by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
These gringos ascribe to the theory that if the band is having fun, then the audience will join them. That’s exactly what happened at Twisted Sisters last Saturday night when I visited this hip club. Vivacious co-owners Tracy and Sunny were out on a catering job, but the joint was jumping. The gals had the place on autopilot. Unabashedly, the Dirty Gringos foster the idea of leading the club patrons to fun junction and keeping the energy level as high as the Space Station.
This 4 piece raunch-rock band has no hidden agenda except creating a party atmosphere and blowing off steam. The band members include Rob Orndorff on drums, Mike Rallah on bass, Scott Slinger on guitar, and Todd Horn on lead vocals. These experienced musicians came from other now defunct bands like Spider Monkey, Rev 7, Haven, and Mandorico.
The group came together because they were fed-up with band conflicts and unrealistic goals. TDG is all about danceable grooves while enjoying the experience and bonding with their audiences. At Twisted Sisters, the Gringos had brought in many of their friends and neighbors to party. Also, TS’s regular hip young crowd was there to socialize and get an attitude adjustment with Jack and Bud.
TDG’s repertoire is a potpourri of party favorites such as ACDC’s Big Balls and Highway to Hell, Cheap Trick’s I Want You to Want Me, Curtis Mayfield’s Pusher Man, The Cure’s Just like Heaven and many other popular party songs which, when everyone who has had a few drinks, wants to hear. By the time most people arrived at the Dirty Gringos little shop of merrymaking inside TS, the late arrivals had a head start on reaching alcohol induced Nirvana. Oh yeah, let us not mince words. Until, as Huey Lewis recommends, a new legal drug is invented, booze is the drug of choice–in moderation of course.
I especially liked the band’s satirical overview. These cats definitely don’t take themselves too seriously. Hey after a hard week of working day jobs, they just want to raise a little hell and play some rock’n’roll. What better way to summon up the demon of fun in the room than rocking until their fingertips bleed. Bob said that two of the members live in St. Augustine, and they have played gigs there as well as in Jacksonville.
The lads of The Dirty Gringos boast of a combined 1,500 fan base as part of their promotional plan. The lads post front page announcements on their www.dirtygringos.com website of upcoming gigs, and create fliers stickers and other promotional material prior to their jobs.
Not many bands that I know about are savvy enough to help promote their own gigs for their employers. Based on what I observed, TDG’s filled up TS with their friends and fans, which will bode well for them getting other gigs. This band is a party on wheels, bringing the fun and party-people to their gigs. And that’s what it’s all about for clubs like Twisted Sisters. “Have a little fun, do a little dance, make love tonight.” That sounds good to me.
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