The Griswolds

The indie rock outfit from Australia known as the Griswolds rapidly drew widespread attention throughout their native country thanks to infectious melodies, an easygoing demeanor, and a boisterous party outlook. Their moniker originated from Chevy Chase’s unfortunate clan in the Vacation film series. Singer Christopher Whitehall, guitarist Daniel Duque-Perez, bassist Tim John, drummer Chris Riley, and keyboardist Lachlan West formed the ensemble in 2012. Whitehall and Duque-Perez first traded song ideas until one stood out so clearly that they decided a full band should bring it to life on stage and in the studio. Work on their initial EP had already begun when they settled on the name the Griswolds, so after finishing the recording of “Mississippi” they immediately shared the track online. Music bloggers embraced it at once, radio followed, and Australian powerhouse Triple J placed the song in steady rotation, making it the station’s most-played track of 2012.

Once their debut EP, Heart of a Lion, ascended the Australian charts, the Griswolds confirmed their live abilities with notable appearances at the Big Day Out, Parklife, and Homebake festivals and with their earliest European excursions. In May 2013 they played their first American show in Brooklyn, New York, and soon afterward Wind-Up Records signed them, releasing the EP in the United States while “Mississippi” reached the college-radio charts. Early in 2014 the band entered the studio with producer Tony Hoffer to begin their first full-length album. Be Impressive arrived in August 2014 and entered the Billboard 200. An acoustic EP drawn from its tracks appeared the following year. Their sophomore album, High Times for Low Lives, surfaced in late 2016. Grammy winner Andrew Dawson, whose credits include work with Kanye West and Pet Shop Boys, produced the record, which featured the single “Out of My Head.”