Who doesn't love Gringo Star? The music is solid, the approach fun and the guys terribly nice. They had a bit of a problem, though. Touring around the country garnered them plenty of fans but also a bit of confusion. Their name used to be A Fir-Ju Well, a play on two members' last name. At the beginning of the summer, they decided to scrap the old and bring in the new. Gringo Star was born. So how is the band formerly known as A Fir-Ju Well faring these days? We thought we'd ask a few questions on your behalf.

Pine Magazine: How's the name change going? Have the crowds at shows stayed about the same?

Gringo Star: The name change is going great...we don't have to write down and pronounce our name multiple times a night, and have actually had lots of people go so far as to say its the best name they've ever heard, which never happened before. Its kinda funny that when we were called A Fir-Ju Well, everyone was always critical about what a lousy name it was, then we changed it and everyone was like, "Why!! It was such a great name. Why'd you do that?"

PM: As you progress as a band, how is the music changing?

GS: Well...we're just continuing to write the music we want to hear. We've added a Matt McCalvin original to the set, a bit of a surfy tune. We're still just playing what we want to, whatever that may be. And we're just really trying to rely more on gimmicks, cause that's what we're good at. Screw the songs; people want midgets juggling midgets juggling fire.

PM: How was England?

GS: England was the greatest two weeks (we) ever had. We made tons of friends/contacts, as well as were offered to release some singles with a label out of Liverpool to coincide with going back at the start of February, and going back in may for the pop overthrow festival in Liverpool's Cavern Club, that we were invited to perform at too. We couldn't be more excited about it all. There are a couple of promoters over there that are setting up the next tour, and just really excited to be involved in helping us out.... we shall see.

PM: Do you guys have plans for recording soon?

GS: We did record back in May, an EP which we are using as a demo to get a label behind us for a new full length, we've got enough material right now to do about four albums. As soon as we have the opportunity we will record though. It looks as though the English label is gonna use some of tracks we recorded earlier this year.

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