Dec. 13th 1998

Friendo

All The Same is the seventh song on Gooseberry's debut full-length album, All My Friends Are Cattle.

An alternative title here might have been 'Ruminations of an anxious person waiting for the subway to arrive.' Courtney Barnett meets RHCP. Anxiety manifests in many forms. Sometimes it keeps you up at night (like in our tune Sleep). Sometimes you think you can’t breathe right or your heart will beat out your chest. But most of the time, you have this overt sensation that something isn’t quite right but it isn’t enough to throw off your day. So you just… exist. And so this song features a lot of the rambling thoughts tumbling about in my brain. It also continues a theme throughout much of this album, which is that I don’t know where I land on faith (“I don’t even know my god”) but I also don’t know why we sweat it if it’s all the same in the end. Ultimately, I hope someone hears this and knows they’re not alone in thinking they’ve got no control over their internal organs. Or at least I hope some of our fans get really into gardening. 

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The album, was tracked over the course of three months, predominantly at Precision Sound Studios in New York City. Drums were recorded by Grammy-winner James ‘Jimmy T’ Meslin (Dream Theater, John Petrucci, Rush). Grammy-nominated engineer Colin Bryson (Zach Bryan, J Balvin, Willow Avalon) served as producer and recording engineer (reprising his role from the Validate Me EP). Grammy-winner Phil Joly (The Strokes, Lana Del Rey, Daft Punk) mixed the record, and Jennica Best (Colatura) mastered it. Honorary fourth member Dan Janis (Baked Goods) provided saxophone and flute for a handful of tunes.

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Band Bio:

Brooklyn-based trio Gooseberry, formed in 2019, melds alternative rock, indie, and blues to craft their distinctive sound. Comprising Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass), the band has racked up hundreds of thousands of streams and has garnered praise from editorial stalwarts Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, and more. They've become integral to NYC's music scene, performing at venues like Baby’s All Right and the Knitting Factory, as well as alongside notable touring acts such as BabyJake and Maybird.

In August 2023, Gooseberry released their sophomore effort, Validate Me, a testament to an alternative rock sound that is uniquely their own. The record exemplifies their signature sound, with Daniels's dynamic songwriting, Rossington's powerful drumming, and Hammond's melodic bass lines. Following the release, they embarked on The Validation Tour, including a packed-out headline show at NYC's iconic Bowery Ballroom. With Validate Me now boasting over 500K streams on Spotify and growing monthly listenership, Gooseberry continues to surge in popularity.

All The Same

Gooseberry is a trio from Brooklyn, New York born during the Fall of 2019. Their combination of alternative rock, indie, and blues is a recipe for a unique sound that Gooseberry delivers in each song. The band consists of Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass).

Since the release of their 2022 debut EP Broken Dance, Brooklyn, NY indie rock trio Gooseberry have been busy. Their eminently engaging music has tickled the ears and stirred the hearts of both music fans and the industry itself. The band has racked up hundreds of thousands of streams, garnered praise from editorial stalwarts Under the Radar, Ones to Watch, and more. 

Yet, more than anything, in the ten months since the release, Asa Daniels (guitar, vocals), Evin Rossington (drums), and Will Hammond (bass) have been focused on doing what they do best: playing shows. Deeply connected to the scene in NYC and Brooklyn, they have dazzled crowds from the iconic Baby’s All Right to the legendary Knitting Factory. “We are super fortunate to call a lot of really great - and buzzing - NYC bands our friends” says Daniels. “We feel ourselves part of that community and eternally grateful for being welcomed with such open arms. Our hometown has truly shaped what this band has become.” Gooseberry has played all along the east coast, often with local heartthrobs (My Son The Doctor, Meyru, Cab Ellis) and major touring acts (BabyJake, Grady Spencer & The Work, Tanner Usrey, Maybird) alike.

Now, the power trio is back with a new slate of songs born in Greenpoint and honed to perfection on the road. Conceived and fleshed out over the course of a year, Validate Me as a cohesive piece of art eloquently showcases the unique alternative rock sound that is wholly Gooseberry. “Life as a trio allows us to really lean into dynamics,” explains Daniels. “We can hit you with a squall of distortion and guttural shouts, then shift on a dime and sing you a lullaby.”  

Thematically, Validate Me grapples with the relationship between love and making art, magnifying the sacrifices and leaps of faith both require. “Anger as a device can lead to both polished and rough expressions of passion,” says Daniels. “Much of that anger manifests from fear, which drives us down many wayward paths, whether it be fear of rejection, fear of too much understanding, or fear of losing control.”

In addition to Daniels, Rossington, and Hammond, the record features performances by honorary fourth member, Dan Janis, on saxophone and flute. Tracked at two Manhattan studios, Precision Sound Studios and Orbital Music & Sound, the record was produced by the band along with Grammy-nominated engineer Colin Bryson. Longtime collaborator and Grammy-award winning engineer James Meslin (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension, John Petrucci) mixed the record. 

What the trio created during these sessions is a record that is foundationally, fundamentally, whole-heartedly Gooseberry. No more, no less. Daniels’s dynamic songwriting soaring over Rossington’s bombastic drums; Hammond’s fluid bass lines the glue holding it all together. Road-keen musicianship wrapped around witty lyricism. More than anything, though, Validate Me proves that Gooseberry knows exactly who they are – gritty rock born at the nexus of DIY and arena-ready pop – and good god they are unapologetic about it.

All The Same

Gooseberry

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