Interviews

Goldfinger - 'Exuding That Good Things Energy'

Paul 'Browny' Brown

CEO/Founder and Editor-In-Chief

Nov 14, 2025

8 min read

When it comes to energetic sets at Good Things Fest, you'd be stupid for missing Goldfinger's highly-anticipated return to the Aussie festival circuit.

The band's last festival appearance was for Soundwave 2009 and they're set to make up for lost time with both their East Coast appearances and a cheeky sideshow in Melbourne.

Ahead of their long-ass 13 hour flight back down under, frontman John Feldmann and guitarists Charlie Paulson and Philip 'Moon' Sneed joined Wall Of Sound for a delectable catch up to discuss their comeback, writing modern era pop punk songs for ageing fans, new singles 'Chasing Amy' and 'Freaking Out A Bit' and Feldy's renown skills producing some of the biggest and best songs by YOUR fav artists.

Watch the full video or read on for the best bits...

As all three members settled in, we first touched on the long lasting legacy of Goldfinger - who celebrate 30 years of their debut self-titled album next year - and where they find themselves in the current landscape, to which John lead the charge revealing "I feel like we're bigger than we've ever been," before touching on the impact of their music across generations.

"The shows we're playing are bigger than they've ever been and people are more excited. I mean, the shows go crazy. It's wild. People just want to jump around and run in a circle and stage dive.

It's funny. I get older, but the audience kinda stays the same age. It's wild."

A Goldfinger show is totally wild and fun for all ages, but the band simply matches the energy of the fans watching on... and their fearless leader John Feldmann. When question if they felt obliged to compete or keep up with Feldy's antics, Moon was ready to jump in and divulge further.

"That's a great question, dude. When I'm feeling a little bit tired or I'm not spinning enough or jumping enough and John is going crazy, it does put pressure on me to up the game a little bit... not that I'm ever going to compete with Feldmann, he's just Mr. High Energy. It does set the bar. I don't know about you Charlie, but it does for me."

Lead guitarist Charlie Paulson clarified that despite getting older, the energy still remains an integral part of a Goldfinger show. However, he is now at the mercy of his actions after each performance.

"Here's the thing, we're not young men anymore, but when we hit that stage, there's no excuses. I still, and I speak for the whole band, we still put on a show like we're 25. It's the recovery that takes longer."

"Recently we toured the UK and every show was crazy and we went off every night and we had a good time, but I did need a wheelchair through Heathrow Airport when we were leaving."

The say age is just a number and you're only as old as the man you're feeling, but when you combine high-energy rock shows with friends, food and a few tinnies in a festival setting, chances are you'll need a couple days after to recover.

The last time Goldfinger played a festival down under was Soundwave 2009 and when asked about their recollections of our country, John Feldmann highlighted coming to Australia felt like a home away from home (while possibly letting slip a BIIIIIG secret about their forthcoming set in Brisbane).

"I grew up in San Diego and it just reminds me of home. Everyone's in Hurley and Billabong shirts, everyone surfs. I mean culturally it feels like our style of music and what Australia aligns itself with, it just goes hand in hand.

Last time... one of the Dune Rats came out and played, Bert [McCracken] from The Used lives in Australia now he came out and played. I think The Veronicas are coming to the Brisbane show.

There's too much synchronicity with our band in Australia. It just feels like home to me."

Talking about Good Things Festival alumni The Veronicas, John's producing duties found him working with a number of Aussies over the years including the Origliasso twins, 5 Seconds Of Summer and drummer Scott Eckel of MAKEOUT fame, as well as other notable names such as blink-182, Avril Lavigne, Demi Lovato and even Beartooth.

When asked if there was a particular song he produced that he wished he wrote, he humbly shared.

"Yeah, I mean there's tonnes of times where I feel like I write a song, I'm like, 'Man, this would be the greatest Goldfinger song,' but I'm with the artist and we're kind of collaborating and it just doesn't make sense.

But it made sense for 'Freaking Out A Bit' who initially was written with [Mark] Hoppus and Travis [Barker] for blink but... Skiba was in the band and they've got their old guitar player [Tom DeLonge] back, so it didn't make the cut...

But man, I love that song. I fucking love that song. So that one made it."

Goldfinger released 'Freaking Out A Bit' as a collaboration with Mark Hoppus on July 11th and there's no denying it, it's a fucking banger of an earworm and perfect example of what happens when the godfathers of pop punk put their heads together in the studio.

The song touches on growing old and living that "fake it 'til you make it" lifestyle while being relatable for the ageing pop punk population, rather than reflecting on the glory years of high school and adolescence - an all too familiar theme that's prevalent within the genre.

When quizzed whether it was hard to write relatable songs for modern age pop/punk fans - who are paying taxes and aren't partying as much anymore - John explained the methods behind his songwriting madness stemmed from personal experiences.

"My experience is I try and write age appropriate music and what that means for me is music that I grew up on. Generation X and The Buzzcocks and Social Distortion, The Police, all my favourite bands, whatever I listened to when I was 12 to 16 is still what my heart beats for and that's the shit that comes out of me.

But I feel like lyrically I can't be writing about high school experiences anymore. It doesn't make any sense."

Charlie Paulson clarified that there are songs on their last album, Never Look Back, which hone in on growing old, but still stay true to Goldfinger's winning songwriting formulas.

"If you listen to our last record, there's two songs in there - specifically 'Infinite', which is about tackling your demons and also 'Golden Days', - that are reflective of where we are as people, but still sound like Goldfinger and anybody could be able to relate to either of those songs."

Rhythm guitarist Philip 'Moon' Sneed also addressed the subject, stating honesty was the key to writing a successful song.

"All of us focus on making sure that it's all honest and if you look at Goldfinger, everything that John has ever done has been as honest as possible. 'Superman' is the same thing. I mean, read the lyrics again. They're going to mean something different now, but they're still going to hit home. He's talking about getting older, then!"

Before the conversation shifted, Feldmann interjected with an idea that sprung into his mind during the discussion which will appeal to a much wider (and, errrm, older) demographic of pop punk fans.

"My tax bills are wild. So I'm going to write a song about that, dude, you gave me a concept. I'm writing about that one next."

If you're jumping around the house listening to Goldfinger sing about the perils of taxes, just remember where you heard it first kids.

If you're still sitting on the fence about catching Goldfinger's GTF set - FYI 4:15pm on Stage 4 - just know the energy will be off the hook and Feldy expressed why you should be chucking insouls in your Vans and rocking up early, stating, "Dude, this is going to be an all time lineup. Weezer opened for Goldfinger, Tool opened for my old band. These are all legendary bands at this festival. This is going to be one you do not want to miss!"

Moon - who many alternative fans should remember was a founding member of Story Of The Year - touched on the excitement of what he anticipates when he hits the stage in December, revealing "I feel like your guys' energy is one of the few places on earth that matches the energy of a band like ours. So it's a perfect marriage.

When I was down there with the Story Of The Year guys when I was in that band, we were such a high energy band, and Australia was always ready for it and matched it... the crowds were just ready for it."

The expectations have been set Australia, let's not fuck it up!

Goldfinger play Good Things Festival AND a sideshow in Melbourne on Wednesday, December 3rd at the Croxton Bandroom. Get stretching and get involved.

Interview by Paul 'Browny' Brown @brownypaul

Get your tickets (while they last) here