The Goddamn Gallows formed in 2004 by founding members and Lansing/Detroit natives Mikey Classic on guitar and vocals, Fishgutzzz on upright bass, and Amanda Kill on drums -replaced by current drummer Uriah Baker (aka; "Baby Genius") in 2006. The trio started out migrating around the West for a time, holing up in Hollywood squats and squalid apartments, before releasing several albums: The Gallows EP (2004), Life of Sin (2005), and Gutterbilly Blues (2007), and finally hitting the road nearly full-time to establish their presence in the psychobilly-country scene while honing their self-described "twanged-out punk rock gutterbilly".
In 2009 the addition of Avery, a fire-breathing, accordion and washboard player, as well as Jayke Orvis (formerly of the .357 String Band) on mandolin and banjo, prompted The Goddamn Gallows to explore many new directions with their songwriting and in their live performances. As evidenced on their most recent 2009 album, Ghost of The Rails, and as witnessed by their spectacular and tireless live shows, The Goddamn Gallows began to forge a path founded on their very own brand of contagious primeval abandon: an unpretentious and from-the-gut carnivalesque smorgasbord of parts old time revival, circus sideshow, and good old-fashioned rock and roll. The result falls dead center into a head on collision between something like a Western honky-tonk impromptu parking lot rodeo, and Suburbia (the 1983 Penelope Spheeris cult classic film, not the location).
Though still officially Michigan-based, they have toured relentlessly since 2007, practically living out of their van and regularly performing as many as 200 dates a year. They've supported such acts as Nekromantix, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, Mad Sin, The Legendary Shack Shakers, and even the King of Surf Guitar legend Dick Dale. They continue to rapidly grow a devoted following built on their visceral and volatile blend of multiple American music styles, and frenetic live energy -but still with just enough hardcore and punk influence to make your parents hate it.
The Goddamn Gallows will soon be releasing 7 Devils, their much anticipated fourth full-length album and Farmageddon Records debut on vinyl and CD. The forthcoming album features recording veteran and lap steel extraordinaire Andy Gibson (of Hank III), as well as promising up and comer Joe Perreze of the Perreze Farm sitting in on clawhammer banjo. An extremely limited edition 7" on red vinyl, titled Rags & Bones, will accompany the 7 Devils release due out May of 2011. Additionally, the entire catalogue of The Goddamn Gallows (Ghost of the Rails, Gutterbilly Blues, and Life of Sin -which is currently out of print) will find its way back to the light of day by year's end, re-released and available on vinyl, CD, and digital download from Farmageddon Records.
