Gus Black
Total fans: 493
“I knew this was going to be an interesting process...on the first day of recording, I ran down to Radio Shack to grab a headphone extension cord and was held up at gunpoint. The guy took off, I paid for the cord, went home and started recording.”
Autumn Days is Gus Black’s fourth, and most intimate, release. Recorded in his Silver Lake apartment during what he euphemistically calls a transitional period, the album has an organic feel that highlights Black’s brilliant melodies and arrestingly honest vocals.
“This is more than just a breakup record. It’s the twisted torment of a failed relationship crashing into a new beginning,” Black says. With songs like Devil Spine, he remains true to that point. “It was a catharsis. That song was one of those songs that arrives complete. The vocals and guitar were improvised on the spot …for me, it’s the centerpiece (track 6) of the album.”
Released by Cheap Lullaby Records in the states, the record has already found a following in Europe from significant radio airplay and subsequent tour that was a critical success. Black also appeared on the famed radio program Rockpalast (past guests include REM, Tom Waits, Eels).
Along with longtime band members Rocco Bidlovski on drums and Gianni Neiviller on bass, the self-produced Autumn Days also features performances by Dave Palmer (Air, Fiona Apple, Joe Henry), David Henry (Yo La Tengo, Josh Rouse), Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek, and Sarabeth Tucek (Smog, Brian Jonestown Massacre).
The first US single ,”Certain Kind of Light, “ reflects both Black’s penchant for poetic realism, as well as his rock roots.” This was an opportunity for me to communicate and take at least some control of my life at a time when I couldn’t make sense, or reason, of what was really going on. I needed to sing this song, something that felt uplifting musically”.
Recording under the name Gus, Black’s first two albums Gus (1996) and Word of Mouth Parade (1999) were released by Almo Sounds. The third, Uncivilized Love--his first as Gus Black--was released in 2003 in the U.S. and 2004 in Europe.
Black has twice been a featured guest on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. His songs have been featured in number of television shows including: One Tree Hill, Smallville, Felicity, and Alias. His cover of Don’t Fear the Reaper was featured in the original Scream soundtrack.
“In many ways, this feels like my first record,” says Black of his new album Autumn Days. “I felt like I needed to make an honest portrait of a moment in time. In that sense the entire thing is made up environmental sounds. That is, if your environment is a fallout shelter.”
