GBS (Gugun Blues Shelter)

Gugun Blues Shelter Self Titled Album

March 2, 2010

After suffering frostbite in temperatures below -3 degrees, Bowie and Gun returned to the motherland (Indonesia) leaving Jono in the UK to tie up the loose ends. The tour was a success hitting over 7 major UK cities and closing the center stage of Britain’s most famous annual blues events… The Skegness rock & blues festival.
Summer came round soon and Jono found himself back in the motherland indulging himself in gado-gado and started his chicken farm. Within a few weeks we were playing the main stage at the Jakarta International Blues Festival and also the Singapore Grand Prix along with our independently arranged events produced by our new team; Bugs Productions.
We decided to record and produce this album as a 100% independent project utilizing our own funds and close connections. We contacted our long-time friend (from the 80’s); ‘Mas Danny’, the owner of TEMA Studio in Pancoran, Jakarta and within 10 days the album was cut.
The theme of this album is a little gloomy and mysterious…. It wasn’t planned that way, it just happened naturally. We made most of the songs round at Guns’ house with the exception of a couple of tracks which we had been working on for a while and a couple which we had re-arranged from previous albums.
We dedicate this album to our fans who have stuck with us through both the good times and the bad. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT and apologies for the time you have waited for this.

1. Fight for freedom
2. Good things bad things
3. Old friend
4. On the run
5. Emptiness
6. When I see you again
7. Whiskey Woman
8. You’re the man
9. White Dog

“Fight for freedom” talks about the struggle for freedom by rising new nations and small oppressed countries.
“Good things bad things” talks about life in general and the differences in character that all humans possess in their soul.
We all meet people in the journey of life that we become really close to and then for whatever reason (usually money or women) we become enemies.. The tables drastically turn and we look back on it with deep remorse. This song is dedicated to all of our “old friend”
“On the Run” was written in 2004 on the day of the bombing of the Australian embassy in Kuningan, Jakarta. I (jono) was on my way to work and running late by 10 mins. The embassy was opposite my office. I felt the blast from afar and witnessed the immediate aftermath… Pay’s to be late sometimes I guess.
“Emptiness” is a bit of a mash up of randomness… Who said lyrics need to make sense anyway?
“When I see you again” is written as a message to the other half of our soul who we are far away from and miss soooo much that words can no longer express.
“Whiskey Woman” is about a guy who has had enough of his current life and partner that he decides to go out and get smashed… and look for a whiskey woman.
“You’re the man” is dedicated to the minority of sweaty, watery-eyed leeches who feed themselves on tax-payers money and ‘compulsory gifts’ while thousands of their citizens starve… You know what I’m talking about.
“White Dog” is dedicated to people that have wasted our time, energy and money during our time as a band.

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