'It Makes Me Appreciate Growing Up In Western Australia': Great Gable On Their Latest Album 'Small Fry'

Another album to add to your summer playlist, Great Gable have just unveiled their third studio album Small Fry, featuring 12 tracks of idyllic indie-rock goodness.

Taking its name from “a club of young, talented surfers down in Yallingup,” Small Fry is a sun-soaked ode to the four-piece’s home state of WA.

Main vocalist Alex Whiteman describes the album as “honest and nostalgic.”

“It makes me appreciate growing up in Western Australia.”

Small Fry is a distinctly WA affair, with the album’s production seeing the group recording in Perth (Boorloo) for the first time since 2018.

“The songs started as demos on my little tape cassette recorder,” says Whiteman of the process. “With the band and Dave Parkin’s [of Blackbird Sound Studios] help, we’ve managed to refine all of the songs and have an album that we’re proud of.”

And it is certainly an album to celebrate, showcasing a group that only continues to grow in talent and popularity with each new release. Luckily, both new and longtime fans will get a chance to experience Small Fry in all its live brilliance soon, with the group heading on an album tour at the start of 2025.

To sustain us until then, Whiteman helps unpack the story behind each track off Small Fry;

Best Friend

Best Friend was written as a love song about my girlfriend. She’s me best mate ya know and for some reason I thought everyone else should know that too. I feel like the song is open ended enough for people to perceive it in a lot of different ways.

Think Again, Motherf*cker

I pinched the drums for this one from an old demo of mine that I wasn’t too fond of and told myself to think again, motherfucker. I titled the demo as that and it stuck. I think it suits the attitude of the song nicely.

You Shall Not Pass

This tune was conjured up whilst watching LOTR [The Lord of the Rings]. I was figuring the chords out and decided to record it on my phone. As I started singing the whole song unraveled before me. Lyrics and all! I love Paul Kelly and the story telling aspect of his writing which I reckon you can hear in this one.

Fogged Up

Matt [Preen] our guitarist brought in the chords to this tune and it was polished up in a rehearsal room in New Zealand. It was one of the only songs we jammed lots to get the structure and the parts together. Which is something we used to do for practically every song we wrote back in the day. 

Hometown

Hometown is an ode to anyone that grew up in a small town. It’s a romanticised version of what growing up in Bunbury and the south west was for me. I had some help putting this tune together from Tom Eggert over in Brissy. Also feels like a nod to Paul Kelly this one.

I Would Rather Be Happy Than Right

This was an instrumental I recorded at home on my tape deck. It was an after thought for the album but we thought it sat nicely as a break half way through. I think the title matches its vibe as well.

Muck About

Love that saxophone!! Geordie Bain killed it playing on this track. The demo originally had harmonica playing the sax part but I’m glad we changed our minds!

Fine Wine

Fine Wine is about perspective and optimism, and reflecting on different points in your life. It’s about taking a step back and appreciating change - of the people that are there, or aren’t anymore, and the effect that has on you. 

It’s meant feel exciting and loose, like it could take off at any point, but still have some sort of storytelling style about it.

Wouldn’t Be So Mean

This tune feels like a nice change from the rest of the album. It’s a bit mysterious and moody. The lyrics in the chorus are some of my favourite on the album.

She Said

I was listening to a lot of Weezer before writing this tune. Especially their song Say It Ain’t So. I loved the verses being quiet and the chorus’s are pretty heavy. Thought we could give that a crack. I think this was the first tune I wrote for the album.

Blue Eyes

Blue Eyes is about the night I met my girlfriend but probably a slightly embellished version. The song feels dreamy. I recorded the vocals at home on my tape recorder and I think that plays a big part in the feel of the tune.

Asleep

Asleep is about letting things get away from you without even realising. Falling asleep at the wheel I suppose. Probably one of my favourites off the album and another that I recorded the vocals at home with me old tape deck. Ending the album with a slower tune that has slide guitar always feels like the right move.

Great Gable’s third studio album Small Fry is out now. Tickets for their 2025 Australian headline tour are on sale and available via their website.