The Miami heat hangs heavy, but amidst the chaos, Ian Shelton, frontman of the electrifying punk outfit Militarie Gun, exudes a different kind of energy – buzzing with excitement for the journey his band is currently on. With their debut album, Life Under The Gun, garnering critical acclaim and their live shows becoming notorious for their raw, unbridled energy, the band is riding a wave that shows no signs of cresting.
Shelton, ever humble, admits with a chuckle, “It’s insane, man. I never thought we’d get here.” He recalls his earliest aspirations, envisioning local club gigs as the pinnacle of their journey. The reality, however, has surpassed even his wildest dreams. Hearing his music on mainstream radio and receiving praise from influential figures like Apple Music’s Zane Lowe is surreal, a testament to the band’s dedication and authenticity.
“It’s like something you dream about as a kid,” Shelton reflects, a hint of awe in his voice. “But at the same time, I learned a long time ago not to expect it. So, to experience it now, I’m just grateful for everything.”
Watch the full interview below:
It’s not that long since you were in Montreal. So do you get excited about coming back to places you’ve been to recently?
“Yeah, definitely. It’s fun to see how it compares. We get to see marginal growth and reach different people. It’s a very fun part of touring.”
I assume you’re going back to cities that you’ve been to regularly. Like you’ve been on the road consistently the last couple of years. Are you noticing the crowds adjust as you go back?
“Yeah, definitely. It’s one of the coolest parts, seeing how people move differently and reaching different audiences. It’s very exciting and fun to observe. I get beat up a lot on tour. I got kicked in the nuts, then kicked in the teeth right afterwards just the other night in Austin. And we embrace the chaos. Not that it’s ideal to be beat up by the audience, but we love the energy exchange. That’s what’s been so fun about curating our live show and bringing bands that also harness energy in a similar way. And Pool Kids isn’t getting beat up on stage every night, but they are making everyone jump up and down and go crazy. And Spiritual Cramp is just such an amazing rock band. It’s fun to see it build to a boil. That’s why we brought such amazing bands with us. By the time we hit stage, everyone’s primed to explode.
You recently released a fantastic live show on your YouTube channel. What was the thinking behind putting this show out just before you go on the road? Is that to encourage people to come or give an idea of what to expect?
“Yeah, it’s propaganda. All media is propaganda. We try to use it to reflect the way we think our live show should look. We’ve always curated very specific live clips to set expectations. We want people to feel comfortable being weird and goofy at our shows.”
Well, you can definitely see that in that video. And I’ve seen you guys live. I know that’s what it’s like in real life too. So this concert that went out, it’s about 30 minutes long. I think that’s pretty much how long your sets are every night, right?
“No, we’re playing for an hour. That video was from a support tour where we only could play 30. So we’re playing a lot closer to an hour now. We play with dynamics, reflecting, jumping around, and the ebb and flow of audience energy. It’s about giving them the business.”
It feels like your music is getting out there, beyond the clubs and punk kids down the front? I know Zane Lowe is championing your band on Apple Music.
“It feels insane. I thought playing local clubs would be the peak. I never expected any of this. It’s really cool to experience it. It means a lot to be included by people we respect. Zane Lowe is a very thoughtful interviewer. Getting acknowledgment from people we respect has been gratifying. There’s no shortage of people talking shit, so when someone you respect gives you props, it means a lot.”
Are you ready for the next chapter of Militarie Gun now?
“Yeah, I’ve been working hard on these songs. It doesn’t get old playing these songs. We’re experiencing them in a different way live. But we’ve been working hard between tours to write as much as possible. So there’s a lot of emphasis on forward momentum and new music, but we’re not growing tired of these songs.
I learned how to sing better live. The more we toured, the more I needed to tighten up and develop as a vocalist. It’s been fun getting to a point where I have confidence and feel good. You learn about harmony, tone, and figure out your sound. It’s hard to pinpoint a singular lesson. I mean, Militarie Gun is about writing out of intuition and interest and not censoring ideas. It’s about trying everything and seeing what sticks. It’s about never getting down an idea and knowing that it all comes from anywhere.”
Your lyrics are often so personal. Do you worry about oversharing?
“No, I’m concerned about oversharing, but I’ve shared the amount that I have. It’s about supporting those things and trying to make them relate to people as it unfolds every night. It’s about having fun first and foremost, but also hoping they have some emotional takeaway.”
Are you thinking about the listener’s experience as your writing?
“The listener is the absolute final person to be considered. It’s really just, do I want to listen to this song on repeat? If I don’t, it’s not ready. Usually, when I start considering the audience is about the day before the song releases and I start panicking.”
You’re on tour now. You’re going to be in Montreal on the 17th. How’s the rest of the year looking for you? Are these new songs something you’ll be focusing on soon?
“I’m focusing on every moment we’re not on tour. March and April are pretty free. We have a documentary thing we’re finishing up. We’re always too many projects deep. Songwriting is the task. The rest is amazing, but the part that fuels me and I’m obsessed with is writing the next song.”
Things are going pretty well, right?
I’m on cloud nine right now. I’ve historically had poor mental health on tour, but that has drastically changed on these last two tours. We have such a good crew of people around us and amazing fans. It’s a very cool time to be a part of Militarie Gun.
MILITARIE GUN + POOL KIDS + SPIRITUAL CRAMP + SPACED play Foufounes Electriques on February 17.
Interview – Steve Gerrard
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