A People's History of Gauche

Chronique

Come the revolution, will the rebels man the barricades with skinny ties? The members of Gauche just might. A proudly leftist band whose songs demand justice for all in all forms -- social, racial, economic, feminist, LGTBQ+ -- Gauche also happen to deliver a joyously angular update of late-'70s/early-'80s new wave sounds, as if the Waitresses, the B-52s, X-Ray Spex, and Lene Lovich got together to stage a revved-up throwdown in support of a campus progressive organization. Featuring moonlighting members of Priests and Downtown Boys, the lyrics on A People's History of Gauche make clear that this band is smart, eloquent, and committed to their ideals, dealing with the human side of issues rather than drowning in empty sloganeering, and communicating with a poetic sensibility that's artful but not precious. They also crank up some very satisfying pogo-friendly music, and in this case it's not simply a spoonful of crazy-colored sugar that helps the medicine go down. Gauche use the power and energy of their music to complement and reinforce their message, not dilute it. The tunes are full of hooks and grooves that will get the party started, and the melodies are sharp and fiery -- fun but a long way from empty-headed. The six members of Gauche are skilled enough to frequently trade off on instruments and they hit their marks each time (four different people play bass on various tracks, three take turns on guitar, and two are credited with drums), and the herky-jerky, juju-infused rhythms are pure pleasure without seeming simplistic. Sincere and genuine activists who can move the crowd like this are a rare commodity, and A People's History of Gauche belongs in the collection of anyone who doesn't want to shut down their brain or their convictions when they head out to the dance on Saturday night.
© Mark Deming /TiVo