Gasoline Gypsies, do not miss this one Traverse City! In the past couple of years, the Gypsies have racked up five Detroit Music Awards in Rock and Americana, been deemed one of the “Three Best Unsigned Bands in the USA” by JBL, were Grand Prize Winners of the 2017 Michigan State Fair Superstar contest and voted Best Original Rock Band in the 2018 WDIV Local 4 Detroit Viewers Poll. They also are now garnering regular radio airplay outside the Midwest, most notably in the Triangle markets of North and South Carolina, and now expanding west. The Vagabundos, the Gypsies multi-generational, highly active and loyal fan tribe, (named for their most recent EP release,) are a main driving force behind the band, following them to destination gigs and festivals all over the country.
The Gasoline Gypsies serve up Jam-based Roots Rock & Roll, delivered by four guys who clearly thrive together on their shared mission. With three-part vocal harmonies, plus driving guitar and bass riffs, set on a foundation of rock solid drum work, the Gypsies songs are powerful and intense, while remaining simple and true.
The past several years have brought multiple releases, each more clearly distilling their signature Blues-based vintage Southern Rock sound…“Killin’ Time” dropped on July 1st 2017, not long after they were deemed one of the “Three Best Unsigned Bands in the USA” by JBL, and just prior to their win as Grand Prize Winners of the 2017 Michigan State Fair Superstar competition. In Spring 2018, the band received their first two Detroit Music awards, for Outstanding Americana Act and Outstanding Americana Recording for “Killin’ Time”.
In support of their August 2018 release, “Vagabundos”, the band toured the Eastern portion of the U.S, along with releasing videos for the singles “Walking Trouble” and “Freaks & Nonbelievers”.
The Gypsies nabbed three more trophies at the April 2019 Detroit Music Awards, for Outstanding Rock Group, Outstanding Rock Record (Vagabundos) and also Outstanding Video produced on a limited budget (Freaks and Non-Believers)
The first incarnation of the Gasoline Gypsies was an acoustic, three piece Folk/Rock act, that honed the Gypsies penchant for crisp harmonies and mature lyrics. Founding members Caleb Malooley and Steve Briere had been playing together since their early days in high school in Michigan’s Thumb region. The departure of their original percussion man for Nashville resulted in meeting drummer Joe Makowski, an unabashed rock and roller, whose style begged that the Gypsies plug in and test their rock chops. Electrified, Caleb’s front man guitar skills blossomed. Not long after came the natural addition of a second guitarist, Neal Love, an important element of new magic, for crystalizing the Gypsies now four-man signature sound.
Caleb and Neal mesh their guitars as if they’ve been playing together forever, both contributing fiery elements of combined lead and rhythms. Steve’s bass lines flow easily from subtle to funky, and Joe on the kit anchors the whole sound, with hard-hitting beats that can’t help but move the feet.
Next up for the Gasoline Gypsies is a planned series of new song single track and video releases for 2020, eventually heading toward a full album release later in the year…plus more high profile festival performances, destination camping events with their loyal, multi-generational Vagabundos fan tribe, and rockin’ small theater concerts …and will also include the expansion of their exciting Roots Rock Revolution variety show vision, which offers multiple bands and artists sharing the stage, paying homage to classic vintage rock songs, while keeping the joyous flame of roots music alive for the future, through new original music that celebrates the genre.
