​​​​​​​Poku Poku Boys

Gabriel Caplan (guitar) was raised in Richmond, Virginia. He moved to New York in '99. 

In August, 2008 Gabriel joined Daptone Label’s Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens, playing a Friday residency at Fat Cat and with concerts including; (2012) Great Googamooga, (2011) Bonnaroo “Which Stage,” Winnipeg Folk Festival, Music Hall of Williamsburg,* Bowery Ballroom,* (2010) Monterey Jazz Fest, Pop Montreal, Vancouver Folk Fest, Calgary Folk Fest, Edmonton Folk Fest, Chicago's Millennium Park, the Apollo,* Bowery Ballroom, (2009) Lincoln Center Songbook Series, Nokia,* Celebrate Brooklyn**, Winter Tour of Europe, Ottawa Bluesfest, (2008) WNYC Soundcheck, Brooklyn Academy of Music TakeOver, Southpaw, Mercury Lounge. 

*opening for Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings 
** opening for Burning Spear 

In January, 2009 Gabriel joined the Fred Thomas Band, playing songs Fred originally recorded as primary bass player for James Brown from 1971 on including; Hot Pants, Make it Funky, Pass The Peas, Papa Don't Take No Mess and many more. They have been playing together as "The Fred Thomas Trio," with Fred and Cheese Martin's original drummer from the Smalls Paradise group; Tommy Greene. 

In September 2010 Gabriel began playing with theatre, film and tv actor and musician, Michael Cerveris in the countrified-stylings of Loose Cattle with shows including Michael’s 2012 Lincoln Center Songbook series performance, Mountain Stage and bimonthly shows at 54 Below. 

Gabriel has subbed for the James Brown Allstarz feat. Charles Bradley at the 2009 St. Lucia Jazz Festival. 

His guitar is a customized Tele-hybrid w/ Bigsby by Ritchie Baxt along with a Richie's flipped semi-hollow body creation with p94s. His amp is a Rivera Chubster. Pedals include Robert Keeley's Fuzz/Overdrive, Treble-Booster, Mellow Wah Cry Baby; Vemuram's Jan Ray, Mad Professor's Deep Blue Delay; and the Strymon Optical Compressor and Lex rotary pedal. 

Gabriel also plays bass guitar and sings and is developing his original material.