Listen to Madalean Gauze’s cathartically fun FUNeral EP, see them tonight at Boot & Saddle
Philly rocker Madalean Gauze has a very funny, very true tagline on her Instagram page: “� �ϼ IDC ABT FASHION � �ϼ .”
This is applicable beyond the jeans-and-t-shirt-and-cat-mask aesthetic of last year’s Cool and Fun EP; it includes “fashion” as far as “what’s cool” or “what the music scene expects you to do.” Like I said earlier this week, Madalean does whatever the heck she wants, she makes art for herself, whether that means launching a stoner doom metal band or releasing an off-the-cuff EP, as she did today with FUNeral.
The set clocks in four songs in just about seven minutes, which is less time than I’ve already spent writing this post. Something of an answer project to Cool and Fun, it’s a satirical take on society’s views of femininity and sexuality, from the opening “Slut Ballad” that launches from a storytime setup into a full throttle punk catharsis, or the reserved piano pop of “It’s Okay, I Have a Boyfriend Now” that closes the EP on a cutting note, questioning old-fashioned ideas of demure respectability.
In the middle is “Who Do You Fall In Love With?,” the most single-worthy jam of the bunch, recalling Madalean’s slot on the WXPN Patti Smith tribute concert a few years back — her vocal is delivered in a catchy speak-sing while her five-piece band rages away, and it totally encompasses the entire set in a tidy two-and-a-half minutes.
That song was recorded with Matt Shimelfenig at Miner Street studio in Fishtown; the rest of the EP was tracked by Lauren Delucca of Coping Skills live onstage at Boot and Saddle (after hours, of course). Take a listen below, watch a Bob Sweeney-directed music video, and catch Madalean Gauze tonight at the Boot on a stacked bill with Queen of Jeans, Louie Louie and Empath. The show will not only celebrate FUNeral, but will also raise money for Valley Youth House. Tickets and more information can be found at the XPN Concert Calendar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7OszUka-Q8&app=desktop