Episode 2: Kevin Mitchell – Jebediah, Bob Evans

Jebediah

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If you’re someone who has listened to Australian music at any point over the last three decades, the chances are pretty good you would have listened to Jebediah at least once in your life.

Forming in Perth back in 1994, Jebediah were only teenagers when they got together, but soon enough, they were making music well beyond their years. Comprising Kevin Mitchell on guitar and vocals, his brother Brett on drums, Vanessa Thornton on bass, and Chris Daymond on guitar, Jebediah saw some pretty quick successes.

Within a year, the group were winning band competitions, and performing alongside big names like Beastie Boys, the Foo Fighters, and Sonic Youth. Following their 1996 EP Twitch, the group released their debut album Slightly Odway. The record featured classic songs like ‘Leaving Home’, ‘Jerks Of Attention’, ‘Harpoon’, ‘Military Strongmen’, and ’Teflon’, peaked at #7 on the ARIA charts, nabbed them their second ARIA Award nomination, and in 2021, Rolling Stone Australia called it the 76th best Australian album of all time. Sure, I might have been the editor who put it at that number, but if the democratic process wasn’t in play, it would likely have been a top ten record.

But with their name on the national map, the band kept on going, releasing further amazing albums like 1999’s Of Someday Shambles – which peaked at #2 – 2002’s self-titled effort, and 2004’s Braxton Hicks, with classic tracks like ‘Animal’, ‘Fall Down’, ‘Feet Touch The Ground’, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’, ‘Please Leave’, and oh, so much more arriving during that period.

In 2005, Jebediah took a bit of a break, with Kevin Mitchell taking the time to focus on his Bob Evans side project, which has since resulted in six albums, and a ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album for 2006’s Suburban Songbook album. In case you haven’t guessed, Kev is a bit of a musical genius.

In 2011, Jebediah returned in full force, releasing their Kosciuszko album, and receiving not only an ARIA nomination for Best Rock Album, but their eighth West Australian Music Industry Award for the single ‘She’s Like A Cement’.

Although they never stopped touring, no new music arrived from Jebediah until 2023, when the group announced the release of their long-awaited sixth album, Oiks. Named for a slang term for uncouth folks that was lovingly bestowed upon them by You Am I’s Tim Rogers, the album’s announcement coincided with their induction into the West Australian Music Industry Awards’ Hall Of Fame.

Today, Oiks is out in the world, and it’s been a long time coming for Jebediah fans. It’s an exceptional record which sees them capturing that same sort of youthful energy they’ve been associated with since their earliest days. In case you can’t tell by now, I’m a big fan of Jebediah, and this is an album you definitely need to hear.

Once you’re done giving Oiks a spin, I invite you to give this episode of the Trusty Chords podcast a run, which sees me talking to Jebediah frontman Kevin Mitchell. The Trusty Chords segment took a brief turn and we ended up talking about another five albums rather than five songs, but hey, who can say no to that loveable rascal?

Regardless, enjoy the chat with Kevin, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.

Kevin Mitchell’s Trusty Chords

Kevin’s One Influential Artist

1. You Am I

Kevin’s Three Impactful Albums

1. Ratcat – Blind Love (1991)

2. The Beatles – Let It Be (1970)

3. Blur – Parklife (1994)

Kevin’s Five Trusty Songs

A small note here: Kevin actually picked another five albums for this section, so I went along and picked some specific songs from the records so as to make it more in line with the podcast’s plan.

1. Carole King – ‘It’s Too Late’ (Originally from Tapestry, in 1971)

2. Fleetwood Mac – ‘Dreams’ (Originally from Rumours in 1977, and featured on Greatest Hits, in 1988)

3. Josh Rouse – ‘Winter In The Hamptons’ (Originally from Nashville, in 2005)

4. Ron Sexsmith – ‘Hard Bargain (Originally from Retriever, in 2004)

5. Wilco – ‘A Shot In The Arm’ (Originally from Summerteeth, in 1999)