Blair Gun: SoCal Power Pop!
Photo taken by @happymario_ on IG
Meet Blair Gun, a four-piece San Diego power pop band taking a new spin on meshing rock and pop. Blair Gun has been playing an impressive number of shows and, even more so, has a vast amount of music out, considering their first release was towards the end of 2022. Let's get to know Blair Gun and learn about the start of the band, the making of their newest album, and what they have in store for the future!
Photo taken by @neilyoungsgreatesthits on IG
BAND MEMBERS' NAMES AND WHAT EACH PERSON PLAYS.
"Blair Gun is Joedin (vocals, guitar), Zach (guitar), Jake (drums), Alyson (bass)."
TELL ME MORE ABOUT WHAT INSPIRED THE NAME "BLAIR GUN."
"Our bassist's middle name is Blair, and we are all the guns, and we love the band Gun Club, so it's kinda an homage to them."
HOW DID BLAIR GUN FORM? WERE THERE ANY CHALLENGES TO STARTING A BAND?
"We started as a duo recording project in Joedin's garage, just making songs and tracking everything ourselves until I met Jake, our drummer, in a recording arts class. We hit it off, and he invited us to play a show with him and his other band, Lucid Dream, for which Alyson played bass. We all had similar tastes in music and have been a performing act ever since."
Photo taken by @happymario_ on IG
LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT RELEASE, THE ALBUM "BLASPHEME QUEEN," WHICH CAME OUT MARCH 3RD, 2023. WHAT WAS THE RECORDING PROCESS LIKE?
"We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to record ‘Blaspheme Queen’ in Louisville, Kentucky, at LaLa Land Studios with the support of Sonablast and Enabler No.6 Records. We spent a busy two weeks recording and mixing the record and also ended the week with a show out in Louisville."
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG ON THE ALBUM?
"We could not agree on our favorites, so I'll give you them individually. For Zach, it would be 'Death Wish.' For Joedin, 'Protozoa.' For Alyson, 'You're Not There." Lastly, for Jake, 'Don't Talk.'"
WHAT SONG WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING TO RECORD ON THE ALBUM?
"The most challenging single part to record was the drums on 'Protozoa,' the last drum part we recorded, and the intricate Tom parts combined with inconsistent blocking made it a chore. But, the song that took the longest was 'Blaspheme Queen' because of all the guitar layers and different effects that went into it. It has eight guitars on it and a combination of different effects done on finicky pedals and antique amps."
WHAT IS THE OVERALL MESSAGE YOU ARE TRYING TO SHARE WITH THIS ALBUM?
"It has overall themes of feeling like an outsider in groups when you feel you should belong."
WHO ARE SOME OF BLAIR GUNS' INFLUENCES?
"Our biggest influences include Parquet Courts, Travis Barker, Zach's Hyundai Elantra, My emotional support dog Kiki, Talking Heads, and Wire."
WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM YOU GUYS IN THE FUTURE?
"One entirely new album, more blast beats, more breakdowns, more shows, two-part harmonies, longer, more experimental songs."
Photo taken by @neilyoungsgreatesthits on IG
