Scott Gypson Joins Meat Raffle as Bassist

Meat Raffle is now a five-piece. Following a series of hints on social media, the Buffalo-based rock band announced the arrival of a fifth member on Wednesday. It also happened to be the newest member’s birthday.

         Scott Gypson joins the band on bass, but that doesn’t mean founding bassist Ian DeHaas is going anywhere. Instead, he’s hopping over to guitar, joining Evan Anstey, with whom he shares lead vocal duties.

         Gypson, a Niagara County native, moved back home in recent years after spending more than a decade making music in Nashville. With a list of credits spanning funk, rock, gospel, R&B and more, Gypson is well-versed and virtuosic in his approach to the instrument. Since his return, he’s been a regular in Evan Anstey & the Old Ways, playing several gigs with the folk and bluegrass band since 2023.

         “Scott’s a professional. He’s the type of guy who’s not only an amazing player; he’s just a fun dude to be around,” Anstey, a longtime friend of the Gypson family, said.

         Adding to him being a perfect fit for Meat Raffle, Gypson is a proprietor of smoked meats and other delicacies as the founder TN Smokehouse. The acclaimed barbecue business is now based in WNY after starting down south in 2017.

         Meat Raffle has an ever-evolving sound and deep ties to the Buffalo-Niagara music scene. Gypson says he’s “pumped” to be joining the band.

         “It’s gonna be great,” he said.

         Meat Raffle was founded in 2019 by DeHaas (baritone guitar), Anstey (guitar), Nick Badeau (drums) and Luke-Allport Cohoon (keyboards). They released their first album, the self-recorded “Unintended Consequences,” in 2021, and followed it with 2024’s “Plausible Deniability,” produced by Jay Zubricky.

         Looking at the year ahead, the band is scheduled to perform in Buffalo and Lockport, with more gigs to be announced.

Meat Raffle — (L-R: Ian DeHaas, Scott Gypson, Luke Allport-Cohoon, Evan Anstey and Nick Badeau)