A short history of The Gilded Age
The organically fluid formation of The Gilded Age is a story of serendipity and beer.
Kelzo and Selbot, graduate students of political science and relishers of life, began playing music together sometime in 2002. Eric, professor of linguistics and drumming animal, forced his way into the duo sometime in 2004. Eric provided a rhythmic backbone to Kelzo and Selbots powerful melodies, not to mention a house to practice in. Selbot alternated between bass and lead guitar until Dave, another graduate student of political science and musical prodigy, joined the trio in early 2005. Various failed attempts at naming the band ensued, until the group finally settled on The Gilded Age. Thinking that we didnt have enough political science students, Detlef joined the band in the summer of 2005. Selbot left to pursue a solo project in early 2006, returning later that year to help us continue to bring the rock to all the good peoples of the world.
The members of The Gilded Age jokingly refer to their music as Nerdcore, but their influences and range defy simple classification; they are at the forefront of a genre only they can define. Kelzo is particularly influenced by jangle pop (R.E.M., The Go-Betweens) and indie rock (Sebadoh, The Pixies), while Selbots influences range from punk to ska/reggae (The Clash). Erics influences are Stewart Copeland, Peter Criss, and Animal, and often thinks to himself while listening to Yo La Tengo: Yeah, thats what were trying to do. Daves influences include post-punk (Wire, Television) and psych-rock (Mercury Rev), and Detlef alternates between the American boyishness of They Might Be Giants and the Russian manliness of Modest Mussorgsky. (We think Hugh may have gotten lost looking for Modest Mouse.)
Each of the bands songs tends more in one direction or another, but the result is a holistic composite of all of the great music that these five boys in their corduroys like to listen to.
''When whales hear us, they beach themselves.''
one of Detlef's more enlightened observations