Playlists with Purpose: Nick Gaitan

Nick Gaitan—bassist of 20 years and recipient of Houston Music Foundation’s COVID-19 relief fund—has a rock-and-roll soul and believes in the power of composition. He leverages our city’s history and musical talents to make an impact for the community—and you know how we feel about that.

His journey is about making sacrifices and flipping to new chapters. He took us back—from performing with his high school band to early days in Houston’s music scene with Los Skarnales. Music changed his life—and if it weren’t for picking up the bass, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

Introduce yourself to the world.

My name is Nick Gaitan—I’m a native son of Houston, a touring musician and songwriter.  I’ve also been a community college instructor, a pawnbroker, a charter school librarian, a mechanic, a plumber, bartender, storyteller and a student—to name a few.  I’ve had the opportunity to write, perform and record with many talented and inspiring artists in my life. 

I started performing in the Houston music scene with Los Skarnales in the Summer of ‘99.  After that, I toured with Billy Joe Shaver for several years between 2007 and 2014. Since 2017, I’ve been playing bass and touring in Nikki Hill’s band. I’ve always continued to write and record my own music alongside my touring gigs and have a deep passion for history—particularly that of the city I love so much and call home.  With a great production team, I recently produced a community event called Tejas Got Soul: Early Chicano Sounds in Houston—that included discussion panels, a live performance with pioneers in the Chicano Soul genre and community participation in gathering history from people who were around in the early days of the genre.  I grew up on the Southeast side—a working-class part of Houston with lots of diversity and color. Some call it rough, but I call it home. Home is where the heart and soul live.  

What instruments do you play? Tell us why you love 'em.

I consider my main instrument to be bass. I play upright bass, electric bass guitar…but I also pluck the 6-string guitar (mostly to write songs, study chords and progressions). 

There’s something very special to me about the sound of the upright, or “El Tololoche,” as I like to call it. “Tololoche” is a nickname given to it that I believe comes from Mexico. It’s a beautifully regal force with so many sounds and an unmistakable voice and tone in countless genres of music. It rumbles. It thumps. Hums and can sing. Depending on who is behind the fiddle—it can often be used in a percussive way. I get such a kick out of playing this instrument—a world in all its own. There’s no feeling quite like locking in with a drummer and being a strong rhythm section with a tight pocket. Lord help me, I love this thing. Looking back, grabbing this instrument changed my life and put me on the road I always wanted to be on—eventually performing, meeting, and even collaborating with musicians I’ve admired my entire life.  

That feeling is similar when I play bass guitar, but difference is that you can move around because it’s hanging over your shoulder on a strap. This can change the dynamics of your stage performance and interactions with your band members. 

How long have you been performing? First fond memory?

I like to say that I’ve been a musician for 20 years because that’s when I took to the stage and Houston’s local music scene. However, I did pick up the guitar and started learning a few songs by ear about 25 years ago. I’d also learn some songs by going to Sam Goody Music store, shuffling through the guitar tab books and memorizing some riffs. I used to sit by my open window and just practice. I was never good at sports, so I figured I had to give this a try since I loved music. I sure am glad I did. 

One of my earliest memories of performing was at a talent show in high school with my band. We were so stoked, had our friends take pictures, then got our asses handed to us by a young, killer cumbia band.  I mean—the audience liked us, but you should’ve seen the way the room lit up when them boys hit that cumbia rhythm. It was a great experience. A great memory. I need to dig those pictures out of storage.

Another great memory was my first two shows with Los Skarnales. It was a show called The Watcha-Tour. It was a Latino-Centric version of a travelling show (like Warped Tour).   I remember meeting Todos Tus Muertos and Chris Perez (Selena Quintanilla’s husband). I also remember that South Park Mexican was also on the bill and had a big entourage and security team. We opened that show two days in a row—first in Sunken Gardens (San Antonio) and the following day at The Cynthia Mitchell Woodlands Pavillion (Houston). The Houston show was special because for the first time I was on a big stage and was thrilled I had made it this far. It was a bright and brave new chapter in my life. I felt like I was exactly where I needed and wanted to be at the time. 

Favorite local venue to perform at?

I love so many of our local venues and I would have to say that they all have a ton of charm and soul. I lived above The Continental Club in Houston for years and have played so many shows there opening up for greats. I owe a ton of thanks to Pete Gordon for giving me hundreds of gigs, putting me in front of audiences that would’ve not known about my music otherwise. This place will always have a special place in my heart. 

When the Heights Theater opened in Houston, I had already had a history of performing at its sister theater The Kessler for a few years during my days in Billy Joe Shaver’s band. I swear it was a breath of fresh air in our city. I’ve seen and lived some unforgettable moments there and that’s one place that knows how to treat their artists and patrons. I can’t wait to get back on that stage.    

Finally, a small dive bar in Houston’s East End—the D&W Lounge in 2nd Ward. It’s been a bar for over 50 years, and sits on a corner that faces Houston’s unmistakable, gorgeous skyline. Live music nights in this joint are like nothing else. You can really feel the pulse of the barrio in this room when the music is pumping and people are moving all over the bar and dance floor. Bar owner, Keith Weyel, really enjoys supporting Houston music and takes good care of his musicians and patrons. He knows all of his people on a first-name basis and has a big place in his heart for this city and the music created here.

How has music helped push you through the pandemic?

I’ve been able to stop and take inventory in these times, reflect with gratitude, look back at all the artists I’ve collaborated with over the last 20 years. I’ve started new collabs, I’ve reached out to some I haven't been in touch with and started writing new songs. I’ve gone down a few rabbit holes discovering things new to me, even if they aren’t new. Of course as part of this—I’m continuing to find recently released music as well.  

Who are the musician(s) you look up to? Tell us about them.

I could go on and on, but I’ll give you a few I think the world of. I’ve looked up to Billy Joe Shaver for quite a while—I’ve learned so much from him. You hear his story in his songs. You hear the truth, the strength in vulnerability through his words. What I’ve admired most was that Billy Joe has never tried to be ANYONE except Billy Joe. I was fortunate enough to play many shows with him all over the place. His songs are covered far and wide, including by many of the greats in country music and beyond. Even if you aren't familiar with the man himself—you most certainly have heard one of the songs he wrote. He even recorded a song of mine in 2008 called I’ve Found My Weakness in You.

I grew up listening to Jose Alfredo Jimenez through my father's musical influence. Dad was not a musician, but a music lover to the highest degree. Besides the cool fact of Jose Alfredo coming from the same city that my paternal grandfather was from, his work and compositions hit you right in the soul. The passion in the voice and the sound of his band of mariachis give me goosebumps and bring tears to my eyes. It’s so powerful—take a listen if you haven't. So many of his compositions became what we know as many of the standards of musica ranchera (mariachi music).   

Songwriter and bassist Willie Dixon has had a huge influence on my bass playing. And truthfully—Dixon, Charles Mingus, Keith Ferguson and Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler are a 4-way intersection of what I feel are the biggest influences on my bass-playing, be it electric or upright. 

Like Shaver in country music and Jose Alfredo Jimenez in ranchera, Dixon had a huge part in becoming the sounds of what became Rock N’ Roll music from the 60’s and on.

What do you want people to know about Houston’s local music scene?

Houston’s rich musical history can seem overlooked sometimes, but you pick the genre and Houston has a place in it. From early R&B, Zydeco, Chicano Soul, Swamp Pop, Tejano, Rap and Psychedelic music—Houston is a real source for some of the most influential artists of every genre. If you ask me, Houston IS the place.  The soundscape is amazing and I've met so many people that are all about their work. I’ve said it a thousand times—passion is so valuable. To me, that’s plenty a reason to support Houston’s scene. Our scene works hard for what they believe in, we reach out and support each other. I’ve seen this time and time again, and I speak these words—it’s still happening. Artists that help other artists are a true blessing. There is a big love there. 

Where can we find you?

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify

Grab those headphones and check out Nick’s playlist with a purpose—a montage that pays homage to The Bayou City.

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