Love Gang’s newest album ‘Meanstreak,’ out via Heavy Psych Sounds was done full analog to tape and captured a pure raw sound.

Love Gang is a rock ‘n’ roll band based out of Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2015, Love Gang is a throwback to the golden days of rock ‘n’ roll when the amps were loud, the hair was long and the drugs were cheap. Influenced by the obscure and underground rock of the 70s, they manage to keep their sound classic and true while also creating original, compelling songs that don’t grow tired or sound as if you’ve heard it all before. Love Gang likes to play fast, high energy songs full of driving blues boogie, wailing psychedelic guitar solos and crunchy Hammond organ.

Love Gang’s newest album ‘Meanstreak’ was recorded in Austin, TX by Gian Ortiz at his home studio. The recordings were done full analog to tape. The album’s lyrical content involves relevant topics in the band’s life ranging from women, political unrest in the U.S., depression, drugs, motorcycles, and wild nights in Juarez, Mexico.

Kam Wentworth – Guitar/Vocals
Leo Muñoz – Organ
Shaun Goodwin – Drums
Conner Murphy – Bass

“We basically lived and breathed the album”

How’s it going guys? You’re full of news. We recently premiered your track ‘Blinded By Fear,’ from your latest album out in January on Heavy Psych Sounds. Tell us how long you worked on your latest album?

Kam Wentworth: It didn’t take long to record the album. The whole album was tracked in five days in Austin, TX with Gian Ortiz of Amplified Heat in March of 2021. However, it did take us a while to find a label to press and release the record, so we’re excited it’s finally out with Heavy Psych Sounds!

Would you like to talk a bit about your background?

We all met playing music in the Denver music scene and going to shows. I grew up here in Colorado, Shaun is from New Jersey, Leo from Juárez, Mexico and Conner from Kansas City, Missouri. We formed the band sometime around 2015, jamming at Shaun’s house on Colfax Ave.

Were you in any other bands previously?

The first band that I played with was Chicago proto-metal legends, Medusa. They had just reformed in Colorado as original members, Gary and Donna Brown, were living in Broomfield, CO and had just released their album ‘First Step Beyond’ via Numero Group, with the original, unheard recordings from the 70’s.

Leo and I met hanging out at shows in Denver. We hit it off and shared musical influences and that’s when we decided to start a band.

I met Shaun playing a gig with his other band, The Munsens. Shaun was playing drums for The Munsens and when Love Gang formed and we needed a drummer, my first thought was to ask Shaun.

Our new bass player, Conner Murphy, joined the band recently and before that played in The Gorlons in Kansas City, MS with his brother Ross.

What kind of instruments, pedals and gear did you use for your latest album?

I play a 70’s Burny Les Paul copy through a Tube Screamer and a ‘79 Marshall Club & Country JMP 4140 that’s been heavily modified by my good friend Justin Kelly. The amp was originally a combo amp that’s been chopped and rebuilt to the same specs as a 2203 JMP and also a Super Lead on the other channel. We recorded on Amplified Heat’s vintage Marshall’s to get our tone for the album.

Leo plays a Korg CX-3 through a Fender Bassman and a Leslie pedal normally. For the album, Leo used a Hammond M3 straight into a Marshall to get a more aggressive tone in the style of Jon Lord or Ken Hensley.

Conner plays a Fender P-Bass through a 70’s Acoustic 370/371 amp and cab.

Shaun Goodwin plays on a 4 piece Pearl set with Zildjian cymbals. 22” kick, 14” and 16” toms.

“It was recorded all analog to tape”

Can you share some further details on how your latest album, ‘Meanstreak’ was recorded?

It was recorded all analog to tape at Gian’s home studio. It was a great environment to record because we were able to capture a more natural sound, as if we were jamming at our rehearsal space… amps cranked and everyone playing all together. Also, staying at his house for the recording session added to the experience as well. We basically lived and breathed the album, recording all day and sometimes late into the evening. When the session was done for the day we’d make sure to go celebrate at the bar.

How pleased were you with the sound of the album?

Very pleased! I think this new album sounds better than any of our previous recordings and I believe Gian helped push us to get better performances of our songs. You need someone there that’s not afraid to tell you to play it better.

<a href="https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/love-gang-meanstreak">LOVE GANG – Meanstreak by HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Records</a>

Would you be able to draw any parallels to your debut album, ‘Dead Man’s Game’?

I’d say this album has more of a Hard Rock sound and strayed further from the psychedelic realm. I think we focused more on our songwriting instead of extended psychedelic jams. Don’t get me wrong, they are still there, but less of them!

What about with the fantastic split you did with Smokey Mirror?

Smokey Mirror rules! Good friends of ours that we’ve played multiple shows with in the likes of Texas, Colorado and Mexico. They have a new record coming out soon as well with Rise Above, so go check that out too!

What’s the creative process like for you? Do you get together and just jam or did you bring your own sketches in and you take it from there?

It’s a combination. Sometimes we have ideas already written that we bring to rehearsal and work from there. Usually we’ll have a couple riffs to start with and we’ll jam it out and work on the song structure together. Usually someone adds something in the jam that’s kind of the missing ingredient to complete the song.

The band is fairly new, but do you already have any crazy stories you would like to share with us?

Yeah, you know all of the usual tour antics, but one of our cooler moments was when we toured with Wolfmother. We opened for them at the Granada Theater in Dallas, TX, the final show of the tour. At the end of Wolfmother’s set, Leo went out on stage and played flute with them for an improv jam to end the show. Leo jammed away on flute while Andrew Stockdale poured beer all over his guitar, making it feedback as the band roared along. Was quite a spectacle for the crowd and us as well.

Are any of you involved in any other bands or do you have any active side-projects going on at this point?

Shaun plays guitar and sings in his other group The Munsens, a doom/death metal style band with his brother Mike Goodwin. They just released a new song, ‘Sacred Ivory’.

Leo plays organ/flute in his psychedelic cumbia band, Ritmo Cascabel. Great Latin style rock for fans of Santana and other Mexican rock bands like Los Dug Dugs.

I also play in a Motörhead tribute band, Fast ‘n Loöse, to play some extra gigs on the side and to honor one of the greatest bands of all time!

What are some future plans for the band?

To tour the U.S. and hopefully Europe later this summer! We are playing at the Heavy Psych Sounds Fest in San Francisco and Joshua Tree March 25/26th. Check our Instagram for future tour dates.

Let’s end this interview with some of your favourite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

Some records I’ve been listening to a lot lately are Satan, ‘Court in the Act,’ Elf’s self-titled LP, and Fresh Blueberry Pancake, ‘Heavy’. Ancient Grease Records just reissued this classic album for the first time ever so go grab a copy!

Thank you for taking your time. Last word is yours.

Thanks again for the interview and thank you to all our readers, we hope to see you on the road sometime in 2023!

Klemen Breznikar

Love Gang Facebook / Instagram / Bandcamp / YouTube
Heavy Psych Sounds Official Website / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bandcamp / YouTube