GAYNGS ARE BACK WITH “APPEAYL 2 U” AND YOU SHOULD BE MORE EXCITED

“Who is Bonny Bear” is a question that plagued the internet for weeks after Bon Iver (aka Justin Vernon) took home the 2012 Grammy for Best New Artist, beating out Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, and Skrillex. Though of course now, with a feature on Taylor Swift’s newest record, he’s come full circle for many of those same listeners. Following the award, he took a four year hiatus from his Bon Iver project, returning in 2016 with the masterful, yet surprisingly unheralded 22, A Million.

In the meantime, Vernon didn’t rest on his haunches. Instead he collaborated with friends and churned out records as The Shouting Matches, Volcano Choir, and Big Red Machine, as well as continuing his decade long relationship with Kanye West.

But there was one project that remained surprisingly dormant this whole time:

GAYNGS.

The absolutely gutting midwest electronic neo-soul supergroup fronted by Vernon and Ryan Olsen (of Marijuana Deathsquads and Poliça). They’re back, and boy these tracks (track!) are hot as hell. You should be giddy with excitement. I know I am. 

GAYNGS - “APPEAYL 2 U PT. 1”

Ten years can go by mighty fast without hearing anything new from a group whose debut record was borderline transcendent (with deeply emotional and resonant songs such as “Gaudy Side of Town”  and “Cry” -- listen if you haven’t). Sure, we all watched as a dozen or so performers (I’m not gonna count) closed out the Mojave tent at Coachella in 2011, but then they disappeared for what we were forced to assume would be forever.

UNTIL NOW!

Gayngs wrote on Twitter, that “Appeayl 2 U part 1” and “Appeayl 2 U part 2” were set to premiere live at First Avenue in Minneapolis as “an homage to the last time Prince hopped out the back of a minivan, with a guitar strapped on, 2 his club.” 

Thank the music gods that Vernon and Olsen had the foresight to release these tracks anyways as opposed to letting them languish further in the dread of quarantine. “Appeayl 2 U” has got some rip-roaring guitar, fluttering keys and the deep inspirational funk of Prince’s vocal inflections.

GAYNGS - “APPEAYL 2 U PT. 2”

Sure, you could split these up, but why would you?  When the two tracks flow perfectly into each other, combining into one sprawling eight minute and 42 second epic on par with Purple Rain.  Doing Minneapolis proud. 

Now we just need to hope and pray that Gayngs are back for good. And that hopefully we won’t have to wait another ten years for new music from Vernon and Olsen. If you aren’t absolutely pumped at this news, get there. Because GAYNGS ARE BACK baby and you need to be much more excited about it. Nothing compares 2 Gayngs.

From deep within the murky depths of the Los Angeles River emerged a creature: 50% raver, 50% comedian, 10% Robotcop. Kurt Kroeber doesn’t own a dog, operates Soundbleed (the world’s only dance party comedy talk show rave), and is down to party with you. Come up some time and say “Hey dude!” But definitely make sure to casually drop the secret Illuminati password.