BY RACHEL MONTOYA
After two decades, Wyte Gye continues to share their passion for all things Rock and Roll with their hometown following and ‘forever young’ attitudes. They will be bringing their enigmatic approach to live music on Friday, January 3rd, 2025 for a FREE SHOW at Big Rock Pub 79940 Westward Ho Drive in Indio. The band will be performing two sets beginning at 7pm.
Starting out as high school friends in the late 80’s, Wyte Gye is more of a fraternity now, having established camaraderie and brotherhood while welcoming the frequent humorous mocking and well-timed diss or comeback. As bandmates, they have supported each other through the peaks and valleys of life including celebratory milestones and life events that are not necessarily for the faint of heart. Through it all, that affinity translates to undeniable onstage chemistry, audible amusement and a clearcut good rockin’ time!
The current line-up includes Eric Willman on guitar, Dominic Jimenez on drums, Noe Gutierrez on vocals and new bassist Jerry Bryson joining the fold. Original bassist Michael Jimenez remains connected to the band. Former four-stringers for Wyte Gye include Alfredo Campos (Odyssey 9), Armando Flores (Whiskey & Knives, Blasting Echo, The Pedestrians), Robert Pickett (Barflys) and August Arrowsmith.
The genealogy of Wyte Gye is extensive. Despite “only” playing covers, they have built a pedigree that would baffle any Ancestry or 23 and Me enthusiast! Their kids even joined in on the action in 2012, forming Y2BD (Yet To Be Determined), a Rock band of 9 and 10 year olds including Eric’s son Nick Willman one drums, nephew Noah Arujo on guitar and Noe’s son Ruben Gutierrez on vocals. Y2BD’s introductory show was electric as they opened for Wyte Gye at a packed Tack Room Tavern on the Empire Polo Grounds.
Performing renditions of songs from AC/DC to ZZ Top, these gyes know how to stay true to the song while putting their own stamp on it. The band has a song repertoire of over 350 distinct hard and heavy classic Rock songs. Wyte Gye has performed at numerous Coachella Valley venues including Big Rock Pub, Date Shed, Plan B Live Entertainment and Cocktails, The Hood Bar & Pizza, The Red Barn and Schmidy’s Tavern. With this assortment of songs and performances, Wyte Gye is a brand familiar to many desert rats.
Early on, Wyte Gye chose songs that not only spoke to their developmental years and influences, but the selection catered to ensuring a party atmosphere. One art they cultivated was having a DJ perform before, in-between and after sets of live music. These events were called, “Wyte Gye Nyte”. During these ‘nytes’ you were guaranteed to rock out AND get your dance groove on…the best of both worlds! They were a mainstay at Tack Room Tavern in Indio. Noe shared, “Ray ‘DJ Ray’ Phillips, Desert DJ Entertainment (shout out to DJ Pauly Z and DJ Sizzle in particular) and DJ Guy Worden did such a great job creating playlists to complement what we were doing on the live music stage. You could ‘bang your head’ to Quiet Riot’s Metal Health on one side and walk ten feet to dance to Debbie Deb’s Lookout Weekend! Of course, their exceptional personalities only made Wyte Gye Nytes that much more memorable. Funny enough, this concept is how Terrorfest, the biggest Halloween party in the desert was born.”
Wyte Gye also takes satisfaction in supporting local artists. ‘Metal Nyte’ was the brainchild of the band in order to reinvigorate the Metal scene in the desert. “We grew up with Metal, so it only made sense to expand beyond ourselves and incorporate original Metal bands, so attendees get the full spectrum”. The band would invite hard and heavy acts like Remnants of Man, In The Name of the Dead, Perishment and Redivider to perform. These events encouraged building community by attracting Metal Heads from the area to convene for a night of celebrating all things Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. There was even a Metal DJ, DJ Alltruizm, aka Joe Cornejo and Noe Gutierrez.
The members express how incredibly proud they are to have opened for touring artists like Queensrÿche, Soul Sign, Metalachi and Lynette Skynyrd. The band shared that for the Queensrÿche show, lead vocalist Geoff Tate and his band Rudy Sarzo (Quiet Riot, Ozzy, Whitesnake), Simon Wright (DIO, AC/DC), Robert Sarzo (Hurricane) were transported by members of Wyte Gye and friends after their tour bus broke down in Anza, California. So as you can read, the band is dedicated and embodies the motivational showbiz cry, “The show must go on!”
Wyte Gye has also had the pleasure of performing with a multitude of local artists from different genres including, The Pedestrians, Gutter Candy, Waxy, Ozzmania, Dog ’N’ Butterfly, The Roads of Rome, Grand Scovell, Aphrodisiac Jacket, Mighty Jack, The Hellions, Blasting Echo, Long Duk Dong and Boycott Radio. Wyte Gye was honored to perform at the Official Pre-Party for Goldenvoice’s Power Trip in 2023 at Big Rock Pub. That three-night festival included legendary bands Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Judas Priest, Metallica and Tool!
I spoke to the gyes briefly by phone, here’s what they had to say:
DOMINIC JIMENEZ (Drums)
What influenced you the most to choose the drums and what motivates you to continue to play it at a high level?
“When I was young, I was influenced by the heavy music that my older brother Mike and uncle Eric were listening to at the time, bands like KISS, Van Halen and Ozzy. The drums were a part of the music that I gravitated to and understood the most. As far as playing it at a high level, I just try to play the music to the best of my ability and treat it like a challenge to make it sound good.”
Why do you think the music Wyte Gye performs resonates with people?
“I think people can relate to this music because they may have grown up with it, and it may have inspired them to play music, like in my case. Or it may remind them of good times in their lives”.
Anything else you’d like to add?
“Thanks to Jeff Mazur and Big Rock Pub for having us once again!” During college, Dominic played marching tenor drums for the Riverside City College Drumline. He’s also played for The Trainor Brothers, who have had frequent special guest Freddy Fender, Jr. sit in with them on multiple occasions.
Currently, Dominic is the Drumline Director for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School. Dominic proudly plays and is endorsed by Vater Drumsticks.
ERIC WILLMAN (Guitar)
What have you enjoyed most about being the gye in Wyte Gye?
“Learning and practicing new songs is a lot of work but putting it together with a team (even in rehearsals) is what makes it really fun”.
What are your earliest memories of the guitar and choosing to play?
“I had guitar lessons in fourth grade, but I thought I was more suited for drums. When I was about 15 I met John Boone, a neighbor five or six years older than me. He played a lot of Van Halen and I said to myself, ‘I have to do that!’”
In Wyte Gye, the music you perform spans from Classic Rock to Heavy Metal. What is it about the music in these genres that makes them timeless?
“Although I’ve expanded my musical tastes as I’ve gotten older, the music we play in this band was released while I was growing up. My personal connection to these genres will last the rest of my life.”
Anything else you’d like to add?
“Noe was sucks!” (inside joke. Ask me about it at the show)
JERRY BRYSON (Bass)
What do you enjoy most about being a member/playing in a band?
“I really enjoy writing and learning new material. Plus, the next step of getting out playing live shows. You can see it in my actions on stage, I get immersed”.
As a bass player, what influenced you the most to choose that instrument and what motivates you to continue to play it at a high level?
“I noticed the bass guitar around 12 years-old. Then I started listening to Michael Anthony of Van Halen, then I was hooked! I never looked back”.
You are notoriously adept at playing many different styles. I even heard you laid down some bass tracks for a Hip Hop/Rap artist?
“I absolutely love to play different genres. The energy and challenges are the best”.
Anything else you’d like to add?
“It’s been a blast to play with these dudes in Wyte Gye and I look forward to keeping it going!”
Jerry was a member of and toured with Power Metal band Raising Cain. He remains a member of High Desert rockers Blackwater and formerly played for Boneyard, a classic 80’s tribute band. He is a 2016 and 2017 Coachella Valley Music Awards Nominee for ‘Best Bass’. Jerry was signed by Celestial Records in the 90’s and remains a long-time Sony recording artist working as a session musician. He recently formed ‘Hard 8’ an original music band with friends from outside the area. He also has begun a passion project called Bryson Backline Studio, providing quality sound to live music events in the High Desert. Jerry proudly uses and is endorsed by GHS Strings, Dunlop, RAPCOHORIZON Cables and Warwick Basses.
NOE GUTIERREZ (Vocals)
What is it about Wyte Gye and how much has it impacted your life?
“I feel that Wyte Gye is different. We’re not your ordinary cover band. We started playing music together in the early 2000’s officially becoming a unit in 2004 when we played a Beatles tribute for a family member. We’ve performed in backyards, living rooms, garages, on the back of a flat bed truck and the rooftop deck of a Palm Springs home! It literally is always a good time with those dudes! Many of my core memories are strewn while playing with Wyte Gye. I’m blessed we can still perform at a high level and glad we still get along!”
If you want to see the band that rocks all your favorite Hard Rock/Heavy Metal/Classic Rock tunes, as well as the obscure songs you forgot about, I’ll see you at Big Rock Pub on Friday, January 3rd, 2025 to welcome in the New Year with a heavy bang!
