This is UK group Goober Gun’s third visit to Asia, but its first with guitarist James Kaine.
The trio is known for its members’ 1980s hairstyles and genial performance style. Front man Ian Hardwick describes the band’s sound, which hybridizes guttural guitars and bright pop harmonies, as “rock ’n’ roll refined.”
The new lineup follows the recent departure of longtime guitarist Jon Reynolds because of other commitments. Kaine was recommended to Goober Gun by fellow Brit band Scarlet Soho, and the guitarist proved a perfect fit. “[His] audition was great, and we hit it off right away,” Hardwick says. “He only had a few weeks to learn the whole set, and it’s getting better and better.”
Photo courtesy of Ian Hardwick
Besides melodic brio, among the band’s many appeals is its light-hearted approach to songwriting. Hardwick explains the origin of the group’s energetic hit 1979 (not a cover of the Smashing Pumpkins track): “Our old guitar player was born in that year, and he had a 1979 tattoo on his arm. People would always ask what it meant, so we thought we’d write a song called 1979 so he had a good answer to give people.”
Goober Gun is working on attracting new fans in Asia, and has set up a version of its Web site in Chinese.
The band has played a series of shows in Taiwan, including Spring Scream in Kenting and Revolver in Taipei. Tonight the band plays with indie electronica band The Looking Glass at Retro in Greater Taichung before concluding the Taiwan leg of its tour at Brickyard in Greater Kaohsiung tomorrow, after which the group heads to Beijing.
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