WHENEVER a successful band reforms after a long absence the cliches of "we're better than ever," are usually flying around before the Marshall amp stack is firing.
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It's not a claim you're going to hear out of Adalita Srsen's lips. The quintessential grunge goddess knows Magic Dirt aren't the same.
There remains an emotional void within the band, three months after reforming for the Hotter Than Hell Tour following an eight-year break.
The 2009 death of original bassist Dean Turner from a rare form of cancer continues to weigh heavily on Adalita, Adam Robertson and Raúl Sánchez.
"It's a whole other thing without Dean, it's different, it's weird," Adalita says. "It will never feel the same. It doesn't feel the same.
"So there's that side of us that does feel weird about playing without him, but we know he'd want us to do this. So it feels like the right thing to do."
Reviews from Hotter Than Hell suggest Magic Dirt remain a potent live force. But an emotional Adalita admits there was a melancholic atmosphere around the tour.
"We're still grieving," she says. "It's always going to be there. It's hard without Dean. He was the heart and soul of the band and such a huge part and such a great mate and guy in general.
"We miss him a lot. That permeates every part of your life. We want to celebrate Dean and his legacy and everything that he's done, which is amazing.
We're still grieving. It's always going to be there. It's hard without Dean.
- Adalita Srsen
"So even though we feel sad sometimes when we sit down together and it's pretty emotional, we remember him and how awesome he was."
There was naturally an outpouring of joy last June when it was announced that the Geelong grunge rockers were returning to the stage.
Magic Dirt remain one of Australia's most enduring bands of the late '90s and early 2000s alt-rock era due to their rich arsenal of hits like Dirty Jeans, Watch Out Boys, Plastic Loveless Letter and Pace It and popular albums What Rockstars Are Doing Today (2000) and Tough Love (2003).
They were a band able to blend chunky distorted riffs with pop melodies effortlessly, combined with Adalita's poetic lyrics that were unashamedly dark and sexual.
Since the break-up of Magic Dirt Adalita has built a successful career through the release of acclaimed albums Adalita (2011) and All Day Venus (2013). A long-waited third album is in production.
However, Adalita remains intensely proud of Magic Dirt and says the band gave her the "kick up the butt" she needed at times.
"I love the work ethic," she says. "We worked really hard and still do because it's all about the music.
"I know how loved we are in our fan base and I know we have such a loyal dedicated fan base and they got us and the music and they helped propel us from year to year.
"We carved out a niche for ourselves and nobody else can fill it. We didn't mean to do that, we never had a plan.
"A lot of bands will tell you they didn't have a plan, they were just a bunch of mates that clicked and made the music they were supposed to make."
The future is uncertain for Magic Dirt. When asked if there are plans to record new material, Adalita says, "it's not even been thought of."
The last scheduled appearance for the band following Golden Plains in Victoria this weekend is at the 14th annual Gum Ball at Dashville in Lower Belford on April 26.
Adalita performed solo at the Gum Ball in 2014 and had no hesitation recommending the festival to her bandmates when the offer came through.
"I know what the festival is about and I really loved it," she says.
Where to for Magic Dirt after Gum Ball?
"We're going to see how everything goes and take it day by day," Adalita says. "We feel like we want to play more, but we'll see how we go I reckon."
Magic Dirt play alongside Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band, Augie March, Mojo Juju, Sampa The Great and many more at the Gum Ball from April 25-28.
