Party Resurrection

28 November 2012 | 5:45 am | Brendan Telford

“I’m clearly fluent in English, but the word doesn’t exist for the emotion I felt when we reached our target, then pretty much doubled it.”

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Sydney reprobates Gay Paris are a force to be reckoned with. The quartet wallow in the muck of their swampy blues-rock, gleefully pulling everyone within groping distance into the mire with them. Their exuberant live presence is something to be seen to be believed, and singer Luke 'Wailin' H' Monks is ready to show it to everyone.

“We don't see ourselves as a travelling freak show, because we think that that's how everyone should be acting, but we are probably beyond the norm,” Monks enthuses. “I don't know if it's the same for the other three because they're goddamn savages, but for me as a man of spiritual power, I see performing as an enthusiastic experience, almost as if something has come into me, and that's how it's always been. It takes an incredible amount of energy to give the people what they need, which is salvation. And while we just recorded the best second album ever, you need to be able to touch us and get our scent.”

New album The Last Good Party is on the horizon. Rather than a harbinger of terrible times to come, preceding single The Demarcation Of Joseph Hollybone is emblematic of the good times Gay Paris brandish – both in and out of the bedroom. “Those tracks are likely to make you party until your trousers fall off, and you're on top of someone or they're on top of you,” Monks espouses.

“Part of the song gives off that 'fuck me' vibe, the other half – I'd like to say it makes you want to jump on a horse and wear tight trousers, the other guys are likely to get on their motorcycles and smoke cigars. It's the crossing of erotic bedroom ballads that have nothing to do with ballads, with highway stoners staying up all night. I don't know if the word 'fucky' is a thing or not, but it is definitely fucky.”

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The Demarcation Of Joseph Hollybone has the title befitting a ballad, and the album is awash of the backstory of the titular stranger that Monks explains is intrinsically linked to debut record The Skeleton's Problematic Granddaughter's villainous character. “Our last record was a concept record, and it featured the dastardly devil Future Wolf. I'm not saying anthropomorphism is dead in the animal kingdom, but I wanted to put a human suit on that wolf, his name is Joseph Hollybone, and he is the reversal.

“These two albums stand alone, but to me they are an epic, like Paradise Lost and Paradise Gained. Although there are terrible consequences throughout, this is Future Wolf's redemption, even if he is still the worst person I've ever encountered. He's the best of the bunch on this record, and he reigns in a story about drinking, sex and dancing, because that's what everyone wants to hear about.”

The Last Good Party was funded by growing fundraising website Pozible, where their goal of $3000 was easily reached thanks to a rabid fanbase willing to be a part of Gay Paris history. Well, that and the prizes on offer, such as doing people's assignments and re-enacting the fake orgasm scene from When Harry Met Sally in a McDonalds. “I'm clearly fluent in English, but the word doesn't exist for the emotion I felt when we reached our target, then pretty much doubled it,” Monks states.

“I can't say it was humbling because I lost the ability to feel that a long time ago, but it was definitely fucking touching. I don't want to get on my high Pegasus, yet the 150 or so who contributed shows how dedicated they are to the cause. So it makes sense that we give a little back – and if that means debasing ourselves for them, well, who are we to argue?”

Gay Paris will be playing the following shows:

Friday 23 November - The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba VIC
Saturday 24 November - Ric's Cafe, Brisbane QLD