Nate Gibson recently finished writing a book about the history of Starday Records, country music’s largest and most successful Golden Era independent label, and the music has truly worn off on him. Much like Starday Records, whose slogan was “Preserving Our Nation’s Musical Heritage,” so too are Nate Gibson and the Gashouse Gang. Whether they’re playing ‘50s East Texas style honky-tonk, Memphis rockabilly, western swing, hillbilly boogies, bluesy yodels, Bakersfield ballads or any other genre under the mighty “Americana” umbrella, Gibson and the boys take a scholarly approach to their repertoire of highly energetic hillbilly bop and bad joke telling.

Nate Gibson and the Gashouse Gang were a fixture of the New England honky-tonk scene for eight years (2001-2009), playing festivals and clubs anywhere traditional country music, honky-tonk and/or rockabilly was heard. In 2006 Gibson and the Gang signed with Cow Island Music, becoming labelmates with the Starline Rhythm Boys, the Dixons, Preacher Jack, Arty Hill, Li’l Mo and the Monicats and several other top national acts keeping the good sound alive, and can now boast of having two critically-acclaimed CDs distributed by the label. A third CD, featuring several tracks recorded by bluegrass legend Al Hawkes at the Event Records studio in Westbrook, ME, is currently in the works. Also slated for the new release are covers of classic tunes by Joe Maphis, Curtis Gordon, the Stanley Brothers, Al Hawkes and Rex Trailer in addition to several more upbeat Gibson originals. In August of 2009, Gibson moved to Bloomington, Indiana to further his studies at Indiana University, though the band still reunites to play festivals and the occasional New England club date.

The Gang’s latest masterpiece, All the Way Home, was the result of Nate’s five years of research into Starday Records and was dedicated to his friend Don Pierce, Starday President and Co-Founder. Pierce recorded the album’s introduction and outro and even wrote the liner notes just two weeks before his passing in April of 2005. During his reign as Starday President, Pierce played a pivotal role in country music history, jumpstarting the careers of George Jones, Dottie West, Willie Nelson, Roger Miller and countless others, as well as reviving the careers of Cowboy Copas, Red Sovine and Johnny Bond. In addition to Don’s musings, All the Way Home also features covers of several Starday tunes including ‘My Heart Gets Lonely’ by Eddie Skelton, Sleepy Jeffer’s ‘My Blackbirds Are Bluebirds Now’ and Wayne Raney’s anthemic ‘We Need A Whole Lot More of Jesus (And A Lot Less Rock and Roll).’ Of course, several Gibson originals appear such as ‘Don’t Wait,’ ‘The Trolley Tour Boogie,’ ‘Ol’ Roy,’ and ‘My Big 18’ among others. Also included is the title track, a cover of Spinal Tap’s first written song, a rousing rendition of Merle Travis’ ‘Divorce Me C.O.D.’ as well as Arthur “Guitar Boogie” Smith’s barnstorming boogie ‘Who Shot Willie.’ The recordings were made and mixed at Appleman Studios in Stoneham, MA by Chris ‘Cujo’ Cugini (Blizzard of ‘78, Anastasia Screamed) with additional recording by Phil Aiken (Buffalo Tom, Phil Aiken Army) and Clyde Beavers (Mercury-Starday recording artist)!

Furthermore, if you don’t already have the self-titled Gashouse Gang record, you are missing out on a slice of New England country music history. Aside from the Gang’s usual raucous honky-tonk, you’re also treated to two songs with New England country music legend Rex Trailer (host of Boomtown, New England’s own Saturday morning cowboy television show) as well as two ditties with Starday recording artist and King of the Yodelers, Kenny Roberts!!! Recorded and mixed by engineering wizard Rob Lowe in Boston, MA, the debut disc includes Gashouse classics such as ‘An Immaculate Confection (The Necco Song),’ ‘The King of the Yodelers,’ ‘She Won't Wear A Bra (Cause She Don't Need It),’ ‘I Can’t Sell My Broken Heart On eBay,’ ‘I Don't Need Liquor For A Good Time (I Need Liquor To Survive)’ as well as five other Nate Gibson originals with long titles and a Johnny Horton cover.

To purchase either album, or just to check out a few tunes, click on the album covers above and you will be redirected to the Gang’s MySpace page. If you are looking to book the Gashouse Gang for your club or private function, please follow the Sonicbids link to the right and visit the band’s Electronic Press Kit. An extended bio, full press reviews, promotional photos and setup requirements are available. If you would like to order a Nate Gibson and the Gashouse Gang CD, please link to the Cow Island Music website or CD Baby. Individual tracks can also be downloaded on iTunes.

What They Are Saying About Nate Gibson and the Gashouse Gang:

“The terms ‘renaissance man’ and ‘honky-tonk singer’ don't often describe the same person, but both fit Nate Gibson. As frontman for his throwback country band, Nate Gibson and the Gashouse Gang, the Kansas-reared transplant is one of the leading lights of Boston’s emerging honky-tonk scene.” – Christopher Blagg, Boston Herald

“The music has a hard-core, classic country feel, with upright walking bass lines, snappy acoustic guitar and pedal steel licks, and a dusty old-West feel in the steady rolling rhythms.” – Sarah Rodman, Boston Herald

“It’s a good, tongue-in-cheek, shit-kickin’ (can I say that?) album, and it needs to be in everyone’s party CD collection to liven things up. The most perverse song is ‘Immaculate Confection.’ It's about Necco wafers and the factory over in Cambridge. Why perverse? These guys take an unnatural interest in the damn wafers. I’ll be the first to coin the phrase... the name of Nate and the boys’ music... NECCOBILLY.” – Mike Loce, The Noise

“The intimate setting was transformed by the Gang’s relentless vigor. They rock the way Elvis used to, before all those peanut butter and banana sandwiches.” – Fred Chao, What's Up Magazine

“Country Music is dead. Nashville killed it. But wait! Here comes Boston, the country-rockabilly capital of America, to save the genre from itself, with local boy Nate Gibson (Boston by way of Kansas) leading the charge.” – Paul McMorrow, Weekly Dig

“Every so often, peripheral liner notes reveal the essence of an album. Take what Nate Gibson says about the song “My Big 18”: ‘OK, kids, this is the last song. Time to gather ‘round the campfire for this one. We’re gonna have a happy, hand-clapping hoedown jamboree old-time get-together barn dance sing-along hootenanny truck-driving jubilee-type thing. Sing along!’ That's an accurate description of this entire album.” – Brian T. Atkinson, Country Standard Time

“Hailing from Boston, the group is what I would describe as a Rockabilly friendly Country act. You know, upright slapped bass, the right dance grooves… Sounds like Boston is still a fun place!” – Marc Bristol, Blue Suede News