Adam Garland--guitar, vocals
Adam Brock--keys, vocals
Dave Barbaree--pedal steel, guitar, bass
Brian McGrath--trumpet
Steve Turcott--drums
Influences
Bob Dylan, Beck, Flaming Lips, Talking Heads, Velvet Underground, J.S. Bach, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The City of New Orleans, Sergei Rachmaninov, Serge Gainsbourg, Paul Simon, The Beatles, Tom Waits, Morphine, Van Morrison, Leonard Cohen, Syd Barrett, Brian Eno, Sun Ra, Neutral Milk Hotel, Lou Reed, Charles Mingus, The Police, David Bowie, The Kinks, Radiohead, Sigur Ros, Beethoven, Pulp, Al Green, Scott Joplin, Marvin Gaye, Led Zeppelin, Duke Ellington, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, John Coltrane, Fela Kuti, Bob Marley, Beethoven, The Grateful Dead, Blind Wille Johnson, Rueben Gonzales, Mississippi John Hurt, Neil Young, The Doors, Alexander Scriabin, John Cale, Nick Cave, Built to Spill, Franz Liszt
The Gulf began in 2003 when two recent grads, keyboardist Adam Brock and guitarist Adam Garland began writing songs together. Over the next two years bassist/pedal steel player Dave Barbaree, trumpeter Brian McGrath, and drummer Steve Turcott would join to form the permanent lineup. Although misfits in Boston’s music scene, The Gulf got regular shows at clubs like TT the Bears, the Middle East, and the Lizard Lounge.
With constant lineup changes, The Gulf recorded the seven-song EP “Mind in a Helmet” in 2005. “Get the Feeling”, “Nothing but Neon” and “Missionary” received local airplay.
In 2007. the Gulf released their first full-length album, "Chinatown". The album was recorded in secret at a Chinatown language school, where Adam Brock held a day job. Noticing the building’s lax management and unused rooms, he furtively changed the locks of a fifth floor storage room and converted it into a makeshift studio. At night, when the building was deserted, recording sessions took place. This went on for a year before the band got the boot, just as the album was finished.
The band formed a label, Ultracold Records, in order to distribute the album though IODA (independent online distribution alliance). Two songs “Note to Garland” and “You Fell for it too” are licensed and in circulation on Starbucks in-store music network. Others have received airplay on college radio.
Throughout 2007, the Gulf toured to promote “Chinatown” playing the indie circuit from Montreal to Tennessee
The Gulf's sophomore album is currently in post production and will be released in 2009. Dave Barbaree has since moved to Philadelphia and has founded Retro City Productions, a full-service recording and video production studio, and Adam Brock now lives in New York City, but the Gulf remains active recording and playing whenever possible.
REVIEWS
“dreamy, orchestral indie”
Washington Post
“…a really rich set of songs–mystery and poetics in the songs, smartly arranged and played cliche-free from beginning to end as well!”
David Greenberger, National Public Radio (NPR)
“One of the most original acts on the current Boston scene…Equipped with a larger-than-life outlook and a keen ability to produce insightful, intelligent music, The Gulf may soon be everywhere all at once…a timeless quality rarely found in today’s hipster elite”
Northeast Performer
“rich nuance and stark imagery…a magical walk down any street at night …orginally gifted…an album of extraordinary measure.”
Metronome Magazine
"The Gulf applies traditional roots instrumentation—pianos, guitars, lap steels, trumpets, cellos, violins—to atmospheric, neo-psychedelic compositions. Their eclecticism and ambitious approach to exploring the surreal outer-limits of the rock format recalls Pink Floyd, but where Floyd championed "space-rock," The Gulf is very much of this Earth. As atmospheric and expansive as their sound gets, at their core The Gulf are grounded; by the familiar, organic sounds of the acoustic instruments they use, by the do-it-yourself ethos of indie-rock, by their lyrics, dreamlike but rooted in raw emotion and earthy imagery."
Insite Magazine
“glorious”
Boston Metro
“twangy and bluesy–we like it”
Boston Globe
“I’m having a total I-think-this-is-my-new-favorite-band moment.”
Portland Press Herald
“really, really, amazing…my new favorite band!”
Band in Boston Podcast (bandinbostonpodcast.com)
Check out the animated videos by Dan Leninger below.
"Waking" original version by The Gulf. Animated by Dan Leninger.
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"Nothing But Neon" by The Gulf. Aninmated by Dan Leninger.
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Now I can't quite place it but seems like there is this track for you to place back into rotation that would be so...FUCKING perfect... just great. I stubbed my big toe... now I forgot why I was even writing..
Manuok is the solo project of Scott Mercado, a veteran musician who has worked with many of San Diego's leading indie artists, including The Black Heart Procession, The Album Leaf, Mr. Tube & The Flying Objects, to name just some examples. A drummer turned guitarist, pianist and reluctant but expressive singer. In march Manuok is touring through Italy and Germany to present his new album "No end to limitations".
The project Grimoon "combo de luxe" is an original mix of electronic music, folk, pop and movie images. Composed by two voices, guitar, drum machine and vintage synths, the combo of italian/french band Grimoon is touring around Italy and Germany showing its strange videos during its performances.
Hi Adam, you know I was actually at a Starbucks like a week ago and I was asking them about your music. The barista said they hadn't heard of you but they are supposed to be bringing in the new music sometime next month I think. I will be watching for it. Glad the new album is coming along good. I never saw Ghandi but maybe I will rent it soon. Keep up the good music :)
Hi guys, just wanted to drop by and let you know I was thinking about you and am ever-appreciative of your music, looking forward to hearing the new cd. :)
Thank you for the request! Your music shot through my heart! Your sound is "ya-ba-i!" in Japanese. "Ya-ba-i" means "super cool". If you don't mind, please listen to my music.
