Syd Barret tribute band The Gnomes to play Spring Break show

Courtesy of The Gnomes

Lawrence’s The Gnomes play bluegrass versions of psychedelic rocker Syd Barrett’s songs. The band will be playing with GCDC at Wheat State Grille on March 21st.

While some of you may be fans of psychedelic rocker Syd Barret, the Lawerence based trio known as The Gnomes take their fandom to the next level.

The three discovered their mutual love for the music of the deceased Barrett and combined it with their love of bluegrass to create a tribute band like no other.

While guitarist Jason Gordon also tours with bluegrass punks GCDC and upright bass player plays in Tiny Tuxedo, the three often find time to play together in Lawerence and on the 25th they will be playing here in Emporia.

When and how did you guys get started playing music together?

Dave Bruchmann: The three of us gathered under the shade of a mushroom fan at the base of the tallest tree in the known forest and we brought our musical instruments. It was then that we realized what was foretold to us in our previous life as dragonfly wranglers. We would go on to live a life among mortals translating the work of syd barrett for the country and western set.

What drew you to the music of Syd Barrett?

Bruchmann: It always seemed to me that ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ had so much musically. It seemed to draw from such a wide palate of styles.

Besides the overall psychedelic tones to the album, there were elements of garage rock, experimental music, avant-garde jazz, and that classic observational wit of British pop music. More than that, the album sounds thoroughly modern even forty years after its release.

EMI just released the mono version of ‘Piper’ last fall, and that version sounds completely different from the original stereo version. The experimentation of this album is what initially drew us to dig deeper into Syd Barrett’s music, considering he wrote nearly every song on the album.

Rob Shoffner: I was a huge Pink Floyd fan in my teens and still am so like any good Floyd fan, I studied every aspect of the band and discovered that Syd produced some great music that nobody knows about after his departure from the Floyd.

Jason Gordon: Initially it was that first Floyd album that turned me on to the poetry and melody of Syd’s work.

Do you strictly play his music, or do you have any originals inspired by him, or other bands you cover?

Gordon: We are all Syd, all day, all night. I play in another band GCDC that I write a lot of original material for, so it’s actually very freeing and quite fun to interpret other source material.

Out of all the imagery Syd had in his lyrics, why gnomes?

Shoffner: There’s a song on the first Pink Floyd album, ‘Piper at the Gates of Dawn,’ called “The Gnome” and, since we’re an acoustic band, it seemed appropriate that we call ourselves The Gnomes. I doubt gnomes would play electric instruments. They don’t have electricity out in the woods.

Bruchmann: We figured it was the best personification of our agenda. Simply to arrange Syd’s songs in a way in which we could offer a new interpretation.

Gordon: We were considering many names. We knew we needed a strong visual presence, like a mascot or something. In the end we decided to order codpieces from mysticshiningfeed.com but they sent us hats and beards instead. That’s when we knew for sure, it’s gotta be The Gnomes.

Do you play alot of shows with the hats and beards? They look itchy.

Shoffner: These days, we only play one song with the hats and beards. You can probably guess which tune.

How do you balance this project with your other bands?

Gordon: Balance is easy to achieve if you’re doing what you love to do and I love playing music very much.

Shoffner: I’m currently not in another band but I’m a film maker so I’ve been taping us live and I’ve even began making a music video with some animation which should be coming out soon.

Bruchmann: I play bass with Tiny Tuxedo, who will visit Emporia at the end of March at Wheat State Grill. I don’t feel any conflicts, though. Enjoying both projects makes the work put into them well worth it.

What do you hope to accomplish with The Gnomes?

Gordon: Really the overarching point to this band is to enlighten folks to the genius of Syd’s work. His music, particularly the solo material, is criminally under heard. Other than that the point is to celebrate good friends, good music and good wine.

Bruchmann: Pretty much just looking to hip some folks to the songs.

Shoffner: Mainly to introduce people to Syd’s solo material which a lot of people don’t know about.

For those unfamiliar with Barrett’s music, which album would you suggest people pick up?

Gordon: All of Syd’s recorded work is essential, buy it all.

Bruchmann: Both ‘the Madcap Laughs’ and ‘Barrett’ are excellent. He only recorded those two albums before he retired from music.

What do you think Syd would think about your band?

Gordon: I would hope that he would say, ‘You’ve finally got it.’

Bruchmann: I have a feeling he would be quite indifferent.

Shoffner: I would be happy with a blank stare.

The Gnomes have a few tracks up on their MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/thegnomesessions. You can catch The Gnomes and Gordon’s other band GCDC at Wheat State Grille, 707 Commercial, on March 21st.