Exclusive: Gene Gallagher’s VILLANELLE tore up Cardiff’s Clwb Ifor Bach

Passing through Cardiff on the recent Punchbag Uni Tour, VILLANELLE brought their signature guitar-driven sound to the Welsh capital just as they released their debut EP.

The band later sat down with The Cardiff Tab to talk about their inspirations, life on the road, and, of course, pints.

The rising UK rock and grunge-inspired trio has just announced its first solo run, The Magical Mallard Migration Tour, which has already sold out in four cities.

Fronted by Gene Gallagher on vocals and guitar, VILLANELLE also features Ben Taylor on lead guitar and Jack Schiavo on bass, delivering a “heavy guitar” sound, heard in their new single Hinge.

The trio met in the summer of 2023 by “accident” and have since toured with Liam Gallagher, supporting him on the Definitely Maybe 30th anniversary tour in 2024.

Talking about the band’s first meeting, Ben joked: “I saw Gene on the top of a hill strumming his guitar on his own … I walked up to him and said, can I be in your band? And he said yes.”

The two of them “rolled down the hill together and met Jack”, and now they hope to carry on in the footsteps of legends like Nirvana, The Beatles and Limp Bizkit.

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In true rock ‘n’ roll star fashion, VILLANELLE had both middle-aged mullet-adorning men and admiring teenage girls glued to their performance – and rushing to the merch stand afterwards.

Red Stripe in hand and sunglasses on, Gene looked almost the spitting image of his dad, but with a new, unique sound and stage presence.

Sitting down with The Cardiff Tab, Villanelle revealed how they already explored the magical Chippy Lane and “somehow survived” before they took to the stage at Cardiff music venue Clwb Ifor Bach.

What inspires your sound?

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Over a couple of pints, VILLANELLE’s members explained exactly what inspires their sound: “Any sort of shoegazy, 90s grunge band. That’s always usually the blueprint, isn’t it? We’ve got Nirvana mixed with Deftones.”

Guitarist Ben Taylor added that My Bloody Valentine, along with Smashing Pumpkins, influences newer music, while still maintaining that original rock genre.

When asked how they’d describe their sound, bassist Jack Schiavo said: “Just, like, heavy guitars.”

Gene added: “All I wanted the band to be was very loud and guitar fronted. I just love when songs are so fucking loud you have to turn it down.”

Who would play you in a film?

Ben told The Cardiff Tab: “We’ve already got the EP, we should make a fucking film.”

The boys came to a quick consensus that French actor Timothée Chalamet would cover guitarist Ben’s role, and Gene chimed in moments later to add that Jedward would be perfect for Jack’s role.

Jack decided on either Jedward or television host Ellen DeGeneres, whilst Gene took a little longer to craft his answer.

Gene said: “Yeah, Lenny G. He used to be an actor, yeah, he can do it. Yeah, he’d do a good job,” referring to his older brother, model Lennon Gallagher.

If you could steal any song, what song would it be?

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Gene directed his answer to this question to Ben: “You’d choose a Deftones song, wouldn’t you? Like Cherry Bomb, or whatever that song is…”

Ben responded: “Cherry Waves is a great song. Ugh, alright if we’re doing Deftones, I’d choose Rosemary. Great song.”

When probed if he could do it justice, Ben laughed and shook his head. “No, no, not at all”, before Gene chimed in with “Nah, you’d be able to play the guitar a bit. Me and Jack would do it. Jack would ruin it.”

Ben agreed, laughing: “Yeah, Jack would ruin it.”

Favourite song?

Jack was first to respond with a Beatles classic, Tomorrow Never Knows. Gene deliberated on whether he even has a favourite song, before landing on Yesterday by The Beatles as a current favourite.

Ben added: “Mine’s Spanish Savara by the Foals. That’s my favourite song.”

Jack and Gene also agreed on their favourite band – The Beatles – with Ben opting for the Arctic Monkeys.

Do you have any mantra or motto that you live by when you’re on tour?

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Gene told The Cardiff Tab: “Nah, we don’t do that. Nah, we just we live by the whole classical tour life. We don’t want to do this fucking eating salads and shit.

“It’s got to be fucking full throttle. Like fucking off a cliff. That’s how we live. Our mantra is off a cliff.”

Ben added: “Have a Guinness off a cliff.”

Fancy seeing the full-throttle action in person? You can still purchase tickets to see VILLANELLE on Punchbag’s University Tour here – with dates remaining in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

VILLANELLE’s first solo tour titled ‘The Magical Mallard Migration Tour’ will be taking place this December, with shows in Preston, Manchester, Norwich and London already sold out. The few tickets left can be found here.

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