Born and bred in Newcastle, Leroy Macqueen and Kat Friend   (both pictured) know the place inside-out, with all its quirky charms.

The city features heavily in the duo’s grungy tunes, the lyrics providing a fitting tribute to the good, the bad, and the ugly of Newcastle.

‘‘I have that love/hate relationship with this place, for sure,’’ vocalist and guitarist Macqueen said.

Newcastle’s music scene, the Hunter Street Mall, and the lack of action in the city are just some of the band’s targets.

But it’s tongue-in-cheek and Macqueen says they always come ‘‘home’’ to Newcastle with positive vibes.

‘‘There’s moments when we’re driving home after selling out a Sydney show, which you dream of, and we’re just so excited to come home and see our friends again.

‘‘So there’s that aspect in the lyrical part of the album too. That aspect of coming home and seeing familiar faces.’’

It’s that secret love of the city that keeps bringing  Gooch Palms back, despite their travels around the country.

Last year their stripped down lo-fi punk sound gained attention from Triple J, opening doors for appearances at the Big Day Out, Sydney Festival and Big Sound.

The band’s debut album, Novo’s, short for Novocastrians, quickly followed in October.

The first pressing sold out almost immediately and Macqueen said they were in talks for a second release.

‘‘We’ve always been an underground band and it somehow stuck its head a little bit into the mainstream, which was kind of unexpected,’’ Macqueen said.

Despite the radio attention, Gooch Palms are adamant that hard work is the key to success.

They slammed recent mutterings from Australian musicians that Triple J holds too much power over whether a band makes it or not.

‘‘We wrote something [on Facebook] basically saying that if you rely on Triple J ... it’s not the only avenue in music,’’ Macqueen explained.

‘‘So many people are like ‘Well, they don’t play my band’ and we’re like ‘So what?’.

‘‘They barely played us and people come to our shows.

‘‘You have to actually go out and tour and stop being a cry baby. Try harder.’’

Indeed, it is live on stage where the Gooch Palms have carved out a notorious reputation, and in August they will be taking their energetic show on a whirlwind 50-gig overseas tour.

The album has done well in  the United States and Europe, leaving  Macqueen and Friend ‘‘pretty stoked’’.

There are rumours of a festival appearance in the US as well as the possibility of recording album No.2.

‘‘It’s huge,’’ Macqueen said.

‘‘I just thought about it just then. It hasn’t really sunk in yet.’’

That tour is Palmarama.

Before setting their sights on world domination, Macqueen and Friend are taking on Australia, teaming up with good friends Palms.

‘‘I used to play [bass] with Palms, that’s where the love affair started,’’ Macqueen said.

‘‘We’ve been friends for so long, so [the tour’s] off to an awesome start.’’

Palms frontman Al Grigg, formerly of indie rockers Red Riders, said Palmarama had featured typical antics from Macqueen.

‘‘Just the usual, getting [naked] at every opportunity,’’ Grigg said.

‘‘It’s just standard Leroy, it would be more shocking if he rocked up in a suit and tie.’’

Palms have made their own waves in the music industry, with their debut album Step Brothers receiving rave reviews. Self-described as having a ‘‘90s slacker vibe’’, their surf-grunge rock features some catchy summer beats mixed with piercing vocals.

The first Palmarama show in Grigg’s home-town Sydney sold out, which has Gooch Palms worried about the final Newcastle gig.

They’re used to playing in smaller venues such as White’s Records, which is flying the flag for supporting local bands.

‘‘Anything that’s happening at White’s Records is always awesome. We’re always down there,’’ Macqueen said.

This time they’re aiming to sell out a show at the Cambridge Hotel.

‘‘Newcastle’s always the place that worries us, being our home town,’’ Macqueen said.

‘‘We solely rely on people being fans.

‘‘Regardless, if it’s only 10 people they’re still going to get the exact same show.

‘‘It doesn’t ever affect us.’’

Palmarama heads to Newcastle on March 29 at the Cambridge Hotel, supported by local acts Dog Beach and The Sufferjets. Tickets are available at the door for $10.