Interview: Nicholas Furgiuele (Gringo Star)

For some people, music is just in their DNA. Brothers Nicholas and Peter Furgiuele of Atlanta-based garage rock quartet Gringo Star have been making music together since they were kids, which is no surprise considering that their grandfather Ed "Dr. Jive" Mendel was an influential disc jockey and music promoter during the early days of rock ‘n roll.

Arriving as the garage rock revival of the aughts was still having its moment, Gringo Star released its promising debut, All Y’all, in 2008 to plenty of acclaim. In subsequent years, the hype for the subgenre has died down and many of the group’s contemporaries have called it quits, but the Furgiuele brothers and their bandmates have continued to evolve and improve upon their distinct take on the retro sounds that evoke their grandfather’s heyday. 

Set for a Friday, June 2, release, the band’s sixth studio album, On And On And Gone,  may also be the quartet’s most adventurous. The record opens with the twangy “Stand and Turn Away” before giving way to the eerie psych pop tune “Told Me Once Before.” Later on, the hip-shaking “Get to Know You” combines dreamy vocals and strings with a catchy early rhythm & blues groove. 

Over the course of On And On And Gone, echoes of Ricky Nelson, Roy Orbison, The Shadows, The Zombies, and many other artists can be heard, but it all gets enough of the Gringo Star treatment to sound fresh and cohesive. 

The Atlanta rockers will perform in Asheville at Fleetwood’s on Saturday, April 29, with support from local groups Telephone Larry and Vandiver. 

Before hitting the road, Nicholas Furgiuele spoke with Asheville Stages about the band's upcoming release and its influences.

Jonny Leather: It’s my understanding that you and Peter grew up in Boone. Did you spend much time in Asheville as kids?

Nicholas Furgiuele: No, not at all.   

JL: On and On and Gone is your first collection of new material in five years. Did this one just take longer to make?

NF: Well, with [the] COVID-19 [pandemic], we had multiple tours planned in 2020 that were canceled. We had just released our live album, Controlled Burn, in 2019, and had been touring a bit and were due to do two European tours and some U.S. dates that were all canceled with the pandemic. It took us over a year and half just to get the flights reimbursed on that — not to mention all the planning that was scrapped. Then in 2021, we started to do stuff as COVID eased, but then it came back and messed with more plans. So, we were kind of waiting for the dust to settle and for things to return to a slightly more “normal” before we started making plans again.  

JL: Your recent single, “Told Me Once Before,” has a wonderfully airy sunshine pop sound. How indicative is it of the overall feel of the album?

NF: Thanks! Yeah, I'd say there is that element throughout. Our good friend David Claassen played strings on most of the album, so there is this common orchestral thread. Although we do try and explore a lot of other sounds on this, too.  

JL: Could you tell me a little about any influences that helped shape the direction taken on On and On and Gone?

NF: We usually draw a lot of inspiration from early rock ‘n roll of the ’50s — Sam Cooke, Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and stuff. But it all mixes together with all kinds of other influences. For me, a little Bob Dylan and the Velvet Underground. But we didn't have many directional intentions during the recording process. We just like writing songs and recording them in our studio.

JL: Does the lush sound present any challenges when performing at DIY-type venues?

NF: We are performing as a four piece band, so a lot of the string parts, and some of the overdubs, don’t make it into a live show. We are a bit more rock ‘n roll live.

JL: I’ve read that your family has roots in the music business. Is there any particular wisdom that was passed down that has helped you navigate through the challenges of being a touring band?

NF: Unfortunately, our Grandad died before we were born, so we never got to talk to him personally about it. He owned several record shops in Columbus, Ga., and was a radio DJ who also presented a lot of shows at the Columbus auditorium, and occasionally in Atlanta as well. Mostly Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, the Soulstirrers, Jackie Wilson, Marvelettes, Impressions, James Brown, Little Stevie Wonder, and many more.

He managed bands and also had a label. It would have been nice to talk to him, but he's not with us.

IF YOU GO

Who: Gringo Star + Telephone Larry + Vandiver
When: Saturday, Apr. 29, 8 p.m.
Where: Fleetwood’s, 496 Haywood Road, fleetwoodschapel.com
Tickets: $10

(Photo by Peter Furgiuele)