Artist’s Cookbook: What’s Cooking with Grand Atlantic

(image from Grand Atlantic’s Facebook page)

Grand Atlantic is an Australian band that has made a lot of noise in the US over the past few years. Following the release of their single “She’s a Dreamer” which was picked up by over 50 influential US stations, Grand Atlantic went on a 15 date US tour. In 2010 the band performed at SXSW and Canadian Music Week. The following year the band returned to SXSW and hit up 17 other dates on the East and West coast. That tour also helped cement some licensing outcomes from NBC/Universal and TV shows like “Gossip Girl” and MTV’s “I Just Want My Pants Back.”

Late last year the band released their third album, Constellations. The album has been hailed as a sophisticated yet dark foray into the psychedelic realms of guitar rock. Constellations was recorded in an empty lunatic asylum near Dunedin, New Zealand. Weird things happened during Grand Atlantic’s stay. These oddities left a big imprint on the sound of the new record. For instance, the album’s third single “Carved From Stone” channels the past, something that was probably pretty easy to do considering reminders of it were all around. The past that it explores is one that is full of complexities that are “haunting while nostalgic, tormenting while familiar.” Preceding the digital release of the song (September 24th), is a video that finds the band entertaining and colorful while spinning records, sipping tea and stealing water. All of it takes place in and around the Australian Bush. I watched the video closely, looking for a clue as to what food would pair well with the song. Marmite? Convenience store grub? Stolen soup cans? I decided to turn to an expert, Sean Bower, bassist for Grand Atlantic (and member of the Valery Trails). Sean suggested that the song requires something that speaks of the Australian Bush (due to the video’s setting). It also should include a touch of Mexican (mainly because the band loves that style of food). When one combines the Australian Bush with Mexican, one gets Grilled Kangaroo Tostados (Sean adapted it from this recipe due to the difficulty of finding certain ingredients).

Yep. I said kangaroo (get Sean’s recipe here).

Check out the video for “Carved From Stone” below:

For just the music:

Another catchy track “These Avenues”: