Seconded, also Will usually starts writing first and everyone else writes off that (I think it goes Will, then Mingus, then Tim, then Tilian and Jon usually) which makes him pretty much literally the musical backbone of DGD.
Absolutely Will is the backbone, but Jon is more prominent IMO. I've played DGD to some of my friends & colleagues in the past and when I mention them now they always say stuff like "is that the band with the screamy man" or something like that! By nature, those in the band who play the instruments are providing the vocalist with that platform to shine, as it were - and Will knows to write parts to suit the vocalists (imagine the clean vocalist going over parts like Shark Dad or the heavy parts of Stroke God for example - wouldn't work as well!). IDK... I could go on forever & not manage to make my point clear so I'm just gonna stop P.S. Will is my fav guitarist ever lol.
I think there's a good argument for Jon but I'd have to say will. What separates DGD from other bands in the scene is undoubtedly the music, in particular the guitar work. Everything else is obviously replaceable. I'd put Jon above Mingus though. I just don't think drummers, aside from the big personality types, are noticed enough by the casual fan to define a band, especially when you have will and Jon...
My only issue with saying Will is what about the other guitarists that have contributed hugely to the DGD sound? Zac was great on Deathstar and incredible on Happiness, Sean O'Sullivan's contributions on DBM1 were fantastic too.
Sure but I think Will being the consistent presence in the band even as other guitarists have come and gone, and the main songwriter throughout, makes a pretty strong case for him as the "defining" member.
Will commands everything with this band. Writes all the songs 100% now now that their hasn't been a 2nd guitarist for the last 4 albums I remember somewhere about Will even often manages the songs to the point where he would tell the vocalists what melody to sing.
I think there's a little more group effort than that. Tilian wrote the lyrics for Will's only vocal part on Mothership, and all his own lyrics and melodies from what I heard.
Saw them last night. Absolutely incredible live show. They're currently touring with all three vocalists, which was very cool to see.
They have Jonny Craig, Tilian Pearson and Kurt Travis out with them. They're celebrating 10 years of Dance Gavin Dance.
Checked out the setlist and well, I personally think it sucks. Now before I get crucified, it's a 10 year anniversary tour, but they also just put out a new album. On top of that, the songs they chose were the safe ones the band plays pretty regularly with Tilian. I'll go ahead and assume Jonny is probably above practicing and revisiting the lyrics he couldn't ever remember, but it would've been cool to see more older songs, and brand new ones. Like scratch the AS/IG songs and fill in 2 more from each previous vocalist. Especially if they don't plan on ever playing with them again.
They should start playing Philosopher King, crowd would go fucking nuts for that shit! Heaviest song they've done IMO.
It would be amazing to catch songs like It's Safe To Say, Backwards Pumpkin, Me & Zoloft, Happiness, Strawberry Pt 2, or even Privilously Poncheezied live. Fat chance at this point, so i'll hope for a Mothership-heavy tour after this.
Chucky Stroke God On The Run Strawberry 3 Betrayed By The Game w/ Kurt Tree Village Carl Barker Alex English w/ Jonny Spooks Lemon MT AITTIITNR w/ 3 vocalists Uneasy Hearts We Own The Night Edit: did not see post above this lol.
The Jonny / Kurt portions of the set are so sick. I wish I enjoyed the Tilian stuff more, the rest is jam after jam