Band
Podcast guestCaribou Gone
Minneapolis, Twin Cities metro
Five-piece Minneapolis originals band formed during COVID, mixing '80s synth pop and new wave with hard rock guitar and big vocals.
Caribou Gone is a five-piece Minneapolis band that plays mostly original music. The band grew out of an '80s cover band during COVID, when keyboardist Ken Gammel and guitarist Gerhard (Gary) Vogel traded song files, then started practicing with a drummer and brought in singer Margaret Lloyd, a former professional opera soprano. Bassist and singer Brian White joined from the same cover band and now writes about half of the band's songs. Ken's writing leans prog, Brian's leans pop, and Gary brings hard rock guitar, so fans compare the sound to Blondie meets Depeche Mode with Rush guitar, or mid-'80s synth pop and new wave with an edge. Vocals are the heart of the band. The name comes from a Monty Python sketch. Caribou Gone released the album Carnival in Belize and recorded new drum tracks at Terrarium with new drummer Jeff Comfort. The band played the Taste of Minnesota singer-songwriter stage for three years and plays three-band bills with other original acts.
On the Minnesota Music Note
The Minnesota Music Note - Ep 78 - Original Music & Rock Influences with Caribou Gone
October 30, 2026
Open episode pageFun facts from the interview
- Five-piece band playing mostly originals, formed during COVID.
- Grew out of an '80s cover band whose singer, keyboardist and bassist all moved over.
- Singer Margaret Lloyd is a former professional opera soprano.
- Keyboardist Ken Gammel plays a rack of vintage '80s keyboards, including an original Minimoog.
- The name comes from a Monty Python sketch.
- Released the album Carnival in Belize, with real drums played over Ken's programmed tracks.
- Recorded new drum tracks at Terrarium with new drummer Jeff Comfort.
- Members record guitar, bass and vocals at home, using Logic and PreSonus.
- Played the Taste of Minnesota singer-songwriter stage for three years.
- New fans have found the band through The Current's local music site.
- Covers include songs by Garbage, Joan Jett and Blondie, plus Player's Baby Come Back.
- Brian picked up bass at 14 or 15 and played in the originals band Voice of Milo.
- Gerhard (Gary) Vogel got hooked on music after hearing Led Zeppelin's Heartbreaker on KDWB AM 63, took six years of classical piano, and played guitar in the hard rock band The Keep.
- Gary also plays in Thee Mod Garage, a '60s psychedelic cover band.
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