There is no experience as true to homegrown American country music as a Gunnar & the Grizzly Boys show. Their electrifying sound hits you like your favorite shot; the words shine through like your best friend recalling a favorite memory. The sheer energy brought by the Grizzlies live explodes into the audience like a dose of adrenalin.
Gunnar Nybald, who still farms the family apple and plum orchards he’s been working all his life, writes the band’s songs from the seat of a tractor. His songwriting partner, Joe Rood, has been a friend since high school in Kent City, MI, where they were co-captains of the football team.
While attending Michigan State University in the agricultural program, Gunnar and hometown pal Rob Mason (bass, harmony vocals) teamed up with guitar slinger Shane Grehan (Alpena, MI), drummer Joe Connolly (Rochester Hills, MI) and keyboard/guitarist Chris Newberg (Rockford, MI) and formed the band with Rood.
The group played their first show as an opening act to a sold out Justin Moore crowd. Since then they’ve won WBCT B93’s Honky Tonk Heroes battle of the bands contest, distinguishing them as the top new country band in Grand Rapids, and WYCD’s Detroit Hoedown. They’ve gone on to open for Colt Ford, Brantley Gilbert, Lady Antebellum, Kip Moore, David Allen Coe and others.