Q&A :: Gang Of Youths

August 22nd 2013

GOY

THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT CAPS THAT PROMPTS THE HUMAN CONDITION TO THINK, SHIT, THIS MUST BE IMPORTANT.

And that is a quirk well-afforded by Sydney’s Gang of Youths, who pedal their ‘EMOTIONAL-ASS, 10-TRACK CONCEPT ROCK’ with a Springsteenian charm and the visceral charge of a seven nation army on speed. Their latest single ‘Evangelists‘ vaunts the blend of confrontational lyricism and purgative soundscapes that banishes most young bands to an Icarian fate. The leader of the Gang explains why you should board this flight…

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1. What’s the story behind your band’s name? Who is GOY?

GANGS ARE MENACING, YOUTH IS TEMPORARY. THE DUALITY OF THESE TWO RELATIVELY UNRELATED CONCEPTS WAS NICE, WE THINK. GOOGLING ‘GANG OF YOUTHS’ IS ALSO A MIXED BAG OF FUN.

2. Take me through your songwriting process.

OUR LEAD SINGER EXPLOITS EVERY OUNCE OF GRIEF, DARKNESS AND HOPE IN HIS DESPICABLE SOUL, COMPOSES FRIENDLY MELODIES TO ACCOMPANY IT AND RECORDS IT ALL ON A DICTAPHONE.

3. Why did you pick Evangelists as your first official release?

IT WAS THE ONLY ONE WE DIDN’T NEED TO SHORTEN TO RADIO LENGTH; RELEASING THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR FIRST ALSO SEEMED LIKE A NICE ‘HI, HOW ARE YOU’ GESTURE IN TERMS OF AN INTRODUCTION TO A FUTURE BODY OF WORK.

4. Most artists have a ritual they need to complete to prep for a show. What’s yours?

THE DARK LORD FORBIDS US FROM REVEALING DETAILS OF OUR RITUALISTIC PREPARATION FOR PERFORMANCES. : )

5. You’re about to tour with Cloud Control. Any bad habits in the band that you’ll need to keep tabs on?

NO, WE ARE ABSOLUTELY PERFECT.

ALSO CONCEITED.

6. Favourite gig played so far?

BERESFORD, 16TH AUGUST, 2013.

7. Dream rider?

WEISS BARS, A BARREL OF JACK DANIEL’S, A PAY BONUS FOR VENUE STAFF BECAUSE WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH GOY AND NOT BE ADEQUATELY REMUNERATED? DAY JOBS ARE HARD.

8. You’ve been banished to a desert island. You have a discman and room for only one album. What makes the cut and why?

LIFT YR. SKINNY FISTS LIKE ANTENNAS TO HEAVEN – GSY!BE, BECAUSE BASKING IN THE FURIOUS SOUND OF TRIUMPH IN THE WAKE OF DESPAIR CAN LIGHT A DAMNED FIRE IN YOUR SOUL AND DWARF THE DARKNESS OF DOUBT IN YOUR HEART UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING BUT WILL AND MIGHT.

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WHAT: Cloud Control + Palms + Gang Of Youths
WHERE: The Metro Theatre (ALL AGES)
WHEN: Thursday 12 September
HOW MUCH: $38.90 from Ticketek

 

Gang Of Youths were FBi’s One To Watch in February 2013

GOY | Mina Kitsos

 

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