Atlanta rock n’ rollers Gringo Star brought their good time jams and kicking live show to Glasslands this past weekend, touring behind their new 7 inch Going Way Out b/w Taller that just came out in December. They got right to it, as there was really no need to feel out or ease into this set; the crowd was already pumped and happy, and Gringo Star songs are more giddy up and go than mellow your mind anyway. “All Y’all” came up pretty early, and that’s my jam, so right away I was like, yeah! That was a good tactic actually, to play a hit like that early, because instead of trying to take in new material I was immediately drawn in and having a good time, so it made the tunes I was less familiar with just as fun.
What also kept things fresh was the constant switcharoos happening between the two front man brothers, Nick and Pete Furgiuele, and longstanding bandmate Chris Kaufmann. Bass, guitar, keyboard, other guitar – they all played them all. All y’all. And there wasn’t any of that stopping between songs, the drummer (who on this run was the live drummer for Washed Out) trying to keep the crowd distracted with small talk either. It was like, swish, whoosh, fluid like water transitions with nary a pause betwixt the jams. The flow was so good I could barely tell the difference between what songs I knew and loved and what songs I didn’t…but still loved. They even had a guy jump on lap steel for a tune, who quite stealthily climbed up on stage, sat down Indian style, and lent some extra twang.
There’s an old fashioned feel to Gringo Star’s songs, influenced by old school soul and classic pop, with a lo-fi garage rock flair. Add to that the scratchy vocals from the bros, who share equal vocal duties, and there’s just something really new yet familiar, which in a way is really the perfect accomplishment for any band. Everyone can be compared to something else, evoke memories of another time, talk about the same themes that millions of other bands have already talked about. The trick to being a great band, with substance that lasts, is to take all those experiences and influences, and make them your own. Gringo Star makes this work. And it doesn’t hurt that Nick can rock the hell out of a bass. By the time they got towards the end of the set and played “Make You Mine,” they had pretty much made Glasslands theirs.
Athey also had a great band play right before them, psych pop folkers Backwords. These guys knew their way around a melody pretty well, and gave away at least one influence while they were soundchecking. Bassist/guitarist Tim Pioppo had an impressive falsetto voice, especially during his mic check when he sang a line from Neil Young’s “Mellow My Mind” in a much higher range, and was spot on. They had more in between song banter moments, but of the genuinely interesting kind. I especially liked it when Tim took a quick inventory of the room and noted “…got a camera, mustaches, people dressed nice…it’s all good.” Sure was.
Gringo Star has a few more dates this month, and plan to release a new full length in the Spring. Keep up on Facebook and Twitter. No more upcoming dates scheduled for Backwords, but they also have a new album up their sleeve, so check all developing happenings on their Facebook.
