When I spoke to Gabi Gamberg, AKA Daffo, in May of this year, ahead of a June stop at Union Transfer on a run supporting Blondshell, the former Philly-area resident and currently LA-based artist spilled to me that they would be back at the Eraserhood ballroom in November, supporting one of their favorite acts, Wednesday… They also spilled that their debut album was finally finished, although the official announcement was still more than a month off…
However, shortly after our chat, Wednesday announced their tour, which will have them and Daffo returning to Union Transfer this coming Monday, 11/10, and this June Daffo announced that their debut LP, Where the Earth Bends, would drop September 26th via Concord Records (home to PHILTHY phriends like Allison Russell, Spacey Jane, and Valerie June). So, earlier this week, amidst a tour of Europe and the UK, Gabi and I took some time to catch up and talk a little bit more about this tour with Wednesday and their first full-length.
Izzy Cihak: The last time we spoke, prior to your last date at Union Transfer, you mentioned that you would be opening for Wednesday, one of your favorite bands, but you couldn’t talk much about it, since it wasn’t announced, so now that it’s public, how excited you are for this upcoming run of dates with Wednesday?
Gabi Gamberg: Unbelievably excited! Wednesday is phenomenal, and I’m so honored to be on this tour. I’m such a big fan, I have a bunch of merch and even a setlist from their New York release show for Rat Saw God. It’s kind of surreal to get to open for one of your favorite bands.
Izzy: Since you’re such a big fan of Karly and the crew, I have to ask if you have any particular favorite works of theirs, whether albums or just individual songs? Do you have like Wednesday “superlatives?”
Gabi: I love all of their records, but I think Rat Saw God is my favorite. Some of my favorite songs are “How Can You Live If You Can’t Love How Can You If You Do” and “Bath County,” “One More Last One,” “Quary,” “Phish Pepsi,” “Bitter Everyday”… I mean, it’s honestly so hard to pick. Karly is such a phenomenal songwriter.
Izzy: How did you like your first show playing Union Transfer, back when you opened for Blondshell in June? You mentioned it was your first time there, and I’m also pretty sure it’s the biggest local show you’ve played so far… How do you like playing rooms like that? And how has it been playing with your new-old band that you’ve been touring with?
Gabi: It was fantastic! I think the biggest thing with venues of that size is the sound on stage is so clear. I can really hear my voice and the band really well, and I feel more confident playing. And, of course, it was so great to have my old friends on the last tour. They are great people and players and we had so much fun. This tour, since the move to LA, I wanted to have a mostly West Coast-based band to make rehearsing easier. Plus, the return of my old guitarist Wyatt Kirschner. Super stoked on my new band as well! We also have Matt Schuessler on bass, who engineered Where the Earth Bends and played bass on it as well. And Nick Wilkerson on drums. He’s a really great player and new friend!
Izzy: You also mentioned your debut album the last time we spoke, but couldn’t really go into much of any detail, as it was a while off from being announced, but Where the Earth Bends has been out for about a month now. How do you think the full-length compares to previous releases, in terms of sounds, themes, and just the process of writing and recording it (We have spent a lot of time talking about your working relationship with your producer, Rob Schnapf)?
Gabi: I think the writing is just more developed. I’m more intentional with my words on Where the Earth Bends. Don’t get me wrong, I still love Pest, but I think Where the Earth Bends is a better representation of me as a songwriter and sonically. I think with the full-length, I also had more of a chance to expand on some of the things I was going through. I wasn’t limited to, “one song about shame, and one song about death, and one song about love, etc.” The process of recording Where the Earth Bends was also so much more relaxed, we were really able to take our time and continue to be intentional about it. Whereas with Pest we were kind of on a time crunch to get things out following some viral moments I had with a couple of the songs.
Izzy: Somehow, I don’t think we’ve ever talked about the fact that you’re signed to Concord Records, which is such a rad label and home to so many of my musical phriends. How has it been working with them and being a part of that roster?
Gabi: Honestly, it’s been great. I was a little scared that signing to a label meant I would be controlled too much, or I wouldn’t connect with my team. But I absolutely adore the people I work with. They are supportive and sweet and fun to be around, and they really have my back. I’m super lucky.
Izzy: I know you’re currently playing a number of dates overseas (including Halloween), which I believe are technically your first since the album dropped… How are they going?
Gabi: They have been so fun! Halloween was especially fun; we all wore carrot costumes. The crowds have been so attentive and sweet, and I’ve met some really great people at the shows! The band has been really tight, and the food out here is so great. However, I have been struggling with my voice a little bit. It’s been feeling a bit weak and gets tired very easily (in a way I haven’t experienced on tour before). I don’t really know if it’s just the stress of playing longer sets or the fact that I had COVID right before tour started, lol. But I’m hoping I regain some strength as tour goes on.
Izzy: What can be expected of the live show this time around, when you’re back at Union Transfer? I know you started playing some of the album tracks around the time they were dropping as singles, so I’m guessing some of them are fairly well-rehearsed by this point…
Gabi: Oh, I’m super stoked to be playing some songs from the record I haven’t played on tour yet. “Carrot Fingers” is a fun one, “Sideways,” we have a really cool rendition of “Bad Dog.” We’re still getting those ones tighter as we go, but they are evolving in a nice way. Definitely fewer songs from Pest, just because we have a limited time slot and I want to give the new songs some time to shine. But of course, we still play those songs in our headline set (wink wink *cough* January *cough*).
Izzy: Not to detract from your own music but, considering that 2025 is coming to an end, I’m curious if you’ve had any favorite releases of the year that you think people definitely need to check out, if they haven’t already?
Gabi: Sky Record by Dan English has definitely been a staple for me this year. And I’ve been loving the Hayden Pedigo record I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away. Of course, the Wednesday record is great. My dear friend Quinnie put out a record called Paper Doll that I love. So much great new music this year.
Izzy: The Where the Earth Bends Tour takes you basically right up to the end of the year. How are you hoping and planning to close out 2025 and kick off 2026?
Gabi: I’m definitely going to need some rest after tour; that’s the only thing on my mind right now. But I definitely have some exciting shows coming up on the east coast in early 2026, so keep your ears peeled or whatever!
*Get your tickets here.
