With a tongue-twister of a name, a freshly released extended version of their debut album (I Love You, Too), and a Riot Grrrl spirit, Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers might be exactly what we need right now. The 4-piece punk band from Canberra, Australia have been performing together since they were kids, and it shows in both their rapport and chemistry as a band. Last time they were stateside, we got the chance to hang with vocalist Anna Ryan, drummer Neve van Boxsel and bass guitarist Jaida Stephenson. Watch as they share some of their favorite - and formative - live music moments.
Turnstile
Jaida: Turnstile came to Australia for, I think, the first time last year. And we've kind of only gotten into them pretty recently, and then we found out they were playing and we're like, "We have to go."
Neve: Immediately.
Jaida: There's no question about it. Unfortunately though, it was all sold out and there was kind of no way of getting there. So we asked our management, we were like, "Can we pull some strings?" The day before, they came back and they were like, "We got your tickets."
Neve: It was the best show we've ever been to ever.
Jaida: It was mind blowing.
Neve: Yeah. The 10-minute drum solo changed me as a person.
Jaida: I'm still shaking.
Neve: For a hardcore show, it was so welcoming. Except for like one... one girl.
Jaida: This like tiny, tiny lady. I'm five foot two and she was maybe a head shorter than me, and she was running around. You know at hardcore shows, some people like, throw their arms, but she was like, running up to people and just punching them.
Neve: Like she was running fist first.
Jaida: But she was kind of so small that it was like, kind of okay.
Anna: Still not great behavior, yeah.
Jaida: The whole time it was just energy.
Neve: They were playing for an hour and a half, like hard, obviously hardcore. From that show, we've been writing so many riff-heavy songs. Just so inspirational for us.
Missy Higgins
Anna: I have been a big Missy Higgins fan my entire life. Me and my mom, just screaming in the car, everything that she's put out. Her songwriting, I like that she's a storyteller with all of her songs, and that's really inspiring. This is a little bit embarrassing, but I feel like it has to be said. My mom was trying to get tickets and like, get the VIP Missy Higgins experience. She thought it would be a good idea to record me singing one of her songs. The video, that didn't help in any way. We didn't go to... we didn't go to her show from that.
Neve: But it's on YouTube, isn't it?
Anna: It's still on YouTube. I really put my heart and soul into that, my 12-year-old heart and soul. I think it was 2015. My mom and I went to a show. My eyes were twinkling being like, "Oh, my God, I wanna be like that." You sort of just feel like you're all hanging out together, which is something I think we try and do with our shows as well. I think she was pregnant at the time with one of her kids and she just like, "Guys, I've gotta go. I need to go to the toilet. I'm coming back. I feel like I'm among friends right now." Well, I don't know how much more I can say about how cool she is.
Paramore
Jaida: So last year, we went and saw Paramore at, not Sidney Myer, um...
Neve: Where was it?
Both: It was at Rod Laver Arena!
Jaida: Obviously, big Paramore fans, and we just recorded a Billie Eilish cross Paramore kind of mashup song.
Neve: At the show, it was incredible. Like, Hayley Williams is insane.
Anna: Her vocals are completely unmatched. There was not a minute where we weren't completely entranced.
Neve: Their connection on stage is awesome. I think her and the drummer have known each other since they were like really little as well, which is kind of...
Jaida: What we kind of do as well.
Anna: It was such a great show.
---
Teen Jesus are currently supporting Pearl Jam on their run down under. Head to their official site to stay updated on upcoming shows.
And stay tuned for their episode of Unlocked, coming in 2025!
