If you’re coming from England then it’s quite a thing if your first taste of the states is SXSW. Hot. Hectic. Hurried. Loud. A blur … plus, Austin can just feel like a different planet unto itself.
Gengahr is a London-based quartet specializing in a groovy/summery psych-pop, washed-out n’ wavy like a resplendent waterslide. They’ve only been to the good ol’ U.S. of A. for that psychotic spree of sweaty days and sonic revelry last March, but hopefully they’ll be on their way back soon following their current headlining tour of Europe to support their breakout debut, A Dream Outside.
“We had such a great time (at SXSW),” said singer/guitarist Felix Bushe. “Everyone is cool as fuck there, but they’re super friendly too.” Good on ya, Austin! “But, also, we’ve had so much fun at all the Euro festivals so far, it’s been amazing. We’ve been blown away by the number of people who seem to know our music.”
Bushe has seen the surrealism of their swift rise manifested in instances both big and small, from greeting the vast, roaring crowds at Euro-based festivals like Reading in England or the Best Kept Secret Festival in the Netherlends, to more intimate experiences like the opportunity to tour with The Maccabees.
“That was the most surreal thing. I remember going to see (The Maccabees) play in a small pub in North London when I was 17 and thinking how much I would love to do what they do.”
Now its eight years later, and Gengahr are shooting stars across the pond, be it on Europe’s stages or at the top posts of countless blogs and zines (including NME and The Guardian).
Because here’s the thing: what Tame Impala are for Australia or Unknown Mortal Orchestra are for New Zealand and maybe even what Ariel Pink was for our own west coast renaissance of ultra-vivid, sublime psych-rock … that’s what Gengahr can be for London. Not that this is a competition. Nevertheless, we think Gengahr’s jams, tiding from soft, sunset lullabies to driving, caustic-toned indie rock grinds, are the best of what’s next … Again though, not a competition.
“I think we always have a strong desire to improve and that’s what keeps our focus and our attention,” said Bushe, talking about blocking out (or at least keeping in perspective) all the attention heaped their way from star-making outlets such as BBC’s Radio 6. “Everything else just sort of blurs into the background. There is always so much we can work on, so, that’s generally what I spend my time thinking about.”
Lead guitarist John Victor, bassist Hugh Schulte and drummer Danny Ward comprise the group, with Bushe up front on vocals. Schulte, Ward and Bushe have been playing together since their days in primary school.
“It’s been almost 15 years…” Bushe reflects. “We started playing in bands long before we learned how to play. We used to thrash around in the practice rooms at school during lunchtime. Usually this was to avoid being beaten up in the playground, but all the same, it was good fun. Our first ever shows would have been in school assemblies playing our own horrible compositions to a hostile crowd that would have been much happier listening to Kano.”
But kids grow up. They met Victor a few years back and bonded quickly. It might have been tough for him at first, breaking into the trio’s bond, but Bushe says he wound up fitting in fairly seamlessly. “I think it’s definitely more beneficial” playing with lifelong friends, Bushe said. “We’ve known each other for so long now that we’re as close to family as possible, really. We know how to treat each other and that’s very important when you spend so much time together.”