You Am I: Still Loud, Still Legendary
One of our most beloved rock bands You Am I are heading out on tour in October, with the group set to take their STRUNG UP Tour to venues along the east coast to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their 1996 album ‘Hourly Daily’ live with fans. The STRUNG UP Tour will see You Am I joined by a string quartet to deliver reimagine selections from the ‘Hourly Daily’ LP as well as fan favourites from across their celebrated back catalogue. We caught up with lead guitarist David Lane to find out more about the milestone tour and what fans can look forward to from the landmark shows.
You Am I; the band is celebrating the 30th anniversary of your album ‘Hourly Daily’, what are your memories of making the LP back in 1996?
I’m afraid you’re talking to the only guy in the band who wasn’t there at the time (I joined 3 years later) but I can tell you about buying it when it came out? I skipped school and got the train alighting at Prahran station to Greville Records. You Am I were making music that ticked all the boxes for me at the time as a kid obsessed with beat-oriented rock ‘n roll music. ‘Hi Fi Way’ was incredible in its own way but it seemed that ‘Hourly Daily’ they’d cracked the code to being the band they wanted to be, and the writing had kicked up another gear. I mixed the demos on the upcoming box set and it astonished me how fully formed so many of the songs were and the vast quantity and quality of material, so much that ended up relinquished to b-sides if not cast aside and never used.
Why do you think this album in particular was so popular with fans?
Here at home there’s so much that’s relatable about it without compromising any sharpness. Stories of livin’, lovin’, losing ‘n all peppered with local references (what other song rhymes Circular Quay with TAB, I ask you?). For anyone overseas I think it nods gently to other things enough for it to have a sense of familiarity but a vitality that is nothing but a band in the moment tearing it up. Unlike so many records that were released concurrently, mother time has been kind to it in sense of its production. Timeless shiznit, innit?
“its unlike anything we’ve done in the past but we’re always up for deviating from the reg”
You’re heading out on your Strung Up Tour in October, a special tour celebrating ‘Hourly Daily’, which will see you descend onto some of the country’s most iconic stages. How are you as a band preparing?
Personally, I’ve handed my beta blocker script to my pharmacist. We’re yet to get into a room and plug in but its unlike anything we’ve done in the past but we’re always up for deviating from the reg - we got a whole bunch of new friends on the road playing different shaped stringed instruments to us so we’re ready to embrace the conviviality of it all.
What can fans expect from the live show?
We’ll nod to ‘Hourly Daily’ but dig into the breadth of the catalogue, familiar tunes and a smattering of choice deep cuts and probably look to the future too. Surprises but plenty enough to keep yer casual fans sated.
“we have fertile imaginations and don’t mind messing with the formula.”
Have there been any challenges reimaging the tracks or adding that orchestral element?
Not really, we’ll hit on songs that already have string arrangements but for the ones that don’t, we have fertile imaginations and don’t mind messing with the formula.
Will you be joined on the road by any of your famous friends or special guests?
We don’t have famous friends, just friends. But we’ll have a stellar string section and be joined as usual by our famous friend James Fleming, resident keyboard wizard. We’ll be ordering him a curry to eat mid-set, on stage, each and every night, without fail. You can depend on that.
“I’d like to shout out my psychologist for ironing out the wobbles”
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is it they do that keeps your world turning?
Well there are our loved ones, and they know very well who they are. You may or may not know Andy Kent our bass player is also our manager, so he deserves a shout out for keeping the cogs greased and rolling. Our regular crew of Clint Stagoll, Wes Gregorace and Craig Boyes basically set everything up and wheel us on stage each night so a huge doffing of caps to them. I’d like to shout out my psychologist for ironing out the wobbles, but enough of my problems.
What's next for You Am I? What can fans look forward to?
There is new music, which doesn’t appear to be enough on its own to sustain a living in this topsy turvy world of rock n roll, but that’s exciting enough for us. Tim has the cauldron bubbling nicely over his firepit and the rest of us are looking forward to coming over with our spoons or wooden dowels and givin’ the stew a wee stir.
Do you have a message for all the legions of You Am I fans and supporters?
Stick with us, baby, stick with us anyhow, things should start to get interesting right about now.
Tour Dates
18/10 Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Sydney
22/10 The Tivoli, Brisbane
23/10 The Tivoli, Brisbane
05/11 Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
06/11 Melbourne Recital Centre, Melbourne
Tickets via www.tegdainty.com
Interview by Michelle Symes
July 2026
