Describing themselves as “a funky five-piece family feast” on their Instagram, Gents and Ginger met through BandSoc in the second term of their first year at university and have been inseparable ever since.
The band consists of Adam Priestley on bass, Riko Puusepp on guitar, Eli Davis on keys, Mia Duncan on drums/vocals, and Tom Cox on guitar/vocals. SCENE sat down with the band to reflect on their time at university and talk about the wider music scene in York.
So you guys formed in first year and have kind of grown up together through gents and ginger over the past three years. How has this shaped your experience as you’ve progressed through university?
Mia: “Well I stayed at uni because I met these boys. I literally wanted to pull out but I was like ‘Oh I like this band though’ so then I stayed and now I have to see it through. I stayed in higher education because the band gave me a purpose to do that. They’re also my best mates and I’m a better drummer because of it. They’re all better musicians than I am so I reality had to put a shift in to level myself.”
Eli: “It’s been lovely, this kind of connection forged over carrying really heavy equipment, you know, forged by fire.”
Riko: “We’ve had so many unique experiences as a band, and having to do cool stuff, yeah, it’s made it. It’s what I’ll remember from uni, I’m not going to remember sitting in a lab coding; I’ll remember having a good time with the gang.”
What do you think your favourite memories have been as a band through these past few years?
Adam: “When we played in V Bar. It might be the most fun I’ve ever had performing. We were in V bar because we played a set and then decided to have five pints. And then they asked us to do another set and I played and fumbled so much and it was so fun.”
Eli: “Didn’t we do an instrument swap? I played the bass.”
Mia: “You rapped! I think all my favourite memories are the least serious.”
“I have a favourite memory. It’s really niche but a core memory. When we were all sat in my room practising before the radio. There was the marathon outside and it was sunny – I really remember that because I really felt this was what uni is meant to be. And then went to the radio after that and had a record number of listeners. The whole day was mad, I was so happy and then we hit a new record.”
You’ve been on the ‘Those Were The Days Tour’ since March, and you’ve been performing in London and soon Manchester. How has the tour been as a whole for you guys and how has it been to perform outside of York?
Mia: “Really funny. The tour has been really funny. That’s how I best describe it. Playing in London was mad – that was my favourite bit. That was huge. I’m really excited for Manchester. The Crescent will be the big goodbye and then Manchester will be three hours of us playing everything we’ve ever played. It’s low pressure and chill so that will be cool. I didn’t think we’d ever play in Manchester. It’s a nice full stop to our time.”
Tom: “And playing at The Crescent as our last venue, one of the biggest venues in York.”
Eli: “If you said to any of us in first year that we’d do a gig in London we wouldn’t believe you – it’s insane to think that’s where we are and that’s how far we’ve come.”
Leading on from that, what do you think about the music scene in York?
Tom: “There’s a breadth in York, despite there only being like three or four venues for local artists, there is more than enough to keep you engaged. There’s always new stuff, plenty of local artists, people stop by on tours.”
Mia: “I think it’s small but growing rapidly – it’s almost beginning to outgrow the city, or it will in the next few years. There are only really four venues – Victoria Vaults, Fulford Arms, The Crescent and Micklegate. I think it’s really good but the city needs to catch up, there’s a real gem in York but they’re failing to grasp onto that. If they did, I really think it would become a destination for music.”
Eli: “Also I really think it would help with imposter syndrome. When you start playing music in a band you think you’re not good, but when you feel like you belong there, and there are more venues that reflect this, it makes you want to be better.”
Riko: “There are also so many little niches. It’s a small city but it’s quite diverse.”
Mia: “The music scene is really nice, it’s very tight-knit and intimate.”
Since you guys are separating after this year, do you guys have any exciting plans together to celebrate once the tour is over?
Mia: “We actually don’t! That’s kind of messed up, we’ll make sure we do something.”
Tom: “We need a proper soppy slideshow of photos and stuff to make us cry.”
Adam: “I’d prefer 12 pints!”
Riko: “Why not both?”
Okay, final question: What influence has Band Soc had on your general university experience? Would you recommend it to freshers or even second and third-year students that are interested in music but are perhaps nervous to join?
Eli: “Big time. So much. It’s never too late. For me personally, it’s one of the only societies I’m a part of. That’s massive – like socially and the opportunities we’ve got from it – it’s really good.”
Adam: “You’ve got to go! You can just show up and speak to anyone and everyone is really nice and friendly.”
Mia: “BandSoc has been my university experience. I met the boys through it, Gents and Ginger became my sole focus, and then I ran for President and now I’m fighting for my life to juggle both. I love it, I think it’s cool as well because it’s grown to the point where if people like live music but can’t play or do tech they are still joining to watch.
“We are fostering our own live music scene on campus which is starting to spill out into the city. I love it. I think BandSoc is the best place to go if you want to join a band or you like live music. I think it’s the best decision I made when I started uni.”
To keep up to date with Gents and Ginger, follow @gentsandginger on Instagram!