Meet Gary Dougherty

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Dougherty.

Hi Gary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Black Venus started with a tooth throbbing and me needing something to sing about. A quick recording and a few emails later and I had a show to play. Ben and I met through a craigslist ad searching for a roommate a couple of years before. The fact that he was also a drummer to this day is a miracle.

The fact that a Craigslist ad led to a lifelong friend is also a miracle. Our first band together was ended in anguish, so when I need someone to play drums in Black Venus, Ben was the only answer. Years later, we’re about to release our first record and about to embark on yet another adventure.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Haha, my road has been anything but smooth. We all know life is full of challenges and bumps and wrong turns. Black Venus has always been my escape from the challenges of life. Or at least, my way throw my troubles into the wind.

Every time Ben and I play together the road turns to glass and I glide freely away from any obstacles life throws at me, or better yet I loudly fight back.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I express myself passionately and loudly, hoping to connect with people through my music. We’ve all had heartbreak, we all feel joy, we all love. I’m proud of the moments where I have achieved this with someone I’ve never met before and during a 5-minute song we get each other.

I don’t know what sets us apart from other bands and musicians, I just turn my amps up and give it everything I have, every performance. My goal is to make you feel something and I’ll do anything I can to damn well try.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was overweight, walked with crooked feet, and had no front teeth. I was also known as the growler. But that didn’t stop me from being outgoing and caring to anyone I met. My love for music also began at an early age. I blame my dad for that.

I used to carry a boom box around with me blasting in the grocery store or at my brother’s hockey games. In high school, I never really belonged to any group. I played sports, sang in the choir, and just traveled around between groups. That meant I usually sat alone during lunch.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @Blackvenusmusic
• Facebook: @runvenusrun
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC42qCdmk6SWgn-bpISC_SUA/about

Image Credits
Josh Trotter