We sat down to have a chat with Dylan Kearns, James O’ Connor, Eamon Ganley and Eric Walsh from Gorilla Troubadour after their ‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ single launch in Whelan’s Dublin. We talked about the new single, how they come up with their sound, college and what Gorilla Troubadour have planed next.
Watch the interview here
Funk flavoured sounds, hefty rich rhythms and lush guitar refrains fill the room for Gorilla Troubadour’s ‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ single launch in Whelan’s Dublin. I entered the venue as their second song ‘Hey Hey’ wafted around my ears. Its charming strut quality and swagger drenched bass groove walked me through the bopping crowd. The tasty guitar lines, tight presentation and punchy drums were a delightful welcome. These guys have a fun approach to their live show as banter with the crowd is plentiful. The band played through their set creating a soothing sense of mellowed out hysteria through the crowd. They build their tracks perfectly providing something for every music lover from swoony melodies, intricate guitar lines and lush wails to a sublime hip moving rhythmic section.These guys are tight. They smother their songs in a wispy smoke of darkness – ‘Ophelia’ in particular is one hair raising gem. For such a young band their sound is sophisticated and mature. There are no holes, no lapses, just solid rich tunes ready to mosh, wiggle and sway to. To get a band this tight with a sound this compelling is a special find but then for them to be great live as well- that’s pretty fantastic.
A few well known covers pepper the bands set list – a bass slicked rendition of Royal Blood’s ‘Figure It Out’ goes down particularly well with the crowd while a refreshing cover of Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart‘ (which sees frontman Dylan Kearns take to the keys) also graces the set list. The band are all impressive performers, Dylan Kearns plays the frontman role well. His smiley persona comes across bubbly yet relaxed as he tackles the crowds song requests for ‘Esmeralda’.Eamon Ganley lead Guitarist has some shredding solo’s and boy does he execute them well, (perhaps playing up to the crowds enthusiasm) he strikes and wiggles with precision and panache while bassist James O’ Connor is immersed in his grooves as he majestically and nimbly swoops and glides through the bass lines. With a slightly deflated “confetti cannon” pop (more like a glorified party popper) the band introduce the most mesmerising artist to sing with them, Cat Doran. Her soulful vocals are hair raising, chilling and utterly enthralling as she ever so coolly blends with Kearns sweet falsetto.There is a mystical,enchanting yet haunting quality to her voice that lures and entices you into every note. Kearns’ vocals are pretty outstanding for ‘We Drove For Miles’ which was my favourite track of the night. This smoky gem features a sultry guitar solo, a spellbinding melody and oodles of passion.
‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ translates magnificently live. Drummer Eric Walsh puts on a gorilla mask and the track whacks into fruition. This track coils and uncoils itself ever so confidently live- it feels like it could be the work of a band with twice the experience.Walsh is quite the proficient drummer. He lays down their meaty foundation and executes it with a fluidity that is first rate, showcasing he can maneuver a pounding assault or a sweltering lighter tap-tap-tap with finesse and gusto. ‘The Apple Truck’ is the final track of the night and Kearns introduces this before he takes a memorable and lasting picture on his disposable camera – “your looking well” he glints at the crowd before they cruise into the sizzling track which once again shows the bands striking musical talent.
Gorilla Troubadour are definitely a band to keep an eye on. They have their heads screwed on. They know what they are doing, what works, what sounds good and then they turn that up a notch and make it theirs. The cool swagger with which they dispatch their meat-cleaver riffs, slick musicianship and catchy choruses is what makes these guys pretty special.
Dublin based Gorilla Troubadour have released their second single ‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ and boy it’s a doozy. Following the release of their debut single ‘The Apple Truck’ and an ensuing tour around Ireland, the band have made a name for themselves as gritty rockers, combining powerful riffs and ear catching hooks. Over the summer they played at festivals such as Townlands Carnival and Gael Linn as well as a headline in The Workman’s Club as part of Gigonometry and packing out Geoff’s Bar in their hometown of Waterford. The band recently headlined The Workmans Club on the 17th of January to a full venue.
‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ is a thrilling smooth criminal that terrorizes and haunts with slick charm and staggering swagger while an abrasive instrumental backdrop entraps you in Gorilla Troubadour’s sound. These guys have style for sure, as biting raw guitars erode through the punchy drums while a sensual bassline wiggles, weaves and lures you deeper into this bewitching track. The guitars wail and pierce creating a haunting atmosphere of danger and mystery while panache soaked deep vocals coo and entrap over this blistering display. It’s catchy, exhilarating and magnificently crafted. The rich depths in this track are pretty masterful for such a young band- the darkness swirls and rumbles through that sublime bubbling and fermenting bassline while the finesse on guitars creates a sweet tension release, all the while the track is coiling and intertwining with lush backing vocal lulls and pristine harmonies as the track builds to a dramatic crescendo. Gorilla Troubadour have meticulously crafted this song- constructing its component parts prudently and the result is pretty impressive. I’m loving their professional, crisp yet corrosive and enthralling sound.
The launch gig for ‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ is scheduled in Whelans on for the 19th of February. Also planned are launch dates in venues all across the country as the band look to build on their success of 2018.
Stream ‘Tom Cruise Does All His Own Stunts’ below
Dublin based Gorilla Troubadour have released their new single ‘The Apple Truck’. Gorilla Troubadour are an emerging energetic funk rock band that consists of Dylan Kearns (Lead Vocals/Rhythm guitar), Eamon Ganley (lead guitar), Eric Walsh (drums) and James O Connor (Bass). The group take inspiration from bands such as ‘The Red Hot Chilli Peppers’ and ‘Arctic Monkeys’ to create heart pumping grooves and atmospheric tunes. In summer 2017 they played venues across Ireland including Limerick, Waterford and Mullingar. Later that year the band headlined Whelan’s on the 10th of October to a full house. A launch gig is set for the 4th of April 2018 in Whelan’s along with multiple dates across the country including Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Wicklow with more to be confirmed.
‘The Apple Truck’ is an impressive swagger-soaked blast of funk rock at its best. This young band display a mature sharp sound that exudes strutting panache smeared on top of ballsy gritty rock. From the start of that opening riff this track steams and blisters with gritty red-hot charisma. With vaporous stings on guitar teamed with a meaty flexible drum beat and sensual bass lines Gorilla Troubadour belt out a thrilling wild beast. This track takes its time unraveling its lush sound slowly as it coolly cruises in on a funky carpet of chicness. It’s all about the groove, this four piece keep it tight as the guitars follow the rhythm neatly then find their spaces to shine with a sultry whine or shredding solo. The melody and simple vocals dance on top of the infectious groove for the verses while the chorus explodes in true rock and roll manner. It’s catchy well-crafted and definitely makes these guys ones to watch out for.
Stream ‘The Apple Truck’ below
