What happens when a sober, high-desert troubadour collides with a fire-spinning, inn-keeping spawn of a gypsy -- in the café of a clothing-optional hot springs resort? They jam, of course, at open mic. Their sounds and styles fit so good together, they have no choice but to keep on playing together. Today, Kaisa MacDonald and Arnold Mitchem head up the Bourgeois Gypsies -- a genre-bending acoustic band that pits slow-rocking, porch-setting music against poignant punk rock lullabies that make you tap your foot, clutch your heart, and shake your head all at the same time.

Their first cd, "Blue Morning" has received airplay all around the world on college and indie stations, as well as all around web. The strength of this songwriting partnership, as well as their energetic live show has garnered them invitations to various distinguished festivals such as NXNE in Toronto and MPMF in Cincinnati, as well as developing a quickly growing local fanbase in the High Sierras.

Kaisa MacDonald , gypsy spawn and self-trained musical intuitive, combines an inverted-style of folk-punk finger-picking with dreamy, crooning vocals that ramble with reckless assurance through the exquisite expressions of her twentysomething angst. Classically trained in piano and flute as a child, MacDonald's (odd) guitar-picking style has been compared to Bob Dylan's incomparable harmonica-playing technique.

Arnold Mitchem, high desert troubadour and air-conditioned gypsy, (who was either going to be a spy or a Beatle when he grew up) has played bass guitar with Jeff Buckley and Danny Carey of Tool in a band called The Wild Blue Yonder. He has recorded with Seals & Croft & Chris Whitley. As a solo artist he self-released two acclaimed instrumental guitar CD's, Desert Dreams & Mojave Moon.

Kieth Rutherford helps glue together the rhythm section and chimes in on vocals. This San Diego native turn lake Tahoe snowboarder comes from a musical background. His grandfather played guitar in a Mariachi band.

Taylor Williams returned from a journey around the world to join his friends and pick up the low end. Whether it be popping Roots Revival funk or slow sensuous grooves the tallest bass player around (6'8") can be heard pushing the low frequencies.


Peter Miller started as a rhythm guitar player in a surf band, but soon found his true love was the drums. He can be heard driving the Bourgeois Gypsies with a steady and confident hand (and feet and other hand).

The Bourgeois Gypsies are currently hard at work on their follow-up to Blue Morning which will be released February 2008.