Today (July 26), Ron S Peno & The Superstitions, the Melbourne outfit fronted by incomparable Died Pretty vocalist Ron S. Peno, release their new album Do The Understanding, which features Double J-playlisted single “The Strangest Feeling”. It’s Ron’s birthday too and as Ron tells Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, it’s his gift to us all. In this in-depth album interview, we caught up with both Ron S Peno and Superstitions’ guitarist Cam Butler to talk about the journey involved in creating this fabulously epic album.
Ron S. Peno & The Superstitions, whose first and third albums ‘Future Universe’ (2011) and ‘Guiding Light’ (2017) were both long listed for the Australian Music Prize, and who have toured through Spain, Italy and France (including appearances at Brittany’s Binic Festival in 2015 and 2016), are fronted by one of the most charismatic front men of Australian rock scene. Ron S. Peno, whose voice is as instantly recognisable as it is arresting, came to prominence as lead singer and principal co-composer with Died Pretty in the 1980s and 1990s. With Died Pretty, Peno achieved Top 30 success with multiple albums, received multiple ARIA nominations, made multiple Big Day Out appearances and enjoyed years of Triple J support, as well as great critical acclaim in Australia and around the world.
‘Do The Understanding’ is a triumphant return for Ron and his current band. Thwarted by health issues in 2019 and of course more recently the Covid19 pandemic, Ron’s enforced physical hiatus allowed him to delve deeply into his creative and collaborative resources. This renewed focus brought a new clarity to both song writing and voice, resulting in the most sophisticated Superstitions album to date. The announcement of the album’s release follows the euphoria of Ron’s recent return to stages around the country for a Covid-delayed tour with his old gang, Died Pretty.
Ron S Peno & The Superstitions were formed in 2009 by Ron and guitarist and composer Cam Butler. The five-piece band also includes noted drummer Mark Dawson (Black-Eyed Susans, Ed Kuepper), keyboard player Tim Deane (Kim Volkman, Charlie Marshall) and bassist Andy Papadopoulos (ex-Deborah Conway).
Ron S. Peno & The Superstitions’ ‘Do The Understanding’, a record of rare power and raw beauty, is out today on limited edition Vinyl LP, limited edition CD, and digital formats.
Ron and the group will launch the album with Melbourne shows at the Brunswick Ballroom on Saturday September 4 and the Memo Music Hall in St Kilda on Saturday October 9th, as well as a rare out of town at appearance at the Macedon Railway Hotel on Saturday October 23rd.
Ron S. Peno and The Superstitions launch “Do The Understanding”
Saturday September 4th Brunswick Ballroom, with special guests, Serene Dreams
https://moshtix.com.au/v2/event/ron-s-peno-the-superstitions/129801
Saturday October 9th Memo Music Hall, St Kilda
https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?embed&eid=789276
Saturday 23rd October The Macedon Railway Hotel, Macedon
https://www.trybooking.com/book/sessions?eid=742399
Ron S. Peno and The Superstitions ONLINE
https://www.facebook.com/ronspeno
https://www.instagram.com/ronspenoandthesuperstitions/
https://ronspenoandthesuperstitions.bandcamp.com