This Week's Band:
Gay Black Republican
November 4th & 5th 2006

We've got another first for the Homegrown this weekend. Political Punk music from the Gay Black Republicans! Their CD is titled Enola and the song I picked for the weekend is "Pleased To Meat You". I think the band is tons of fun and I like that their lyrics make people think instead of just zone out when listening. Listen to them this weekend on Z99.5, and catch them live at the Ugly Monkey November 7th! www.gayblackrepublican.com for more info!

Listen: http://gayblackrepublican.com/Surf%20Kennedy3-23-06.mp3

Together since 2001, Gay Black Republican formed out of the remaining members of The Repeat Offenders. Now consisting of Jeff “Pooh” Spalding on guitar, Rich Barker on bass, Sean “Pork Jesus” Copley on drums, and Doc Gremore on vocals, the band describes themselves as “old-school social/political surf punk pushed beyond the normal limits of punk rock.”

That's a bit of a change from their original description as “one part Primus, one part Ramones and one part something which cannot be named.” The band has changed a bit from their initial creation. Barker says “We have gone through several drummers over the years and have been working with a new singer since August.”

Knowing full well that the punk market in Indiana is serious but challenging, the band describes their approach. “Indiana is close to other states with cities that enjoy our type of music, so a short road trip can present us with a new audience. However, we are pretty far from the big markets like New York and L.A., so we use the Internet to reach a broader audience. Luckily there’s a dedicated punk scene here in Indy, and since some of our members speak Spanish we play some bilingual shows. We’d like to hit the other punk pock venues in Indiana, plus hit some regional hot spots like Chicago, Cincy, Louisville and St. Louis.”

GBR’s new CD “Enola”, which came out in March, represents their “best writing to date, containing songs about everything from cannibalism and drug abuse to unnecessary violence and our usual political commentary. The cover artwork is a collage of things representing the band name, song titles and lyrics from the release.”

“We like to make people think for themselves and not take everything at face value; To not blindly follow the easiest path and consider those that are affected by their decisions.”

Gay Black Republican is playing with Schwagg and Japan’s Peelander-Z at The Ugly Monkey November 7

Jeff Napier

Chilango’s
Saturday, April 29

Coming a week after an incendiary performance at a packed Punk Rock Night, Gay Black Republican found itself in front of a different kind of audience: Mexicans. The audience was assembled at Chilango’s, a combo Mexican restaurant/grocery/social hall at 16th and Arlington. Gay Black Republican was there as part of the venue’s Dia de los Niños, or “Kids Day.” It doesn’t get any better than watching a socio-political punk band called Gay Black Republican play at a Mexican kids’ carnival.

Despite all this, or maybe because of it, GBR rocked the house right proper. Pooh-Daddy’s Malkmus-on Angel Dust guitar propelled the tight rhythm section into a raucous punk rock frenzy topped off by a crazy, theatrical lead singer named Tony Garcia. The crowd assembled at Chilango’s was a bit reserved at first, but by the time GBR launched into “Ballet on Barbed Wire,” they were thoroughly rocking.

By the time GBR had run through its songlist litany of guns, dope and fucking in the street, the kids were giggling, older women sat in the restaurant part peacefully eating tortas and reggaetron rattled the dance floor. Sideshow Bob-looking bassist Rich Barker was selling CDs hand over fist. “Last week we played one of the biggest shows we’ve ever played and now we played one of the weirdest shows we’ve ever played. We sold out of CDs both times, so it’s all good.”

Your next chance to catch Gay Black Republican is on May 6 at Mo’s Loading Dock. Go.

Alrighty then, our 4th show! this show was a lot of fun and it was with two bands more our style-not really but punk rock at least!!!! if we were less introverted (or more drunk) we would have been more sociable. first on the agenda--last place first--i was pleasantly suprised by their blend of poppy punk and plenty of energy. they were hella tight--drums were right on--bass player jumping-- the singer was snotty and cool--what else you want from pop punk? they were fun to watch. hybrid moments-boy scout suits? fun.

Next on the platform-gay black republican. this was awesome-it was their party and they can rock if the want to-and they did, hard. prejudging them from their myspace jams left me with a hint of funky kennedys but live it was a whole new beast. the singer did the iggy twist while singing WORDS YOU COULD ACTUALLY HEAR . okay i'll quit yelling, but that is a rarity since i mostly go to hardcore and old school punk shows. the musicianship and melody of the bass player was amazing, plus you don't meet much more friendly gents on your punk rock travels. pooh was insane on guitar--it's funny before this i had only seen him play a mandolin. wowzers. seax, my old friend-you pounded those drums and even though i knew you had it in you-i hadn't seen it yet, haha you scare me.......think early 80's punk before it got raped by metal. go see them as soon as you see where they are playing.

Then we played--we all left thinking it was our sloppiest show--but now that 3 out of 4 of us watched it--we disagree. me and creepy had fevers and creepy actually had been off all week with a hellish cold. we eliminated our slowest jams out of the setlist because we wanted to rage and hurry. we gave it all we had and were tight but a little sloppy but fuck it-it's punk rock. we all had fun and that's all i give a shit about anyway. oh yeah-we play fezcore