G.o.L.e.M – Interview – Thanks for Asking

G.o.L.e.M – Interview – Thanks for Asking – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Stereotypes are a bitch. I mean, aside from the really bad ones, you have cultural stereotypes about everything, including music. Would do you think is the stereotype for the music you play, and how far are you away from it?

G.o.L.e.M: People usually hear that we’re a psych rock band and then think we’re just a bunch of stoners. Which isn’t even true because our bass player doesn’t smoke so.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow performers. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

G.o.L.e.M: One of the biggest inspirations for us in Albany has to be Sam Walczyk, Mr Cheesy Snacks himself. Anywhere you see him whether it’s on stage, at a show, or at Love of Fuzz the dudes always got a smile on his face and his presence is never not felt. Whether he’s playing with Cheesy Snacks, Lemon of Choice or Everybody That Loves You, he’ll make sure to steal the show at one point or another, from sick guitar riffs to nasty key solos. He’s been one of the nicest people to us and helped us out so much with shows, gear or random tips and tricks on how to get a whacky tone.

RRX: What would you like fans to know before they come to see you play? (No basic stuff; get specific. One specific thing.) And if you were invited to play somewhere and you could only ask one question, what would it be and why’s that? (Assume you know how much it pays; something else)

G.o.L.e.M: Every single show will be different, we don’t repeat sets and we try to not repeat songs one show after the next. If it’s not fresh it doesn’t feel right. Are there stairs? Load in.

RRX: What instrument would you add to the band if you could? Is there anything you are trying to do musically that would be helped with one or more additional players?

G.o.L.e.M: We’ve been waiting for the day someone who plays keys would reach out and ask to jam with us. It’s been really the only piece we ever feel is missing from the sound, especially during the longer jams. Down the road we’d like to have a second drummer too, anything to make us louder really is what we’re looking for.

RRX: Tell me about your most recent song, album, or video (you pick.) Tell me a story about what went into making it. Not a process, but a cool story that took place within the process.

G.o.L.e.M: Our most recent album we recorded was quite fun, we came in on a very unsuspecting cold January evening at around 7ish at night. We thought we’d maybe get half of the album finished up, maybe a bit more. Well 9 hours later we left and had live tracked the entire album and an extra single in the one night. Then the next day Joe came back into the studio on a whim thinking maybe he can get all the vocals done…and he was right. Within 24 hours 95 percent of the recording process was done and let me tell you the sleep you get after that is the stuff of legend!

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some artists. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

G.o.L.e.M: While we like to tell ourselves we’re pushing some new envelope of the psych/garage sound, whether it’s by way of motivation or the ego shining, we’re really just veering from the construct of those genres. We’ve come to terms with our own style enough to where we don’t feel the need to write or preform with any specific intent, simply just let whatever happens happens. We don’t need to “sound” like anything anymore and in a lot of ways that’s been giving us opportunities to write heavier material or calmer material or something in between, and it seems that’s what people really dig. We like to be as loud as possible, and to some people that’s punk or that’s metal but to us that’s just how we play, as Mickey Hart said “If it’s worth playing, it’s worth playing loud” and we stand by that.

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