Gwendolyn Giles is a Sacramento guitarist and co-vocalist, the elder of the two sisters who make up the punk/garage rock duo Dog Party.[1][2] She and her younger sister Lucy Giles have been performing together since childhood, becoming one of the most-documented young acts of the Sacramento all-ages scene.[3][1][4]
At a glance
- Guitarist and co-vocalist of Dog Party, the duo she shares with drummer/co-vocalist sister Lucy Giles.[1][2]
- Local: a "Sacramento native" and member of a "local sister duo" / "Sacramento-based" band.[3][1][2]
- The sisters formed Dog Party in 2007, at ages 11 (Gwendolyn) and 9 (Lucy).[1][4]
- As of 2015 she was 19 and attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, majoring in graphic communications with a music minor.[4]
- By 2016, Dog Party had toured the US and Europe and landed an opening slot on a Green Day tour.[2]
- Dog Party remained active into 2024, releasing their seventh studio album that year.[5]
Origin and local status
Gwendolyn and Lucy Giles are from Sacramento; a 2009 review described Dog Party as comprising "two Sacramento native" sisters, then 12 and 10 years old.[3] Later coverage consistently calls them a "local sister duo," the "Giles girls" coming "home" to play Sacramento, and a "Sacramento-based punk-rock sister duo."[1][4][2] The family's day-to-day life is rooted in the region: their mother drove them to a downtown Sacramento café for an interview, and their friends preferred the suburb of Carmichael over Midtown.[1] This is an unambiguous Sacramento-origin act.
Dog Party
Gwendolyn had picked up the guitar and was playing school talent shows by fifth grade, while Lucy gravitated to drums (inspired by Meg White of The White Stripes).[1] With encouragement from family friend Zach Goodin, the sisters formed Dog Party in 2007.[1] Their musical upbringing was shaped by their father, who introduced them early to acts such as The White Stripes, The Black Keys, the Beatles, the Ramones, the Beach Boys, Green Day, LCD Soundsystem and CSS.[1]
Gwendolyn plays guitar — rotating between her sister's Fender Squier Strat, a pair of Silvertones, and a Hofner, paired with a Fender Pro Reverb amp and Marshall cabinet — and uses a phaser pedal noted on the album track "That's What You Said."[1] In live coverage her playing is described as "fast-paced, jaunty guitar" with "Go-Go's-like vocal talent."[4] On Dangerous (2024) she is credited with guitar, vocals, bass, organ, and auxiliary percussion, demonstrating a considerably expanded instrumental role.[6]
Releases timeline
- Dog Party (2009) — debut, self-released.[4]
- P.A.R.T.Y!!! (2011) — second album, recorded over roughly half a year and released on Zach Goodin's label, Half of Nothing records, on CD and pink vinyl.[1] The release was celebrated at Luigi's Fungarden on Dec. 30, 2011, with Kepi Ghoulie and Nacho Business also playing.[1]
- Lost Control (August 13, 2013) — third album, backed by Asian Man Records; recorded at The Hangar and engineered by Chris Woodhouse.[4][7]
- Vol. 4 (June 16, 2015) — fourth release, on cassette through Burger Records and LP/CD through Asian Man Records; lead single "Peanut Butter Dream."[4] The release show was at Harlow's in Sacramento on June 15, 2015, with Pookie and The Poodlez.[4]
- Til You're Mine (August 5, 2016) — fifth album, released on Asian Man Records.[8]
- Hit & Run (June 30, 2018) — sixth album, recorded under the Sacramento, California banner.[9]
- Dangerous (May 2024) — seventh studio album, self-released on Dog Party's own imprint Sneak Dog Records, confirming the band's continued activity as of 2024.[5]
Touring and milestones
By 2015 Dog Party had logged 25 states across four US tours, and had traveled to Italy and Berlin alongside Kepi Ghoulie.[4] According to Lucy Giles, the band played two sets a night for approximately six years touring with Kepi Ghoulie and the Groovie Ghoulies.[10] In 2016 the sisters — both still under 21 — appeared in the film Punk's Dead: SLC Punk 2 (on Netflix) and were announced as the opening act on a 10-show run of the Green Day tour supporting Revolution Radio, hitting clubs in cities including Boston, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit and Washington D.C.[2] Gwendolyn recalled having wanted to see Green Day's American Idiot tour around fifth grade but not being allowed to go.[2] Beyond the Green Day dates, Dog Party have also toured with CJ Ramone and collaborated with The Aquabats.[11]
Scene relationships
The Giles sisters built their footing among older Midtown musicians rather than peers their own age.[1] Family friend Zach Goodin — of the band Sexrat — acted as a musical teacher and coach to the duo, schooled them on gear, and released P.A.R.T.Y!!! on his Half of Nothing label.[1][12] Goodin affectionately called Gwendolyn "Gwenny."[12] The sisters played numerous shows with Kepi Ghoulie, and in addition to Dog Party were half of the Sacramento band Little Medusas alongside two older counterparts.[1] They completed a two-week tour through Arizona, New Mexico and Southern California with Ghoulie and Sacramento band Pets.[1] Through Burger Records they grew connected to label mates such as Pookie and The Poodlez, Swimmers and Ty Segall.[4]
Local venues and recurring shows
Dog Party were regulars of the Sacramento all-ages circuit. They played Concert in the Park at Cesar Chavez Plaza for at least three consecutive years (as of 2011), favored Luigi's (Fungarden) as an all-ages venue, and had previously played Old Ironsides before age restrictions cut them off.[1] An early documented Sacramento appearance was opening for Vivian Girls, Abe Vigoda and Agent Ribbons at Luigi's Fun Garden on April 24, 2009.[3]