The SOUND GYPSIES are a band performing cover and original music throughout Chicago, Northwest Indiana, and soon in the St.Louis, MO. areas.
Matt Villicana & Rene Garcia have been long-time friends growing-up in East Chicago, IN where music was a common interest both had shared. Early in the summer of '93, Matt was home from college and contacted Rene to get together for a few songs at Highland, IN's now defunct Georgie K's local Jam Night. Armed with a handful of songs and having rehearsed for the first time just hours before, the 2 friends took to the stage. Their performance led to an invitation by the event host - Ronn Barany, to return to perform a full nights music.
Shy a full night's worth of music, Matt & Rene made quick friends of another acoustic duo "Fuzzy Choda." The two duo's spent the rest of the college Summer Break in '93 and again in '94 performing at different venues often billing their performances under the headline "VIKING FEST", a tongue in cheek reference to some of the Metal band events which ruled the MTV Generations of that time.
Upon Matt completing his studies at IU Bloomington, the SOUND GYPSIES began experimenting with their sound by adding other guest musicians to the acoustic fold. To bring the music, and their performance style to bigger audiences, they moved ahead and took the experiment into amplified sound and at one time grew to a 6-piece band regularly featuring Freddy Gonzalez on percussion; John White on guitar; Eric Bowman on drums; and Allyene Hoyt on violin.
The band's continually evolving sound and strong performances garnered an increasing demand, which helped to allow them to begin working on original music, and solidify the band's line-up. Drummer, Aron Schuhrke's name had come to the band by way of Phil Riner, Danny Giorgi, and Stephen Fields (all of the band FIL). Shortly thereafter, having performed with the band several times during their standing gig hosting a local Jam Night at Ronnie B's, Colin Peterson on lead guitar set the line-up firmly in place by the end of 1996. This line-up performed throughout Northwest Indiana & Chicago for the next 3 years performing 3-4 shows a month, at some 25 different venues, including Angelo's, Shannon's Landing, Ricciardi's, Goodfella's, Mighty Mick's, Rodney's, Kenwood Tap, in Indiana and Widow McCleary's, in Thornton, IL and HoggHead McDunna's in Chicago, as well as Special Event Festivals, and College & University performances.
Career moves have transplanted Matt to the East Coast; back to the Chicago area; and into St. Louis by the end of 2003, where he continues to reside today. The friendship & chemistry these 4 individuals share both on-stage and off, continues to find them performing together several times a year.
If you have not seen the band perform, we invite you to come out and share a performance with us. The SOUND GYPSIES have always had the distinction of taking the music they've performed and allowing the energy of their audience to shape its sound. The on-stage mood of the band and the energy from the audience combine to allow the music to evolve itself. It's often been said that this element is what draws the most appeal to the band.
...we hope to influence you to keep coming around, as it is the building and renewing of friendship in music that keeps us together, and the celebration of friends that makes music worth making...
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