Gayle Ellett & the Electromags

"Instrumental Guitar Rock with a 1970's Vibe"

When describing the band, Ellett, says "I formed this group because of my great love for guitars and the joy I get from playing guitar. I wanted to focus on the style that was popular back in my teenage years: the 1970's. I wanted to spend more time writing melodies and stretching out as a player, pushing myself to improve as a composer and producer, trying my hardest to capture the best tones possible. And luckily, I'm working with Craig Kahn and Mark Cook, who are a great fit for this group. They are super talented, highly motivated, and really easy to work with. Craig is a really talented and aggressive drummer, and Mark is a amazingly creative bass player. Making this album with them has been really fun!"

Located high in the mountains of Topanga, California, this new group is focused on creating instrumental hard-rocking guitar music.  Utilizing a collection of 10 electric guitars and 5 vintage tube amps, their music has a traditional yet modern sound. Except for the occasional wahwah or phaser, no guitar pedals were used in the creation of this music. Just great guitars, plugged straight into classic tube amps ... and turned up unbearably loud!

"My #1 goal was to make an album that featured me wailing lots of guitar solos and playing memorable melodies," adds Ellett. "My other goal was to write really interesting and enjoyable music, surrounding those solos with lots of cool and evolving changes." He goes on to explain "I'm not trying to re-create the sounds of the '70's, but I am very inspired by the music of that era. I started playing electric guitar back in 1973, and albums like Jeff Beck's Blow By Blow and other Classic Rock records have greatly shaped my tastes in music. That's why I play in phrases, it's an older style that was popular back then. I've never written Rock songs before, and I've never made a 'Gayle Plays Guitar Solos' album, so all of this is rather new to me. And so far, I am really happy with the results!"

The band gets it's name from the electromagnetic pickups that are present on all electric guitars. These electromags capture the guitar's sound, and transmit it down a wire to the amplifier. Unique to electric guitars, they are not found on other instruments.

The album's title "Shiny Side Up" is from the common saying among motorcyclists "Keep the shiny side up!" which means "Have fun riding, and don't crash!"

In order to maintain a more lively and dynamic sound, no compression was used in the mixing of this album.

Master musician Mike Keneally (who has toured the world with Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani) said of this music "Once again, what a journey! Gorgeous playing and it takes me to places I didn't expect at the top of the song - appreciate your willingness to wantonly change tempo as you see fit super fun! Yeah Gayle!"

The artwork on the album is by the award-winning artist Matt Mahurin, who has created numerous album covers for groups like: Peter Gabriel, U2, Metallica, R.E.M., Tom Waits, Muse, T-Bone Burnett, Soundgarden, Motley Crew, Def Leppard, Scorpions, Joe Satriani, Cher and many others. And he has also illustrated the cover of TIME Magazine more then 40 times.

Currently, the band is busy recording music for a 2nd album, titled "Friends", which will feature 22 guest musicians from around the world. Due for release in 2023!
The 22 guest musicians on this new album are (in no particular order):

Issei Takami & Shin Ichikawa - BARAKA - Japan 

Thierry Passan - Minimum Vital - France 

Marc Ceccotti - Edhels - Monaco 

Frederic L’Epee - Shylock - France 

Lucio Calegari - Electric Swan - Italy 

German Vergara & Juan Pablo - Aisles - Chile 

Alvarez Ortega Bianchi - Los Pencales - Argentina 

Paul Richards - California Guitar Trio - USA 

Alfonso Rodenas - Blue Dolphins - USA 

Carl Weingaren & Walter Whitney & David Udell - Delay Tactics - USA 

Dudley Taft - USA 

Barry Cleveland - USA 

Joee Corso - USA 

Aquiles Magaña - USA 

Brian Chapman - USA 

Jim Crawford - USA 

Ted Price - USA 

Bill Polits - USA

 CD now available for purchase at: www.GayleEllettTheElectromags.bandcamp.com

TRACK LIST for the album Shiny Side Up:

1     No Deposit, No Return   (6:15)
2     Highway 27   (4:14)  
3    The Old Canyon Road   (5:26)
4    Southern Slide   (4:48)
5    Hardtailed Knucklehead   (5:45)       
6   Donuts & Fishtails   (5:18)
7   Beyond The Milky Way   (1:23)
8    Brass Saddles & Steel Trees   (2:26)    
9    Three Way Switch   (5:31)
10  Crash Bar   (5:26)
11  Trail Dust   (5:10)
Total Time 52:17

All music composed and produced by Gayle Ellett 
Album art by Matt Mahurin 
Recorded in Topanga, California and Arlington, Texas

Gayle Ellett: Electric & Acoustic Guitars, Hammond B-3 Organ, Rhodes Electric Piano 
Craig Kahn: Drums  & Percussion
Mark Cook: Bass

Band Name: Gayle Ellett & The Electromags    
CD title: Shiny Side Up 
Release Date: June 2022 
Catalog Number: PSR-1-009 
Website: www.GayleEllettAndTheElectromags.com 
Licensed & Distributed by PeacockSunrise Records 
www.PeacockSunriseRecords.com