Gringo Motel profile picture

Gringo Motel

you can pry this chicken from my cold dead hands

About Me

The southwest is alive in Philadelphia! Gringo Motel is a desert twang, instrumental surf band with excursions into mariachi, ambient landscapes, David Lynch, circus music, and outsider art. Their desolate resonance of somber tunes invoke reality as a picture show. Founded in 1999 by multi instrumentalist, engineer, and artist Tom Scheponik as a project combining art and music. The idea of the project was to have different people stopping by and staying for a while with no commitment. A demo of was recorded in 2001. That idea turned into the first full length album " Return of El Lobo " (Feb 2005). The album is a tale about a love triangle between a matador, a rooster, and a bull told from the point of view of an uneducated child painter. August 2006, Gringo Motel releases their second album, " Shower Music for the Insane " with even more tales of love, betrayal and revenge. Something for the whole familia!
Gringo Motel is in the studio recording for a 3rd album. Look for an early 2008 release.
Welcome to the Gringo Motel. We hope you enjoy your stay!


to hear more music: visit Gringomotel.com

Contact for Bookings, Recordings, Session work, Producing, Horoscopes, Recipes, Love Connections,and Fan Mail: email us here or @ GringoMotel


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/20/2005
Band Website: gringomotel.com
Band Members: Tom Scheponik :nylon guitar, electric guitars, vibraphone, pedal steel, accordion, rhodes, organ, dobro, mandolin, upright bass, guitarron, percussion, whoopin and a hollerin. Robert Hann :upright bass, percussion, whoopin and a hollerin. Rich Galster :acoustic guitar. Daniel Harvie :drums and percussion.(with special motel guests: Jeff Lager, Mark Gallagher, Joe Hight, Ryan Kozar, Eric Prykowski, Matt Kunkle, Jesse Honig, Mat Gibson, Elliott Hasiuk, and Joe Muller.)
Influences: Mariachi, Lhasa de Sela, Calexico, Friends of Dean Martinez, Amor Belhom Duo, Francoiz Breut, Amalia Rodrigues, Dirty Three, the Ventures, Ry Cooder's "Paris, Texas", Hungry Ghosts, David Lynch, Tango
Sounds Like: "Return of El Lobo"(2005) "Shower Music for the Insane"(2006) and other merchandise are available through gringomotel.com . :

cartoon by Tom Rudderham
Record Label: independent
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Album news and going ons

LATER...........back at the Halls of Gringo,  Mixing for the new album has begun.  Prepare for new music soon.  How does one prepare for new music????  I start with some loose fitt...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:58:00 PST

Recipes from the Cantina

Hola me compadres!  We've been known to dabble in the kitchen so I thought I'd pass along some of the gringo's favorite concoctions.  These recipes are not usually written out so use your ow...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:20:00 PST

Fishing from the chicken coop

-Recording for the new album is almost complete.....so soon there will be new music to take in.  The theme behind the album is 3 chickens goto a russian circus and get drugged and end up working ...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:41:00 PST

Jan 11, 2008

MILL CREEK TAVERN 4200 Chester Ave, West Philadelphia$79pm doors 21&upKermit Hell Lyman III(from Slumlord Philadelphia) Gringo Motel Bernie Bernie Headflap MikingMihrab(Father Devine Records)We ho...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:28:00 PST

buzzzzzzzz buzzzzzzz hello, this is the front desk.....

So we've been in the studio recording a new album.  You never know how much fun marching cymbals are until that first crash!  We've been practicing stomping??  Now if only som...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:40:00 PST

11/10/07 Maybe I’ll go topless.....oh, tapas......right.

We'll be setting the mood for the lovely town of Harrisburg.  An intimate set starting about 9:30pm.  Spanish Tapas Bar.....    gringomotel.comsuba myspacesuba homepage   ...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Mon, 22 Oct 2007 09:51:00 PST

Friday 10-5-2007 something a little spicy and something a little sour

We be returning to the Tritone with our old friends, Full Blown Cherry.  It's gonna be a spicy night.  We hope to see you there.  -the motel rooster Tritone is located @ 1508 South Str...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:47:00 PST

Gringo 2A sessions

Starting 10/5/2007, We're going into the studio to bang out some basic tracks for the upcoming 3rd album.  The theme???...........well let's just say drugged chickens and a gypsy circus.  I'...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:28:00 PST

9/15/07 Clark Park Festival

                 Clark Park Fall         EQUINOX FESTIVAL      &...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:19:00 PST

NYC Aug 26, 2007

Round dos!  We'll up the NYC playing a brunch at Crema on Aug 26, 2007.  Starts at NOON and goes to about 4pm.  They have amazing food.  They have amazing tequila.  They have ...
Posted by Gringo Motel on Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:46:00 PST