Gringo Star has been a staple in the Atlanta music scene for years. With their unique blend of retro British pop beats and catchy rock licks, they have developed a unique following throughout the world. Their legion of fans is not surprising considering their songs can fit nearly every soundtrack to one's life from road trips, dance parties, and drunken riots all with a sense of nostalgia. Last year Gringo spent the end of 2009 on a nonstop tour through Europe; so far 2010 is not slowing down. Before the band embarks on another European tour, they are playing a long overdue hometown show this Friday, April 16 at The Earl. While finishing their U.S. tour, members of Gringo Star chatted with Mixtape Atlanta about life on the road, being movie stars, product endorsements, and plans for a new album. Find out how you can win 2 tickets to their must-see April 16 show at the end of the interview.
You guys seem to be constantly touring. How does it feel to be back in Atlanta? Does the city ever seem different? If so, what way?
It's always nice to get back into the A. It pretty much feels like Atlanta remains a constant.
What do you most look forward to about coming home? Is there a particular place (restaurant, bar, park, venue, etc.) that you have to hit up when you come home?
Straight to
El Torero.
Gringo Star had a pretty long European/ UK tour last fall and you are getting ready to go back this Spring. How is playing in Europe different from playing in the States? Do you have a favorite venue or country you really like playing?
Playing in Europe was amazing for tons of reason. It seems like bands are generally treated better, with more hospitality from the venues/promoters. Like most of the places we played had rooms for the band to stay in, at the venue, and they'd feed you dinner and breakfast the next morning before you left. It's just so much fun to travel and see other parts of the world, so just driving across Europe is such a visual treat. You just don't get to see such old architecture, towns, castles, and cities like that here in the U.S., but traveling the U.S. is great too. As far as a favorite place or country we like going to, it's really hard to narrow that down. Because, it's the whole enchilada that makes it all in the end.
At SXSW, a documentary about your European/ UK tour titled Hurry Up and Wait was released. What was it like seeing yourself and personal story of the band on the big screen with an audience?
You know it's kinda strange...we didn't really know what to expect, basically these two guys from Dallas went and took a gazillion hours of footage for 7 weeks, and then made a 90-minute film of it. We didn't have any input into it, besides saying dumb things on camera, and being the Gringo Stars of their movie. It was cool, but ya know, a lot of like, "Damn, I said that?" or "Damn, I did that?" or "Damn, is that how I look?"
How did the film come to be?
Last year on the way to play at SXSW, we played a couple shows with
King Khan and the Shrines. At the show in Dallas, Justin and Lior (
MALONE PICTURES) had come to film the Shrines for Vice or something. They saw us play, and really liked it, and asked if they could come film one of our shows at SXSW. We said sure. We forgot about the encounter till a week or so later, when mid-set at some outdoor party we were playing, came the reappearance of Justin with his camera on us. He ended up filming the end of the set and then us loading out of the club, and got in the van and wanted to ride around filming us in the van. We ended up driving across UT campus and happened upon this art display, and ended up doing a spontaneous music video for one of our songs "Come on Now." That was about it. We continued on our tour and they went back to Dallas. Then a couple weeks later we got a call that they really liked our music and really wanted to come along for our 7-week Euro Tour. And they met us at the ATL airport...
Are there any plans for an Atlanta premiere or showing?
Not yet. They wanted to debut it in film festivals first, I think.
While flipping through TV one night, I heard a VERY familiar song on a Macy's commercial. Have you seen your song "All Y'all" on TV in Macy's Tommy Hilfiger commercial? What was your reaction?
I don't have a TV so I never got to see it live, but I did have a cousin that video-taped it and put it up on youtube so we could see it. Probably not the same excitement as if it had been a suprise. It was cool though. We had friends from all over the country, all at the same time, start emailing us to say they'd heard it, or to ask if that was us cause they knew the song. Our bank account's reaction was the best though.
If you could personally endorse one product what would it be? Like how P. Diddy endorses Ciroc Vodka, what would Gringo Star push?
Trainwreck. Although we do have a Taco Bell thing in the works.
Do you ever get burnt out playing your own music?
Only if we run out of Trainwreck.
How do you keep all of your performances fresh and new each time?
Gin and Juice.
I heard you guys are working on a new album. When in the world do you find the time and when can we expect it to be released?
We've recorded/demoed about 15 tracks in the basement, and we are working on lining up schedules with Ben [Allen] and James, who we recorded "All Y'all" with us.
Since we've been touring so much and Ben has been recording all sorts of stuff like Beastie Boys, Animal Collective, and Matt and Kim, it's been sort of a waiting game to see when we would be in town at the same time as them.
Looking like next month though, and hopefully we'll have something out in the fall.
Although our debut record, "All Y'all" is coming out in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, and Luxembourg on May 14th on
Cargo Records, which we are pretty excited for.
If you were making an ultimate mixtape of your favorite songs, what is the one song you would have to include?
"Bring it on Home to Me" by Sam Cooke.
Don't miss Gringo Star at The Earl Friday, April 16! It will be the band's last show in Atlanta before they hit the road to finish up their U.S. tour dates and then head overseas. Win 2 tickets to Gringo's April 16 show by emailing us your favorite Gringo Star song at
[email protected]!
Kim Burdges
