The Gomers are a Madison, Wisconsin-based comedy rock, experimental music, and progressive rock band. Former Madison mayors Dave Cieslewicz and Sue Baumann both proclaimed February 1 as "Gomer Day" [1] [2] in Madison. Their name was taken from Gomer Pyle.
In April 2006, Maximum Ink [3] noted the "longevity, durability, or diversity" of the band, and the mayoral Gomer Day Proclamation. [4]
Madison Magazine did a film feature in 2006 of karaoke in Madison, and documented the Gomers' 'Gomeroke' [5] live karaoke show.
The group got its start playing weekly at Madison's popular but ill-fated Club De Wash, [6] formerly located in the Hotel Washington (Madison, Wisconsin), [7] and currently plays eight times or more monthly with its live band karaoke show, 'Gomeroke', at the High Noon Saloon. [8]
Wisconsin Public Radio did an episode on the phenomena of "Rockstar Gomeroke" in 2009. [9] The band went on hiatus in 2016. [10]
The group also spawned the internationally notable Zombeatles.
The Gomers have won several Madison Area Music Awards: 2006 Unique Artist, 2006 Unique Song, 2005 and 2007 Best Cover Band, 2008 Unique Album and Unique Artist. [11] The reader poll of Madison weekly newspaper, The Isthmus has awarded them "Madison's Favorite Cover Band" and "Madison's Favorite Dance Band" from 2000 to 2009. [12]
The Gomers played with Les Paul at his Wisconsin Foundation for School Music Lifetime Achievement Award dinner, on October 27, 2004. [13]