A hush fell over the crowd at the Art House Gallery as sound checks faded into the background. The eager patrons were a mix of young and old, local and outsider, but one feature united us all: our appreciation for the groovy psychedelic and eclectic tracks with which the East Bay’s very own Tektonic had just graced our ears during the previous set. It was a wonderful start to a concert. However, with all due respect, I didn’t come to see Tektonic. Hell, I didn’t even come to see Dark Satellite, the headlining artist (though both bands played excellent sets). 

 

I came out that night to support my friends in Gingsu, a touring alt-rock band which emerged  from Long Beach, California in the summer of 2020. Self-described as “[b]lending elements of progressive rock, funk, indie, and grunge,” Gingsu initially enthralled me with the diversity of their sound, as well as a stage presence and bravado fitting of the rockstars I am confident they will become. With influences as widely varied as “Alice In Chains, Incubus, Polyphia, Led Zeppelin, [and] Kate Bush,” there is truly something for everyone. 

 

I initially met Gingsu at the “Let us Live” festival in San Diego back in 2021. They had been voted in by nearly one thousand fans to play among the many incredible artists that day. The festival was an all-day affair, with bands rotating between the main stage and side stage so that one could be setting up while another band was already playing. While some musicians may have been resentful about being sequestered to the side stage, Gingsu savored the opportunity to play up close and personal with an energetic and boisterous crowd. 

 

Several tracks of theirs immediately entered my heavy rotation, including the vibrant, reflective, and singalong-worthy “Pepper Tree Lady.” I would be remiss to not introduce as many people as possible to the slower and darker “Pariah,” too, which features an absolutely unbelievable vocal performance from singer Quin Seely as well as thematic background vocals from drummer Caleb Paust. Both musicians collaborate expertly over the baseline provided by Michael Aripez and guitarwork of James Packes. This is the type of song that I regularly re-listen to, in order to best appreciate the subtleties in the instrumentals that really bring the track to a ten out of ten.

 

As is standard practice upon witnessing an incredible performance, I went to try and meet the members of the band that fateful day. They thanked me for my support, told me about their next shows, and welcomed me into their community. It was a wonderful feeling, and one I hope can be shared among music fans everywhere. Getting to know the people behind the music you enjoy is such a rewarding experience, and one which gets to the heart of how music brings people together. 

 

In a world of digital anonymity and artificial intelligence, the human flair within any artistic medium has immense value. That’s why it is so important to support your local artists! If not for supportive listeners, artists will lose out on opportunities, potential fans, income, sponsorships, and exposure. It was only because of the hundreds of fans voting for Gingsu to play “Let us Live” that I was introduced to them. Past streaming and sharing, buying merchandise is the best way to support your favorite artists financially and introduce their music to others.

 

The benefits of supporting your favorite artists are mutual. As a fan, you get to experience a band or project’s growth over time firsthand, developing your appreciation of the devotion required to hone one’s craft. For artists, interacting with fans can be among the most worthwhile and affirming experiences. Tangible appreciation for the blood, sweat, and tears you pour into your art is hard to come by. While corresponding with Gingsu in preparation for writing this piece, they revealed to me that “it’s an absolute joy to witness the fans in action. […] They truly blow us away.” For many genres, action and excitement is what sells, and as a fan, you have the potential to make a difference in how others remember the live shows you attend. While it is nerve-wracking at first, I encourage people to get active at concerts. Jump around, dance, and start a mosh pit. Show the musicians as well as the crowd that you’re happy to be there!

 

At the show, I was thrilled to see the performance, support the band, and hear some killer new music. Gingsu played two new tracks that effectively highlighted the band’s growth since I was introduced to their music. While I was hooked by their 2021 debut self-titled EP, it is clear that Gingsu has worked tirelessly to really find and perfect their sound since their initial success. Rattaca (2022) features even more diverse and complex songwriting, as well as a wide breadth of emotional experiences including love, anger, and lethargy. Not to mention another personal favorite, the track “Mosquito Breeding Pit,” which is simply a kick-ass, headbanging tour de force. 

 

Speaking to their sonic evolution, the band members explained: “over the last couple years, our writing style has evolved to encompass each individual’s sensibilities. We’ve started developing a more cohesive sound, with melodic and lyrical threads woven throughout several songs. We spend a great deal of time fine-tuning each of the arrangements, and there’s just a general sense of maturation that’s taken place over the course of writing of our most recent material.”

 

All of this comes to fruition in the band’s latest single, “T.R.E.” It features an otherworldly riff, socially conscious lyrics, and exemplary performances all around. In an interview with AmplifiedSd, Gingsu reported that “the lyrics reflect the violence and economic bleakness associated with failing empires, as well as the audacity of the elites who fill their pockets as they drive their countries into the ground without a second thought.” This anger and disillusionment carry through as the vocals change repeatedly from flowing around the instruments like a syncopated rap verse to screaming and eventually melodic singing, yet the arrangement remains compellingly coordinated throughout. 

 

About the single, Gingsu reminisced: “this was the last song written at our original rehearsal space, the fabled San Clemente garage. The riff was bestowed upon us by the Rock Gods (in this case, delivered by their disciple James Packes), and the lyrics, which came from the terrifying vault of Quin Seely, slotted in perfectly. Each section [of the] song was soon filled out by everyone’s creative input and came together relatively quickly.” Gingsu’s  musical talent is evident in the ingenuity of this track; the natural convergence of each member’s personal flair on the EP as a whole is emblematic of a group in which each participant truly understands their own contribution, as well as how they can best accompany one another. 

 

I could talk about this band all day (if you meet me in real life, I will), and I highly recommend that all readers check out their music. If you like what you hear, then try to support the band in any way you can! To me, music is often an escape from reality, but Gingsu bridges the gap between the two. So, tune in, rock out, and follow their advice: “be true to yourself and kind to one another.”

Article by: Joshua Morse 

Photo by: Wendy Rosales 

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