It’s time to get to know Dan Ross, vocalist and guitarist of Gallery Circus! We set Dan 10 questions about his musical likes, taste and guilty pleasures…
How would you describe your taste in music?
Graeme and I love great songwriters especially St Vincent, Andrew Bird & Regina Spektor.
Their play on melodies and lyrics always intrigues us, so we do our best to find what makes their recordings so special and try to apply it to the noise we make (dashing in some riffs for good measure).
Their play on melodies and lyrics always intrigues us, so we do our best to find what makes their recordings so special and try to apply it to the noise we make (dashing in some riffs for good measure).
Who do you consider to be your favourite band and why?
David Bowie is probably our favorite artist- especially his ziggy stardust era.
We grew up listening to his music and he has a huge influence on our melodies. More recently, we’ve been listening to a lot of modern physch stuff like dr dog and dam gila etc. They’re a bit more chilled out than we are, but the melodies in there are awesome
We grew up listening to his music and he has a huge influence on our melodies. More recently, we’ve been listening to a lot of modern physch stuff like dr dog and dam gila etc. They’re a bit more chilled out than we are, but the melodies in there are awesome
Who is the best live band you’ve ever seen?
The Dresden Dolls at Leeds Festival a few years back is always memorable.
They have a huge influence on our sound and live performances, they’re easily the best two-piece out there.
They have a huge influence on our sound and live performances, they’re easily the best two-piece out there.
What is the one song that you could listen to forever?
Beetlebum by Blur. It was the first single we bought at age 7.
I (Dan) can remember being blown away by the opening guitar riff – it sounded like a motorbike to my innocent mind.
I (Dan) can remember being blown away by the opening guitar riff – it sounded like a motorbike to my innocent mind.
What album, if any, was a turning point in your ‘musical life’ and why?
Probably an early Muse record like Origin of Symmetry. It was the first time we were both exposed to wonderful fuzziness and feedback on record. Up until that point I think we were both jamming along to Status Quo LP’s.
In 3 words, what makes a good album or song?
A good song = ‘Big Beat’, ‘Soulfull’ and ‘Angsty (Not too much)’
A festival or a gig? Why?
Definitely a gig, the more intimate, sweaty and claustrophobic the better. And we hate camping.
Who would be your 3 dream festival headliners?
Blur, Queens of the stone age, Regina Spektor
Who are the best new band you’ve discovered lately that everyone should know about?
Currently we both love the début album from Dam Gila. Check out the opening track History – its killer. He’s the front man of a great DIY driven Chicago based band called YAWN.
His solo album has everything you could wish for – great melodies, dirty guitars and a little bit of psychedelia.
His solo album has everything you could wish for – great melodies, dirty guitars and a little bit of psychedelia.
What band or artist is your secret, or not so secret, guilty pleasure?
Although we’re ashamed to admit it, Graeme and I love the first album – A trick to Life – from The Hoosiers. They had some killer melodies and interesting production on that record.
I once stumbled into the band on a drunken night out in Newcastle and slurred this delicate line to their lead singer:
‘Everyone thinks your band and album is shit… but I think you guys will be bigger than The Cure….’. lol at that!
I once stumbled into the band on a drunken night out in Newcastle and slurred this delicate line to their lead singer:
‘Everyone thinks your band and album is shit… but I think you guys will be bigger than The Cure….’. lol at that!
Check out Gallery Circus‘ latest single Sugar below;