Beeson originally formed a band called Johnson in 2001 with his friend Berckelman, before creating the indie band label Motherlovin' Records in 2004. Subsequent bands included Malcolm X & the Black Auditorium and Berkfinger and The Sweats, the latter combining to form Philadelphia Grand Jury in early 2008. Dan Williams (aka Dan W. Sweat) was the band's original drummer before departing from the group in September 2009 to focus on performing with Art vs. Science. He rejoined the band in 2013 as a part of the band's reunion.
In May 2009, the band signed a joint venture deal with Boomtown Records to release their records, on their own label, Normal People Making Hits, with distribution through Shock Records.
In June 2009, the band released "Going to the Casino (Tomorrow Night)" as a 7" vinyl EP. The EP was self-recorded, produced and released. "Going to the Casino" received significant airplay on Triple J and featured on the television mini-series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, also appearing on the soundtrack album. The band's debut album, Hope Is for Hopers, was released on 25 September 2009, reaching #34 on the ARIA Albums Chart.
At the fourth annual AIR Awards, held on 22 November 2009, Philadelphia Grand Jury won an award for 'Best Independent Single or EP'. The video for "The Good News" was filmed in North Sydney and at Parsley Bay, Rowe Street-Bondi Junction & Lighthouse Reserve-Vaucluse.
In October 2010, the band announced that they had Welch had left the band, as the 'rigours of the road have proved too arduous for the 55-year-old drummer'. Welch's replacement was Berlin-based, Brisbane-born Susanna "Susie Dreamboat" Patten (formerly of I Heart Hiroshima), who performed with the band on their tour of the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Patten finished touring with the band in January 2011.
In March 2011, news surfaced that the band had abandoned work on the follow up to Hope is for Hopers. When FasterLouder sought a follow-up, they were met with the following statement in regards to the band's current status.
Philadelphia Grand Jury are on something of a hiatus. No need to make it a bigger deal than it is. Creative individuals tend to have more than one project and Philadelphia Grand Jury is just one of Berkfinger’s musical personas. Berkfinger is currently focusing on other projects, including moving his recording gear to Berlin to finish the recordings that he has been working on in the various incarnations of studios that he has built over the years.
On 2 November 2011 the band posted on their Facebook page that the band had broken up.
Beeson moved onto production and remix work under the moniker of Boyhood, while Berckelman relocated to Berlin and began working on a solo project entitled Feelings. In 2013, Berckelman assembled Beeson and Williams to join him on tour in Australia under the Feelings moniker. The three playing together for the first time in nearly four years immediately sparked rumours of a reunion, which were confirmed with a midnight performance by the band at the 2013 BIGSOUND Festival in Brisbane.
The New Neil Young
Philadelphia Grand Jury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had a run in with my next door neighbour stealing all my clothing off the line
You have to set to forget the record's getting wet
I've got to find respect before I die
And if you shut your mouth and sit this out
Then everything will work itself out fine
These are such ordinary times
Well it can't win if I don't let it
But I'll never get this credit off my mind
I do believe that you just said it best
When pointing out that polar bears are white
Well what you get is what you get
I ain't got nothing left
I've got to find respect before I die
You know I never thought I'd end up as the connoisseur of truck stop suicide
These are such ordinary times
We lead such ordinary lives
These are such ordinary times
We lead such ordinary lives
Well the track is worn and the road is tight
I'm rolling down the railroad with some dynamite
I'm fishing for compliments but those things don't bite
I'm talking to a girl that knows a guy that might, alright
We want the new Neil Young, new Neil Young, new Neil Young
Bring us the new Neil Young, new Neil Young, new Neil Young
These are such ordinary times
We lead such ordinary lives
These are such ordinary times
We lead such ordinary lives
The Philadelphia Grand Jury's song "The New Neil Young" is a reflection on the ordinary and mundane parts of life. The lyrics describe a protagonist who has had a run-in with their neighbor, lost all their clothes on the line, and tries to find respect before their death. The chorus asserts that these are ordinary times, and we lead such ordinary lives. The verses mention various other ordinary and commonplace experiences such as fishing for compliments, talking to a girl about a guy who might help, and rolling down a worn track with dynamite. The singer seems to be seeking something more interesting, which is why they want the "new Neil Young." This desire for an exciting change can also be interpreted as a metaphor for wanting something more meaningful and fulfilling in their life.
The line "You have to set to forget the record's getting wet" could be interpreted in a few different ways. It might refer to a record player or vinyl record that could become damaged if it gets wet. The singer may be saying that they need to take action and move their belongings inside to protect them. Alternatively, the lyrics could be metaphoric and suggest that we need to avoid dwelling on past mistakes and let them fade away like wet records.
The chorus of the song has become somewhat of an anthem for Australian indie music fans. The song has resonated with audiences due to its relatable depiction of ordinary life.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to run around and shoot my mouth at anyone I thought was worth the time
In the past, I used to talk recklessly to people who I deemed important and worthy of my time.
I had a run in with my next door neighbour stealing all my clothing off the line
I once had a conflict with my neighbor when they took my clothes off the washing line.
You have to set to forget the record's getting wet
You must put the record on the turntable and forget about its condition, regardless of it being exposed to the rain.
I've got to find respect before I die
It's important for me to gain respect from others before I pass away.
And if you shut your mouth and sit this out / Then everything will work itself out fine
If you remain silent and refrain from taking action, the situation will resolve itself without further complications.
Well it can't win if I don't let it / But I'll never get this credit off my mind
I'm preventing something from winning, but I can't stop thinking about the credit I believe I deserve.
I do believe that you just said it best / When pointing out that polar bears are white
You made an excellent point when you mentioned that polar bears are white.
Well what you get is what you get / I ain't got nothing left
I have nothing left to offer except whatever I currently have.
You know I never thought I'd end up as the connoisseur of truck stop suicide
I never expected that I would be knowledgeable about truck stop suicides.
Well the track is worn and the road is tight / I'm rolling down the railroad with some dynamite
The track is in bad condition, and the road is narrow, but I'm still traveling on the train with explosives.
I'm fishing for compliments but those things don't bite / I'm talking to a girl that knows a guy that might, alright
I'm seeking compliments, but no one seems to acknowledge me. However, I'm chatting with a girl who might know someone who can help me out.
We want the new Neil Young, new Neil Young, new Neil Young / Bring us the new Neil Young, new Neil Young, new Neil Young
We desire music that embodies the spirit of Neil Young, and we want to hear more of it.
These are such ordinary times / We lead such ordinary lives
We are living through mundane events and living ordinary lives.
These are such ordinary times / We lead such ordinary lives
We are living through mundane events and living ordinary lives.
Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.