We Love…Gareth Campesinos!

Not a lot is known about Gareth Campesinos, like his real name for example. Though I personally don’t think I want to know, because it gives him a certain mysterious edge which isn’t really there when you come to think about things. In fact a lot of his lyrics, especially his later ones, are auto-biographical in nature. As a lyricist, Gareth manages to have a great style of delivery and a knack of writing which allows him and his female counterpart to bounce off one another. That’s why WeLoveThisPerson…

As if I walked into the room to see my ex-girlfriend
Who by the way, I’m still in love with
Sucking the face of some pretty boy
With my favourite band’s most popular song in the background
Is it wrong that I can’t decide which bothers me most?
In the forefront of my mind it’s the thought
Not of you underneath, but me coming out looking worse

Gareth is the lead singer of my favourite group, Los Campesinos! An indie/alternative seven-part group that packs a glockenspiel, a violin and a couple of guitars along with keyboards and drums to make a lovely sound of fast frantic fun whilst also managing to delve into some real darkness. In fact, out of the one and a half albums that have been released, debut Hold on Now, Youngster is the cheery fun-filled rollicking ride that threatens to throw you around the room. ‘Extended EP’ (as the band states) We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed basically runs in and demolishes everything they’ve ever done with tales of failed relationships and sexual frustration.

I don’t want to sound trite but you were perfect
The way you look could seriously make nature dysmorphic
I wish that you would kiss me ’til the point of paralysis
The way I flail my arms in front of you, it just embarrasses
I’ll never turn my body clock back
And think about the things I’m glad I left out
Some things are best left unsaid.

A review on a blog summed up Gareth’s lyrics best, and I can’t remember where I read it because it does basically sum things up perfectly. It said that it seems that if anyone else would sing his lyric – then it’d sound a bit stupid, and I think that’s true. The lyrics on paper seem quite…weird, but it’s when they’re performed they just sync together – and it leads to something quite special on the ears as well as the mind.

Not sure if you mind if I dance with you
But I don’t think right now that you care about anything at all
And oh, if only there were clothes on the floor
I’d feel for certain I was bedroom dancing

Away from the music, Gareth routinely tweets on the LC official twitter account and contributes to the official LC web-site which is essentially a giant blog written by members of the band. He also visits a LC fan forum, and does interact with fans and it’s fascinating to get a first-hand view into how his creative mind works when he’s writing lyrics. The later tracks all come from experiences and feelings that are personal to him, whilst in interviews he states that he’s not fond of his earlier stuff that was less personal. It’s a shame because there’s still some great stuff there.

Maybe musicians/bands do get a bit bored with performing the same songs over and over that they do grow to dislike them. I’m sure I heard one of the Gallagher’s say that hated Wonderwall with a passion…

So – We Love Gareth Campesinos! Look up Los Campesinos, they’re on the same lines as Johnny Foreigner and Danananakroyd.