As you may (hey, babe) or may not know ( ‘sup, dumb dumb) know, we have been romping about the country screaming “the last good party don’t stop!” since the middle of April – but all Southern Horror must come to an end and in this case, we’re doing it kicking, screaming and tuned down to C#.
We’ve toured from the doom soaked cradle of Sydney, up and down the East coast, over to the West, hell, we’ve played every state and territory in the damned country in support of our new record, The Last Good Party. If you don’t know what that means, allow me to let you in on what people have been saying about the record:
As we’re wrapping up this forty date monstrosity, the future is smeared with the grease of potential and now that we’ve got a taste for the finery that drips from the well travelled man, I doubt that we’ll remain off the road for long.
Lets take it back to the beginning with you, how and where did you form and where did the name Gay Paris come from?
Gay Paris was born when a monstrous egg emerged from the primeval waters. The truth is less fantastical, but then again, bands are more likely to become interesting than begin in such a fashion. We’re the greatest.
Who or what other musicians inspired Gay Paris to become a dirty good time rock band?
Who opened Pandora’s glory chest? Everything terrible in music makes us more rambunctious – we’re tired of seeing bands wade through their nerves, dignity and humility. But if we’re talking about what makes us want to party even harder (party – your new favourite verb), it is bands that throw the gauntlet shape: Totally Unicorn, God God Dammit Dammit, Kira Puru & The Bruise . . . you know, people that get strange sexy (everyone’s favourite adjective).
What and where was the first gig you went to?
Coolio/Naughty By Nature/House of Pain. Somewhere in Brisbane. That was over a decade and a half ago. I remember very little other than knowing that hip-hop wasn’t good enough for me.
Down to the real stuff now, Gay Paris have been on a mammoth tour since April, which show/s has been your favourite and why?
I’m really into gigs where people give us their money and buy us drinks so that we don’t have to spend our money. Happily, in Canberra, some dude gave me fifty bucks for no reason and bought me some drinks, so that loiters in the mind . . . Cherry Rock and Rock N Load in Melbourne led to us meeting some sweet dudes from all around the country and from foreign shores, plus hot chicks. All of this said, I probably had the greatest night of my life in Bateman’s Bay at North Street Cafe (thanks for the unmentionable times). This far in, with two gigs to go, it has all blended together and the only downside is that I no longer know how to relate to people in dignified, diurnal society.
Tell us about what we should expect if we were to hop in your tour bus from Sydney to Melbourne?
We have a law that the new person buys all of the road supplies, so I need to let you know that I’ll need some moderately priced Shiraz, a bag of salt and vinegar crisps and room to spread out my esoteric reading material. Whilst I’m drunk and ignoring you (thanks for the wine and chips, by the way), Slim and Six Guns will be listening to comedy podcasts and discussing the theory of laughter until Black Tooth decides that the latest edition of ‘shut up and check out my riffs’ is released and then we pull over to the side of the road and give his riffs ratings on a scale of ‘shit’ to ‘dope’. If you’re lucky, Six Guns will explain his ‘life systems’ to you and Black Tooth may let you in on his secret life as a screen play writer. Slim is always on ‘vibe patrol’ and that is a good thing; I’m not a morning person, so back off or bring me the wine.
Do you have any particular ritual before you go on stage, or even a lucky charm you take with you?
We’re heavy drinkers and sharp dressers.
If you could curate your own festival, where would it be, who would be on the bill, how many people would you let in and what features would it have?
The Last Good Party (Festival Edition)
We’d head over to the ancient site of Sinope on the shores of the Black Sea in Turkey. We’d have some temple-like structures built and there would be pantomime rituals conducted in celebration of the birth of the Coming Saviour. Of course, we’d pay some science dudes to work out how to get Haley’s comet to blaze through the sky during the whole three day extravaganza.
Other than the bands, there would be historically themed walking tours hosted by media commentator, Dan Carlin, strip clubs both tasteful and terrible, drunk chariot races, MC Gladiatorial battles (to the death), book readings by China Mieville, Neil Gaiman and the ghost of H.P. Lovecraft and holographic renditions of porn stars from the 70s and 80s.
Acts include:
Parliament/Funkadelic, Queens of the Stone Age, Zombie ODB, Clutch, At The Drive-In (but brought forward in time by a trick of arcane chronological manipulation, so we get to see them when they were awesome), The Hives, TV on the Radio, The B-52s, Every Time I Die, Refused, Modest Mouse, The Heavy, Ghost, Midlake, Red Fang, Aesop Rock, Foxy Shazam, Midnight Oil (get back in that time machine!) Murder By Death, Hot Snakes, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, McClusky (reformed!) Sixteen Horsepower, Truckfighters, King Parrot, Vintage Trouble, Will Haven (with Grady), Sleep, Two Gallants, Jackson Firebird, O’Death, Clairy Brown & The Bangin’ Rackettes, Totally Unicorn, Kira Puru & The Bruise, Born Lion, Guthrie, The Steady As She Goes.
Then we play the after-party, but also Prince is there doin’ what Prince does and his backing band is a young version of The Ohio Players.
You guys did a pozible campaign to fund your current album The Last Good Party, what did you offer in return for people donating money, sex drugs and rock n roll?
We offered to take their money, make love to them and give them the gift of rock n roll. We also debased ourselves, hosting dinner parties, breakdancing to technical death metal, faking orgasms in family restaurants and performing various and sundry other unmentionable duties. We loved their money. Now we’ve spent it.
You recorded your album with Californian producer Sam Pura, what is your most memorable moment in the studio with him?
I can’t believe that he can work every night until 3am and be the first guy up in the morning and the first dude to grab a beer. He taught us about Lil’ B (not sure if that is a good or a bad thing) and that life is always happening. I look at him as more of a philosopher than a producer (though he obviously gets results – buy our album). Also, if you ever get the chance to see him dance, take it. It. Is. Fucking. Magical.
Because it’s more fun to do things together, which living Australian artist would you most like to collaborate with?
Well, I think that it would be nice to get up close and personal with Clairy Brown & The Bangin’ Raquettes, heck, throw Kira Puru in there and you get the Gay Paris Soul Train. Also, let’s do the vocals in a really small booth, everyone on one mic. Let’s do it close and personal, ladies.
What is your band’s music the best soundtrack for?
Sex that you’re only paying for with your dignity.
Tell us why we shouldn’t miss The Last Good Party this Friday 5th July At The Lass O’Gowrie Hotel in Newcastle.
Contrary to popular opinion, The Last Good Party is about to stop. If you can’t make it, head to the Townie in Newtown on Saturday July 6 for the final shake of what has been an incredibly libido affirming adventure. You don’t even need to bring money (but bring money).
Lastly what’s ahead for Gay Paris in the second half of 2013 and looking ahead to 2014?
We’re back in writing mode. We’ll be touring again, not quite as extensively, but more than most bands have the courage and virility to countenance. I think we’ll do a headline tour, maybe a co-headline tour with some worthy associates/friends/lovers. By the end of the year, I’m reasonably certain that we’ll be the most powerful lovers that the country has ever known. Who am I kidding? The Last Good Party don’t stop!
In case you missed their hilarious pozible crowd funding video campaign earlier this year that helped them raise all their money, here it is again:
