Giovannie and the Hired Guns talk new album, Calf Fry

everything to what the song sounds like. We wrote a couple of songs where it sounded like we needed to be a little heavier and it just kinda worked out like that. Everyone ended up liking it. It worked.”

Adam Engel Editor-in-Chief

Giovannie and the Hired Guns attracted instant success from its latest album, “Tejano Punk Boyz” in October, a venture into alternative rock and pop-punk after its start in Texas country. The band hits Calf Fry in Stillwater amid a run of 43 shows since Jan. 1.

The O’Colly caught up with bassist Alex Trejo ahead of the band’s show Friday night.

Q: Walk me through the band’s development. You guys released your first record in 2017 and have had a lot of success with latest album.

A: “It’s been cool. We started out playing at a bunch of small honky-tonk, Texas country bars. There are still quite a few of them we still play but we got our start in Texas country. Our sound kinda evolved into more like a modern alternative rock sound. Those are bands we’ve listened to our whole lives. System of a Down. Everclear. We also still hold to our country roots but we added that alternative rock flavor to it. Everyone caught on to it. Really enjoyed it.”

Q: What was the reason for the style change?

A: “It wasn’t any kind of decision we made. We were just writing songs and we used to play our instrumentals and

Q: Your band is playing a lot of festivals this time of year. How does that impact the type of show or set list you play?

A: “We keep our bangers pretty much in the forefront and kinda make sure the show is really hyped up. Make sure the fans are dancing the whole time. Make sure they are rocking it the whole time. We like to bring a really high energy show to the people who paid to be there.”

Q: You guys write a lot about relationships and things like that. Why do you feel like that might resonate so well with the college-aged crowd?

A: “I think it’s definitely the sound and the emotional relatability to our songs. Stuff we’ve been through when we were their age and it’s still relevant today. I think it’s just an honest storytelling of what we’ve been through and people resonate with that.”

Q: What is it about Calf Fry and Stillwater that keep you guys coming back?

A: “We really like Calf Fry. The people out there. It gets packed out there. People seem to have a good time and we really have a good time. The staff and everything at Calf Fry treat us really well. We’re happy to be back.

I like the location of Stillwater. I feel like every time we go up there, we see some our fans from Kansas and some of our fans from around Oklahoma. We just have a really good time out there.”

Q: On the success with the latest album

A: “This last album, we were in the process of recording right before everything kinda took off. We ended up joining Crush Music right when we got done writing “Ramon Ayala.” That was the first single we did with them. It took off. Hit No. 1 on the charts. Then we got signed with Warner Music and since then, they have been advertising our songs and our album. It just took off on social. We’re real blessed and thankful to have all these guys helping us out. Warner Music, Crush Music, Red 11 Music who are with WME now. We’re in the process of recording album four now. Can’t wait to get that out to y’all.”

Q: What can fans expect on that new album?

A: “If you catch a show now, we are actually playing one of the songs off that album live. If you want a sneak peak, come out to a show. You might hear a song or two off the new album.”