Melbourne has always been a city where bands quietly evolve out of long musical histories. Musicians move between projects, scenes shift, venues come and go, but the through-line is the players who keep writing songs. The Droptails are very much part of that tradition.
This incarnation, formed during Melbourne’s extended COVID lockdowns, brings together musicians with deep roots in the city’s independent scene. Members have previously played in groups including Cracked Jaffers, Penthouse Paupers, Huxton Creepers and The Tonalists – bands that helped shape the texture of Melbourne’s pub and indie circuit across the 80s and 90s.
Rather than feeling like a nostalgia exercise, The Droptails sound like a natural continuation of that lineage: experienced players still interested in the craft of songwriting.
On 1 February the band released their second album, Through Road. It follows their debut Coronavirus The Musical, a record born directly out of the strange and claustrophobic atmosphere of lockdown life. Where that album captured a very specific moment in time, Through Road feels more open and outward-looking.
Musically, the Droptails sit comfortably in a familiar but much-loved corner of indie rock. There’s the unmistakable jangle of Australian guitar pop running through the record, alongside a steady rhythmic drive that occasionally nods to the Velvet Underground. The songwriting leans toward observation and storytelling, with vocals delivered in an understated, conversational style. It feels easy to say Paul Kelly-esque but it is still unique unto itself, even though there is an appreciative echo.
Tracks like “Jettison” move with a tight, economical momentum, while “Hooplehead” settles into a smooth groove that lets the lyrics take centre stage. Across the album the band show a strong sense of restraint – songs are concise, arrangements are uncluttered and the focus stays firmly on melody, rhythm and narrative.
It’s the kind of record that feels lived-in rather than laboured. These are musicians who have spent years in rehearsal rooms and on small stages, and Through Road carries that confidence. Nothing is forced, the songs simply go where they need to go, be it country, be it indie, be it alt-rock.
The band will be taking the album out for a run of Melbourne shows over the coming months, starting with a performance at George Lane in St Kilda on Friday 13 March. Further gigs follow at The Town Hall Hotel in North Melbourne on Saturday 18 April and The Esplanade Hotel (Basement) in St Kilda on Saturday 2 May.
For a band that came together during a period when live music temporarily disappeared, it seems fitting that The Droptails are now doing what bands are meant to do – getting out of the rehearsal room and back onto the stage.
To catch the band live, head out to one of these iconic live music venues.
The Droptails – upcoming live shows
Saturday 28 February (afternoon): The Yorkshire Stingo, Abbotsford
Saturday 7 March (2-4pm): The Retreat Hotel, Fitzroy
Friday 13 March (evening): George Lane, St Kilda (Album Launch)
Saturday 18 April (evening): The Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne
Saturday 2 May (evening): The Esplanade Hotel (basement), St. Kilda
You can listen to Through Road from The Droptails via Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music
Image supplied
