G… Read Full Bio ↴Gay Nineties~ Vancouver, BC https://www.gayninetiesmusic.com/#hello
Guitars and keys jangle and wail, calling out with a raw cry. A drummer plays his kick drum with his palm, his kit having just been destroyed in a furious explosion. The singer throws himself from the stage and into the embrace of the audience. It is a visceral celebration, a prayer to rock and roll. It is Gay Nineties.
They’re not indie darlings. They’re not beholden to a scene, a look. For them, one thing is sacred. The music.
The first thing you sense when hearing Gay Nineties is the feeling of total individual freedom. Each member is an accomplished, passionate musician that leaves an indelible mark on the music. Lead singer, guitarist, and songwriter Parker Bossley stands center stage, but all are in the spotlight. On drums: Malcolm Holt, Parker’s musical accomplice since they were 16. Together with Daniel Knowlton’s galloping bass, the rhythm section is complete. For a time, they performed as a trio, ripping through ragged psych pop. The Zombies by way of Nirvana. But something was missing. That’s when they found Bruce Ledingham, a synth wizard who brought a bed of texture and harmony that pulled it all home. Together they have found a tone, a vibe, an energy that none of them could control even if they wanted to. It doesn’t seem that they do.
Nowhere is this more apparent than on their debut LP, Decadent Days. As with their previous EP, the recording process was fiercely independent. The entire album was self-funded and recorded over ten blistering days with Steve Bays of Hot Hot Heat producing. Joining them in collaboration were Kevin Griffin of Better Than Ezra, Brendan Benson of Raconteurs, Angelo Petraglia, and a cadre of other talented friends. The album was written on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee, where Bossley traversed and meditated through the ancient hills and Confederate cemeteries. In the end he found himself with a song cycle of love, independence, darkness, and shattered fame. Stark, eloquent songs. Once recorded, the band discovered a cohesive yet eclectic record; a collection shot from the hip, straight to the heart.
The record carries you, diving into a new world, a place where bright lights bleed to shadowy corners, inviting you in as it warns you: Beware. Danger.
Even while recording Decadent Days, Gay Nineties dreamed of getting back on the road. It was there, playing everywhere from dive bars to huge festival stages to a triumphant show at Vancouver’s world-famous Commodore Ballroom, that the band honed their sound, a decadent ode to sleazy elegance. It was there that they wrote and crafted their EP and, independent of any label, propelled two singles onto the charts: “Hold Your Fire”, the most added single of the week, and “Letterman”, which peaked at #5. It is there, playing so hard their instruments give way, diving into the arms of fans, that they feel most at home.
Gay Nineties exist outside of any genre, even any time period. Together they have created a moment out of time, a rhythm all their own. Burning within them is a fire, a passionate belief in the beating heart of rock and roll, an ardor that promises they will not live quietly.
Turn Me On
Gay Nineties Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Drive the through the fields after midnight
Listen to air supply, I don't mind
Cuz everyone needs a friend, to rattle them till you're brand new again
There's gotta more to life, than choosing sides
I feel like a loaded gun (feel like a loaded gun)
Tryin get off in the sunshine
To turn me on
Remember when we first met, yeah
Neither do I, can I come inside
I'll keep your secrets safe
And locked up tight
I feel like a loaded gun (feel like a loaded gun)
Jackin off in the sunshine
Why would you waste alone (?)
To turn me on, to turn me on
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebodies ringing the bell
Someone's knocking at the door
Somebodies ringing the bell yeah
Do me a favour, ahhh open the door, just open the door, and let ‘em in (?)
So I live my life a love, and everything else it doesn't matter much
And jesus can roll his dice
I feel like a loaded gun (feel like a loaded gun)
Tryin get off in the sunshine
Why would you waste alone
To turn me on
I feel like a loaded gun (feel like a loaded gun)
Jackin off in the sunshine
Why would you waste alone
To turn me on, you turn me on
The song "Turn Me On" by Gay Nineties is a great example of the band's unique sound - one that feels both fresh and nostalgic. It's an ode to carefree times and youthful love, with a punk-inspired energy that can't be ignored. The first verse describes the singer's desire to waste someone's time and drive with them through fields after midnight. Although it seems like a meaningless activity, the singer believes that everyone needs a friend to bring them out of their shell from time to time. The line "There's gotta more to life, than choosing sides" is another hint about the carefree nature of the song.
The second verse sounds like the singer's reminiscing about the first time they met their lover. It's a hazy memory that might not even exist, but the singer still wants to come inside and keep their lover's secrets safe. The chorus is the most prominent part of the song, with the repeated lines "I feel like a loaded gun/trying to get off in the sunshine/why would you waste alone/to turn me on?" This suggests that the singer is desperate for their lover to engage with them, to turn them on, and to keep them company on their adventures.
The bridge includes a line that goes "So I live my life a love, and everything else doesn't matter much, and Jesus can roll his dice." This phrase is usually interpreted as meaning that the singer is living life in their own terms, and doesn't care what other people think about them. The song ends with the repeated lines "I feel like a loaded gun/jacking off in the sunshine/why would you waste alone/to turn me on/you turn me on." This last line is sung with such raw energy that it's hard not to get caught up in the song's wild spirits.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna waste your time
I plan on using up your time for my own selfish desires
Drive through the fields after midnight
Take a cruise through the countryside in the late night hours
Listen to air supply, I don't mind
I don't have a problem with enjoying some Air Supply tunes
Cuz everyone needs a friend, to rattle them till you're brand new again
We all need a friend to shake things up and revitalize us
There's gotta more to life, than choosing sides
Life has to have more meaning than simply picking a side or team
I feel like a loaded gun (feel like a loaded gun)
I have a lot of pent up energy and excitement (like a loaded gun)
Tryin get off in the sunshine
Trying to find pleasure and enjoyment in life
Why would you waste alone (?)
Why would you spend time alone when you could be having fun with me?
To turn me on
To excite or arouse me
Remember when we first met, yeah
Do you recall when we first crossed paths?
Neither do I, can I come inside
I don't remember either, but can I come into your life now?
I'll keep your secrets safe
I promise to protect your confidential information
And locked up tight
I'll make sure your secrets stay secure and private
Someone's knocking at the door
There's someone at the door
Somebodies ringing the bell
There's someone ringing the doorbell
Do me a favour, ahhh open the door, just open the door, and let ‘em in (?)
Please be kind and open the door for whoever is there
So I live my life a love, and everything else it doesn't matter much
I prioritize experiencing love and passion in my life, and everything else is secondary
And jesus can roll his dice
I'm open to taking risks in life, regardless of the outcome
To turn me on
To get me excited or aroused
Jackin off in the sunshine
Enjoying pleasurable activities during sunny hours
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.