LATEST NEWS
“DELETED SCENES” Album available on all streaming services including Bandcamp
RECENT PRESS
“F*cked Up and Beautiful” review at Dancing About Architecture
“Deleted Scenes” album review at Big Takeover
“F*cked Up and Beautiful”
“Tricky Love Stuff”/Animated Video
Yesterday’s Girl / Featuring Dave Derby & Renée LoBue
Gramercy Arms
Gramercy Arms is a Revolving collective of musicians and artists masterminded by main songwriter, singer and producer Dave Derby.
Music
by Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
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Gramercy Arms
Photo by Debora Francis
Gramercy Arms is a revolving New York-based collective of musicians and artists. Masterminded by Dave Derby (The Dambuilders/Lloyd Cole), the group’s third album, Deleted Scene, is scheduled to be released on Magic Door Records in early 2023.
Inspired by the artistic heyday of ‘70s and ‘80s-era New York City, Gramercy Arms makes addictive indie pop; gorgeous hook-laden melodies filled with lyrics that will have you floating back in time, remembering your favorite mistake.
Deleted Scene is a star-studded affair; featuring performances by Lloyd Cole, Kevin March (Guided by Voices, Shudder to Think, The Dambuilders), Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices, Nada Surf, Cobra Verde, Death of Samantha), Sean Eden (Luna), Mark Lizotte (Diesel), Phoebe Summersquash (Small Factory), Rainy Orteca (Joan As Police Woman, Dead Air), Renee LoBue (Elk City, Flowers of America), Kendall Meade (Mascott), Verena Wiesendanger (Semi Gloss), Claudia Chopek (Bright Eyes, The Little River Band, Echo of the Ghost), John Leon (Roky Erickson, Royal Arctic Institute), Rafa Maciejak (Lloyd Cole and the Negatives, Ivy), Hilken Mancini (Fuzzy, the Monsieurs, Punk Rock Aerobics), Richard Alwyn-Fisher (King Canutes, The Winter Drinks), Mike Errico, Steve Hurley (Gigolo Aunts), Lysa Opfer (Aeon Station), Carl Baggaley (Elk City, Royal Arctic Institute), Peter Hess (Phillip Glass Ensemble, Slavic Soul Party), Gary Burton (Dovedale).
SHOWS
What was your first concert?
That I went to? Lou Reed
What was the best/worst gig you played or saw?
I've seen many Nick Cave performances over the years. He's my favorite live performer. He's so captivating and inspiring.
Favorite home-made lockdown beverage?
Toss up between wine and seltzer (both store bought).
How did you get introduced to Gramercy Arms?
I met Dave at the Under You Influence nights at Hifi - a great tribute night that used to happen at HiFi that was run by Adam Rubenstein. That must have been about 10 years ago now...
Favorite band/artist in middle school?
A tie between Michael Jackson and Madonna
Musical guilty pleasures?
Select Katy Perry songs.
Dave Derby
What are the first instruments you learned how to play?
I learned the recorder in 4th grade and went full atonal jazz on “Three Blind Mice.” My dad had a tenor guitar which I learned to play before guitar. I bought a bass in 7th grade and started by first band in 8th grade.
What was your first concert?
My grandparents took me to see Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson when I was about 10. The first concert I paid to see was Foreigner on the Double-Vision tour.
What inspired you to start making music?
My dad was a very committed Hawaiian music performer. I started learning Hawaiian music at an early age. When I heard the Contortions for the first time, to my young ears I just heard noise and and figured I could do that. Years later, after learning much more about music and free jazz in particular, I realize I could never do that and probably never have.
Cover that needs to happen?
I’ve always wanted to hear Judas Priest do “Handsome Devil” by the Smiths.
CLAUDIA CHOPEK
What was your first concert?
Yes - sometime in the 80's
What inspired you to start making music?
First I would play along with the melodies of songs that I liked. Then I would try to recreate the solos in the songs. Then I would just make up other things that I thought sounded nice .
What was the first gig you played?
As a pro in NYC it was Joe Hurley's T-Rex Tribute at Fez
How did you get introduced to Gramercy Arms?
Joe McGinty brough me in on a GA session where I met Dave
Favorite band/artist in middle school?
GoGo's and Styx
Favorite home-made lockdown beverage?
Vodka martini, very dry with olives
LYSA OPFER
What was your first concert?
Gosh I think my first concert was the Beach Boys. I don't remember what year it was. Early 80s maybe?
What inspired you to start making music?
I think I've always been making sounds.. I learned early on that certain sounds, if you link them together and form a pattern, it starts to turn into a song. I've always been fascinated by sound-making and writing.
What was the first gig you played?
High school battle of the bands! We lost.
Favorite films/books/tv shows?
Star Trek forever.
Favorite band/artist in middle school?
Go-Gos! They were so fun.. oh, and Duran Duran. I was obsessed.
Duet that needs to happen?
Sudan Archives + that dude from IDLES.
RICHARD ALWYN FISHER
What was your first concert?
Rush, Grace Under Pressure tour, Kemper Arena KCMO / Blue Öyster Cült opens / went with my best friend + our dads
What was the first gig you played?
With 9 Angry Possum [punk rock covers band], we played a school dance. With my own band, we played a show in far away St. Louis [from KCMO] when the band broke down on the way and I came right off stage and threw up.
Favorite band/artist in middle school?
Rush [Middlewestern, middle eighties, middle class, middle school, not quite middle of the road, but maybe adjacent]
Musical guilty pleasures?
No music makes me guilty but there is so much good music that we'll never hear it all, so you should never listen to anything you don't really like.
Cover that needs to happen?
BeeGees: Stayin' Alive
GARY BURTON
What are the first instruments you learned how to play?
I was chosen to be "band leader" in my school production of Aladdin. This comprised of a bit of melodica, tambourine and a makeshift gong. And very dodgy Fu Manchu mustache
What inspired you to start making music?
I always sang in school and even church choir (replete with cassock and ruffle) then later in my radio career, I'd do song parodies!
Favorite band/artist in middle school?
Electric. Light. Orchestra.
Duet that needs to happen?
Me and Kate Bush. Please?
Cover that needs to happen?
Gramercy Arms covering ''Love Is Like Oxygen by The Sweet!
Potentially unpopular/controversial musical opinion
I just don't enjoy Bob Dylan
VERENA WIESENDANGER
Coming soon…
RAFA MACIEJAK
Coming soon…
RAY KETCHEM
Coming soon…
RENÉE LO BUE
Coming soon…
PHOEBE SUMMERSQUASH
Coming soon…
SEAN EDEN
Coming soon…