Don Gonzo

Fresh off the back of an Epic performance at the WRXL Routes afterparty we speak to the high energy post punk trio Don Gonzo we talk influences, funny stories and more..

Who are the band members and what do they play?

We have Evan Forse on the guitar and vocals, Akheem Iqbal on the drums, and Benjamin Helm on the bass guitar.

How and where did you get together?

Evan and Akheem met in Bradford 2012 and instantly began making music together on the recommendation of Evan’s brother and performing as a 2-piece as well as in multiple Bradford bands. Evan moved to Huddersfield in 2014 where he met Ben shortly after. In 2016, after seeing Evan and Akheem perform at local music festival ‘Wood St.Ock’ Ben was recruited.

What are the band’s main influences?

We find common ground in the grooves of psychedelic rock, the energy of post-punk, and the sublime song-writing of artists like Stanley Brinks.

Are there any other interesting or amusing happenings – no matter how small – that the band have been involved with that would be of interest to those who like your music?

So this one time while practising in our tiny rented mill space, we came outside for a smoke break and were met with a flaming industrial sized skip, the flames reaching 20-30ft high. We duly rang the fire brigade, and whilst the crew put out the fire the Captain came in for a jam, breaking out some classic riffs from the likes of Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Do you have any favourable quotes from previous reviews of the band that you’d be happy to share?

“There’s just so many complex carbohydrates in their musical meal which means it takes a little time to digest. There’s kinds of sounds like Steely Dan and Gong but with the boring excesses taken out, and a splattering of angry post punk added. I love a band that channel their own groove, and that’s most definitely true for Don Gonzo.” – Live @The Parish w/ The Bug Club review by Old Man Blues.

Once Don Gonzo starts to work for you, there is no escape from this band’s crushing musical power. I love this album for feeling so full and having so many moving elements, a mix of psychedelica and garage rock rumbling through charming lyrics and irony. They are a band that are so entertaining to listen to but are on a different level when watching live, something about the power Don Gonzo pumps out is infectious and bold. – Album Review by Jo Greaves

“Lovely lads with a sound like a breezy acid trip. Like tripping balls at Sunday lunch at your Mums.” – Knuckle

“Don Gonzo, the greatest band in Huddersfield right about now” – Paul Huxtable (aka Dr. Valv-a-Tron) of AXIS SOUND

Where was the last album recorded and who was involved in its production?

We recorded the album anywhere we could. Half of the initial takes were recorded live as a band at Huddersfield University with Evan Marvin, and the other half at Vibrations Studios. We then recorded Bass, Guitar and Vocal overdubs all over the place; Our practise room, Dr. Jeves’ house, Poplar St in Birkby, Northern Quarter Huddersfield, Evans’ car. The album was then mixed and mastered by Lewis Taylor, a producer, old friend of Evans from College, and guitarist/vocalist of now inactive band ‘Lost Ground’ 

You can find out more about Don Gonzo via https://www.instagram.com/ohdongonzo/