Australian rockers Jet land at McGuffy’s

Jet

Australian rockers Jet seemed to emerge from out of nowhere in 2003 with their debut album, “Get Born.” The multi-platinum, international smash sounded like a punked-up, garage rock version of a Rolling Stones-style band tempered with an ear for modern radio.

The approach worked and Jet became instant superstars on the way to becoming the first Australian band since AC/DC and Men at Work to repeatedly hit the U.S. charts. Today, Nic Cester (guitar, vocals), Chris Cester (drums, vocals), Cam Muncey (guitar, vocals) and Mark Wilson (bass, vocals), are forging ahead with new music, but in many ways the group is living under the shadow of “Are You Gonna Be My Girl.” The song was not only a top 40 hit in the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom, but has been featured in commercials, television programs, video games and other media, making it one of the most indelible rock songs of the past decade.

The group, which performs at McGuffy’s House of Rock on Tuesday, April 6, released a follow-up album, “Shine On,” in 2006. The material, much of it influenced by the death of the Cester brother’s father, was a bit more somber than some fans were expecting and it failed to achieve the commercial success of “Get Born.”

The group’s latest disc, “Shaka Rock,” was released in late 2009 and has returned Jet to the album and singles charts. The album’s first single, “She’s a Genius,” went top 20 in Australia and the United States. Jet recently performed its song “Seventeen,” the third single from “Shaka Rock,” at the medal ceremony on day 13 of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

“This album we sorta wanted as a reaction to the last one, I guess, just because we’re a bit more excited and enthusiastic this time around,” Nic Cester said. “There are no ballads on it.”

“Shaka Rock,” co-produced by the band and Chris “Frenchie” Smith, retains the primal fury of Jet’s debut at times, but also reveals signs of musical maturity.

“First of all, we’re always changing,” Cester said. “Your tastes change and you accept new ideas and you disregard old ones. We’re always evolving so if the music is an honest reflection of us, then it’s going to change, too. I think this album is the most unique bit of work we’ve ever done. It’s the first time we’ve all contributed equally, which makes it more eclectic.”

CONTACT contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.