GEARHEAD HOSTS FIFTEEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY, REVIVES GEARFEST

Everyone who attends gets a free poster! Buy your tickets now!

You could be Ms. Gearhead!

Psychobilly darlings Thee Merry Widows

San Francisco rockers The White Barons

Pat Todd and Rankoutsiders, legendary L.A. garage-punks take the stage at 11 pm

Sacto Storytellers will open the show at 7pm

(Elk Grove, CA) Gearhead, an independent lifestyle brand located in Elk Grove, CA announced today they would host a Fifteen Year Anniversary Celebration Party at the Blue Lamp, 1400 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816 Sept. 26, 2015. The event will begin at 6 pm with a free car rally in front of the club and a non-denominational blessing, followed by a show for 21+ featuring bands, food trucks and a Ms. Gearhead contest. The party will end at midnight. This event also marks the revival of their underground rock festival, Gearfest. Space is limited and guests are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance from the Blue Lamp website. The cost is $8 in advance or $10 at the door. The first twenty-five guests will receive a Gearhead Goody Bag, and the party is co-sponsored by local businesses So-Cal Speedshop and Sacramento Tattoo and Pabst Beer.
 
The show will feature live performances by Thee Merry Widows, an all-female horrorpunk/psychobilly band from the Bay Area, Pat Todd and the Rankoutsiders from Los Angeles, The White Barons from San Francisco, and opening the show will be Sacramento’s own Sacto Storytellers. Both Thee Merry Widows and The White Barons have records out on Gearhead.
 
“I became co-owner of Gearhead in 2000, and released my very first record April 11, 2000,” says owner Rev. Michelle Haunold. “Over these last fifteen years, I’ve released over 80 records, countless t shirts, posters, stickers and assorted merchandise, as well as published Gearhead Magazine, which originally started in 1993. I’ve been through a roller coaster of highs and lows inherent in with running your own business. The fact that I’ve been doing this for fifteen years now hit me, and I figured that was reason enough to celebrate!”

The party also celebrates the revival of Gearfest, a rock and roll festival started by Gearhead in 2002, but which was put on hold when the brand became too busy with the success of the record label and one of their recording artists, The Hives. The party/Gearfest will be co-hosted with two local businesses, So-Cal Speedshop, 1715 Del Paso Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815, and Sacramento Tattoo, 2722 X St. Sacramento, CA 95818. “Both businesses have beeen incredibly supportive of Gearhead over the years, and I’m thrilled to have them as co-hosts of this momentous event!” exclaims Haunold.

Gearhead originally started in 1993 as a magazine covering the hot rod, kustom kulture and rock and roll lifestyles that were just beginning to take hold in the bay area. After Haunold joined the team in 2000, the brand exploded as it reached out into new markets with the record label, the clothing line, and a retail store, based out of Woodland, CA.


 

Join Rev. Michelle at 6 pm for a Blessing of the Wheels before the party

Following the crash of the US economy and personal differences between the two co-owners, Haunold put Gearhead on hold for the last five years to assess the business and figure out what new direction to take the company. Moving to Elk Grove in 2013, Haunold rediscovered her passion for rock and roll and hot rods, and decided to revive the dormant lifestyle brand by releasing a new record by L.A. rockers The Lords of Altamont. She quickly followed that successful record with several new clothing designs created by Sacramento-based tattoo artist “Cuz’n” Bill Lorenz, from Sacramento Tattoo.

“We’d worked together on several records and projects in the past, and asking him to draw up some new t shirt designs seemed like a logical step,” commented Haunold. The two had started dating several years previously and the personal and creative collaborations have been going strong ever since. “I’ve started to get the word out about the revival of Gearhead by vending at car shows up and down the state, and bringing it all back home to Sacramento with a party just makes sense! People have been so supportive and enthusiastic here, and this is agreat way to say thank you,” exclaimed Haunold.

The party will start at 6 pm, in front of The Blue Lamp with a car rally and a non-denominational “Blessing of The Cars” performed by Haunold who is a minister. The blessing and rally are free and open to the public. “Any one with wheels can show up for the rally and blessing,” says Haunold. “Bring your strollers, bikes, cars or whatever!” All participants will be given a coupon for $1 off the entrance fee. Following the blessing, local reggae-rockers The Sacto Storytellers will take the stage at 7pm for the 21 and over portion of the party, followed by The White Barons, who will be playing selections from their new record Electric Revenge, out now on Gearhead.

The first ever Ms. Gearhead contest will follow. Entrance to the contest is a $5 donation with all the money going to the SPCA. All women are encouraged to dress up in their best idea of what a Ms. Gearhead would look like and compete for a Gearhead Goody Bag and a a 2 page spread in a future issue of Gearhead, complete with photos and story. The contest is sponsored by Tres Noir, who will also provide a goody bag to the winner worth over $150! “Gearhead is run by a woman, and I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate a female’s perspective on what a Gearhead is, as well as raise some money for the animals in need at the SPCA,” claims Haunold, who is a passionate animal lover.

Gearfest then continues with Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders, from Los Angeles, who play high-energy “punk ‘n’ roll”, a term coined by Haunold. The show ends with Thee Merry Widows taking the stage. The world’s first all-women Psychobilly band has an internatinoal following. They’ve shared the stage with international rock stars such as The Necromantix and The Misfits. Food Trucks will be available through out the party for hungry guests. There will also be an extensive merchandise table featuring the Gearhead brand of clothing, music and magazines.

For more information, please visit the Gearhead website at http://www.gearheadhq.com
Contact Information:  Michelle Haunold                                                                                
Phone:916-897-2451                                                                                                                                                                                 
E-Mail: info[at]gearheadhq.com                                                   

Pabst is one of the party's sponsors!