Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Gothamist Band Interview: Two Gallants
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 21, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Apr 21, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
We first heard Two Gallants when they played Southpaw almost a year ago today. We didn't know any of their songs, yet stood mesmerized by their almost frantic set. They played music that was reminiscent of a time none of us lived in, music for a pre-Beat wandering traveler. Raw, human and refreshing - the raspy voice and pounding drum beats, oft bittersweet lyrics and perfectly rough-edged songcrafting has made this band stand above the rest for us.
Come check out the railroad rock this Monday (April 24th) for yourself, Two Gallants will be headlining Bowery Ballroom. Listen: Las Cruces Jail.mp3
Let's get this out of the way, where did your band name originate? Could you also pronounce it for us so we stop saying it the wrong way, is it two gall”aunts” or two gall”ants”?
The name that we embody, originally was born as the name of the third short story/chapter in the book Dubliners, by James Joyce. It is technically accepted to pronounce the word “gallants” in either form you suggested…but we prefer the former.
How does the San Francisco music scene differ from New York’s?
San Francisco is a town pregnant with art and music, especially now, there is a lot of original, local, music echoing through the streets, hallways, venues, basements, rooms throughout SF… but I do not feel that there is a cohesiveness; there is so much music, but there lacks a cohesive “scene”…there is no defining SF sound.
That being said, firstly, I cannot pretend to know very much about the music scene in New York; but, from the idea of the musicians perspective living in New York, I would imagine that one might feel more pressure to make music in a certain way because of what New York stands for musically. In SF, I don’t believe there are as many superficial pressures… there is not very much big music business there to affect things.
What is your first conscious memory of New York?
When I was 17, and thinking of my life, I gathered the courage to visit SVA, and though I had visited NYC a few times in my youth, it wasn’t until being led by a docent through the schools different campuses in Manhatten that I realized, and felt, the weight, and focused chaos and humanity, of history, present, and future that the humid air entwined with its every slippery in-breathe.
Favorite city you’ve played?
Every city has such a unique dynamic…. but Rapid City, South Dakota, stands as an important place in our collective heart.
The comparisons have been set in type in publications and online…Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Conor Oberst, Phil Ochs. Who would you compare the band to musically? Or if you’d rather…who are your greatest influences?
Frank Stokes and Elvin Jones
Now its time for some fill-in-the-blank action
“You know you’ve made it when….”
When you awaken in the morning and the sourness of your liver, stomach, is blinded by the happiness of the breaking of a new day.
“It’ll be time to pack up the gear for good when….”
we are considering bringing in a saxophone.
“I’ll never forget the first time I….”
realized after self baptizing among its waters, the Mississippi was called the “big muddy” for a reason.
“I’ll never forget the first time [insert another band member’s name here]….”
Adam scribbled a poem into his 4 grade notebook.
Let's have some fun with word association. Give me your immediate feelings on the following (if you’ve got no discernable feelings, make something up that won’t embarrass you in the morning)
Yankees
not as good as the Giants.
Mets
not as good as the Giants.
Britney
a real human being with feelings, that through selling her body and mind to the corporate gods that be, became a beacon of candied distraction, further instilling to the armies of kids and peers of her own generation, alienation to uncontrived truth.
Pitchfork
devils advocate
Blogs
what is that?
Gentrification
Japan Town Bowl, a depressing reality of at times heartless, and unconstructive, reconstruction.
A few quickies on the music tip
Who would be in your ultimate music supergroup, your all-star Olympic team of rock?
Raffy(acoustic guitar), Slash(electric guitar), Krist Novoselic(bass), Animal(drums)
What was the first/last album you bought on the day it was released?
Guns N’ Roses- Use Your Illusion I,II
What came first, the music or the misery?
It’s a constant recycling waltz.
And finally...If Josh Schwartz, creator of the OC, asked your band to perform on his tv show (as Modest Mouse, the Killers, Death Cab and the Walkmen recently have) would you?
No.
Tagged
art
band interview
bowery ballroom
city
history
In SF
james joyce
Las Cruces Jail
Music
new york
nyc
san francisco
schools
sf
south dakota
Two Gallants
When I
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain
Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 23, 2026
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff
We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."
By
James Ramsay
A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings
By
Hannah Frishberg
A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history
By
Sonia Rao
The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .