Gurriers

Musicians — Dublin

01Profile

A Gurriers Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Emmet, Dublin.
Ben, Carlow.
Mark, Monaghan.
Dan, Dublin.
Pierce, Castleblayney / Chicago.
Collectively, we are Gurriers.

What do you do?
E: Freelance sound engineer or whatever sounds fun.
B: I play pedals and sometimes guitar.
M: I play guitar and pedals sometimes.
D: I’m the lead singer and lyricist in Gurriers.
P: Hit drum.

Describe your style in three words?
Down and out.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
E: The Prodigy at 3 Arena - I barely stopped for air.
B: Gilla Band at Vicar Street, first time I ever saw them play live and it was nuts seeing them on home turf with everyone going wild. Seriously cathartic. 
M: Slowdive at Desert Daze, 2018. Transcedental.
D: Arcade Fire in Rock Werchter, 2018.
P: LCD Soundsystem, Other Stage, Glastonbury 2016.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
E: LCD Soundsystem and Donny Benét - I can’t imagine they wouldn’t get along.
B: Parliament-Funkadelic and James Brown. The funk overload would be like a religious experience. 
M: Beastie Boys and My Bloody Valentine.
D: Radiohead and Nick Cave. Radiohead has paved the way for so many bands to experiment and do whatever they want, and Nick Cave because I think he is one of the greatest musicians of our time.
P: Sonic Youth and The Clash. 

Which subcultures have influenced you?
E: Dark Souls Lore Videos.
B: The Sopranos Skyrim memes.
M: People who move to Dubai to teach English and pretend to be influencers.
D: Marble Olympics, it has really shown me how something so simple can bring people a lot of joy and also how competitive I am when it comes to fake sports on the internet.
P: Football fan culture, mainly because I like trainers and beer. Motorcycle Gangs too.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
E: Bill Withers, I feel he would have a lot to say about what I need to hear.
B: Sun Ra, just so I could hear about his intergalactic journey to Earth. And so he could get me into the Freemasons.
M: Judas Iscariot.
D: Francis Bacon, I love his art and would love to be turned into one of his grotesque paintings.
P: Walter Payton.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
E: Ulster Sports Club - Foam squares on the ceiling.
B: Ulster Sports Club - It was like being in the Road House from Twin Peaks but set in Belfast.
M: Ulster Sports Club - Place is like a Lynchian fever dream for Feens.
D: Whelan’s, Dublin. So many artists have played on its stage from Arctic Monkeys to local singer-songwriters, so it’s always so special to play there for me. Especially on a Wednesday, because you can hit the silent disco after you come off stage!
P: Workman’s Club.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
E: Heron, Fly - great songwriting that is genuine and heartfelt.
B: Backxwash.
M: Nisennenmondai - a Japanese instrumental trio who make the most chaotically disciplined music I’ve ever heard. Some of their stuff is basically banging techno played by guitar, bass and drums.
D: CMAT, even though she’s starting to gain a lot of recognition I still think she deserves more. Everything she has done has been fresh and humorous. She is an absolute powerhouse of an artist and I’m delighted to see more Irish artists do well!
P: Paddy Cole.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
E: 'Papercut' by Linkin Park.
B: 'What’s He Building In There' by Tom Waits.
M: 'The Jumbo Breakfast Roll' by Pat Shortt.
D: 'LSF' by Kasabian.
P: 'Holiday' by Green Day.

A song that defines the teenage you?
E: 'Rise' by Pantera.
B: 'Testify' by Rage Against The Machine.
M: 'Modern Age' by The Strokes.
D: 'Slide Away' by Oasis.
P: Same as Dan.

One record you would keep forever?
E: 'Nights Out' by Metronomy.
B: 'Hold/Still' by Suuns.
M: 'Atrocity Exhibition' by Danny Brown. 
D: 'Carrie And Lowell' by Sufjan Stevens.
P: 'Dogrel' by Fontaines DC.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
E: “He said getting shot at didn't bother him
It was getting shot that shook him up”

From 'I Can't Write Left Handed' by Bill Withers.

B: "I am just a copy of a, copy of a, copy of a, everything I’ve said has come before”

From 'Copy Of A' by Nine Inch Nails.

M: “Quitters turn to losers, losers are forgotten. Tangling my cord with hopes that I’ll stop rockin’”

'Lyrics To Go' by A Tribe Called Quest.

D: “We don’t talk about love, we only wanna get drunk.”

From 'A Design For Life' by Manic Street Preachers.

P: “And just ‘cause he’s had a couple of cans, he thinks it’s alright to act like a dickhead”

From 'A Certain Romance' by Arctic Monkeys.

A song you wished you had written?
E: 'Star Roving' by Slowdive.
B: 'Three Sides Of Nazareth' by Nicolas Jaar.
M: 'Still' by Just Mustard.
D: 'Game Of Pricks' by Guided by Voices.
P: 'It Never Rains in Southern California' by Albert Hammond.

Best song to turn up loud?
E: 'The Wolves' by Manni Dee.
B: 'The Fever (Aye Aye)' by Death Grips.
M: 'On Sight' by Kanye West.
D: 'Millionaire' by Queens Of The Stone Age.
P: 'I Am The Resurrection' by The Stone Roses.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
E: 'ABC' by Park Hye Jin.
B: 'Believe' by Cher.
M: The entire High School Musical 2 soundtrack, more specifically, 'Bet On It'.
D: 'Feel' by Robbie Williams.
P: 'Hold Me Now' by Johnny Logan.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
E: 'Inspector Norse' by Todd Terje.
B: 'The Safety Dance' by Men Without Hats.
M: 'Real Groove' by Kylie Minouge & Dua Lipa.
D: 'I Feel Love' by Donna Summer.
P: 'Smalltown' Boy by Bronski Beat.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
E: 'Could Heaven Ever Be Like This' by Idris Muhammad.
B: 'Is It Always Binary' by Soulwax.
M: 'Kaleidoscope (Kaytranada’s Flip)' by BADBADNOTGOOD.
D: 'Come On Eileen' by Dexys Midnight Runners.
P: 'Where’s Me Jumper?' by Sultans of Ping FC.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
TPM, Enola Gay, YABBA (Formerly Franky’s Evil Party, New Dad), Blackxwash, Kamasi Washington, The Comet is Coming, Squid, Floor Show, Geese, Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra, Kitchen, Depoint, Rachel Mae Hannon, Sprints, Monophonics, Aby Coulibaly, Nathan Graham, RAAM, Djork, Mhaol, Yves Tumor.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Emmet, Dublin.
Ben, Carlow.
Mark, Monaghan.
Dan, Dublin.
Pierce, Castleblayney / Chicago.
Collectively, we are Gurriers.

What do you do?
E: Freelance sound engineer or whatever sounds fun.
B: I play pedals and sometimes guitar.
M: I play guitar and pedals sometimes.
D: I’m the lead singer and lyricist in Gurriers.
P: Hit drum.

Describe your style in three words?
Down and out.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
E: The Prodigy at 3 Arena - I barely stopped for air.
B: Gilla Band at Vicar Street, first time I ever saw them play live and it was nuts seeing them on home turf with everyone going wild. Seriously cathartic. 
M: Slowdive at Desert Daze, 2018. Transcedental.
D: Arcade Fire in Rock Werchter, 2018.
P: LCD Soundsystem, Other Stage, Glastonbury 2016.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
E: LCD Soundsystem and Donny Benét - I can’t imagine they wouldn’t get along.
B: Parliament-Funkadelic and James Brown. The funk overload would be like a religious experience. 
M: Beastie Boys and My Bloody Valentine.
D: Radiohead and Nick Cave. Radiohead has paved the way for so many bands to experiment and do whatever they want, and Nick Cave because I think he is one of the greatest musicians of our time.
P: Sonic Youth and The Clash. 

Which subcultures have influenced you?
E: Dark Souls Lore Videos.
B: The Sopranos Skyrim memes.
M: People who move to Dubai to teach English and pretend to be influencers.
D: Marble Olympics, it has really shown me how something so simple can bring people a lot of joy and also how competitive I am when it comes to fake sports on the internet.
P: Football fan culture, mainly because I like trainers and beer. Motorcycle Gangs too.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
E: Bill Withers, I feel he would have a lot to say about what I need to hear.
B: Sun Ra, just so I could hear about his intergalactic journey to Earth. And so he could get me into the Freemasons.
M: Judas Iscariot.
D: Francis Bacon, I love his art and would love to be turned into one of his grotesque paintings.
P: Walter Payton.

Of all the independent venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
E: Ulster Sports Club - Foam squares on the ceiling.
B: Ulster Sports Club - It was like being in the Road House from Twin Peaks but set in Belfast.
M: Ulster Sports Club - Place is like a Lynchian fever dream for Feens.
D: Whelan’s, Dublin. So many artists have played on its stage from Arctic Monkeys to local singer-songwriters, so it’s always so special to play there for me. Especially on a Wednesday, because you can hit the silent disco after you come off stage!
P: Workman’s Club.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
E: Heron, Fly - great songwriting that is genuine and heartfelt.
B: Backxwash.
M: Nisennenmondai - a Japanese instrumental trio who make the most chaotically disciplined music I’ve ever heard. Some of their stuff is basically banging techno played by guitar, bass and drums.
D: CMAT, even though she’s starting to gain a lot of recognition I still think she deserves more. Everything she has done has been fresh and humorous. She is an absolute powerhouse of an artist and I’m delighted to see more Irish artists do well!
P: Paddy Cole.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
E: 'Papercut' by Linkin Park.
B: 'What’s He Building In There' by Tom Waits.
M: 'The Jumbo Breakfast Roll' by Pat Shortt.
D: 'LSF' by Kasabian.
P: 'Holiday' by Green Day.

A song that defines the teenage you?
E: 'Rise' by Pantera.
B: 'Testify' by Rage Against The Machine.
M: 'Modern Age' by The Strokes.
D: 'Slide Away' by Oasis.
P: Same as Dan.

One record you would keep forever?
E: 'Nights Out' by Metronomy.
B: 'Hold/Still' by Suuns.
M: 'Atrocity Exhibition' by Danny Brown. 
D: 'Carrie And Lowell' by Sufjan Stevens.
P: 'Dogrel' by Fontaines DC.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
E: “He said getting shot at didn't bother him
It was getting shot that shook him up”

From 'I Can't Write Left Handed' by Bill Withers.

B: "I am just a copy of a, copy of a, copy of a, everything I’ve said has come before”

From 'Copy Of A' by Nine Inch Nails.

M: “Quitters turn to losers, losers are forgotten. Tangling my cord with hopes that I’ll stop rockin’”

'Lyrics To Go' by A Tribe Called Quest.

D: “We don’t talk about love, we only wanna get drunk.”

From 'A Design For Life' by Manic Street Preachers.

P: “And just ‘cause he’s had a couple of cans, he thinks it’s alright to act like a dickhead”

From 'A Certain Romance' by Arctic Monkeys.

A song you wished you had written?
E: 'Star Roving' by Slowdive.
B: 'Three Sides Of Nazareth' by Nicolas Jaar.
M: 'Still' by Just Mustard.
D: 'Game Of Pricks' by Guided by Voices.
P: 'It Never Rains in Southern California' by Albert Hammond.

Best song to turn up loud?
E: 'The Wolves' by Manni Dee.
B: 'The Fever (Aye Aye)' by Death Grips.
M: 'On Sight' by Kanye West.
D: 'Millionaire' by Queens Of The Stone Age.
P: 'I Am The Resurrection' by The Stone Roses.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
E: 'ABC' by Park Hye Jin.
B: 'Believe' by Cher.
M: The entire High School Musical 2 soundtrack, more specifically, 'Bet On It'.
D: 'Feel' by Robbie Williams.
P: 'Hold Me Now' by Johnny Logan.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
E: 'Inspector Norse' by Todd Terje.
B: 'The Safety Dance' by Men Without Hats.
M: 'Real Groove' by Kylie Minouge & Dua Lipa.
D: 'I Feel Love' by Donna Summer.
P: 'Smalltown' Boy by Bronski Beat.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
E: 'Could Heaven Ever Be Like This' by Idris Muhammad.
B: 'Is It Always Binary' by Soulwax.
M: 'Kaleidoscope (Kaytranada’s Flip)' by BADBADNOTGOOD.
D: 'Come On Eileen' by Dexys Midnight Runners.
P: 'Where’s Me Jumper?' by Sultans of Ping FC.

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
TPM, Enola Gay, YABBA (Formerly Franky’s Evil Party, New Dad), Blackxwash, Kamasi Washington, The Comet is Coming, Squid, Floor Show, Geese, Pixie Cut Rhythm Orchestra, Kitchen, Depoint, Rachel Mae Hannon, Sprints, Monophonics, Aby Coulibaly, Nathan Graham, RAAM, Djork, Mhaol, Yves Tumor.

 

05Videos

Gurriers - 'Top Of The Bill' (Official Visualiser)

Gurriers - 'Approachable' (Official Video)