Gob: Don't Call It A Comeback

12/01/08 3:26pm

by Quinn Omori (CHARTattack)

They're singing about death, but they're more alive than ever on their fifth album

Though they're a little older and a lot wiser, in certain ways things have come full circle for Gob. A lot has changed in the 13 years since they put out their self-titled debut EP, but with the release of their fifth full-length, Muertos Vivos, the band are finally breaking the three-year silence since their last album.

"We had been touring non-stop since we put out that record. We had been touring even when we were recording. We were pretty burnt out," says guitarist/vocalist Tom Thacker, reflecting on the band's state of mind three months after their fourth album, Foot In Mouth Disease, was released. The situation was compounded by a series of other setbacks.

"Things didn't really work out with Arista," Thacker explains of their short stint on the major American label. "They basically got swallowed up because they were millions and millions of dollars in debt. And our bass player left to play with Avril Lavigne. We just kinda chilled out for awhile. I had a lot of songs written at that time, but it just didn't feel like the right time to make a record."

While Gob took a step back from the spotlight, Thacker and Theo Goutzinakis were still keeping busy with another, albeit ill-fated, project.

"Theo and I actually got working producing another band called By A Thread that basically imploded while we were recording. They recorded a great record, but the record hasn't been released," says Thacker. "That was almost a giant waste of time, except we got to build up more skills recording."

By A Thread's record may have been mothballed, but the technical know-how they gained came in handy when it came time to go back into the studio with Gob.

"Theo and I produced and engineered the record. There were other engineers involved, but basically we did it ourselves," says Thacker.

"It takes time and it's more stressful, but in the end that's more rewarding," adds Goutzinakis. The move, which seems like a re-adoption of some of the DIY ethic that got them started, is part of a larger trend of the band taking back control of their own destiny.

"Tom and I talked about laying down a plan before we even started. We talked about having four videos, and choosing four singles. The only compromising we did were the ones between Tom and I," explains Goutzinakis. "It's taking more of a chance, but I feel like it's something we needed to do. It's risky, but we chose this path."

Ultimately, where that path will lead depends on the success of the new material. Both Thacker and Goutzinakis describe Muertos Vivos as their most eclectic album to date, and lead-off single "We're All Dying" showcases that. It's one of the heaviest songs to ever grace a Gob record, but the LP also boasts some slower songs that might surprise long time fans, as well as some of the melodic punk that they're best known for.

"Some songs in the past have been pretty light — most of them. It's definitely a little heavier in every way. It's no ‘I wanna jump in a lake,'" says Thacker of the new material. "The lyrics kept leaning towards death or dying. They're about being aware of your mortality."

The band, however, sound more alive than ever.

"It's a longer road to take to do things your own way," says Goutzinakis when asked about the journey from their humble beginnings to where the band are now. "It's worked out alright. I'm pretty happy."

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Gob Sound Off

Goutzinakis on major labels:
"I don't know if you know, but the thing about major labels is that they kind of blow smoke up your ass and tell you how great you are all the time. One of the guys from Arista told us that we were 'the next Ramones.' I mean, I think we're cool, but come on."

Thacker on crafting a set list:
"It's better to play songs that the crowd appreciates than to play just what you want to play. For a while after we released our second record, How Far Shallow Takes You, we played almost that entire record and just a few songs off of our first record. People were like deers in headlights in front of the stage for a couple of months."

Goutzinakis on politics and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan:
"It may be beaten to death: war and people being opposed to it. But it's way beyond fucked. How many people in the Middle East hate the United States? And actually, they hate Canada now because of Harper being up Bush's ass."

Thacker on file sharing:
"I really think it helps out. People are more reluctant to spend $10 or $15 on a record than they are to download a song for free. But if they download a song and hear it, they're more likely to buy that record now."

This feature originally appeared in the December 2007 issue of Chart Magazine. To purchase the issue, head on over to the Chart Shop.