This post is from Out the Other's 2010 Bonnaroo Artist Previews, where I will be posting previews of all the musical acts playing the 2010 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. Please check out and subscribe to the full site to learn more about all of this year's performers.
The closest I've ever come to seeing The Gossip was my first year at SXSW, when I saw Beth Ditto at my favorite Austin BBQ joint (for all I know, the rest of the band was there too - but Ditto is the kind of front woman who keeps you from paying attention to anyone who performs with her). But we were enjoying dinner, not on opposite sides of a rock club. Somehow I've just never dove deeply enough into their music to check the Gossip out live, though sitting here listening to last year's Music For Men, I'm thinking their brand of angular, dance-y indie rock will be super fun to see at this year's Bonnaroo.
The band has been around since 1999, when they formed in Olympia, Washington. All three original members - vocalist Beth Ditto, drummer Kathy Mendonca and guitarist Nathan "Brace Paine" Howdeshell - were originally from Arkansas, where they had played in several bands together. Within a year, they had released a self-titled debut on K Records and scored a tour with Sleater-Kinney, but it took another six years, five releases and a new drummer (Hannah Billie), before the band found mainstream success.
That success came in the form of Standing in the Way of Control, the 2006 album that was released in the US on Kill Rock Stars. It is an album that has since gone gold and helped to rocket the band to (relative) stardom, aided in no small part by Ditto's outspoken and sometimes controversial personality. A strong proponent of positive body images, Ditto has been strongly criticized for her personal appearance, but it's hard to find fault with her vocal skills. The singer's pipes are as strong as her self image, and those vocals paired with punchy beats and catchy melodies are the reason the band is such a success.
"Love Long Distance"
"Standing In the Way of Control"
The Gossip will play the This Tent on Friday from 3:15-4:30 p.m.
Wow nice!! Hmm i love the guitar!! Cool!!
Posted by: Nursing top | Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 09:44 PM