Written by Shea Roney | Featured Photo Courtesy of The Guppies

Instigating that Boston and Brooklyn crossover of classic 4 Your Ears and Denizen brouhaha, The Guppies are a natural concoction of rock n roll nutrients from the creative peer bandmates of Dino and American Ninja Warriorz (formally known as Scotty Malcom’s Acid Minion). Debuting last month, The Guppies shared The Answers To Which We Do Not Know the Questions, a spur of the moment collaboration that stemmed from a co-headling tour this past November in Canada. Making up the limbs of the band is Gavin Caine (The Alaskas, American Ninja Warriorz), Colin Curcio (Dinos, Jack O. Lantern), Scotty Malcolm  (Acid Minion, American Ninja Warriorz ), Aidan O’Reilly (Dinos) and Chase Allardice (every band ever). Recorded in a tight two days on a trusty 8-track Tascam, what came about was a clear and animated response to each of these musician’s creative spirit and passion to fill in the gaps of undesirable silence with something truly desirable and certifiably fun. 

The Answers To Which We Do Not Know the Questions revels in the scruffy intermediates as The Guppies perform with some old back pocket magic. Without hindering its power, these songs excel in their low-fidelity holy prowess, making any type of formality a bit sweatier, engagement a bit bolder and infatuation a bit deeper. Harnessing a range of noises, the synth heavy drive of the opener “Yeah”, the twirling guitar crusades of “Allison” and “FBI Woman”, the decrepit country ballad of “Gigantic Tumbleweed and It’s On Fire”, or the more reserved pieces like “Kimba” or “Wizard Song” that feel like finding that lowly extra fry at the bottom of the bag, The Guppies consistently tinker away with undoubtedly sincere melodies and sonic novelties. And deep down there’s lucidity that comes through on all these songs, a fresh foundation begging to reconsider the guidelines of what makes a proper album or even a proper band. But don’t think too hard about it because sometimes even these questions get ahead of The Guppies themselves, and that’s where they prefer to be.

We recently got to ask The Guppies a few questions about their freaky fast album, their lore, the importance of a solid unison chant and the band’s destiny.   

“Six Guys and One Girl” alludes to this album’s creation. Two bands go on tour, three come back – what’s the story there?

Scotty: I was excited to tour with Dinos because they were and are the hardest rocking band in Boston and the best band I’ve seen in a long time, I used to live in Boston, now I live in New York, and if they lived here they’d be the hardest rocking band here as well. It was awesome touring with them and also intimidating to play with them every night because I knew they rock extreme. I really respect their songwriting, recording style, and general ethos. We had lots of fun touring and partied and became friends, cuz I didn’t really know them that well before. A couple of shows got cancelled and we decided it was the perfect time for us to combine our powers and make an album. And it was so smooth and I think we have discovered a combination of elements that will be studied for the next 3000 years.  It was really fun and I believe in The Guppies and this is only the beginning….

CC: Yeah that song is a funny one. Dinos and Scotty Band were on tour back in November and we had a few days off where we were able to go back to Boston. Initially I think we were gonna do a split ep/album of half Dinos songs half American Ninja Warriorz/Scotty band songs. But then we just started writing all these new songs and really got into a flow and were kinda like “wait, ok, this is actually it’s own thing”. And from there we just ran with it over the two-ish day period! This was definitely the smoothest/most fluid recording experience I’ve ever been a part of! It was really just the definition of nonstop fun.

Chase: Well, Dinos and Scotty Malcolm’s Acid Minion (now American Ninja Warriorz) had a two week tour in which the Warriorz were supposed to record our next album. However, that fell through as our drummer, bless up Gideon, had to go home. So I think myself and Scotty mentioned the idea of just making a new album from scratch. We had also recorded a live set from the tour on Aidan’s four track.

Whether it be touring, collaborating on releases or the connections with 4 Your Ears and Denizen Records, you guys have worked together for some time now. How did these connections come to be? 

Scotty: We have not worked together for that long actually or even known each other that well for long. I don’t remember the first time I met CC (Dinos) sometime last year I guess, I remember the first time I met Aidan, I was playing with my band American Ninja Warriorz for a reunion show in Boston, I had heard his album ‘I’ve been a bad dinosaur’ and I knew Dinos were great. When I ran into him at the show (cuz Dinos was also playing )I gave him many compliments and bent the knee and said we were meant to be together and he agreed and that was the seed of our love. I made a couple j cards for him or album covers (aidan_).then months later they asked us to go on tour with them and I said yes absolutely. And that’s when I got to know the Dinos and I never looked back…..

CC: I’ve known Aidan (Dinos) for three-ish years now because we used to play in a different band together before Aidan started Dinos! Scotty, Gavin, and Chase are all definitely newer friends. However, I’ve loved all of their music for a super super long time and they’re some of my favorite songwriters around! The Denizen world especially was something that made me be like “Whao what is this” cause there’s almost endless music on the bandcamp and it goes back so far (2016?). So as I started to dig into it I became familiar with Scotty and Gavin’s songs and was just really floored by it all! I don’t fully remember the exact time I met Scotty but I think it was in passing at a show at Cuckzine that we were both playing? I actually vividly remember meeting Gavin! Dinos was on our summer tour and we were playing a gig in this basement in Brooklyn called Romania. The Acid Minions were also on the bill and that’s where I was introduced to Gavin for the first time! I remember us talking about music for a super long time and it really being a blast! Chase I remember meeting on the way to a show that Dinos was playing at the Boston venue Obriens and we really hit it off haha! With everyone I think we really bonded over our general recording ethos regarding recording to cassette and our approaches/interests in song writing (Rock!). When we started planning to go on tour together I was just unbelievably stoked and I couldn’t be more happy with how it all went!

Chase: Personally, I have known Scotty since April Fools 2024. We played a show at the jungle and I was blown away by everything about him. I met Gavin soon after and the plan was for me to eventually make music with them. Then I went to a random house show in September 2024 and recognized Aidan from the newly formed Dinos. A friend had told me they were gonna be the next cool band in our music scene and said I should meet them. Aidan and I hit it off really quick and soon after I met CC. We all bond over our love of the denizen / allston music universe and garage rock recorded on tape.

Gavin: We have all known each other and collaborated in different ways over the past few years. Allston Rock City is what unifies us, but our future lies beyond.

What sort of things did you bring from your respective projects into The Guppies? Was there anything you wanted to try out that felt separate from Dinos and American Ninja Warriorz (formally known as Scotty Malcom’s Acid Minion?

Scotty: I don’t feel we tried to separate ourselves from anything, we just let it flow through us like water in a pasta strainer. What is special about the guppies is that every member brings such a powerful element to the collective…everyone has unmatchable talent, and is unlike any other that has ever or will ever exist, this is why they will change rock forever and to infinity and beyond.

CC: Hmmmm I don’t think we were consciously thinking about separating anything! It felt like we kinda entered this unconscious state where everything was just super easy and automatic and based on gut instinct.

Gavin: The prior bands held no influence. We all became individuals, which in turn made us one.

With the challenge of making an album in such a short sprint, what sort of myths, tropes, inspirations, etc did you want to bring into, not just how these songs came out, but also what it means to make an album in general? 

Scotty: Doing it fast was our only option because Dinos lives in Boston and the acid minions live in New York. But doing things fast is the best way, you tire yourself out and enter an awesome place where you have so many ideas and we were all inspiring each other and while three people were recording a song the other 2 were writing one. We pushed each other and influenced each other and grew stronger, like a pack of penguins gathering in the arctic cold. Everything that is on the album is true and it’s about what happened to us when six people went up north to tour Canada and many things happened and I’m glad that they all did and that is that.

CC: I love making stuff fast! So the challenge of having only two days made me and everyone else really excited. We were still in the midst of the tour and the haze that touring sets upon you, so that definitely was super inspiring for the songwriting. We were also down to work really long days, if I remember right the sessions were around 13 hours each day. Give or take. But making the album in that way just set on this general vibe of like “lets just see how far we can push this” and every time there would be a moment of “hmm maybe we’re done?” suddenly one or two people would perk up and be like “wait I have something new!” and we’d jump back in and make it! So much of this felt like total gut instinct and just really trying to go for it with the time we had. I think as the process continued we all fell into the same groove which allowed us to really push each other!

Chase: We had no songs, and then wrote them all in 2 days. We would start a song, finish it and record it. Everyone had ideas brewing at all times. We knew we’d get it done; it was just a matter of how many songs we’d have. 

Gavin: The Guppies do not deal in myth or legend. Everything we do is true and what you see is who we are.

The title, The Answers To Which We Do Not Know the Questions, is an interesting perspective, working backwards. Was that backwards approach something that came out of this process, or something you wanted to explore in those two days?

Scotty: I didn’t think backwards that much, I mostly think forwards, but what I think about that title is this: I think that myself and fellow band members all have something inside of ourselves that is rare and powerful. I think within our body lies a mine of gems and when I look into my brain I can see it but I have to pick away at it to capture the stones but I know that they are there and all the answers I need I will unlock when required.

CC: I don’t know if we really thought about working backwards but we definitely were going into it knowing at the end of the few days we were gonna come out of it with something! And I think what it became organically revealed itself to us along the way!

Gavin: Nothing ever happens backwards. Anything backwards is just forwards in a bunny suit.

What do you think a good unison chant brings to a song? Is there something you think songs without a good unison chant miss out on? 

Scotty: Team is a good feeling. It’s great when you have the element of many people at once on a song, it’s rare to get so many good people together so you should probably record it. The greatest unison chant song is “we are the unwavering beacon of righteousness” by Bradford Barker, every unison I’ve ever attempted has never and will never reach that level of greatness

CC: I love chants and chanting and all things related to the topic! I think it is possible to have a good song with no unison chant…. However… The deck is stacked against you.

Chase: Unison chants are the ultimate spirit of rock. It is a POWERFUL thing. 

Gavin: Singing in unison is the mission of humanity. It’s the least we could do.

Is there more to come from The Guppies in the future or are you content with this whirlwind statement as a one off?

Scotty: There is more, and there will always be more. At least that’s what I want, I wonder what the others will say. I’m up for going fully in, I think we all got the skills to be a great band,

I really wanna go all in on guppies because for years and years I’ve had my bands with my friends in it and all the friends in it have their own bands and you’re all in each other’s bands and all your effort is divided into 5. I think the guppies are important because we could leave everything behind and work towards one common goal: To be the most rocking band you’ve never heard…  until now?

CC: Yes!  Soon! We’re definitely playing some shows in the next few months which I can’t wait for! Me and Aidan are in Boston at the moment but are gonna move to The Big Apple most likely between August and September. So once we’re all in the same spot I think it’s just gonna be a blast. There’s gonna be tons more albums and shows and all the stuff! Guppies Forever!

Gavin: There will be more Guppies in the future. Each Guppie has their own short destiny to fulfill; once complete, we will join as one again and swim.

You can listen to The Answers To Which We Do Not Know the Questions by The Guppies now with cassette tapes on the way to purchase.