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.
When Your Boyfriend Comes Back To Town
Philadelphia Grand Jury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got no helmet
Baby I've got no light
When your boyfriend comes back to town I'll be gone
I didn't choose to be riding with you
We've got no future and last night was the proof
When your boyfriend comes back to town I'll be dead
She's cooking me food that I can make on my own
The rent's overdue so we're gonna move home
When your boyfriend comes back to town
Nobody knows I spent the Winter alone
But if you help me through Summer I could throw you a bone
She said it's alright, but don't ask twice
Still I'm looking at him in his crazy eye
The song "When Your Boyfriend Comes Back To Town" by Philadelphia Grand Jury is about a man who is involved in a relationship with a woman who is still attached to her ex-boyfriend. The lyrics suggest that the singer is not content with being the other man and will leave when the woman's ex-boyfriend comes back to town. The first verse alludes to the hazardous situation the singer is in, riding his bike without a helmet or light, which relates to the risk associated with his relationship with this woman. The second verse goes on to reveal that the singer realizes that they have no future and that the previous night was confirmation of this. He is resigned to the fact that he must leave when the boyfriend comes back, and in the final verse, he talks about their currently unstable living situation, and the woman mentions that she can help the singer through the summer, but there is still uncertainty in the air, and the singer realizes he is still looking at the boyfriend with a crazed eye. Overall, the song seems to be about a man who wants to end his relationship with a woman who is still attached to her ex-boyfriend and wants to leave before her boyfriend comes back.
Line by Line Meaning
Riding my bike in the dead of the night
I am travelling on my bike through the night.
I've got no helmet
I am travelling without any protective gear.
Baby I've got no light
I don't have any light to guide me through the darkness.
When your boyfriend comes back to town I'll be gone
I'll be gone when your boyfriend returns to town.
I didn't choose to be riding with you
I didn't want to be with you, but it just happened.
We've got no future and last night was the proof
Our relationship does not have a future, and last night made that clear.
When your boyfriend comes back to town I'll be dead
I'll be in trouble when your boyfriend returns.
She's cooking me food that I can make on my own
She's making food for me that I can cook myself.
The rent's overdue so we're gonna move home
We haven't paid the rent, so we'll have to move out.
When your boyfriend comes back to town
Things will change when your boyfriend returns.
Nobody knows I spent the Winter alone
No one knows that I was alone all winter.
But if you help me through Summer I could throw you a bone
If you help me get through the summer, I might do something nice for you.
She said it's alright, but don't ask twice
She agreed, but doesn't want me to ask again.
Still I'm looking at him in his crazy eye
I am watching him, and he looks crazy.
Contributed by Andrew N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
TheMattfish
I freaking love this song! "You say we're not in love, I think we're still in love" is probably one of my favourite lyrics at the moment.
Ollie
seen them twice and OMG!!! they are too good on and off stage during their perfomances and really down to earth to talk to! keep it up! Hope they have Manchester on their tour list next year. BEARD FACE!!!! hahaha
Darthboris
Saw these guys at the Metro in Sydney before they called it a day. A short but totally amazing set, was losing my shit the entire show.
Darthboris
Saw you guys at the metro in syd last week. kickass show. Had a blast. Keep it up, love this track.
Floris Groenewald
These guys make my face happy.
Mvan
I love the piano guys enthusiasm !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
James
It's been a little under a year now and not a day goes by that I think about these guys. PLEASE COME BACK!
Ash Shelley
Very cool video! I like it :D Nice to see Susie for the first time :)
Fubex Hip Hop
This track is really going to be played totally loud across the streets of Tecoma, VICTORIA in protest against McDonald's building their store in Tecoma!!!
ADUPS [Will Be Back]
lol