Gabby La La (born Gabriel Lang on May 23, 1979) is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist (including sitar, ukulele, accordion, theremin and toy piano), signed to Prawn Song Records. Her music is self described as "fun, unique, crazy (and) kooky". La La's debut album, Be Careful What You Wish For..., is a collaboration with Les Claypool that though "peculiar... reveals gems of pop merriment."[1]

Gabby La La
Gabby La La performing at The XM Sonic Stage at Bonnaroo 2005
Gabby La La performing at The XM Sonic Stage at Bonnaroo 2005
Background information
Birth nameGabby Lang
Also known asGabby La La
Born (1979-05-23) May 23, 1979 (age 45)
Petaluma, California, United States
GenresExperimental
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)Vocals, sitar, accordion, ukulele, guitar, piano, theremin, omnichord
Years active1992–present
LabelsPrawn Song Records
Websitegabbylala.com

Gabby La La is primarily a solo artist but, at times, she has been a member of Weapon of Choice, and she was a member of Les Claypool's Fancy Band.

Career

edit

La La sings with a high pitched voice "like art singer Dagmar Krause on helium".[2] She plays the electric guitar, ukulele, toy piano, sitar, theremin, and accordion.[3] She plays the sitar, on which she is classically trained,[4] like she's playing a guitar.[2] She also tap dances. She has been compared to Björk,[5] Hello Kitty, and Yoko Ono. Her live band occasionally consists of Les Claypool on bass.[3] She generally wears brightly colored wigs when she performs.[6] La La has been called Claypool's protégé[7] and she performs in his Fancy Band.[8] She has performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with Snoop Dogg.[2] La La has performed with Jane Wiedlin[9] and The Coup.[10] She has taught young girls how to play rock music through music classes at the Phoenix Theater.[11] La La has been reviewed and featured in the SFist,[3] Metroactive[11] and The Aquarian Weekly.[7] She has been a solo performer at Bonnaroo.[6]

Personal life

edit

La La was born in Petaluma, California. She has a sister, named Mimi.[3] She has a child with Boots Riley.[12]

Discography

edit

Studio albums

edit
Year Album
2005 Be Careful What You Wish For...
2011 I Know You Know I Know
2020 Disorganized crime: Smuggler's daughter
As writer, arranger, and/or performer

References

edit
  1. ^ Prestianni, Sam (July 20, 2005). Gabby La La Be Careful What You Wish For... Archived 2014-04-24 at the Wayback Machine. SFweekly. Retrieved on June 18, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c Beck, Henry Cabot. "Gabby La La". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d O'rrific, Claire. "Les Claypool Presents Gabby La La: Hello Kitty Meets Yoko Ono (and it's Good)". SFist.com. Archived from the original on 29 May 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  4. ^ Gearing, Brian (2 June 2005). "Be Careful What You Wish For – Gabby La La". Jambands.com. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  5. ^ Moore, James. "Recordings Galore". Iowasource.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  6. ^ a b Rothman, Robin. "Bonnaroo Kicks Out The Jams Thanks To Dave Matthews, John Mayer — And Bo Bice". Mtv.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  7. ^ a b Koczan, JJ. "Gabby La La". Theaquarian.com. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  8. ^ Barrymore, Cindy. "Les Claypool: Fancy". Ink19.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  9. ^ Wiedlin, Jane. "Gabby La La". Janewiedlin.com. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  10. ^ "Review: The Coup's 'Sorry to Bother You'". Californiareport.org. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  11. ^ a b Johansen, Jackie. "Let There Be Rock". Metroactive.com. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  12. ^ "It's like a hotwire, baby, when we put it together / When the sparks fly, we'll ignite the future forever". Genius.com. Retrieved 24 December 2021.
  13. ^ The Big Eyeball in the Sky at Discogs
  14. ^ True & Livin' at Discogs
  15. ^ Of Whales and Woe at Discogs
  16. ^ Turn My Teeth Up! at Discogs
edit