The Bad Penny (beta)

“If you find it making you feel sexy, aloof and a touch sensitive, get your loose ass off your couch and come enjoy some music made for the soul.”

-Gozu frontman Marc Gaffne

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Sixteen years after their formation in Boston, stoner-doom metal band Gozu are finally swinging through Boise tonight for the first time ever. The Metal Blade maniacs are riding a wave of momentum after last month’s release of the band’s sixth album, which is named – you guessed it – VI. Distinguished by copious amounts of guitar-leading, ’70s-sounding riffs, Gozu relish grooves. And even though much of their material is of the doom variety, the band is all about having fun, especially when playing live.

Guitarist/vocalist Marc Gaffne indicated as such when he touched base with The Bad Penny today to get us – and you – wicked psyched for what Gozu have in store for their show at the Shredder tonight.

From one Boston(area)ian to another, thanks for answering some questions about your Friday show in Boise. Will this be your first time playing here? If so, do you have any expectations about performing in Boise and/or have you heard any scuttlebutt about the city from other bands that have?

This is the first time we have played in Boise, so we’re hoping for a delicious turnout. I know people enjoy the club, so enjoy us while we are in Boise. A great turnout would be better not just for Boise, but for the world!

Congrats on the release of Gozu VI last month. Are there are any particular songs on the album that you think will translate exceptionally well in a live setting?

We have been playing five new songs, and they are going over tremendously well: “Corinthian Leatherface,” “Midnight Express,” “Banacek,” “Killer Khan” and “They Did Know Karate.”

What was your original vision for the album, how did the process of writing and recording it go, and did the end result align with what you thought it would be? If not, what different form did it take on?

We knew we wanted something that captured how we sound playing live. The goal was an album that chugged along, and had harmonies and a groove that made you feel sexy and dangerous at the same time. It was a really smooth recording process, and we are really proud of the finished product.

It sounds like you were dealing with some issues during the making of the new record. Would you be willing to elaborate on those issues?

I had some major life changes happening and my life was spiraling for a bit. My personal life unfolded like a bad suitcase, and the lyrics are an open journal.

Musicians often tell me that making art is a cathartic experience that helps them heal from various types of trauma, difficult events that happen in life, etc.? While I definitely understand how that can be true in a sense, is it really as simple as, when you’re dealing with challenges, making music wipes the slate clean?

I can only write about what I know, feel and have gone through. It was a great form of therapy, and I wanted something to resonate with people that have had some life-altering moves and [let them know that] we are not alone.

As you’ve been on tour, have you found that any of the new songs on the record are especially difficult to perform because they require you to revisit or even relive the difficult circumstances that the song(s) address(es)?

The one that does some dredging is “Karate.” Also, “Midnight Express.” Because of the lyrical content, I want to make sure I kick the shit out of those songs vocally. I’m able to close my eyes, play and sing and let it out. Everyone needs a release, and this is mine.

Have you been evolving any of the new songs while on tour so far, or discovering new elements in them that weren’t so apparent during the recording process?

The new songs are a ton of fun to play, and we get off on them every night. As a band, we are always trying different things to see what sticks. Vocally, I push myself nightly.

Given that Gozu is nine years old and has played tons of shows during that time, what’s the craziest concert/ best anecdote you can share or the first one that comes to mind?

Hellfest. We played in front of 10,000 people. Bringing in our gear, the sound guys were so happy we were using Orange stacks, heads and boards. They were beaming ear to ear. Then we chatted about what a great song “Physical” by Olivia Newton John is!

What band(s) do you emulate or at least highly respect in terms of their concert performances? 

Baroness was amazing to tour with. Each night was a treasure. The Obsessed was also a true experience times 10. Watching the way people handle themselves is always encouraging when you see people loving what they do. They’re infectious.

How big of a burden have or will soaring gas prices play(ed) on deciding your tour itineraries?

It’s a burden we will be tackling. I feel bad for anyone driving, as the prices are insane. I’m still waiting to understand why we and everyone are enduring this fucking bullshit. 

How would you convince someone who’s on the fence about attending the show to commit to going?

Put on the new album, get yourself loose, should stretch before the first listen – and then go! If you find it making you feel sexy, aloof and a touch sensitive, get your loose ass off your couch and come enjoy some music made for the soul.

Learn more about Gozu and listen to more of their songs on their Bandcamp page.

Gozu play at The Shredder tonight as part of an all-ages show with Long Island-based metal band Restless Spirit and local act Black Marrow. Doors are at 7 p.m., and tickets are available here for roughly $15.

Read out interview with Restless Spirit, in which we discuss their new record – and a crazy show in which someone in the audience licked one of the band members – here.

This entry was posted on 06/05/2026 at 1:10 pm and is filed under Concert Previews, Interviews with tags Gozu. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.