Local band Tourists have only released a few songs so far—but those songs have proven to be quite popular. At a recent performance, I saw the crowd singing and dancing along to their mash of groovy, anthemic pop rock; the vibes being expressed by the members of Tourists revolve around positivity and fun. The band is set to perform on Thursday, March 21, at Plan B in Thousand Palms. For more information, visit touristscv.bandcamp.com. Bassist Billy Gargan handles the low end of the poppy jams with his beautiful five-string bass, and he is the latest to take The Lucky 13.
What was the first concert you attended?
A Van Halen concert in 2013 when they went on their “Different Kind of Truth” tour. I saw Eddie Van Halen perform “Eruption” live, and it was definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had in music, aside from becoming a musician myself. Rest in peace, one of the great ones.
What was the first album you owned?
The first physical album I’ve ever owned was Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly on vinyl. It is truly a masterpiece in the world of hip-hop, is considered one of the greatest albums conceptually in its respective genre, and is top-tier in my book.
What bands are you listening to right now?
I’m currently all over the board right now. Some of my major influences in my writing and bass-playing style are classic and modern funk groups, such as CHIC and Vulfpeck, while artists in J-Rock, alternative and punk influence our writing for Tourists material. I’ve really been listening to indie, nu-jazz and sample-heavy hip-hop such as Men I Trust, Domi and JD Beck, MF DOOM, the Alchemist, Nujabes, KNOWER, and Casiopea. I’m always trying to listen to new things every day, so it’s a difficult question to answer. Ultimately, I have been appreciating the music scene out here, and bands such as Destroy Nothing (formerly Analog Lab), TV Screams, Lazuli Bones, Caña, Town Troubles and the Divines have been on rotation for me. There are plenty more I haven’t listed, but I have to show love to the local acts. They all inspire me every day to keep doing what I’m doing.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone love, but you don’t get?
I try not to discriminate based on any music genre, because it’s all subjective; however, I don’t understand the obsession behind Taylor Swift. I know I will probably receive much backlash for this, especially if my students read it. (I’m sorry.) The obsession is something I just don’t understand. Her concerts are also crazy expensive, especially during her Eras Tour. Four figures for some nosebleeds is not really a rational thought to Me.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
One of my favorite artists of all time is Prince, so being able to see him (or the Revolution) would definitely be on the top of my list. Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Jaco Pastorius (bass influence) and Mac Miller would also be acts I would kill to see live. I’ve seen Mac Miller once before, but I would have appreciated it more if I knew we would not have him for much longer after I saw him.
What’s your favorite musical guilty pleasure?
One is Dua Lipa, as her music is catchy and extremely fun to play on bass. Her songs were some of the first I learned on bass, and it also made me look more into funk and disco acts such as CHIC and Vulfpeck because of the influences I see in her music.
What’s your favorite music venue?
One of my favorite venues in Los Angeles is the Wiltern, as it has large neon signs and a beautiful interior that feels like an old theater. I saw Men I Trust back in November, and it was a great show, and they sounded great. Locally, I really love Little Street Music Hall in downtown Indio. What Avenida Music is doing is truly amazing, giving local artists in the Coachella Valley, including Tourists, an opportunity to perform and a platform to grow. The guys running this are all musicians as well, so it’s great to see them give back to the community by being such a backbone for this awesome scene.
What’s the one song lyric you can’t get out of your head?
I can’t really give a specific lyric, but I always have melodies that are ingrained in there. Songs like “Diamond Eyes” by Deftones or “Big Man, Little Dignity” by Paramore are both songs that are stuck in my head for some reason.
What band or artist changed your life? How?
Gorillaz. This band was one of the first bands I got into, and I got into them really young (probably when I was 5 or 6 years old). Their impact on my perception of music is also one of our primary inspirations for Tourists, and it’s everlasting. The music video era is an era I miss in music, because it gave the listener an opportunity to see music in the artist’s perception. With them being an animated band, they took it to the next level. Even to this day, with their releases of Song Machine, Season One and Cracker Island, they always kill it in their animation, visuals, character design and plot/stories. They were and still are groundbreaking to me.
You have one question to ask one musician. What’s the question, and who are you asking?
To Thundercat: Why are you so damn good at the bass? You inspire me to play more and get better, but other times, you inspire me to quit. Thank you, Stephen.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“El Mañana,” Gorillaz.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
My brains would be blown out by now, because this changes all the time. For now, I will say Metaphorical Music by Nujabes. However, MAGIC! by Tourists is going to be an absolute banger (spring 2024). Stay tuned for that.
What song should everyone listen to right now?
“Rent Free” off the Tourists EP. It will prepare you for the album. Be ready!
