Gross Ghost exemplifies the slow-but-steady mantra. Since the Durham band’s first official release, Lip City EP, back in 2010, the band has gradually become a more cohesive and dominant act within the North Carolina music scene.
Vocalist and songwriter Mike Dillon could be frequently found in Triangle acts such as Old Bricks and Motor Skills, and he has always shone brightest when displaying his keen sense of powerful hooks and straightforward songwriting.
Gross Ghost’s released its first full-length, Brer Rabbit, last year via Grip Tapes and gave the band a strong foundation to build upon in the scene. Brer Rabbit displayed the band’s playful but poignant sensibilities and its latest full-length, Public Housing, displays a far more personal side of this infectious garage rock outfit.
Written after a rough breakup that coincided with tumultuous living arrangements, Dillon bounced from couch to couch as he fleshed out the songs that make up Public Housing. The album features a fuzzed out series of sincere tracks that chronicle the highs and lows of love, loss and everything in between. Most importantly, Public Housing marks the beginning of Gross Ghost as a fully realized band.
“Brer Rabbit was a bit more stripped down and lo-fi,” Dillon said. “It was just Tre [Acklen] and I playing all of the instruments. I’m not the best drummer, and I’m okay at bass. I’m just trying to get by with what I got.”
But on Public Housing, Gross Ghost debuts a much more polished sound that can be easily credited to the group’s solidified lineup.
“Chris [Riddle] is an excellent drummer and Rob [Dipatri] shreds on guitar, so we had a few different avenues we could go down as far as playing,” Dillon said. “It was a load off of me, I could focus a lot more on lyrics and structure.”
But this lineup change only accounts for the tangible differences within the band. The subject matter on Public Housing feels much more urgent—the words pour out of Dillon almost involuntarily.
“A lot of it’s about trying to find your way when your 20s are almost out the window,” Dillon said. “The first record was a lot about my childhood and my family, you know, life in your early 20s.”
A band’s first album serves as a statement or calling card, truncating the first 20 or so years of its members’ lives into an hour’s worth of material. However, the true worth of a band comes from how long it takes to churn out another batch of hits, which Gross Ghost has done with ease.
Public Housing brilliantly conveys this sense of immediacy through brash instrumentation that’s smoothly washed with Dillon’s ineffable melodies. Catchy hooks frequently mirror the song’s fundamental guitar riffs, making for an easy flowing track that brilliantly counters the instrumental fuzz and grit with a firmly rooted sense of melody.
“We’re purposely trying to experiment with different kinds of sounds,” Dillon said. “We don’t want to be labeled as garage rock or dream pop or whatever. Having these four distinct personalities in the band helps to do that.”
Brer Rabbit was released last year on Grip Tapes, a Carrboro label that’s primarily filled with electronic acts. However, nobody batted an eye when Gross Ghost released its fuzzed-out pop record amidst the slew of synth-based bands.
The move to Odessa Records for Public Housing made far more sense. Odessa is home to many of North Carolina’s premiere rock n’ roll acts such as Spider Bags, which released its latest full length on the Carrboro-based label. Now Gross Ghost can cozy up to the esteemed label as well.
“With Odessa and Grip Tapes it’s very open,” Dillon said. “You can call them up at three in the morning and be like, ‘hey I’ve got this idea.’ They don’t really like that, but that’s a bit of a prerequisite for a label for us.”
Though 3 a.m. phone calls may not be the most professional outlet for spreading creative ideas, that’s not what Gross Ghost is about. Gross Ghost defines itself through intimacy, despite the distorted guitars and crashing percussion. Dillon’s words still cut through the mix like a razorblade. They’re sharply spat and occasionally harsh, but they’re coated with a hopeful outlook that connects with listeners.
Public Housing finds Gross Ghost in a state of flux. Written in a time of uncertainty and instability, Gross Ghost has slowly begun to find its footing. With a new label and an established residency in Durham, it’s clear that the members have found their home in more ways than one. Sporting a solidified lineup and a headstrong sense of determination, Gross Ghost is finally set to claim its spot as one of the standout acts in the crowded Triangle music scene.
