Gang Gang Dance: A different animal
My first exposure to Gang Gang Dance was at this year's Pitchfork Festival, where I happened past their stage on my way to another show. I stuck around for a bit simply based on the fact that any band with as many percussion instruments as Gang Gang Dance has to be worth watching. I was pleasantly surprised when they went into a slow-building synthesizer jam, gradually adding more and more instruments and echoed-out vocals until they hit a huge, booming peak. This year's Eye Contact (4AD) is an excellent record in it's own right, but as the group's singer Lizzi Bougatsos points out later in the article, is a different animal, lacking the raw ass-shaking power of the group's live show, although I have to point out that "Romance Layers" (which features Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor) is the fucking jam.
I spoke earlier this month to the group's singer, Lizzi Bougatsos. Here's what she had to say.
Smile Politely: You signed to 4AD last year. Did being on a new label change your approach to recording Eye Contact, compared to Saint Dymphna and your earlier material? What was working with Alexis Taylor of Hot Chip on "Romance Layers" like?
Lizzi: The new label was more of a new opportunity for us, in that we just personally needed a change. It wasn't about 4AD, Warp, or the Social Registry or even Young Turks, who we did the RAWWAR EP with. We still work with all our labels.
Working with Alexis was refreshing. His voice to me is the Marvin Gaye of the 21st century. He is also a personal friend, so to get his creative side on "Romance Layers" brought a new twist to the song.
SP: How do you feel your live show differs from your studio material? Do you prefer playing live to being in the studio? If so, why?
Lizzi: They are both different animals. You can't put a caged lion in a house with a lamb. The studio for me is inward. The stage is outward.
SP: I saw you perform at Pitchfork Festival. Do you approach a performance of that scale differently from playing a club show?
Lizzi: No, they are different animals as well. It's about the energy and exchange with the audience. I also think the effect is extremely physical.
SP: Is this your first time in Champaign? Is there anyone else playing Pygmalion Fest that you're excited to see?
Lizzi: I'm not really sure who else is playing...let me check. Well, my favorites are VENUS X & $HAYNE, the DJs from New York that we chose to tour with us. Miss Thang looks like it has a good situation. VENUS X & $HAYNE are very inspiring. I look forward to their every set.
Gang Gang Dance perform tomorrow (Saturday) night at the Canopy Club at 11:15 p.m., along with MartyParty, Venus X & $hayne, and Positive Vibr8ions
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Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
That article almost looks like something out of The Onion
Thanks! I’m looking forward to writing even more….
Yay! Love this! Welcome to the family!
that last photo’s a doozie, Chris. good work.
that city center house show was one of those life-affirming things.
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I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
@Dan - Wow. Unfortunately, I have to refrain from further comment due to a previous employment relationship. But with that brief context you might be able to imagine possible comments or responses I could have.
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represent, Matt.