Goo Maid
this punk band is marked with contradictions that work
Zack Katz, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
When a local music scene dies out – or never really took off to begin with – square one for the next band to step to the plate means letting the imagination run as wild and crazy as they see fit.
And that’s just what Eau Claire punk trio Goo Maid said they have in mind: weird lyrics, mangled riffs, and the loudest racket they can muster.
“I’ve been writing songs for the band since 2008 but I didn’t have a full band to play with until like a year and a half ago,” frontman Brent Gust said. John Buxton, a multi-instrumentalist who originally played bass for Goo Maid, switched roles and took a seat behind the drum set instead when the group decided a great drummer was harder to come by. And Michael Allen, affectionately known to his bandmates as “Mikey,” is the trio’s enthusiastic new bassist who said he’s trying to keep the sparks flying.
With an abrasive sound and neurotic songs with titles like “Meth Heads from Outer Space,” “Christian” probably wouldn’t be your first crack at guessing what category the Goo ascribes to. “A couple years ago I become Christian basically to kick a drug habit,” Gust said. “I couldn’t write lyrics that showed I was pissed and confused anymore. … I was actually happy to find relief.”
Gust said with a grin he gets a kick out of seeing angsty fans mosh to Goo Maid’s aggressive sound without knowing his lyrics are faith-driven. “I try to be creative in my approach because I feel Christian music is largely pretty generic,” Gust said. “Truthfully, I can’t really get into traditional Christian music myself, so I think it’s cool we’re trying to derive a kind of unique combination with adding it to punk music.”
From the sound of Goo Maid’s efforts to date, it might seem like the trio’s sound and their religious context mix like oil and water, but Gust said there’s a method to his madness. “For me there’s more to songwriting than jotting down a mess of lyrics that sound cool,” Gust said. “I guess this theme sort of centralizes our music. … At least it give me a sense of direction.”
Goo Maid has been through a laundry list of members – some more dedicated than others. Presently, though, Allen said as the band is jamming more frequently and knocking out one show after another, he’s happy the Goo is finally solidifying.
“I love being able to maintain the energy with these catchy, poppy, grungy riffs,” Allen said. “That’s really what caught me when I was a kid listening to Brent and my brother play in the basement. … I’d sit in my room and listen all day.”
Allen said knowing Gust’s style from adolescence – and acclimating to Buxton’s drumming as the band continues pushing for cohesion – means they’ve got their current set list dialed in. The list draws largely from their most recent release, Self Medicate, as well as new material Goo Maid plans on releasing.
The item topping the band’s agenda is playing shows around the Midwest to become more of a household name. Here in Eau Claire, Goo Maid has all the dedicated fans and friends an up-and-coming band could ask for, but Gust said overzealous crowds haven’t exactly played nice thus far.
“Our last show got a little nuts, we were the last group to play after a White Stripes knock-off group,” Gust said. Allen added: “Our friends started to mosh around which wasn’t cool for people who weren’t into that. … we basically had to cut the set early.” Allen said Goo Maid’s show consisted of their mob of support starting something of a mini-riot, screaming into Gust’s microphone and spray-painting the band’s name on a window in the house.
Gust said they consider it a curse and a blessing. Performances do tend to get out of hand, but when you’re playing music of this nature it’s to be expected.
Stay tuned for more of the madness, and catch the Goo guys in action – but be ready to duck for cover if you get too close to the stage.
Goo Maid (CD release show) + Lowlives + TBA • Friday, Apr. 18, 10pm • House of Rock, 422 Water St. • $5 • 21+
