The Gris Gris

by Heather PharesThe Gris Gris -- named after a particularly powerful voodoo spell that can be used for great good or great harm, a Dr. John album, and New Orleans slang for drugs -- is the brainchild of Greg Ashley, a Texas-born singer/multi-instrumentalist inspired by his home state's legendary garage-psych. While still in his teens, Ashley formed the Mirrors, who released a vinyl-only debut album in 2001. Two years later, the band's second album, 13 Patient Flowers, pointed the way toward Ashley's increasingly experimental muse. He also began working on solo material while still in the Mirrors; while touring with the band, he found a kindred spirit and collaborator in Oscar Michel, bassist for San Francisco's Rock & Roll Adventure Kids. Late in 2003, Ashley moved to Oakland, CA, and another former Rock & Roll Adventure Kid, drummer Joe Haener, completed the Gris Gris lineup. The Gris Gris soon made a name for themselves in the Oakland/San Francisco scene; one of their friends in the likeminded band the Cuts sent a copy of the Gris Gris' demo to Birdman Records, which issued Ashley's solo album, Medicine F**k Dream, at the end of 2003 and the Gris Gris' self-titled debut, which arrived in summer 2004. For the Season appeared a little over a year later.