Description | Price |
Acoustic duo (guitar, upright bass) | $300 (USD) |
Acoustic trio (guitar, upright bass, accordion) | $400 (USD) |
Full four-piece band (guitars, upright bass, accordion, fiddle, banjo and more) | $500 (USD) |
Full band with special guests (5+ musicians) | $600 (USD) |
The Insolent Willies are an upstate New York roots-rock band known for their hip-shaking mix of quirky, clever original music and unpredictable covers. The band was formed in 2017 by singer-songwriters Bill Ackerbauer (acoustic guitar, harmonica, fiddle, vocals) and Frank DeVer Pullen (bass, mandolin, banjo, vocals), and now includes Paul Gavry (accordion, fiddle, vocals) and Evan Gavry (guitars, percussion, vocals), with occasional appearances by friends such as Mike Gowans, Jenny Harder, Dusty Elmer, David Wong and others.
Set lists are unique for each performance and vary widely from show to show and month to month. Here is a short sampling of covers we have done recently in addition to our original songs:
Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
Pump it Up - Elvis Costello
Yer So Bad - Tom Petty
Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
Like a Hurricane - Neil Young
Shake Your Hips - Slim Harpo
Franky’s Gun - The Felice Brothers
Indianapolis - The Bottle Rockets
Proud Mary - CCR
Slip Slidin’ Away - Paul Simon
Blister in the Sun - Violent Femmes
Life During Wartime - Talking Heads
Hey Good Lookin’ - Hank Williams
Harlem River Blues - Justin Townes Earle
Hotel Yorba - The White Stripes
Corona - The Minutemen
Bring it in Home - Sam Cooke
We require a flat, level performance space at least 8’ by 16’ for the four-piece band. Smaller ensembles can fit into slightly smaller stage spaces. We require access power outlets within 20 feet of the stage, and if the event is to take place outdoors, we require cover from sun/rain.
We need to know the address, any pertinent info about load-in/setup and access to the stage, and a rough estimate of the size of the space and expected audience (so we can ensure we have the necessary sound equipment).
We provide sound for small and medium-sized venues (audiences up to 200). Larger venues typically provide house sound systems for us to plug into. We provide basic lighting but may require additional lighting if the venue is especially dark or large.
Yes.
Our biggest gig to date was this spring at the Tulip Festival, an event attended by thousands in Albany, NY (the state capital).
Our favorite venue is The Cock N’ Bull, a renowned restaurant and music venue in rural Saratoga County, NY.
We love playing festivals and private parties but also enjoy playing at unique bars and restaurants. We are flexible about our equipment setup so we can play large stages or intimate acoustic spaces.
All the band members are seasoned veterans with 15+years of gigging experience . The Insolent Willies formed in 2017 and have been growing their fan base and touring radius since.
We draw inspiration from many genres and love the music of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, The Pogues, Sam Cooke, The Rolling Stones, Wilco, and contemporary songwriters such as Todd Snider, Josh Ritter, Dan Bern and Steve Earle, among many others. We also spice up our sets with music that has Cajun/Zydeco and even Celtic and Reggae influences.
The Insolent Willies intend to continue writing and recording new music and performing throughout our local region. We hope to expand our touring radius and play more shows throughout the Northeast and possibly tour other states in countries as opportunities present themselves.
We typically play shows from one hour to three hours in length but can do shorter or longer performances. We once played a private party gig that went on for seven hours (but that was an extraordinary situation)!
Yes, as long as the temperature is above 50 degrees F and we have suitable cover from the elements.
Clients are welcome to suggest or request a couple of specific selections, but unless the booking is made months in advance and the client is willing to pay a premium), we generally don’t prepare more than one or two specific cover songs for any one gig. Our set lists generally include original material from our three albums and a healthy dose of fun and unexpected cover songs which we have reimagined in our own style.
Exuberantly positive reviews are the norm!
We have been described as having a “great American sound” and working hard to ensure the crowd has a fun and memorable experience.
City of Albany
Amsterdam Waterfront Foundation
Village of Speculator
Murray’s Fools Distilling Co.
Schoharie Crossing New York State Historic Site
The Caroga Arts Collective
Albany Tulip Festival
Saratoga Springs First Night Celebration
Amsterdam Riverfront Concert Series
The Cock N Bull
Wolf Hollow Brewing Co.
Music on the Point Concert Series
The Revival
Harmony of Art Festival
Southern Adirondack Wine & Food Festival
Cooperstown Beverage Exchange
Caroga Lake Music Festival