Greetings folks, welcome to the Gleasons’ Drift 2008 wrap-up.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />....
As per the course 2008 had its share of interesting misfires, bullseyes and knockdowns all in the name of rock and roll. Here are some of the highlights in a year that went by all too quickly!....
- Kickoff the “Setlists are for Posers Tour” in Brooklyn with our hillbilly friends from WVA, Billy Matheny and the Frustrations. After barely making it to the gig, (see Captain A) we play a great show in front of the unusual crowd of misfits, drunkards and tipplers as Pat proclaims “wow, whatever”!....
- Oh No! We are now a 3 piece again! “the econo way to do the trip, the way D. Boon and Watt did”.....
- Met a girl named Maxine in Philly, she liked the show.....
- Get one of my songs, Bitter Wisdom (BPR completed 2003) into a soundtrack for the Warner Brothers film “Flogging Margaret”. The song is like the movie, about learning the hard way!....
- St. Patrick’s Day with our old bandmate Jerry sitting in on guitar. Great to hear that Strat attack again!....
- Academia gets a taste of the Drift as we head to Pittsburgh, PA for some dates in college town. Comedians, coverbands and hippies abound in what turns out to be one interesting ride.....
- The Gleason Drifters perform at the Annual Acoustic Hootenanny.....
- Summer show kickoff with our old pals the Goddamn Kingpins, loud, vulgar and way more than one person can handle!....
- Hot July day on the streets in Reading. No this isn’t where we ended up after playing with ACE, but where we played at the Art Fair. Never had to compete for sound with a band a block away, a first time for everything.....
- Cofffecakes Jenkins forgets his cymbals as Dave the Drummer comes to the rescue..Oh little town of Bethlehem, you aren’t ready for the Drift!....
- SHOOFLY!!! SMOKE RISES!!!…..if you were there you know what I mean. Happy birthday JP “when it all goes shithouse….”....
- Back in Pittsburgh the same day as Bobby D, get to play a bachelorette party, and yes the Captain kept his cape on! Not sure if she ever made it to the alter though!....
- Played the Brass with some old friends, Smoker smoked and Jim’s guitar broke!....
- After an argument about a song, Little Malkmus lights up the dance floor like an indie rock Travolta.....
- Guitar Masters World Tour means hangin’ with Rick Derringer, Hendrix’s conga player from Woodstock and watching the peace pole almost knock a little girl senseless. This was a lifetime of rock and roll memories, mostly bad, wrapped up in one giant, aghh how should I say this ‘memorable” weekend.....
- Back to Shelf Rock to record “So Glad That It’s Christmas” our first Christmas tune celebrating our friendships, with the lad, Jim Devlin on guest vocals!....
- Back to NYC, this time Manhattan, so Lester can ply us with booze so he can hear what he wants! “Great to be back in the birthplace of Johnny Cash!”....
- Ooo Black Friday (sing to Kiss’ Black Diamond melody) with some old high school chums and the Country Boy himself, Stahly on slide!....
- Close out the 2008 gigs with the Annual Holiday Hootenanny. A great way to end a great year of giggin.....
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Some highlights from another great year for Gleasons Drift. The setlists continue to grow and the booze continues to flow as we are happy to announce the addition of John “JP” Lipzok on Telecaster. John is a great musician and songwriter and we are thrilled to have him along for the ride. Being a New Philly boy, he knows what to expect when joining this ensemble! As we head into 2009 we are gearing up for a return to the studio to start recording our follow-up to Nickel Rocket. Expect the same old mish-mash of twang infused rock and roll but with some special treats added for good measure. Much respect and appreciation goes out to all of you who came to a show, bought us a drink, bought a cd or shirt or just offered a kind word, you folks enable us to continue to do what we do. Special thanks to all the great bands we played with in and out of the Blind Pigeon family; Nick Meyer and the Meyer Straights, Tupperwerewolf, the Pony Bottles, Almost One, Total Quality Institute, Pat Burns, the Goddamn Kingpins, La Overtoner, the Worms, the Zoners, the Great Unknown, the Drunk Stuntmen, Hillbilly Shakespeare, Cloud Party, the Revelevens, Satan’s Boys and Girls Club, Stahly and any and all whom I forgot to mention. Great music by lots of great bands!....
Here is to another great year and a healthy and prosperous one ahead for all you rockers and rollers and gig goers!....
Cheers....B Whalen