Local band, Those Days Are Gone, have taken Grahamstown by storm – and at a rapid pace.
Local band, Those Days Are Gone, have taken Grahamstown by storm – and at a rapid pace.
The post-punk pop hardcore band, made up of Justin 'Awehwolf" Shaw (vocals), Mark Bates (bass), Craig Albers (guitar), Quintin Carnage (guitar) and Grant Mears (drums), was born at the beginning of this year. Five months down the line, the group has made a name for itself, and a unique dynamic.
"All bands are relationships, and you're all trying to be monogamous to it. But at the same time our lives make it very polygamous in that either we have some other musical project that we are working on, or jobs that take up the majority of our time," says Shaw.
"But we are able balance personal and band time, and strive to treat this band as much as a business as we do an excuse to have a really rocking time."
The Grahamstown music scene has been growing for many years now, and each member of the band has been a part of it in some way. This experience in music has aided the band in how they produce their songs.
Shaw explains that although some band members may be the main lyricists, they all have a hand in the musical journey of each song.
"Not to say that the others don't have a say. Mark's bass line was the soul of one of the tracks, and our new tune 'Set Fire Town' couldn't have been written if myself and Grant hadn't worked together in a reggae band before," he says.
For a band that made their mark on the Grahamstown music scene only five months ago, their growing success and popularity is quite remarkable. They have played a number of gigs at Champs Action Bar, as well as at Raggies in East London and at Pool City in Walmer, Port Elizabeth.
They have managed to form dedicated fan bases in each area.
It cannot be denied that the band has shot to success in a very short time, which is almost like a prequel to what they will be presenting the world with in the future. However, Shaw addressed this with utmost humility.
"We've only been around for a little while, but the response has been good and people are talking about it, and that's what counts," he says.
The band will be releasing a six-track EP in a month, and they already have a demo track up on SoundCloud called 'King Bee'.
With their musical experience, efficient group dynamic and strong motivation, Those Days Are Gone is a name music lovers should look out for.
