The Gomers

:"For the fan club family of the band Third Day, see Gomers"

The Gomers are a Madison, WI - based comedy rock / experimental music / progressive rock band.

History

The Madison, Wisconsin band formed in 1986 and have been featured five times on the Westwood One distributed Dr. Demento Radio Show with their songs "Sgt. Carter" in 1989, [ [http://dmdb.org/cgi-bin/plinfo.pl?drd89.0827.html Dr. Demento Show #89-35 August 27, 1989 vinyl-distributed playlist] ] "Jewish Rapper" in 1990 [ [http://dmdb.org/cgi-bin/plinfo.pl?drd90.0325.html Dr. Demento Show #90-12 March 25, 1990 vinyl-distributed playlist] ] , "Salt And Sugar" [ [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,1767838,00.html Non-commercial review of Salt And Sugar documents band members & credits] ] twice in 2002 [ [http://dmdb.org/cgi-bin/plinfo.pl?drd02.0421.html Dr. Demento Show #02-16 April 21, 2002 CD-distributed playlist] ] [ [http://dmdb.org/cgi-bin/plinfo.pl?drd02.0310.html Dr. Demento Show #02-10 March 10, 2002 CD-distributed playlist] ] and "Crime Scene" on March 23, 2008 [ [http://dmdb.org/cgi-bin/plinfo.pl?drd08.0323.html Dr. Demento played "Dance Jack Palance" and "Crime Scene" on The Dr. Demento Show #08-12] ]

Their name was taken from Gomer Pyle.

Gomers notability

Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and former Mayor Sue Baumann both proclaimed February 1 as "Gomer Day" [ [http://beeftone.com/GomerDayMayoralProclamationMP3.mp3 Audio of Mayor Dave proclaiming February 1 Gomer Day in Madison WI] ] [ [http://www.thedailypage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19646 Text of the official Mayoral proclamation] in Madison, WI] in Madison.

Rev. Ivan Stang from the Church of the Subgenius collaborated with The Gomers on his 1999 release, "Live at Starwood" from the Starwood Festival on the song "Pain Stain 2K". [ [http://www.rosencomet.com/catalog/tapes/stang_ivan-tapes.html The Gomers listed on the Starwood release] ] [ [http://www.subgenius.com/bigfist/FIST-2000-2/X0015_02-00_report.html The Gomers listed on the 1999 Starwood release] ] [ [http://www.subgenius.com/scatalog/devival-cd.htm The Gomers listed on the 1999 Starwood release] ] The band has also appeared on the Hour of Slack several times. [ [http://www.subgenius.com/bigfist/ears/hoslogs/X0013_HoS712-713.html The Gomers' song "Headrush", "It Wasn't Human" and "Pain Stain 2k" all documented in the Hour of Slack #712/713 playlist] ] [ [http://www.subgenius.com/bigfist/ears/hoslogs/X0010_HoS718.html The Gomers' song "Sulu" documented in the Hour of Slack #718 playlist] ] [ [http://www.mbus.com/bands/genadm/Gomers.htm the Subgenius connection and more documented] ]

The Gomers backed up Jen Gereb on her album for autistic & sensory-challenged children titled "Cool Bananas" which was released in the USA and Australia. [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/cool-bananas Documents Biff on Violin, Mandolin and Vocals, Dave Adler on Keyboards] ] [ [http://www.dnastudios.us/ see June 24, 2006 entry] ]

The Gomers are the house band for the Madison Area Music Awards yearly concert in Madison. [ [http://www.garbagediscobox.com/news/?p=1165 Butch Vig and Duke Erikson of Garbage document the Gomers at the March 20, 2006 MAMA show] ]

In April 2006 Maximum Ink [ [http://www.maximumink.com/articles.php?articleId=946 Maximum Ink Cover Story by Mike Huberty] ] noted the "longevity, durability, or diversity" of the band and the Mayoral Gomer Day Proclamation. [ [http://www.maximumink.com/articles.php?articleId=917 Maximum Ink September 2002 Article on The Gomers by John Noyd] ]

Madison Magazine did a film feature in 2006 of Karaoke in [Madison and documented the Gomers' Gomeroke [ [http://www.madison.com/post/postproduction/karaoke/ Madison Magazine documents The Gomers Live Karaoke Show] ] live Karaoke show.

Awards

In 2006 the Gomers were awarded three Madison Area Music Awards: Best Unique Artist, Best Unique Song and Best Cover Band. [ [http://www.themamas.org/bio documentation of The Gomers being given 3 MAMA awards in March 2006] ] . They were awarded "Best Cover Band" in 2005 and 2007 as well. Madison weekly newspaper "The Isthmus" awarded the band "Madison's Favorite Cover Band" and "Dance Band" several times from 2000-2007 [ [http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=5152 Spending New Year's Eve 2006 in Madison? - Isthmus | The Daily Page ] ] .

Connections

Several members of the Gomers are currently employed by international recording artists.

Steve Burke The Gomers' guitarist, played on the Killdeer album "Country Protest Anew" with Eugene Chadbourne [ [http://www.carljohns.com/catalog.html Country Protest Anew] ] and Noahjohn [ [http://www.noahjohn.com/ Steve Burke, far left, documented as member of Killdeer Records Recording Artists NoahJohn] ] in September 2003. [ [http://www.dnastudios.us/clients2.php?intBandID=19 Noahjohn & Chadbourne project described in studio log] ] [ [http://www.eugenechadbourne.com/#9/4/00 Eugene mentions Noah John backing him up] ] Steve and Biff both recorded, performed with and have appeared on Eugene Chadbourne CD releases in 2004. Steve and Gordon currently play in Cement Pond with Dan Hobsen of Killdozer fame on drums.

Dave Adler, The Gomers' music director, was pianist/keyboardist Bobby Ricotta for Richard Cheese on Lounge Against the Machine's first 2 releases Lounge Against the Machine and Tuxicity. [Dave Adler is documented as being a member of the Richard Cheese Band on Wikipedia] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1O8K-WJ-BE Dave Adler shown playing keyboards for Richard Cheese on international source The Fox News Channel] ]

Biff and Dave both appeared on Willy Porter's 1994 release "Dog Eared Dream" [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/dog-eared-dream here credited as Bill Uranus co-writer of the song Be Here Now] ] [ [http://www.folklib.net/index/p/porter_willy.shtml here again credited as Bill Uranus, co-writer of Be Here Now] ] as a performers and co-writers of the song "Be Here Now", as well as on 1999's Falling Forward. [ [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/appears/0,,693411,00.html#more Semi-complete discography of Biff] ] [ [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,874890,00.html Falling Forward credits] ] Currently Gomer Dave Adler tours with and produces the Willy Porter Band. [ [http://www.willyporter.com/press/downloads/Willy_Porter_Band_color_sm.jpgDave Adler pictured as current member of Willy Porter Band 2nd from the right] ]

From 1992-present Biff has been a member of Headpump and produced their only album, "[e-mail]". The record was recorded in Chicago and featured Sugarcubes/Björk drummer Sigtryggur Baldursson on drumkit, samples and vocals with Biff on violin/ guitar. Also note the 2 Reptile Palace Orchestra internationally-released albums [ [http://www.greenmanreview.com/cd/cd_reptilepalace_weknow.html Greenman Review documenting Biff & Siggi] ] that Biff produced/performed on with Siggi. [ [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigtryggur_Baldursson#Colaboraciones_de_Sigtryggur_Baldursson List of Siggi's Collaberations - "HWY X" and "Iguana, iguana" RPO albums documented] ] [ [http://www.noside.com/Catalog/CatalogArtist_01.asp?Action=Get&Artist_ID=30 Siggi documented with Biff as Reptile Palace Orchestra members] ]

Biff played electric violin on the Bradley Fish recording "The Aquarium Conspiracy" [ [http://www.folklib.net/index/f/fish_bradley.shtml Biff & Siggi shown on The Aquarium Conspiracy album] ] again with Sigtryggur Baldursson in 1996, touring with Fish and Baldursson in support of that album from 1995-98.

In April 1996, Biff and Dave toured with Siggi to support the album "Bogomil Font Syngur Tónlist Eftir Kurt Weill, Nor©£ur og Ni©£ur" which they recorded and at King Size Studios in Chicago. It was released only in Iceland. [ [http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigtryggur_Baldursson#Discograf.C3.ADa_de_Bogomil_Font_.281993-1997.29 Siggi Discography on Latin Wiki] ] This theatrical concert was filmed by and appeared on Icelandic Public Television later in 1996. [ [http://dvm.nu/hierarchy/periodical/ns/1998/01/?show=data/periodical/ns/1998/ns1998_1XML/periodical-ns1998_1_07.tkl&type=periodical Documentation of Bogomil's successful Kurt Weill album/tour] ]

Biff Blumfumgagnge has toured and recorded with Pat MacDonald [ Violin and viola on Pat MacDonald's album of Depeche Mode covers, EUTK [http://www.eutk.net/album.aspx/1712/] ] , Eugene Chadbourne [Fiddle with Eugene, Squidco [http://www.squidco.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=4403&Category_Code=STRINGS&Product_Count=23] ] , Willy Porter [ Violin on the Willy Porter albums [http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,874890,00.html] ] , Reptile Palace Orchestra, Sigtryggur Baldursson, The Gomers, [John Noyd, Maximum Ink [http://www.maximumink.com/articles.php?%20articleId=917] ] , Natty Nation, Bradley Fish, Adrian Belew, [Tom Laskin, The Isthmus [http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=19282] ] , Robert Fripp, [ Robert Fripp [http://www.dgmlive.com/search_archive.htm?Word_Keyword=biff&Day=Day&Month=Month&Year=Year&search=SEARCH+WORD] ] , Robert Fripp and The League of Crafty Guitarists, [ Ibid. [http://www.dgmlive.com/search_archive.htm?Word_Keyword=beefy&Day=Day&Month=Month&Year=Year&search=SEARCH+WORD] ] , The Kissers, Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra

Trivia

The Gomers played with Les Paul at his Wisconsin Foundation for School Music Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner October 27, 2004. [ [http://www.wsmamusic.org/foundation/news/achievement_award.html Wisconsin Foundation for School Music documents Les Paul and Steve Miller playing with The Gomers as well as the band providing music for the Lifetime Achievement Awards Dinner on October 27, 2004] .]

Members

* Biff Blumfumgagnge (Headpump, Reptile Palace Orchestra)
* Dave Adler (Willy Porter, Richard Cheese)
* Stephen G. Burke (Noahjohn, MaeRae)
* Gordon Ranney (Prog)
* Andy Wallman (The Prom Committee)
* Geoff Brady (Madison Symphony Orchestra)
*Mark Hervey (Tuppy The Band, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Parking Wars)
*Gregg Rullman

Discography

ingles

*"Joey Saturn & Bob Uranus - Like the Planet" (Adler/Blumfumgagnge, ASCAP/BMI 1992)

Albums

*"Comin' Atchya" (1988)
*"Basement Tape" (1991
*"Sofa King Good" (1999)
*"Live Gome Boot" (2001)
*"Live at The Witz End" (2002)
*"Salt & Sugar" (2003)
*"Basement Tape CD" (2005)
*"Mike Zirkel The Album CD (with Adrian Belew & Robert Fripp)" (2008)

Notes

External links

* [http://beeftone.com/gomers-home.html Official site]
* [http://thegomers.net Gomeroke site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thegomers The Gomers on Myspace]
* [http://www.folklib.net/index/wis_poprock.shtml#N-Gomers The Gomers entry in the FolkLib Index]