Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session: Gauche

Joining us in the studio for this Indie Rock Hit Parade Live Session is a group that functions as a real who’s-who of contemporary independent music. Featuring members of Priests, Downtown Boys, Ted Leo’s Pharmacists and more, Gauche released their debut album, A People’s History of Gauche, earlier this year on Merge Records.

True to their DIY-ethos, Gauche are a truly democratic collective. Lead vocal duties often fall to bassist Mary Jane Regalado, but both drummer Daniele Yandel and saxophonist Adrienne CN Berry take a turn in the spotlight in this session. Completing the band’s ever-shifting lineup is guitarist Jason P. Barnett, keyboardist Pearie Sol (also a solo artist in their own right) and Shawn Durham, who effortlessly leaps from roto-toms to bass to full kit across these five songs.

Gauche kick off their session with two of their earliest songs, “Pay Day” and “History.” Both appeared on their first EP as well as the new full-length, and they serve as rallying cries for this project. The anti-capitalist, anti-colonialist messages of those songs are driven by irresistibly lively rhythms, giving each member a chance to shine. Next is “Running,” which is a kind of duet between Regalado and Berry; an ode to being absolutely, positively fed up, it’s a sentiment that is quite relocatable. Berry takes the lead on the jittery “Dirty Jacket,” which has one of the most captivating about-faces of the set’s arrangements. Finally, there’s “Flash,” which serves as the opening track on the album. Yandel steps out from behind the drums to guide the band through this glittery photography metaphor.

Listen to Gauche’s Indie Rock Hit Parade session below and check out Jamie Stow’s photos from the studio…