About
Guru Hissy Fit

Start with a cup of alternative rock, two cups of indie, and half a cup of punk. Stir in The Pixies, The Ramones, The Clash, The Cure, and Dirt Bike Annie, and mix until it sounds good. Sprinkle liberally with Japanese rock (for best results, use Polysics, The Blue Hearts, and GO!GO!7188!). Add a tiny dash of heavy metal. Serve hot.

That’s, more or less, the recipe behind Guru Hissy Fit, a high-energy, indie/punk/nerd rock band from Ferndale, Michigan.

GHF began in earnest in January of 2009, when Ulises Silva (rhythm guitar) and former member Eugene Lin (lead guitar) decided, “Hey, we have similar influences, we both like to play guitar, and we both know who the 50 Kaitenz are, so let’s start a band.”

After weeks of practicing in a cramped basement, Eugene and Ulises decided, “Hey, you know, we’re probably going to need a bassist if we’re going to start this band thing, preferably one who’ll actually want to play our songs.” So Eric Oliver (ukulele) was asked to join the band as a bassist. And although he never actually used the words, “I’ll join the band,” it’s widely assumed that he has because he’s been with GHF ever since.

After more weeks of practicing in that same cramped basement, Eugene, Eric, and Ulises decided, “Hey, you know, we’re probably going to need a real singer if we hope to get through a set without being laughed off stage.” So Ulises and Eugene put aside their formidable (i.e., pitiful) singing abilities, and in came Cheryl Faligowski (tuba), much to the neighbors’ delight.

While we're currently re-tooling and looking for a new lead guitarist and drummer, GHF will definitely be back, better than ever, with 52 percent more...um...guru-ness. Yeah.

Who we are

 

Cheryl Faligowski (vocals), when not taking classes, working, photographing, modeling, planning her wedding, learning aerial yoga, writing lyrics, and catching her weekly hour of sleep, manages to find the time to lend her golden voice to GHF. After a short hiatus from the Detroit music scene, Cheryl is back, better than ever, with 30 percent more dancing.
Main influences: Sleater-Kinney, PJ Harvey, IAMX/Sneaker Pimps, Elton John, David Bowie, Tori Amos, Robots in Disguise, Nicole Atkins, Lunachicks, Pixies, Pretty Girls Make Graes, Le Tigre, Ani Difranco, Queen, Muse, Nymb, many more.
Cheryl's web site: www.spiltsugar.com

 

Eric Oliver (bass guitar) is a long-time regular in the Detroit music scene, having previously played with Desolation Angels and Conniption. Add to this the fact that he’s the director of a local music academy, and we figure he’s got the connections to get us gigs in the D. Which is good, especially considering the quality of our demo.
Main influences:

 

Ulises Silva (rhythm guitar and vocals) previously played in prog rock and blues bands—despite his indie, punk, and Japanese rock background, so he’s extra thankful that GHF came together. When not making noise on guitar or screeching incomprehensibly into his mic, he tries to be a novelist, much to the chagrin of Western civilization.
Main influences: Dirt Bike Annie, GO!GO!7188, Polysics, The Blue Hearts, Metric, The Aisler’s Set, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Deceased, Division Day, The Ravonettes, The White Rabbits
Ulises' web site: www.ulisessilva.com