JACKSON, Wyo. — Having seen De Gringos Y Gremmies a couple of times at regional musici festivals, it’s one of the more uniquely talented acts on the scene. The veteran trio pursues the lost art of melodic, playful instrumental music in the vein of spaghetti surf, Western surf garage rock, and Ventures style guitar prowess with original flare. Catch the free, all-ages show this Monday at The Center Amphitheater.
The trio of Shane Wallace (guitar and vocals), Dusty Richards (bass and baritone guitar), and Dan Walker (drums and percussion) are no strangers to making music together. From the late ’90s through the early ’00s, the Laramie group was named Custom Caravans, purveying a rare brand of surf-o-phonic trash-rock mayhem. Known for their energetic, loud and often outrageous live performances, the Custom Caravans would often break bass strings and beer bottles; sometimes appearing in leotards and wrestling masks. Every now and then, they would show up wearing nothing but slim strips of animal print loincloths.
Having gone separate ways in 2003, the fellas found themselves back in Laramie in 2017 and reunited as De Gringos Y Gremmies. Ready for a fresh start with an older and calmer approach, the trio continues to refine their sound and channel their love of all things tiki, surf, and western. Primarily instrumentalists, they are not afraid to add a dash of vocals now and then to keep the listener on their toes. As fans of classic beach, biker, and western films, De Gringos Y Gremmies are “the soundtrack for the movies in which they would otherwise be extras.”
Bring a blanket or low-back chair for The Center Park lawn, aka Center Amphitheater.
Center Presents with KHOL, Music Mondays featuring De Gringos Y Gremmies, 7 p.m. Monday at The Center Park. Free, all-ages. JHCenterForTheArts.org.
