If Barry Manilow writes the songs that make the whole world sing, David Gedge pens the songs that make the world drunk dial their ex’s after punching a hole in the wall.
For over three decades Gedge has been crafting compelling and bruising songs about heartbreak, desire, infidelity, and personal frustrations as the frontman for The Wedding Present. He’s the eternal fixed center of the band, whose lineup and sound shifts from album to album. Emerging in 1985 from Leeds, England, The Wedding Present were initially lumped in with the lo-fi “C86” twee-pop scene due to their wiry, chiming guitar sound and Gedge’s unpolished vocals. They quickly outgrew that C86 label, morphing into a band that could pull off dreamy soundscapes and noisy squalls as capably as any shoegaze band. And with Cinerama, his other band, Gedge embraced a more lush, orchestral pop sound.
While The Wedding Present have continued to advance their sound over the course of their discography, they’ve also gone back to their roots for a series of anniversary tours where they’ve played beloved albums like George Best, Bizarro, and Seamonsters in their entirety. Gedge and company are about to embark on another sweeping tour of the U.S. this month. One of their reasons for hitting the road is to help spread the word about director Andrew Jezard’s upcoming documentary, Something Left Behind, which chronicles the making of their seminal debut album, George Best.
Considering the emotional intensity of his lyrics and music, one could assume that Gedge might be dour or withdrawn in conversation. To the contrary, speaking to the cult songwriter via phone, he comes off as warm and affable. He may be the English poet laureate of romantic angst, but he isn’t afraid to laugh at himself or chuckle about the absurdities that come with living a creative life.
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