Six years after disbanding and breaking hearts across the front range, the Gamits are back together. Although this version of the band is not the same lineup that was on stage at the Bluebird in December 2004, the players will be familiar to longtime fans.
This time around, frontman Chris Fogal -- the outfit's only constant member since forming in 1996 -- has drafted a few Gamits alums, Omens drummer Forrest Bartosh and former Fairlanes bassist Scott Weigel, to round out the lineup. A new album is in the works and due out on Suburban Home sometime this summer, followed by a tour of Japan and possibly a few American shows, including a couple in Denver.Fogal spoke with Andy Thomas about the why he put the band back together, what the new songs sound like and how this will effect Tauntaun, Fogal's other band.
Westword (Andy Thomas): Why did you decide to get the band back together
Chris Fogal: Um, well I guess because I am very impulsive and when Virgil said that he had been talking to our friend Bruce in Japan and Bruce was wondering what I was up to and if the Gamits wanted to do a reunion tour, it all sounded like a good idea to me. It was all decided in about five minutes including the idea to do a new album.
WW: Why did you settle on this lineup?
CF: I think mainly because this lineup had so much fun together. It was good chemistry and there was no drama or anything like that. It was only for one tour but it was a good one for sure. Neither of the other guys have ever stopped playing and they were both as excited about the whole idea as I was so it just worked out.
WW: What are your touring plans?
CF: There has been speak of Russia, Japan and Denver. Who knows what else.
WW: Explain what the new Gamits songs sound like.
CF: That is tough because we are only about half way there right now. What we are going for is somewhere between Antidote and Endorsed by You, which really doesn't mean anything except that we want it to be fast and fun.
WW: Do you feel Antidote got the recognition it deserved?
CF: I think it got exactly what it deserved.
WW: Has your studio, Black in Bluhm, helped in your writing process with this band?
CF: Not as much as you might think. Most of the writing I do is upstairs in the living room with an acoustic guitar, so I usually don't take a song down to the studio until it's almost done. Lately I've just been laying down ideas on my iPod touch with a four-track app and sending the mixdowns to Scott in California, so he can collaborate. It is way better than my old method with the micro cassette recorder and a bunch of tapes that aren't organized at all!
WW: With all of this stuff happening with the Gamits, what will happen to TaunTaun?
CF: TaunTaun will continue to destroy everything in TaunTaun's path. That band is too much fun to stop.
