Hey Gringo are a Groove Injected, Funky Bluesy, Jazzy all original boogie/rockin' soul combo with a retro roots edge and the freshness of NOW.
Hey Gringo's Debut album "I WAS THERE" independently released in 2000 has scored rave reviews and airplay across Oz and as far as Argentina, Canada, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium & Denmark.
Formed by Daryl Roberts in 1993 the line-up has at times included guest appearances by some of Australia's most legendary performers.The band's relaxed and funky tongue in cheek attitude and sound is characteristic of the influences that make Hey Gringo so different.
Their new album "Funky Car" is now available including special guests Australian music icons Ross Wilson, Broderick Smith, Mike Rudd & Bill Putt & Nicky Bomba
Hey Gringo is the creation of multi instrumentalist/songwriter Daryl Roberts who had previously performed in original bands in the 1970's such as Photo, Bandit & ex Blackfeather vocalist Neale Johns' Fingerprint as well as playing in US Blues legend Jimmy Witherspoons backing band to performing with Oz folk legends Bobsy-Die, later with popular cover bands Legends and the Houserockers.
Hey Gringo started out as the alter-ego of a cover band playing a mixture of originals and soul/rnb covers and then around '95 as an acoustic duo with Daryl and Paul Gadsby(ex Paul Kelly & The Dots, The HotClub, Bouncing Checks, Men at Work, Colin Hay Band, Leslie Avril etc) playing tongue in cheek original and selective blues/countryish material . Around 1998 forming a band line-up with Iain McLennan(ex Ariel, Richard Clapton Band, Mondo Rock, Sports) on drums & Steve Hoy on guitar & vocals.
In 2000 with original material spanning the past ten years the first Hey Gringo album was recorded including such notable musicians as Ross Hannaford(Daddy Cool, Mighty Kong, Dianna Kiss, Big Bamboo) on guitar, Nicky Bomba(Banana Oil, The Truth, Bomba, John Butler Trio) on drums & percussion, David Williamson(Banana Oil, Yo Yo) on Sax along with Gadsby & Roberts. Described as "thought provoking and striking a balance between punchy & relaxed grooves, something Hey Gringo do extraorinarily well" by Terry Reilly of the Melbourne Age Newspaper's Entertinament Guide Album Review.
This album met with much positive reviews and airplay across Australia and as far as Argentina, Germany, Denmark, Canada, Netherlands & Belgium. (Check out the Reviews page)
Les Oldman (Fox, Running Trees, Blue Horizons, Eris O'Brien, Andrea Marr's Blues Train) joined on drums in 2002 and Hey Gringo performed as a trio around Melbourne pubs & clubs. Laurie Bongailas(Wild Style, Cold Sweat, Hoodoo King & The Impossibles) blew in on sax in 2003. Wayne Burt(Black Sorrows, JoJoZep, Rock Granite, The Giants, Fabulaires, The Hornets), Kelvin Flemming & Bill Putt help out on guitar from time to time and Stuart Orr & Brian Strafford also kick in with Sax. With heaps more new material and developing an original reto groove injected funky blues/roots style influenced by the Oz bands of the 70's Hey Gringo commenced work on their second album "Funky Car".
Although Hey Gringo's major influences are the Australian bands of the 70's, their music is fresh and vibrant & NOW. Described by audiences as "one of the best live original bands they have seen in ages" and at different times to be reminicent of Little Feat meets Zappa meets Allman Brothers meets Canned Heat or Steppenwolf they definately have their own sound.
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