Gear Daddies

Plenty of alt-country bands have hailed from Austin, Texas, but the Gear Daddies were that rarity, a group playing twangy, rootsy rock & roll from Austin, Minnesota. Proud Midwesterners the Gear Daddies were formed in 1984 by Martin Zellar on lead vocals, guitar, and harmonica; Randy Broughten on electric guitar and pedal steel; Nick Ciola on bass; and Billy Dankert on drums and vocals. The band made its reputation through live work, and as Zellar told reporter Jason Schoonover, "I played every bar and service club, prom and homecoming in southeastern Minnesota, northern Iowa....