Gentlemen Auction House
Muireanne | Aug 23, 2010 | Comments 0
By Muireann Prendergast
Gentlemen Auction House (GAH) describes itself as a “Voltron-With-An-A-Team-chaser,” musically speaking, of course. That’s pretty impressive stuff for a band that really started out as “a sort of non band,” by founder Eric Enger’s own admission.
“We began (in 2005) as just some folks getting together to play a handful of songs that I had written but weren’t suited for another band I was in at the time,” he says. “Then one show became two shows and we decided to keep going and eventually we became a full-on band.”
Gentleman Auction House. (Kathryn Moore photo)
Enger still writes the vast majority of GAH’s songs, composing and recording in his home studio, putting the tunes together piece by piece in what he calls “an obsessive hermit writing mode.” This, however, he is careful to add doesn’t make him a control freak. Sometimes Steve (Kozel) will collaborate on the songs and his creativity has made many of them much better, Enger admits. “Overall, our focus is always on what’s best for the song. That’s what’s most important to me as a songwriter and to us as a band.”
As regards the band’s influences, Enger says they have mostly remained the same throughout his career, listing alternative rockers like Soul Coughing and Self and New York rappers Public Enemy as top on his must-listen-to list.
“Beat-based pop songs with some left tunes, wordy lyrics and ADD-friendly moments seem to always perk up my ears with relentless consistency,” he continues.
Does the band put a lot of thought and structure into its live performances? It would appear so. Enger admits the band remains focused on the songs and that there isn’t much room for improvisation. That being said he does stress that the band likes to have fun on stage and respond musically to the individual energy of each show. “I’m happiest when I’m sweating and bleeding,” Enger laughs.
Gentlemen Auction House live below (story continues below video)
Enger doesn’t like to define his audience as such (sorry, but we do have to ask). Instead, he views it as being pretty broad and generally a bunch of people “kind enough” to turn up for the band’s performances.
Is the St. Louis scene a difficult one to break into for a new band? It can be tough, he admits but he does acknowledge that there are plenty of good people on hand to steer new bands in the right direction. Also, he singles out The Firebird and Off Broadway as great, supportive, venues. That being said he does point out that the St. Louis music scene is always shifting.
“It’s tough to keep a venue going and it’s tough to keep a band going. Because of that, turnover is always affecting the landscape. Also, the people who regularly go to shows get older and lives can change.” How does he respond to this? By focusing on what he can control, the music and of course, fantasy baseball.
For the near future Enger’s ambition is have some fun while “keeping moving, learning and pushing myself to write music I’d want to hear.” What is his ideal sound? Why a cross between Janet Jackson and Freaks & Geeks, of course.
After the band’s Loufest show at the end of August, GAH will be taking a break from shows until the new album is finished. This will be the bands fifth album and fourth with current label, Emergency Umbrella Records . “I’ve recorded a fair amount so far and I have a lot more to write about, from what has been a very unpredictable, challenging and life-changing year of my life. Plus, I want to make that trunk rattle,” Enger concludes.
Whatever he says, we’re sure he just wants more time for that fantasy baseball.
Gentlemen Auction House play Loufest on August 29 at 3 pm. Fore more information read here
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