Gym Class Heroes are back, and they’re wasting no time reminding fans why they were one of the defining bands of the 2000s. Two weeks after releasing “Universal Language,” their first new song in 15 years, the group brought a wave of excitement to Warped Tour in Long Beach, CA. Travie McCoy led a hit-filled, high-energy set that kept the crowd moving from start to finish, including a surprise appearance by No Love For The Middle Child during “Stereo Hearts.”
Answering the Call
The band announced their first new album in fifteen years in characteristically unexpected fashion through a collaboration with the Savannah Bananas, and if frontman Travie McCoy is to be believed, it’s only the beginning.
“If I told you how it happened, I’d have to kill you,” he jokes. “Shout out to the Savannah Bananas for letting us get down. I’m pretty sure you’re gonna see a lot more Gym Class and Savannah Bananas collaboration.”
Beneath the jokes, however, there’s a genuine reason the band felt compelled to return. “Low-key, I feel like there’s a void in the world,” McCoy says. “We’re living in some very dark times. I think the people called us back, and we answered the call. We took the assignment and laid it down.”
What message does he want the band’s new music to send? McCoy’s answer is surprisingly sincere. “That love is the universal language,” he says.
As for what fans can expect from the band’s first new album in more than a decade, McCoy remains intentionally vague. “Other than it’s awesome? Not much,” he says with a grin. “That’s all I can say.”
A New Era
The band’s live setup blends an old-school spirit with modern technology. Guitarist and keys player Tyler Pursel appreciates the practical benefits of modern gear. “I like not having to carry a guitar amp anymore,” he says. “No more loud stage volume. Everything just lives in one thing.”
"I have an SP-404 in my hotel room right now. That thing is amazing. You can literally put it in your back pocket and rock."
Growing Gear
Meanwhile, drummer Manny Dominick’s ever-expanding kit has become a source of amusement for the rest of the band. “He’s gotta kit like Danny Carey. His kit has grown exponentially!” McCoy exclaims.
Dominick laughs but admits he’s constantly refining his rig, which currently includes an SPD-SX, drum triggers, multiple snare configurations, and a growing collection of Roland gear. “It was really about rehearsals and programming,” Dominick says. “That’s why I chose the SPD-SX. But I’m going to have pads on tour too.”
Super Samples
When asked about their use of samples, McCoy replies, “One of our first big singles was a whole-ass sample. We sampled Supertramp and had Patrick from Fall Out Boy sing it in hopes we wouldn’t have to give Roger Hodgson a ton of money. That didn’t work out the way we thought it would.”
Away from the stage, Pursel and McCoy are enthusiastic users of SP-404 samplers. Pursel cites the SP-404’s Vinyl Sim and Tape Sim effects as favorites, while McCoy praises the unit’s portability. “I have an SP-404 in my hotel room right now,” McCoy says. “That thing is amazing. You can literally put it in your back pocket and rock. It’s so much fun.”
"I think it's safe to say they showed us that Gym Class is definitely back in session."
Back in Session
The band’s return recently brought them to the Warped Tour stage, where the reaction confirmed what many fans had hoped: Gym Class Heroes still know how to throw a party. “It was cool looking over and seeing damn near the whole Warped Tour staff shaking ass and having a good time,” McCoy says. “Then looking out and seeing a whole ocean of people having a great time. I think it’s safe to say they showed us that Gym Class is definitely back in session.”
