They've crossed the States eight times in the past four years, crashed on nearly every floor between New York and California, left no less than three vans to die in various parts of the country, and by now have lost nearly everything. So, for PILOT TO GUNNER, "hip" is a useless crutch, lost to a typhoon of hard rock n' roll realities. There is no longer any room for pretenders, no patience for pretense, no stomach for style. What you see is real. What you hear is rock. And what they're about to offer you is redemption.
On their second full-length, the aptly titled Get Saved, New York City's PILOT TO GUNNER deliver a bolt of D.C.-inspired apocalypse that defies any qualifier. It is part punk, part post, and all rock. The kind you'd expect from a band that captures all of New York City - from the sky kissing towers to the shady alleyways - like no other primped and propped up outfit of Gotham poseurs can.
There's no doubt that this outfit is a mish-mash of various fuck-ups. After all, this is the band that traded blows with their newfound label president moments after signing their contract. However, when they lock in together on one of their dark anthems, they are magnificent fuck-ups.
Despite jerking listeners to attention on their lauded debut, Games at High Speeds, they've topped themselves on the J. Robbins-produced Get Saved.
With sinuous grooves courtesy of drummer Kurt Herrman and Padden's shout-along vocals, tracks like "The Product," "Hey Carrier," and the title track are custom made for fist pumping. Martin McLoughlin's bass slinks and dives, twisting "Downstate" into dub-inflected thunder. The first single, "Barrio Superstarrio," featuring the charged call-and-response interplay between lead guitarist Patrick Hegarty and Padden, blasts straight out of a 1960's motorcycle gang pulp flick.
And lurking beneath the chaotic surface, are Padden's switchblade-sharp lyrics. Taking on scenesters, societal lepers, heavy-handed heroes and non-believers with the conviction of a new school prophet, he and the band simply deliver what most others can't or won't: Truth with the songs to back it up.
You've been warned:
PILOT TO GUNNER are coming to save you.
So hide your everything.
The tour dates:
2004
April 21 - Brisbane, The Zoo
April 23 - Newcastle, Northern Star
April 24 - Caringbah, Bizzo's
April 25 - Sydney, Annandale Hotel
April 26 - Penrith, Backdoor @ Panthers Leagues Club
April 28 - Canberra, Green Room
April 29 - Adelaide, Enigma Bar
April 30 - Melbourne, Ding Dong Lounge
May 1 - Melbourne, Evelyn Hotel
