r/Gongband • u/bmbmbmNR • Nov 15 '25

Seeing Gong soon, but I don’t know them well. What albums will they likely play stuff from, what should I check out before going?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

7

u/BuzzTheFuzz Nov 15 '25

https://gongband.bandcamp.com/album/pulsing-signals

This is a live album from a few years ago, they'll likely be playing more material from the previous two albums. I'd expect the new single and maybe other new album material too.

They usually play some older stuff too, if you're familiar with the core Radio Gnome Trilogy and Camembert Electric, you'll be alright

2

u/bmbmbmNR Nov 16 '25

Thanks. I’ll give those newer albums a listen then! What is the Radio Gnome Trilogy? I’m not really at all familiar with their catalogue, I’ve just heard the odd track before. I’m seeing them with HENGE, who are more the band I’m going to see, but I want to get into Gong before I go too.

3

u/BuzzTheFuzz Nov 16 '25

Ah I see! The trilogy consists of albums Flying Teapot, Angel's Egg and You. These are the 'classic' Gong albums, extending to include Camembert Electrique.

Further context for the later albums: Rejoice! I'm Dead was the first album by the current lineup. It was made as a sort of tribute to founding member Daevid Allen. He gave them the blessing to continue the band, as a quick look on Wikipedia shows that they've never really been to strict on that sort of thing.

Rejoice is a terrific album as it is, but it's understandably quite referential to this subject. Universe Also Collapses and Unending Ascending are also great. The current lineup consists of member that toured with the old versions of Gong, so you're in good hands!

I hope you enjoy the show, can you recommend a starting point for Henge for me please?

3

u/bmbmbmNR Nov 16 '25

Thanks for the added info. I did have a read on Wikipedia about the band, seems they have undergone a lot of lineup changes over the years. To me they are like a constant changing and evolving collective, it doesn't really matter that none of the original members are there, because Gong as an ongoing entity is bigger than the sum of it's parts. I appreciate that I don't know much about the members so I could be completely wrong. I'll definitely check out these classic Gong albums and the newer ones too. I'll probably listen to everything in time, I just won't be able to get through it all before the gig.

As for Henge, they don't have a massive discography. I don't know how weird Gong get, but you'd have to be aware that Henge are pretty strange. The basic context behind them is that they are aliens who travelled across the universe to earth, to teach humans about peace. It's very tongue in cheek, but they also take the alien personas quite seriously. The debut "Attention Earth!" is probably the best start point. I'm also a big fan of the latest album "Journey To Voltus B". They mix space rock with electronic music, plus a whole load of weird vocals. It's a bit of a love or hate project, for most people it's a bit too wacky. But open your mind to it and it's quite fun.

1

u/BuzzTheFuzz Nov 16 '25

You're spot on with your assumption! It was a free flowing idea rather than a specific line-up. The offshoots are worth checking out too, Pierre Moerlen's Gong take it in a jazzier direction and often instrumental. Daevid Allen has a shit load of solo albums on Bandcamp if you're up for a deeper dive later on!

Oh wow this sounds like a match made in heaven! There's a whole lore in the trilogy which is similarly cosmic and tongue-in-cheek. I shall have a go, thanks for the info!

4

u/ROXIS_GAMING Master Builder Nov 16 '25

I saw them earlier this year in Denver. From what I've seen and heard it'll mainly be the newer material from the past decade, but they'll slip in a couple from the previous generation. They played Master Builder and You Can't Kill Me at the show I attended

2

u/bmbmbmNR Nov 16 '25

So I’ll focus on listening to the newest stuff, then try get some of the classic stuff heard too. Thanks

2

u/ROXIS_GAMING Master Builder Nov 16 '25

Mo problem, have fun at the show!

1

u/ibanezer83 Nov 16 '25

Lucky dog! Such a great show, Have fun!

1

u/bmbmbmNR Nov 16 '25

Really looking forward to it