Exotik-A-GoGo
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2010 | SELF
Music
Press
The music was perfect for the atmosphere and was really enjoyed by everyone. This band was not merely in the background, they were something to really pay attention to. - phenoMNal Twin Cities
The new (Psycho Suzi's) just blows the old one away, and a lot of that is due to their Friday and Saturday night house band, Exotik-A-GoGo, which is a bunch of old chops musicians seated in a circle right in the middle of everything playing hilarious Martin Denny-like bachelor-pad jazz utilizing everything from coconut shells to bird calls to a Theremin, all played at a volume low enough to allow for conversation. It's totally magical. - Dave Kapell
"And now for something completely different, there is Exotik-a-GoGo, phenomenal musicians at the top of their game who can play anything well. These tropical treasure hunters bring their bounty home to Minnesota, a recipe of rare Latin jazz with an early 60's feel, a dash of Klezmer and a dollop of Theremin for good measure. If Ernie Kovacs had been a group, this would be it." - Kevin Odegard, author, A Simple Twist of Fate and recording artist with Bob Dylan, www. bloodonthetr
Where the polar winds stir grass skirts, there you’ll find Exotik-a-GoGo. Exotik-a-GoGo rejuvinates our jaded modern lives, providing that gone sound from Then and making it music that's Now. Stumble through the soothing sounds of suburban sunburned boozy memories of yore. “Yore what?” you might ask. Well, this isn't yore mama’s exotica band, this is Exotik-a-GoGo! - DJ Greg Carr, www.Mrgosh.com
"Exotik-a-GoGo is the newest entry in that musical genre known as Exotica, and I am very excited about it. As house band at Minneapolis' Psycho Suzi's Tiki bar, and with their first CD release, Go Ape, they are establishing a cult-like following and are quickly becoming the talk of the tiki community. Mixing a deep appreciation for the legends of the genre with stellar songwriting skills and an exquisite ear for arranging, they put just the right touch on a sound that is second to none in contemporary Exotica." - Glen Leslie, Jet Set Planet, kfai.org/jetsetplanet
Click the link to hear an extended interview and radio concert with Exotik-A-GoGo - KFAI
Visit the link to hear a radio piece about Exotik-A-GoGo. - KFAI
Discography
"Go Ape!" (2011)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/go-ape!/id461478271
Photos
Bio
Formed in mid 2010, Exotik-a-GoGo combines the best sounds of the 50’s exotica trend (think Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman) with 60’s bachelor-pad jazz (think Herb Albert and Stan Getz)—hip sounds once featured in Tiki bars, Playboy Clubs, and Space-age lounges. It’s a bit of fake palm trees and Hollywood island dreamscapes meet hipster admen in shark skin suits.
We select melodies from the past, set them to driving jungle rhythms, and arrange them for drums, hand percussion, bass, keyboards, guitar, and vibraphone, adding in theremin, Moog, and winds as the occasion calls for it.
We’ve added our own originals and arrangements of classical melodies as well, and spiced it all with the occasional club beat to bring Tiki into the 21st Century.
A healthy dose of ape screams and bird calls sets the mood. And the mood is escape—from whatever or wherever you are to another time—to any time but the here and now.
We are available to play in various configurations from a 4 piece to a 7 piece band depending on the needs of the client or gig.
Craig Gallas, drums, founder, leader. Craig, the founder of Exotik-a-GoGo, has been playing professionally for almost 40 years, touring the United States and Europe, including sell-out shows in the round at The Royal Albert Hall. Craig is well-versed in rock and roll, blues, old-school R & B, classic rock, country, and many more styles. He has had the honor and fortune to perform and tour with such greats as Bo Diddley, Bobby Vee, Dell Shannon, Leslie Gore, Buddy Knox, Johnny Tillotson, Tommy Roe, and many other legends. He’s appeared on Austin City Limits and Solid Gold. Craig has created live sound for Ballet of the Dolls and other performance arts groups, produced albums, and videos. Craig may be reached at crgallas@gmail.com
Vince Hyman, vibraphone, percussion, jungle noises. Vince has been performing jazz, salsa, tropical, and orchestral music in the Twin Cities since 1976, working on percussion, vibraphone, marimba, and piano. He has contributed original compositions and arrangements to the band. Vince has performed with his own groups and ensembles led by Eric Kamau Gravatt, Kico Rangel, and Steve Westby. He has performed at the Dakota, the Artist's Quarter, Prairie Home Companion, Babalu, the Luxe, Sophia's, O’Shaugnessy Auditorium, Ordway Center, and other venues. As a percussionist, he has performed with the Dale Warland Singers, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, and Minnesota Composers Forum. He studied classical piano with Beatrice Ohanessian of the Baghdad Symphony, and percussion with Marvin Dahlgren of the Minnesota Orchestra. Vince is also a freelance writer and book editor. He may be reached at Vince@VinceHyman.com.
Tom Cravens, keyboard, guitar, percussion. Tom is locally hailed for his skills on guitar, on keyboard, and as an educator. He has contributed many originals and arrangements to the band. Tom is an active freelance musician in the Twin Cities, and has performed at a wide variety of venues including the Dakota, Mixed Blood Theatre, Guitar Society Guitarathon, West Bank School of Music, Dusty’s, Merlins, and SeaSalt. Tom has decades of experience as an educator, teaching music theory, jazz improvisation, and musicianship at Macalester College and piano, guitar, and jazz theory privately. One of his piano students went on to appear on Donald Trump's “The Apprentice” and many of his former guitar students have active recording and performing careers. Tom writes and records original music using cutting-edge recording software. Tom can be contacted at cravenst@earthlink.net.
Andy Nelson, flute, piccolo, soprano & bari sax, theremin, bag lama, percussion. Andy is a first call reeds player for many acts, including The Ronn Easton All Star Soul Review, The Pizazz Band, Charanga Tropical, Tres Mundos, Mike Stern, Jimmy Haslip and Bob Mintzer, and many more. He has appeared on recordings for a number of ensembles. Andy teaches music full time, including junior high in Brooklyn, New York, and schools in St. Paul and suburban Minneapolis. He helped to start the instrumental music program at the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, including orchestra and jazz ensemble programs. Andy received a BM in Music/Jazz Studies from DePaul University, Chicago, and an MA in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas. Andy is on the faculty at Brooklyn Center High School and Earle Brown Elementary, where he teaches Orchestra and Elementary Band.
COME SEE US IN PERSON!
This Twin Cities exotica music orchestra appears live every Friday & Saturday from 7 - 11 pm at Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge in NE MPLS.
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