Interview by Meghan Killimade
How did you get started in music and how did the “Tender Fritters” come together -- also, who are the members & instruments?
One night in college, while driving, listening to the Oldies station, I pulled under the overpass and onto the on-ramp to I-35 toward Denton, I heard the solid crack of a snare begin “Like A Rolling Stone.” I’d never heard anything like it. Once home, I dug. More Dylan, all of his influences. I took arm-loads of music home from the library, old anthologies, Pete Seeger, Irish folk music, Patchwork European folk music, Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Woody Guthrie. This is when I decided I want to tell stories through song.
I’ve managed to piece together an exceptionally talented group around me. I met Jaime at the Dutch Tavern and he said he’d play bass for my album Wrecking Balls & Ballerinas (2022). He’s been a staple ever since. Garrett helped me on that same album. Early on, I wrote the trumpet parts for him, but he’s come around to writing his own, including harmony parts, and keeps getting better. Toby came into town and has made a name for himself in his own right as A Former Friend. One night he told me he liked our sound and wanted to contribute. Now he does on keys. Eric joins us on drums from time to time. I appreciate his subtlety and nuance.
How would you describe the music you’re creating to folks that may not be familiar?
We play a kind of Tex-Mex, Spaghetti Western, cowboy campfire music. It’s image music. It’s meant to take you somewhere and imagine something. It’s like a picture book.
What is your songwriting process like and how do the other members of the band contribute to the music?
Sometimes while toying with a melody, I’ll hear lyrics and start writing a new song. Sometimes I’ll wake up with an idea in my head, lumber out of bed and strum or mumble it into a recorder so I don’t forget, and work on it later. The key to writing a song is to do it when it wants to be written. When I share a tune with the band, I pass out notes and lyrics and they make magic of it. Our music uses a lot of lyrical cues and these guys are saints for paying enough attention to pick up on and express the subtleties.
I returned to an old favorite album by a band outta Dallas called The Theater Fire who have a wonderful southwest feel and lyrically alive storytelling. Their sound gave me ideas to play around with and helped me define a sound for our songs. For vocal ideas, I returned to old Marty Robbins Gunslinger songs and Hell Bent For Leather by Frankie Laine.
We recorded much of the album in my basement - and some in Garrett’s basement - and some in Toby’s attic.
Any favorite local bands/musicians/artists/businesses you want to shout out or that you think people need to check out?
I gotta shoutout Spark Makerspace for the access I have as a member to so many tools. I screen-printed all the merchandise there and it’s been so wonderful being in a creative zone where everyone’s got a project and you can tug on their sleeve for advice or direction.
I wanna celebrate this release with friends who have been part of my music in New London, so Michael Slyne and Bears Don’t Care are on the bill. The show kicks off at 8pm. Shirts, buttons, swag bags, cassettes, and vinyl will all be on hand. Hard copies of the album include digital downloads, cuz I think it sucks when they don’t! It’s also available for digital download at https://briangoing.bandcamp.com/.
What’s coming up next? More shows? Tour? Goals?
As for what’s next, if I can refill the band fund in time, I would love to follow up this album with another next year. We’ll see if we can’t get a little ambitious. We play the Knick Tap Room, Sunday, August 31 and Hygienic Art Park, Saturday, September 13. Thanks to Vox Hall Records for their help releasing this album. Check them out and the other artists on their label.
I’ve managed to piece together an exceptionally talented group around me. I met Jaime at the Dutch Tavern and he said he’d play bass for my album Wrecking Balls & Ballerinas (2022). He’s been a staple ever since. Garrett helped me on that same album. Early on, I wrote the trumpet parts for him, but he’s come around to writing his own, including harmony parts, and keeps getting better. Toby came into town and has made a name for himself in his own right as A Former Friend. One night he told me he liked our sound and wanted to contribute. Now he does on keys. Eric joins us on drums from time to time. I appreciate his subtlety and nuance.
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| Wailing City Archive: Brian Gore & Tender Fritters play Telegraph Autonomous Zone January 2024 |
We play a kind of Tex-Mex, Spaghetti Western, cowboy campfire music. It’s image music. It’s meant to take you somewhere and imagine something. It’s like a picture book.
What is your songwriting process like and how do the other members of the band contribute to the music?
Sometimes while toying with a melody, I’ll hear lyrics and start writing a new song. Sometimes I’ll wake up with an idea in my head, lumber out of bed and strum or mumble it into a recorder so I don’t forget, and work on it later. The key to writing a song is to do it when it wants to be written. When I share a tune with the band, I pass out notes and lyrics and they make magic of it. Our music uses a lot of lyrical cues and these guys are saints for paying enough attention to pick up on and express the subtleties.
Tell us about your newly released album ‘That Fine Space Southwest’ -- what was the inspiration behind the songs as well as the “spaghetti western” influence – and where was it recorded?
That Fine Space Southwest came together after thinking about my time visiting Grandma and Grandpa Bill in Laborcita Canyon, La Luz, NM. I had a longing to be out there again in the dry heat, the wide open plains of West Texas, mesas. People say there’s nothing in West Texas and I say, “Exactly.” You drive straight and an old, rickety windmill is your next checkpoint, some long distance down the road. The sour smell of crude oil stings your nostrils driving through an alien land where tarantulas lumber across the highway and I have a personal opinion that you should not be able to recognize distinct features of a spider in the road from the driver’s seat of your car. It’s so wide open you can see the curve of the earth and so few lights at night you look up and see the rhinestone bracelet of the Milky Way every single night in that cloudless, dry clime.
That Fine Space Southwest came together after thinking about my time visiting Grandma and Grandpa Bill in Laborcita Canyon, La Luz, NM. I had a longing to be out there again in the dry heat, the wide open plains of West Texas, mesas. People say there’s nothing in West Texas and I say, “Exactly.” You drive straight and an old, rickety windmill is your next checkpoint, some long distance down the road. The sour smell of crude oil stings your nostrils driving through an alien land where tarantulas lumber across the highway and I have a personal opinion that you should not be able to recognize distinct features of a spider in the road from the driver’s seat of your car. It’s so wide open you can see the curve of the earth and so few lights at night you look up and see the rhinestone bracelet of the Milky Way every single night in that cloudless, dry clime.
I returned to an old favorite album by a band outta Dallas called The Theater Fire who have a wonderful southwest feel and lyrically alive storytelling. Their sound gave me ideas to play around with and helped me define a sound for our songs. For vocal ideas, I returned to old Marty Robbins Gunslinger songs and Hell Bent For Leather by Frankie Laine.
We recorded much of the album in my basement - and some in Garrett’s basement - and some in Toby’s attic.
What are some bands/musicians you’ve been digging lately – or that inspire/motivate you?
I’m all over the map with what I’m listening to these days, but the list includes Rigo Tovar, Flaco Jimenez, The Sir Douglas Quintet, Spilly Cave, Emily Remler, Los Dos Carnales, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Ennio Moricone, the music from the show Over The Garden Wall, 70s grocery store music, Tako Tsubo, Martha Kato. Locally, Fimone is a force to watch with such power in her voice, like Brandi Carlisle in strength and range, as well as being an exceptional songwriter. Sweet Mercy! is another great band and John Speziele - the songwriter for the band - writes some of the cleverest lyrics you’ll hear. Nick D’Olimpio writes phenomenal songs. I highly recommend listening to his album Carthusian Uncorked. It’s a wild ride. Randy Newman is one of my absolute favorite songwriters ever.
Any favorite local bands/musicians/artists/businesses you want to shout out or that you think people need to check out?
I gotta shoutout Spark Makerspace for the access I have as a member to so many tools. I screen-printed all the merchandise there and it’s been so wonderful being in a creative zone where everyone’s got a project and you can tug on their sleeve for advice or direction.
Gives us the scoop on the album release party coming up on Saturday August 23 at 33 Golden in New London – and I heard you’ll have copies of the album on vinyl and cassettes in addition to streaming?
We’re releasing our album on Vinyl on August 23 at 33 Golden St. The artwork for this album was intended for a 12” LP. I want folks to place the needle in the groove and sit with the artwork, follow the lyrics, turn the jacket over in their hands and enjoy the full experience.
I wanna celebrate this release with friends who have been part of my music in New London, so Michael Slyne and Bears Don’t Care are on the bill. The show kicks off at 8pm. Shirts, buttons, swag bags, cassettes, and vinyl will all be on hand. Hard copies of the album include digital downloads, cuz I think it sucks when they don’t! It’s also available for digital download at https://briangoing.bandcamp.com/.
What’s coming up next? More shows? Tour? Goals?
As for what’s next, if I can refill the band fund in time, I would love to follow up this album with another next year. We’ll see if we can’t get a little ambitious. We play the Knick Tap Room, Sunday, August 31 and Hygienic Art Park, Saturday, September 13. Thanks to Vox Hall Records for their help releasing this album. Check them out and the other artists on their label.
FOLLOW
CATCH THE SHOW
Sat 8/23 @ 33 Golden
33 Golden Street, New London
Album release!
8pm / 21+
Sun 8/31 @ The Knickerbocker Tap Room
35 Railroad Ave, Westerly, RI
8-11pm / 21+
Sat 9/13 @ Hygienic Art Park
79 Bank Street, New London
Indie Music Fest
1-6pm
LISTEN