grabbing and some tongues and fondling,” recalls Stone, as a stylist gives him a touch-up.
“He’s a good kisser – passionate with just enough force,” says his love interest, 72-year-old Christine, in between takes.
Shot on a stormy Spring day in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the torrid tale of inter-generational love packs quite a supporting cast. Yiannoukas’ wife Fiona and their 17-week-old son Yiannis guest star as Christine’s daughter and grandson alongside assorted extras playing ‘shocker onlookers’.
Meanwhile, two professionally-trained pooches perform tricks on green screen, while bassist Jamie Cibej has brought his own dogs, Lambert and Banjo, mostly, it seems, for their ability to hump each other. “They fucked a lot but just not on camera,” laments Stone afterwards with a laugh.
And while you wouldn’t guess it from today’s storyline, “Act Your Age” is the sound of Bluejuice maturing musically, at least. With the band determined to make a “proper” studio record rather than “just be a band blaring at you”, their third album Company embraces an unabashed love of anthemic AC pop of the ‘70s and ‘80s like Steve Winwood and Billy Joel.
“We just couldn’t keep living on brashness,” says Stone of their new approach. “Stuff’s happened in all our lives, adult things, and there’s only so long you can be a fuckwit and get away with it.”
Photo: George Fetting/Rolling Stone
