Live Review: Ganser

Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Writing and Photography by Bobby Talamine
Edited by Fiza Javid

Salt Shed Chicago
Sat 4/22/23

Chicago's very own Ganser, opening for none other than Bikini Kill, at The Salt Shed- make no mistake, this was a big deal for them.
This show, a warmup gig a few weeks before they began their West Coast Spring Tour in Boise, on My 12th, was just so energetic, and full on push the envelope of emotional outbursts of a solid wall of guitars, heavy and rhythmic drumming, solid low end bass grooves, and added punch with synths and strained, (and also melodic vocals).
I know, a lot to take in with that one sentence.

But that sentence encompasses lots, in my opinion.
To put things more succinctly from the above:
"Solid wall of guitars"- That would be Charlie Landsman.
"Heavy and rhythmic drumming": That would be Brian Cundiff.

"Solid low end bass grooves": That would be Alicia Gaines, who also occasionally sings lead, and backup vocal.

"Added punch with synths and strained (and also melodic vocals): That would be new addition Sophie Sputnik.

I meant what I said- Ganser is just something else live.

And the beauty of all of it, having witnessed some aspects from the inside a bit, along with peripheral, live performances prior to The Salt Shed, the Pandemic, a brilliant album released back in 2020 with Just Look at That Sky"- I can sum it up pretty succinctly:
These guys are fighters.
They're fighters and survivors.

And you so wish and want them to succeed, especially with so much devotion and hard work put in to the Ganser camp up to now.
So by all accounts, their West Coast Spring Tour, which just wrapped up last Friday the 26th in Denver, was a complete success.

Partly because of that tour, and their stop at Jerry Bryant's JBTV Studio for a lengthy sit down interview, plus the release of a cool live performance video from The Salt Shed show for the song "People Watching"- all of this, is why I delayed the post with Ganser up to now.

It just goes to show that as for 2023, up to now, there's so much going with Ganser, all of it good and positive.
The show itself at The Salt Shed-
One big big takeaway was the early arrivals.

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Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

Ganser - Bobby Talamine (c) 2023

The place looked packed for their set, prior to headliners Bikini Kill.
And lots of enthusiasm from the crowd as well.

After the first three songs in the pit, I ventured up into the rear balcony seating, directly behind the soundboard to take in the remainder of their set.
Such a pleasant surprise, with seeing the main floor packed to the back, a sea of heads jovially dancing in place as one to the beat of each and every song.

The Ganser sound- so dense and so heavy, and yet moments of melodic, sophisticated melodic, finding a way to breath through the mix.

The yin and yang of it all, whether they are headlining, or opening, just makes you crave more and more.

So again, this is why I waited to post this mini review, and also remind you of a couple things:
Go see Ganser play live, if given the chance.

Also- their interview with Jerry Bryant of JBTV is up on all platforms- an easy google search, or just go to our website.
Hope the live photos do justice to what I witnessed.

And- a special shout out to Alicia Gaines, for making this all possible.

Bobby Talamine - JBTV Music Television Chicago

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Ganser, Alicia Gaines, Brian Cundiff, Charlie Landsman, Sophie Sputnik, The Salt Shed, JBTV Music Television, Bobby Talamine, Fiza Javid