There’s a long tradition of guitar bands smirking through clenched teeth as the amps howl. Gooseberry follows precisely in that lineage with its lurching collision of alt-rock grit, indie looseness and bluesy back end. The Brooklyn act’s latest single, “Durak,” wastes no time announcing its punchy, satirical intent.
“It’s a sneering, sardonic takedown of a particular kind of middle-aged white man that’s a bit too present in today’s world,” says Gooseberry singer/guitarist Asa Daniels. “You’ve seen him, you’ve heard him. He’s confident the world has gone to shit.”
You could say that “Durak” is the engine powering the overall theme of the self-released Simple Sucker, the trio’s forthcoming sophomore release. The song title comes from a Russian card game—roughly translating to “idiot” or “asshole.” (Insert obvious reference to current political figureheads here.)
“He’s sure that, back in his prime, he was an adonis,” says Daniels. “A credit to the world, able to bend luck to his will while conveniently forgetting all of the privilege and help he had along the way.”
We’re proud to premiere Gooseberry’s “Durak.” Simple Sucker is out September 25.
—Hobart Rowland
