SXSW: Interview with GYMSHORTS

I was able to meet with punk band, GYMSHORTS, from Providence, Rhode Island in a quaint alley near Hotel Vegas in Austin before their set this past Wednesday. I was joined by the whole band which consists of lead vocalist Sarah, guitarist Devin, bassist Michael and drummer Chris. It was short, to the point, and we had a killer view of some sweet dumpsters. Amidst the chaos that was SXSW this past week, hanging by the dumpsters in an alley was welcomed.

Left to Right: Sarah, Michael, Chris, Devin

CORINA: How did you guys come up with the name GYMSHORTS?

SARAH: It was kind of like a joke, I met Devin and we were changing all the words in a Chinese menu like “Self-esteemed broccoli” and I said, “Dude, let’s start a band called gym shorts” and it kind of just went from there. (laughs) Yea, it was stupid.

My opinion? That is STUPID AWESOME.

C: How did you guys meet?

DEVIN: We started off with a different bass player and drummer. They ended up quitting over the summer and we ended up picking up these f***ing rock and rollers over here to come on tour with us and they’ve been ripping and roaring ever since.  Greatest guys ever.

C: New album dropped last year, anything about that?

D: NO BACKSIES!

S: You can’t take that s*** back!

D: Once you record there is no going back. Once you get out there, like first album, “Alright, it’s out there no turning back now!”

CHRIS: I guess it’s like our thesis statement

S: We have some vinyls coming out soon on Manimal Records and our tape is coming out on Weiner which is subsidiary of Burger Records, we worked their pop up shop this morning. It was totally fun!

C: What’s the craziest show y’all have done?

D: Little Rock!

S: I think this might be the craziest, but Little Rock was sick.

C: Why?

CHRIS: I don’t really know, I think because it was all ages.

D: Little Rock was sick and so was Chicago.

MICHAEL: Bunch of f***ing animals over there!

D: They were nuts!

Final words from the greatness that is GYMSHORTS?

SUCK IT.

Check out No Backsies by GYMSHORTS, my favorite song off the album, “Herman Melville.”

Side note: Drummer Chris was involved in his college’s radio so he has a special place in his heart for our kind.

By Corina Carrizales