Getting to know...Gallus
Gallus tell us about their favourite albums, the band's formation, their plans for the rest of the year and more ahead of their gig alongside The Vanities & The Monocasters in Paisley on Saturday 27th April...
Tell us a bit about how the band got together:
Barry: Paul and Eamon are cousins and had been jamming for years. Eamon got me involved, then I worked with Duris and Danny at Wetherspoons and got them involved as well.
How big a part has the Glasgow scene played in the band's development?
Barry: The local scene is very important to us because we have met so many talented people and learned from them. It’s just nice to be part of such a supportive environment.
GALLUS: (L-R) Eamon Ewins (guitar), Barry Dolan (vocals), Paul Ewins (drums), Craig Duris bass) & (front) Daniel Blake (guitar)
What have you been up to since you played for us in October?
Barry: Since then we've been very busy. We released an EP, sold out the launch show at Stereo and have been rehearsing for Saturday’s gig as well as Stag & Dagger the following weekend.
What bands do you feel have shaped your sound the most?
Eamon: For me, I was very into Green Day as a kid and had a massive metal phase listening to Megadeth and Slayer etc. Recently though, I'd say bands like Joy Division and The Strokes.
Barry: Shame, The Fratellis, Dinosaur Jr.
Craig: I think we have a strong range of different influence - for me it's primarily punk and progressive tech metal.
What’s the best gig you’ve played?
Craig: Stereo for sure, it was a ridiculous amount of fun and a really special moment for me personally.
Eamon: Stereo is the obvious answer but I'd say Tuts with The Dunts [at King Tut’s in December] is up there with the most important as it set it us up well for the EP launch.
Plans for the rest of the year?
Eamon: Recording in April and hopefully getting more gigs outside Glasgow and Scotland! Making more of an impact at festivals too.
Best gig you've been to?
Danny: Idles at Doornroosje in the Netherlands. This was also the last gig I’ve been to funnily enough but it was arguably the best hour and a half of my life.
Barry: Arctic Monkeys at TRNSMT or IDLES at Electric Fields.
Eamon: Shame at SWG3 was a recent favourite. Rascalton at Flat 0/1 at Tenement Trail 2017 really made me want me to make a proper go of being in a band though.
Paul: Augustines at St Lukes in 2016.
Craig: Refused at The Garage.
Favourite live band?
Paul: FIDLAR.
Barry: Young Fathers.
Eamon: Biffy Clyro put on an incredible show. Don't listen to them much but the two times I've seen them were unbelievable.
First album you bought?
Craig: Slipknot - The Subliminal Verses.
Paul: Green Day - International Superhits.
Eamon: Green Day - American Idiot. I listened to a lot of my brothers' CDs though, so didn't buy any for a long time.
Daniel: Robbie Williams - Escapology.
Barry: Calvin Harris - I Created Disco.
If you could’ve written one song, what would it be?
Eamon: "This Must Be the Place" by Talking Heads. It's the perfect song and fits most moods. David Byrne making the lyrics deliberately ambiguous and meaningless yet somehow still poignant was a masterstroke.
Daniel: Focus - Hocus Pocus.
Barry: SWMRS - Brb.
Craig: Night Verses - No. 0.
Favourite venue?
Eamon: Probably The Priory because as it’s great for new bands always brings a good crowd.
Paul & Craig: ABC.
Barry: St Luke’s
First gig you went to?
Barry: The Darkness, although I can’t remember what year it was.
Daniel: Busted at the SECC in 2004 (I think).
Eamon: Christy Moore and Declan Sinnott at the Royal Concert Hall with my grandparents. Those two made me want to play guitar.
Paul: Franz Ferdinand in 2005.
Craig: Bring Me the Horizon at The Garage in 2010
Non-musical inspirations?
Daniel: David Hockney
Craig: Stan Lee
Barry: Dave Chappelle
Top 3 albums?
Paul: Frightened Rabbit - Midnight Organ Fight; Blink 182 - Untitled; The Strokes - Is This It.
Eamon: Joy Division - Closer; Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited; Bert Jansch - A Rare Conundrum.
Barry: Young Fathers - Cocoa Sugar; The Fratellis - Costello Music; The Frights - You Are Going To Hate This.
Daniel: FIDLAR - Almost Free; Parquet Courts - Wide Awake; Whitney - Light Upon the Lake.
Craig: Night Verses - From the Gallery of Sleep; Fontaines DC - Dogrel; DZ Deathrays - Black Rat.
Next gig you’re going to?
Barry: Walt Disco at McChuills.
Eamon: Fontaines DC at King Tut’s
Top 5 new acts?
Eamon: Pleasure Heads, Crystal, Roly Mo, Lizzie Reid, The Murder Capital.
Barry: Fontaine’s DC, Pleasure Heads, Crystal, The Vanities, SWAY.
Favourite festival?
Craig: I've only ever been to Download in 2012, so has to be that!
Eamon: Tenement Trail or Stag. Best way to see new acts!
Barry: T In The Park.