Simply Stunning: Two Gallants

For those of you who haven’t yet been drawn in by the beguiling charm of San Franciscan duo Two Gallants, they are gravelly voiced frontman Adam Stephens and stick wielder Tyson Vogel. Their sound, best described as country punk, draws up images of classic Coen brothers’ film synopses where killing one’s wife just seemed necessary one day, and mutterings of Billy the Kid type characters, to the romantic **** ups and frustrations of a twenty something male. Songs the length and strength of Rapunzel’s hair: that’s an average of seven plus minutes and hardy enough to hold a full grown man’s attention. Signed to Saddle Creek records since 2005, they are set to re-release The Throes album on Alive Records in December. They are masters of their instruments with a penchant for poetics to say the least. This interviewer refuses to be a fan of anything less than adulterously immaculate.

Gigwise caught up with the chivalrous two in London Scala’s fantastically lit white walled back stage room. Last night it was Leeds, this afternoon was Camden’s Bugbear Records, and now this. They seem deservedly weary so Gigwise promises a slender selection of gentle questions with no mention of tazers (see Two Gallants news stories).

Today it’s tales of touring and such that takes us. Namely having recently finished a trundle round the United States (a show of which resulted in a court case upon return for one of the members) and now Europe. Are they sick of touring? “No, this is exciting, it’s Europe”, Adam insists, and Tyson feels the same way. But are they sick of the sight of Britain? Tyson ponders, “At a certain point, it just gets a little heavy on the brain.” And of the food portions, are they too small or perhaps American’s are too big. Portions that is. “Americans and their portions are too big,” Adam shakes. Tyson considers more traditionally; “British fry everything, even their cutlery”. Has touring put them on/off travelling? Non committal nods are the response here.

Adam isn’t too complimentary about all the fans they have in America though. After Tyson tells us of the magnificence of their Chinese fans, Adam adds: “Americans are the worst. They have a tendency to be spoilt ungrateful bastards.” Needless to say the United States has a less consistent fan base than outside, and as opposed to Europe et al, they are more likely to be confronted by an empty venue in their homeland. Perhaps it’s the undecided “I love my county/ I hate my country…” lines of ‘Two Days Short Tomorrow’. The strangest gift from a fan? “I received Mexican jumping beans from this weird chick once,” Adam remembers. They weren’t Mexican. A more grateful Tyson admits, “I received a mouthful of vomit on my sweater once”. That might explain why he’s down to the cardigan with the orange sized holes in both elbows.