These Melbourne-based musos are a self proclaimed “retro-original” band playing all new compositions in an unashamedly ‘seventies style rock/blues context. All nine tracks are composed by the band’s key organiser, veteran rockin’ blues man Daryl Roberts who assembled a rather impressive set of individual musicians for this recording including bassist, Paul Gadsby whose credits include working with the grassroots band, Uncle Bill as well as Men At Work/Colin Hay and Paul Kelly. Then there is the Daddy Cool man in the propeller cap, Ross Hannaford, whose style stretches all the way from Rock to Reggae and everything in between – you name it – he plays it. Rounding out this talented quartet is rising star – Nicky Bomba on percussion. Roberts, who contributes, guitars, harmonica, keyboards and more, was keen to keep the retro flavour fresh with new compositions and called on this rather flexible line-up which also included David Williamson “guesting” on sax from time to time with Iain MacClennan and Steve Hoy rounding out the evolving band. To complete the current Gringo unit, drummer Les Oldman has joined on a more permanent basis.
When listening to the nine tracks on this sort of “sampler” CD, there is the immediate thought that these new songs have that warm, pre-owned, lived-in feeling …not that you’ve heard it all before but that quality, good time music is still around and captured in a contemporary context. “Face Myself” the opening track is just that sort country/rock song and lays the ground for “Soul” which features Roberts and Hannaford swapping guitar licks. “Go Your Own Way” (No.. not the Fleetwood Mac song!) has that sophisticated laid back “coolness” to it thanks to a Chicago-style piano and “wah wah” guitar. “Only Thing I Need” ups the tempo and it’s easy to visualise the sax antics of Williamson and perhaps a brass section in a live context. “I Was There” is a really cleverly presented journey through a great era with Roberts giving away a little secret – he can remember those classic vinyl album titles of the ‘sixties and ‘seventies and rolls together as many as he can in the lyrics – Rubber Soul, Blood On The Tracks, Disraeli Gears, Cosmic Blues, A Nod’s As Good As a Wink To A Blind Horse, Machinehead – hey…Gringo are in good company with this heritage.
Worth far more than a passing glance, I Was There looks backwards in a distinctly fresh manner with no stale air in the sails and has a lot to offer those who remember what great guitar-driven Rock ‘n Roll and real R’n B was all about and would like to see that stellar tradition continue. Each song is tight, has plenty of quality backing for Roberts’ vocals, heaps of great piano, guitar and brass. It’s not too far-fetched to say that a number of tracks, if they had‘ve been written maybe a couple of decades ago, probably could have been hits. In their own words, “Been a long time comin, but now it’s done…”, and a new project is on the way which should see the boys in the studio soon with some impressive guests. This should take Gringo to another level again.
The Melbourne Age Entertainment Guide 1 Sept 2000
Striking a balance between punchy and relaxed grooves is something Hey gringo do extraordinarily well. Daryl Roberts’ bluesy combo is something of a Melbourne supergroup, a bunch of old campaigners including the indefatigable Nicky Bomba, the distinctive bass of Paul Gadsby and Ross Hannaford. Hey Gringo have the chops to forge their own identity, and Only Thing I Need, the standout track, maintains a powerful, throbbing pulse, with Bomba’s sharp trap work creating beautiful space for Hannaford to colour in some economical guitar lines, while David Williamson’s sax adds dramatically warm textures only when necessary. Soul for example, is a catchy mid-tempo soul offering sparkling emotion and strengthened significantly by Gadsby’s magnificent bass figures. For a nice little sleazy walking bass blues a la Chuck E. Weiss, savour the finger-snapping Go Your Own Way.
MELBOURNE SUNDAY HERALD SUN 3 July 2001 - Lee Howard
“Hey, hey, my, my – Rock ‘n ‘ Roll can never die.”
Neil Young sang it and bands such as Hey Gringo are the foot soldiers who carry the flag to ensure rock’n’roll survives. And the influences that frame much of Young’s retro rock outings also colour this independent Melbourne band’s debut album.
These come courtesy of the band leader Daryl Robert’s keyboard work. Rippling piano runs reminiscent of Jerry Lee Lewis’ recordings of the late 1950’s.
Laying down a big beat are Nicky Bomba(drums) and Paul Gadsby (bass), while Roberts has Ross Hannaford providing an alternative lead on guitar.
Throw in David Williamso’s saxophone and you have some great raw rock”n”roll. The kind with echoes of country, blues and rhythm and blues. In fact, it is a style Melbourne is fast adapting as it’s own. Hey Gringo joining such acts as the Exotics and the Hornets in providing a driving groove. The songs vignettes of life as seen and sung by Roberts and well deserve the musical expertise that supports it.
Are you looking for a little bit of everything to satisfy your insatiable music palate? Then consider I was There, an independent release from Hey Gringo. This five piece electric Australian act is self billed as an original retro, rootsy Rhythm & Blues band, the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Daryl Roberts. Daryl has been around in folk and blues bands since 1974, including a stint with legend Jimmy Witherspoon. Hey Gringo puts together some of Daryl's own material which he has performed live in various forms. On the disc Roberts performs keyboards, harmonica, mandolin, guitar, accordion and vocals. He is aptly assisted by Nicky Bomba (drums, percussion, vocals), Ross Hannaford (guitar), Paul Gadsby (bass, guitar, vocals) and David Williamson (sax). "Face Myself" is country rock with a fun and happy foot-stomping, catchy groove. On it, Daryl’s harp grabs the listener like an unwelcome visitor. His mandolin performance on "Soul" will inspire many to explore a stringed instrument other than the guitar. He then fills the gaps with his accordion and penetrates the crevices like oil sprayed onto a car. The modern sounding vocals on "Treat Me Mean" would be equally appealing to the alternative rock crowd, but the lyrics are down-home blues ... ‘...treat me like a peasant when I treat you like a Queen...' The saxophone’s brass flourish really makes this tune get down. "End Of The Road" is radio-friendly, on which the guitar strings are yanked and cranked with plenty of wah-wah pedal. They take a 90 minute action packed movie and compress it into a two and a half minute song on "Only Thing I Need." There are graphic descriptions of dinosaur and alligator attacks during this highly danceable organ groove. The keyboard is at the helm on the title track. The tune flashes back on a musical journey that begins in the Delta, matures into psychedelic rock and explodes into an arena rock fireball. Here, Roberts lets his piano rip on an album where solos are kept to a minimum. No, its not the blues and it has one of the strangest covers you will ever see, but it is earthy roots music, and its cosmic at that.