Teenage ambition: why Ash's debut still matters three decades on at the Lions Art Factory

Ash are coming back, and they're bringing 1977 with them. The Irish trio's debut album turns 30, and rather than just wheel out a greatest hits set, they're playing the whole thing front to back.

It's worth remembering how young these guys were when they made it. Most of Ash were still teenagers when 1977 was written, recorded and released in 1996, and that adolescent energy is baked into every track. The title itself is a nod to two things: the decade the band members were born in, and the year Star Wars hit cinemas. That kind of detail tells you everything about where their heads were at.

Musically, 1977 was a grab-bag done right. Power pop, glam rock, post-grunge and Britpop all got thrown into the blender, and what came out was loud, melodic and unashamedly exuberant. It sold more than two million copies worldwide, which is no small feat for a debut, and it produced a run of singles that any band would kill for: “Girl From Mars”, “Kung Fu”, “Angel Interceptor”, “Goldfinger” and “Oh Yeah” all cracked the UK Top 20.

NME once said Ash rule, that they're geniuses, maybe even gods. It's the kind of hyperbole music writers love to throw around, but there's an argument for it here. 1977 wasn't just another Britpop-era album riding the coattails of the moment. It had its own voice, one that spoke directly to a generation figuring out girls, booze and the general chaos of being young.

For anyone who grew up with this record, or anyone who's only discovered it since, this tour is a chance to hear those songs the way they were meant to be heard: loud, live, and in the right order. Ash have never been a band that stands still, but there's something to be said for going back to where it all started.

The notes don't give further specifics on Adelaide dates, venue or ticketing for this run, so keep an eye on official channels for details as they're announced.