In fact, the group told the New York Times they never really wanted to be a band all because of what they saw happening on the Gotham music scene.
"We were really grossed out by a lot of the guys in leather jackets walking around Ludlow Street, and the aesthetic of The Strokes representing New York," vocalist Lizzi Bougatsos told the Times.
Instead of aspiring to be the musical flavor of the moment, the band wanted to be seen as an underground, improvisational act that would slowly build a loyal group of fans.
But in the information age, mainstream fame has a way of finding you, even if you're consciously trying to avoid it, and Gang Gang Dance has been thrust center stage just in time for the release its third album, Saint Dymphna.
The band is kicking off the promotional trek for the disc with a pair of appearances at the CMJ Music Marathon in New York City, followed by a handful of gigs opening for Of Montreal (October 28 - November 1) and a month-long headlining run beginning November 3 at Chicago's Empty Bottle.
And how are the group's members dealing with the increased exposure? Like true New Yorkers, they've adapted and adopted a more pragmatic vision for Gang Gang Dance.
"There's no such thing as selling out in my mind," Bougatsos said. "A Jeep commercial, a tampon commercial, anything. We're a band, we make music, and that's what we want to be known for."
Read the whole Times story here.