Either in person or on the Internet, I’ve come across a few people who aren’t quite sure what to make of the resurrection of The Running Gags. I’d like to set a few things straight.
Most importantly, I’m not doing this to cause any drama in the scene. That’s the last thing I want. I hold no animosity toward my former bandmates. I certainly hope they don’t hold any against me. Anything that happened between us was over ten years ago, and as far as I’m concerned it should stay there.
The idea to bring back The Running Gags after a 10-year hiatus came as a series of conversations with friends. I’d play them a song I wrote. They’d say, “that sounds like a Running Gags song.” Of course it does. I’m Brian Gag. Eventually I decided I was going to just record an album all by myself, playing all the instruments. I’d call it “The Running Gags,” and then release it.
But what I missed most was playing shows. I missed the Port Huron music scene. I missed being able to warble off-key and slam barre-chords for a half-hour every few weeks.
So through a series of even more conversations, I wound up with two bandmates. We still haven’t officially practiced yet due to everyone’s busy schedules, but July is looking better. To tell the truth, I’m feeling a bit antsy. I want the new Gags to be something I do, not something I just talk about.
Certain people are wondering what the new Gags will sound like. The Running Gags essentially went through two incarnations. One was a sort of garage-punk massacre, and the other was a Ramones-core sound. Despite popular opinion, I have no problem with Ramones-core. But don’t expect many songs in that vein.
As with anything else, the new songs have evolved through a series of conversations. As it happened, I was lamenting the loss of the old “Lookout” sound. Particularly I was missing the sounds of Squirtgun, MTX, and yes, I’ll say it: early-era Green Day. I told a friend that I missed that sound. I said I wished a new band would pick up that mantle. He said, “dude, aren’t you putting together a band?” He’s very wise.
I’m hoping, however, that I’ve attained a higher level of lyrical maturity than when I was some 19-year-old kid.
So that’s that. Expect a lot of “chord solos” and less songs with puerile subject matter.
I’d like to play a few shows now and then, release a few recordings, and that’s that. Bob has two jobs and Tim already has another band, so I don’t expect the new Gags to be anyone’s full-time band. I would just like to play a show once every few months, have some fun on stage, and maybe release an EP every now and then.
