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On a rain-soaked Friday night, THE BAND had a lot going AGAINST IT. It was their ONLY SHOW booked so far this year. IT WAS A TOTAL DOWNPOUR OF BIBLICAL PROPORTIONS. They also were booked to PLAY AT 1030 on a FRIDAY NIGHT. Yet against ALL ODDS the fans made their way to TAKE A LOOK AT THEM. Our LONGTIME AUDIENCE, NEW MEMBERS, and even, dare I say it, our FIRST ACTUAL FAN showed up TO DAWSON STREET PUB.

FIRST UP, our good friends in LAZER SHARK.  The band that gave us our big break. REPPING OUR GEAR, and giving in my opinion, ONE OF THEIR BEST PERFORMANCES TO DATE. Playing classics like ‘SHLUB LIKE ME” “CAROUSEL ON FIRE” and my dad’s personal favorite, ‘HANGZIETY” the band ROCKED THE PUB! The band consisting of guitarist PAT MCCABE, bass player KEVIN LONGHITANO, singer JOE SIRIANNI (no relation to that OTHER SIRIANNI) and drummer PHIL DIRENZO kept the GOOD VIBES COMING. They even paid homage to their INFLUENCES. Covers from GREEN DAY and NEIL YOUNG were sprinkled in during the night. DID I MENTION THEY HAVE AN ALBUM COMING OUT? They do, and you should check out their singles ‘SHLUB LIKE ME” AND “HANGZIETY” on ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS. Why am I supporting another band on OUR WEBSITE? It’s what you do when you have GOOD FRIENDS IN A GOOD BAND. Here’s to ANOTHER SHOW with YOU FELLAS!

IT’S MAIN EVENT TIME! Throughout the night, the HYPE WAS BUILDING. Shirts were handed out, PICTURES TAKEN, and the audience WAS GROWING. Somewhere near 53 PEOPLE, INCLUDING LAZER SHARKS FANS made it into the CRAMPED CONFINES OF DAWSON STREET PUB. The SMALL SPACE made for BIG ENERGY. The band took the STAGE around 10:30. Kicking things off with “DAY IN/ DAY OUT” the band brought the HEAT, and NO ONE IN ATTENDANCE WALKED OUT ON THIS BAND UNDER 60 SEC0NDS FLAT. In fact, we may have our FIRST ACTUAL FAN! We don’t know who he is yet, but this mystery fan is always there when WE PLAY DAWSONS’ in a WASHINGTON WIZARD’S JERSEY. He even told SEAN he came out to see THE BAND SPECIFICALLY. That is THE TYPE OF ENERGY NEEDED for THIS PERFORMANCE.

THE band played with the energy and EXPERIENCE OF THOSE WHO ACCOMPLISHED MORE IN 3 MONTHS THAN MOST HAVE IN 3 YEARS. Yes, you heard that right, they BILL AND TED’ED themselves! Traveling into the FUTURE, SKIPPING MONTHS OF PRACTICE JUST TO HAVE A MUSICAL MASTERY OVER THEIR AUDIENCE. They held on TIGHTLY during songs like ‘SPOOKY”, “COUCH” and “UPSIDE DOWN”.  Even when the audience wavered a bit, they were REELED BACK IN WITH ROCKING COVERS OF “MY OWN WORST ENEMY” and “HEY JEALOUSY”.

It’s not a FREELANCE SHOW without a FEW SURPRISES THROWN OUR WAY FROM THE CROWD. Fellow Uncle Gary was A CROWD FAVORITE. He even received a shout out from LAZER SHARK.  UNCLE GARY was also responsible for one of the funniest TEXTS I’VE EVER READ FROM PAT.

BACK TO THE BAND, AJ, LOOKING MYSTERIOUS AND IMPORTANT in a sweatshirt and sunglasses ripped solos on “OTHERSIDE”, “KNOCKIN”.  HE ALSO PROVIDED ARTISTIC FLOURISHES and FX ON HIS SICK NEW GUITAR THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT. AJ provided EXTRA LAYERS TO THE MUSICAL ONION THAT IS FREELANCE SWEATPANTS! DOM, the AL PACINO TO SEANS CALM, COLLECTED DE NIRO proved to be a dynamic duo, taking us through a TIGHTLY CURATED SETLIST THAT THE BAND KNOWS BY HEART. SEANS LYRICS WERE AS SHARP AS EVER. Having the crowd sing along to “OTHERSIDE” AND “GOTTA GET OUT” were a THING OF BEAUTY. NEW MATERIAL such as “IN THE RAIN” and the new JAMMY PART to “STROKES” made their live debut. These ADDITIONS highlighted just what A RHYTHMICALLY TALENTED DRUMMER JUSTIN IS.

As the concluding notes to “HIGH ON A PLANE” rang out, the band had a few tricks LEFT UP Its LONG-SLEEVED MERCH SHIRTS. The band decided to PLAY A PRANK on its audience. Prompting them to join in the YEAH part of “WHATEVER”. The crowd complied, only FOR THE RUG TO BE PULLED OUT FROM UNDER THEM. Devos’ “UNCONTROLLABLE URGE” was brought out and FANS LOVED IT.  

The band still managed to WORK IN “WHATEVER.” The fan favorite cover was not on the SETLIST BUT PLAYED ANYWAY. During it, SEAN shouted out longtime fans JOHN BORKOWSKI AND JULIE WALLER. In the end, the band was asked TO PLAY MORE. PLAY MORE WE SHALL.  I KNOW, YOU DON’T WHEN WE WILL AGAIN.

SPECIAL THANKS: RUSSELL, THE DAWSON STREET PUB, OUR FAN IN THE WIZARD’S JERSEY, JOHN BORKOWSKI, JULIE WALLER, UNCLE GARY? LAZER SHARK.

Guess whose back, back again, FREELANCE SWEATPANTS IS BACK, TELL A FRIEND! THE BAND and subsequently the world’s most MANIC BAND BLOG RETURNS. The CONSHY FOUR PIECE returned after a lengthy HIATUS that including indulging in MORMONISM. While they may not have returned from a SOJOURN TO UTAH with copious wives and MASSIVE PLASTIC SURGERY BILLS, THEY RETURNED WITH A REAL revitalized REASON TO ROCK!  The REASON? The band are PLAYING DAWSON STREET PUB with FELLOW ROCKERS LAZER SHARK. WHEN is this EPIC PAIRING? HOW LONG ARE THEY PLAYING FOR, WHAT ARE THEY PLAYING? WHAT IS THE AIRSPEED VELOCITY OF AN UNLADEN SWALLOW? I know, you don’t, the answer to life’s most important questions.

The answer to these most important of life’s questions isn’t 24, but 84. Which is roughly how many minutes the band will be PLAYING at DAWSON STREET PUB ON FRIDAY, APRIL 11th. How many references can be crammed into a blog? It’s about the same as the many amazing songs crammed into a SWEATPANTS REHEARSAL. Kicking things off with the groovy 007, unlike Mr. Bond, this band has a LICENSE TO THRILL. THRILL they DID at this JAM SESSION! Doing their best FRED SCHNEIDER impression, SEAN and DOM made their vocal take on “GOTTA GET OUT” their own PRIVATE IDAHO. After that came the soon to be SINGLE READY “SPOOKY” which sounded fresh and fun, even if it felt a little barren without SEAN talking to an AUDIENCE. The song was FOLLOWED by the BOP that is “COUCH”. Coming soon to FREELANCE FANS, big things that may or may not involve an ACTUAL COUCH.

JUSTIN was playing a with a glove clipped to his drum kit to mute the sound, but that DIDN’T PREVENT HIM FROM LAYING DOWN THE BEATS on LAZER SHARK FAVORITE “OTHERSIDE”. The groovy jams of “HIT THE ROAD” AND “KNOCKIN” highlighted AJ’S importance as a lead player to the band. Adding effects laden flourishes and totally ripping solos on “OTHERSIDE” and “HIT THE ROAD” that bring that EXTRA SPICE TO THE MUSICAL GUMBO THAT IS FREELANCE SWEATPANTS. 

“DAY IN/ DAY OUT” still sounds as fresh as the first time the band played it 3 YEARS AGO! During the song, DOM’S blistering solo cutting like a DIME IN A LIME. If the band has any future as a jam artist like THE FOO FIGHTERS, it’s with “STROKES-TYPE-THING”. The song in MY OPINION, is one of their BEST. GIVING THE AUDIENCE the BEST OF THEM. Unlike Dave Grohl, the song remains faithful to the bands ROOTS and ended with an epic JAM.

What else is on the setlist? What else can you expect to hear? I KNOW YOU DON’T! JOIN US AT the BANDS SHOW ON FRIDAY, APRIL 11^TH!

The band wasted no time, particularly because there was NO TIME TO WASTE. With JUSTIN on a TIMETABLE to watch one of the most DEVASTATING SPORTS LOSSES in recent MEMORY, the BANDS MUSCLE MEMORY KICKED RIGHT IN! Kicking things off was the FREELANCE SWEATPANTS BLUES TRIO.  They immediately locked into a SPICY BLUES TIGNED RIFF brought to us by AJ.  How spicy? If they keep experimenting successfully with the genre as they are, they will make the BLUES BROTHERS MISSION FROM GOD look like a trip to the GROCERY STORE in comparison.

Once DOM arrived things got even more MISSION FOCUSED.  One the band CHOOSES TO ACCEPT.  POTENTIALLY RECORDING OUR SONGS IN A FEW WEEKS. That’s right folks, the band is set to RECORD EVERY SONG WE HAVE (minus WHATEVER, BUT YEAH WHATEVER). Once discussions of HOW, WHEN AND WHAT were under way, the PROSPECT OF RECORDING LIT A FIRE UNDER THEM!  THIS FIRE INSPIRED SEVERAL NEW SONGS. Am I overusing the capital letters a bit? Yeah WHATEVER! I’m just excited about what’s in store for the band as YOU ARE!

First the band kicked off the night with the EMO TINGED “POURING IN THE RAIN”. Featuring a less explored side of the band, they focused more on SEAN’S LYRICS AND GROOVE, this song will be a BANGER LIVE when they play it in a FEW MONTHS! I KNOW WHERE, YOU DON’T!  After that, the band BROUGHT OUT AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR!

The often NEVER BEFORE SEEN INSTRUMENT played a crucial role in a DOM penned song “OCTOBER”. The song started out almost ballad like with just the acoustic guitar before RHYTHM based GROOVES from AJ, SEAN, and JUSTIN took over. The song concluded by turning into a full-on jam in the end. This is one that will make for a killer SURPRISE DURING LIVE SHOWS.

After that it was a return to the familiar, a chance to hone in endings on songs and prep for the BIG TIME of recording. Speaking of BIG TIME, like Peter Gabriel, JUSTIN is establishing himself as a drummer to be reckoned with. PLAYING MORE COMPLEX FILLS in new songs like “POURING IN THE RAIN” the man’s talent has only gotten better. When playing on “STROKES”. The band was jamming around WHAT HE WAS DOING! That’s a sign that FREELANCE AS A WHOLE ARE ABOUT TO GET A LOT BETTER!

Ending the night fittingly, the band played “GOTTA GET OUT”. Though one listening to them would want to do the EXACT OPPOSITE. Good things are on the horizon and only FREELANCE SWEATPANTS can keep BRINGING THEM TO YOU!

This past SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY! The band musical COLLECTIVE, LLC, TRADEMARK KNOWN AS FREELANCE SWEATPANTS got together and JAMMED A WHOPPING 4 HOURS.  Like the BURGER KING WHOPPER, each member brought together the beef, tomatoes, lettuce, and CHEESE held together by the musical BREAD that would form 3 NEW FREELANCE SWEATPANTS SONGS!

Each band member was on FIRE! What started as a riff from SEAN, turned into a full-fledged 80’s sounding song that THE CURE WISH THEY COULD HAVE WRITTEN. I personally CAN’T WAIT TO SEE AS AN OPENER! The band collectively worked on the track for SEVERAL HOURS while their listening AUDIENCE BUILT UP OVER THE COURSE OF THE JAM. This G-14 CLASSIFIED level jam (yes, that is a RUSH HOUR REFERENCE) was so IMPORTANT, that it required TWO RECORDERS. Yes, for those FOLLOWING OUR RECORDINGS posted online will know the sound on this week’s RECORDING SOUNDS FAMILIAR. THE PRODIGAL SON has been FOUND and the recordings will sound once again like they did, and NOT RIPPED FROM AN APP ON MY PHONE.

AJ mentioned using the “HEY JEALOUSY” or some riff similar bridge to THE CURE SONG, and it WORKED. The song as it progressed in recordings sounded fuller, and MORE REALIZED. JUSTIN leant his most UNIQUE fills to date on the track while DOM LAID DOWN SOME GRITTY SOLOS.  BAND FANATIC JOHN BORKOWSKI OPERATED THE SECOND RECORDER. Lending his voice to SEVERAL SECRET MESSAGES, that you could only hear when you SPIN OUR MUSIC BACKWARDS.

The band rehearsed TWO MORE NEW SONGS. The one song I call “90’s METALLICA JAM”. It sounds like a cross between their cover of ‘TUESDAY’S GONE” and deep cut “LOW MAN’S LYRIC”. A new SONIC AVENUE FOR FREELANCE SWEATPANTS. The band ended the day on a slower jam. ALL in ALL, they have 3 new songs promising a bold NEW CHAPTER for the SWEATPANTS! What does this chapter entail, I KNOW, YOU DON’T!

Yeah, the blogger is late on a show review- WHATEVAH!

Yeah he usually uploads the SETLIST, BUT THIS 16 SONG SET FEATURES SECRETS-WHATEVAH

YEAH NO IMAGE TO ACCOMPANY THIS BLOG BECAUSE WORDS ARE COOL- WHATEVAH

Yeah, the show was awesome and was an intimate evening with FREELANCE SWEATPANTS- WHATEVAH

Possible COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT for using this song to open the blog- THAT’S COOL!

THE BAND FIRED ON ALL CYLINDERS at their best and MOST IMPROVISED SHOW TO DATE.  The group changed THE SETLIST EVER SO SLIGHTLY. Adding in some FRESH NEW COVERS and bringing NEW ENERGY TO THE SET. 

Kicking things off was a cover of the GIN BLOSSOMS “HEY JEALOUSY”.  Yes, the OTHER bands who weren’t there were JEALOUS they couldn’t get an intimate EVENING OF THEIR OWN. The song featured a BLISTERING solo in the mid-section by THE EVERCOOL AJ.  The sunglasses wearing guitar VIRTUOSO was in top form that night. SPEAKING OF SUNGLASSES, it appears that they are CATCHING ON WITH THE AUDIENCE. With one audience member saying that they ADDED MYSTERY TO THE BAND. What isn’t a mystery is how he keeps getting better with EACH PERFORMANCE. Killing it on songs like “OTHERSIDE”, AJ continues to be the bands underrated MUSICAL FORCE.

THE BAND even got into some new moves during the show. At one point, SEAN thought he’d test how tight the band was as a UNIT by dropping to his knees. The PURPOSE OF THE STUNT was to have DOM REVIVE HIM WITH A BEVERAGE.  No BEVERAGE NECESSARY as the ALL-NIGHT REVIVAL CAME IN FORM OF THE OVER HOUR LONG SHOW THE BAND PLAYED. Yes, that was a ZACH BRYAN reference, WHATEVAH!

Later in the show, a request came in for some WEEZER. The band responded by playing “SAY IT AIN’T SO”.  It may be that the Holidays were just around the corner, but DOM delivered his solos like his fingers were dancing across HOT COALS. The band was truly playing with PASSION AND FIRE, PROVIDING LEVITY AND WARMTH TO THE NAIL ON A 10 DEGREE NIGHT.

A new cover and soon to be fan request FAVORITE was Lit’s “MY OWN WORST ENEMY”. The band and song sounded exactly like the record. DOM dedicated the song to his WIFE. The audience sang along to it, as well as many other BAND STAPLES like “GOTTA GET OUT”.  The latter tune being described by many as a FAN FAVORITE (AND BAND MANAGER FAVORITE).

HOLING THE BAND TOGETHER is the rhythm section of JUSTIN. Killing it on complex songs like “HEY JEALOUSY”, “HIGH ON A PLANE” and even showcasing his skills on “STROKES TYPE THING” he has shown much improvement since he first PICKED UP THE STICKS. He TRULY HOLD THE FORT DOWN while the band toys with the AUDIENCE WITH THEIR ANTICS.

SEAN has become a better front man over the course of this year. Incorporating JOKEY BANTER, STAGE MOVES (EVEN IF THEY DON’T WORK, YET) and solid vocals and THUNDEROUS BASS PLAYING to his performances. He truly is the foundation to JUSTIN’S MUSICAL CEMENT FOR WHICH THEY BUILD THE HOUSE THAT IS FREELANCE SWEATPANTS.

I AM A WRITER NOT A FOREMAN, BUT YEAH WHATEVAH.

The Year of the Sweatpants may be coming to an end, but that just means NEXT YEAR IS ALSO THE YEAR OF THE SWEATPANTS! That’s right, more shows, more recordings, and some things I CAN’T TALK ABOUT.

BUT WHAT I CAN IS SHIRTS! We have MERCH NOW! At the next FREELANCE SHOW come get your own FREELANCE SWEATPANTS long sleeve SHIRT.

 I know, YOU DON’T when we play next AND WHAT COMES NEXT.

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR FOR THE NEW YEAR OF THE SWEATPANTS

SPECIAL THANKS:

CHRIS and THE CREW AT THE RUSTY NAIL for an INTIMATE EVENING WITH FREELANCE SWEATPANTS!

What the world needs NOW IS ANOTHER METAL BAND.  Is that what CRACKER sang about in the 90’s? Nah they railed against FOLK SINGERS. That’s what DOM said during the middle of a lengthy and PRODUCTIVE JAM.  FREELANCE, are finding their GROOVE AGAIN. Kicking off their FIRST BAND PRACTICE SINCE OCTOBER, they had no PROBLEM PUTTING THE SWEATPANTS BACK ON! The band WAS TIGHT MUSICALLY. Having sounded as though THEY NEVER LEFT THE PRACTICE FACILITY since the last time they hung out.

They just GOT RIGHT INTO IT. Kicking things off with a BLUESY JAM from AJ, the band found their GROOVE WITHIN SECONDS. While the band has sung about COUCHES before, they thought they would try from the PERSPECTIVE OF SOMEONE LYING ON THE FLOOR. The song is going to be a CLASSIC when debuted LIVE.  The song is a refreshing change of pace, with great DRUM FILLS from JUSTIN. SEAN seems to have the INTROSPECTIVE LYRICS LOCKED DOWN.

Oh, and the band got to have some fun as well! SOME GUITAR HEROICS from DOM shined through on a SURF ROCK JAM. MISER WHO? DICK DALE may have some competition when going up against DOM. Yeah, we KNOW HE’S DEAD, BUT WHATEVER!

The band then got CREATIVE WITH THE COVERS! A few ACDC songs were there to set the YEULTIDE MOOD. “IF YOU WANT BLOOD (YOU GOT IT)” was jammed as was “HIGHWAY TO HELL” AND “WALK ALL OVER YOU”. If no one stopped them, they would have played the HIGHWAY TO HELL ALBUM in ITS ENTIRETY. Alas, ACDC would just be the warmup. The main songs covered were a few 90’s gems.

“HEY JEALOUSY”, the band’s first crack at a cover tune was done as a three piece with SEAN SHREDDING on guitar. The band then kicked off a tune that could make its live debut at a show to be announced soon. TOADIES “POSSUM KINGDOM”, a song dating back to DOM’S EARLY DAYS IN BANDS, will likely make a reprise with FREELANCE SWEATPANTS. There also was the DEVO song that we covered, but I KNOW, YOU DON’T, WHICH ONE THEY PLAYED.

What is this all for you ask? The new songs, the cover songs? WELL, FREELANCE SWEATPANTS is CURRENTLY TAPPED TO PLAY THE RUSTY NAIL ON DECEMBER 21^ST!

COME JOIN US FOR A ROCKING TIME, RAUCOUS COVERS, AND OF COURSE, FREELANCE SWEATPANTS T SHIRTS & COOZIES!

UPCOMING DATES:

FREELANCE SWEATPANTS: THE RUSTY NAIL- DECEMBER 21^ST!

Most bands battle it out for chart and audience supremacy, but when the audience doesn’t show, it becomes a SHOW of SOLIDARITY. LAST NIGHT, courtesy of the newly married DOM SPIER, that’s exactly what happened.

12:00 PM, the manager gets in to work to see a barrage of texts from DOM. The flurry of excitement is because one of his favorite bands, CLEMENTINE, are in town. The bands OPENERS BAILED OUT, leaving room for FREELANCE SWEATPANTS and EXCELERATE to fill the void on their tour. While no void was filled with AUDIENCE MEMBERS, SONICALLY the venue was filled with MUSICIANS PLAYING MUSIC. The catch, the show is 7 PM that NIGHT!

The band up until this point have not been together since SEPTEMBER. Will they be able to pull off a set WITHOUT PRACTICING? How will it all unfold? Will there be audience turnout? How will Milwaukee and Philly based bands get along on a night the BUCKS PLAY THE 6ERS? WHY AM I ASKING YOU ALL THESE QUESTIONS? READ ON AND FIND OUT!

First up at 7 PM, my favorite band name of the bill, GOOFY AT NIGHT, a SKA BAND from Philly.  While I missed their initial set due to my Uber, I caught the last song. My EARS caught the SIREN LIKE SCREAM from their FRONT WOMAN. The band WAS FANTASTIC!

Up next at 8 PM, the always great EXCELERATE. PUSHING NIRVANA on us that night as an acoustic trio, with LAZER SHARK bass player KEVIN LONGHITANO as a part of the band. DRUMMER PHIL DIRENZO was absent, though his presence was felt as on one song EXCELERATE said “Phil would be doing some great fills about now.” Excelerate got personal, reminiscing about his first CAR HE TOTALED on “DELORES”. FALL MAY be upon us with 50 degree days ahead, but that didn’t stop the band from making us wish for warmer weather with their set closer “AUSTRALIA”.

Then came the moment everyone was there for, CLEMENTINE, fresh off the tree and ready to rock, the MILWAUKEE BASED BAND blew the roof off the place. Playing their brand of freshly squeezed rock, special thanks to front man JOE ALTAMORE for allowing us to play with you. GUITAR HEROICS, GREAT DRUMMING ensued throughout the bands 45 MINUTE SET.

NOW IT’S MAIN EVENT TIME! FREELANCE SWEATPANTS closed the show with a replay of their LAST SET. It didn’t matter if you have seen them one time or ONE HUNDRED TIMES. The band had played with a ferocious intensity, trying to prove themselves worthy of being in the presence of DOMS HEROES. THEY EARNED IT! SO MUCH SO that AJ played his first show WITHOUT GLASSES! JUSTIN as per USUAL, WAS A MONSTER ON DRUMS! SEAN as a front man had GREATLY improved his game since DAY ONE. In the audience, I SANG ALONG TO “GOTTA GET OUT” with KEVIN AND EXCELERATE (HIS LEGAL NAME). The band ended their set with a one two punch of “HIGH ON A PLANE” and the COVER SONG FREELANCE IS MAKING THEIR OWN. I’m talking about “MY UNITED STATES OF WHATEVER.” While what little hearing I had was gone by that point, I caught SEAN shouting out EXCELERATE, CLEMENTINE and various others. All of whom, loved the love given to them. LAST NIGHT, WAS BETTER THAN ANY BAND PRACTICE WE COULD HAVE HAD! LET’S DO IT AGAIN SOMETIME!

SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS- DOM SPIER, EXCELERATE, KEVIN (KEVIIIN) CHRIS, CLEMENTINE, GOOFY AT NIGHT, JOE ALTAMORE, and THE RUSTY NAIL!  Catch ya’ll in DECEMBER, I KNOW, YOU DON’T WHEN WERE PLAYING NEXT!

It finally happened folks. THE BAND LEFT PENNSYLVANIA. THE BOVINE BANDITS lived up to their name and STOLE FREELANCE SWEATPANTS AWAY! The night was spectacular. The venue was an exquisite marriage of COOL LIGHTING, A SORRY LOOKING BASS DRUM and the feeling of SHEER LOVE FOR ROCK AND ROLL!

Kicking things off were HAMMER SPACE, FORMERLY TRIVIAL PURSUIT. Don’t bother PURSUING THEIR FORMER MONIKER, THE SELF PROCLAIMED FIRST TIME LIVE ARTIST’S REVEALED THAT TRIVIAL PURSUIT DIED IN A BOATING ACCIDENT. Though you couldn’t put the bandages of the arm of this writer, it seemed as if HAMMER SPACE had been playing together for years. Playing a mostly cover song set with TIGHT COVERS of ELTON JOHN’S “BENNIE AND THE JETS” and an instrumental of “DAY TRIPPER” that would make JEFF BECK PROUD!

Once HAMMER SPACE HAMMERED IN THAT TONIGHT IS ABOUT ROCK AND ROLL, FREELANCE SWEATPANTS BROUGHT THE PUNK ROCK THUNDER! Kicking things off was a fresh “007” featuring licks from SOON TO BE MARRIED, DOM SPIER. The crowd was into it. COUPLES DANCED, people bopped their heads, and then SEAN asked HOW NEW YORK WAS DOING before launching into the fitting “GOTTA GET OUT”. Though AJ may have FORGOTTEN HIS SOLO, that fact was not LOST on the AUDIENCE. “SPOOKY” and “HIT THE ROAD” followed, then the groovy “COUCH” had audiences sitting ANYWHERE BUT thanks to tight GROOVES FROM JUSTIN.  

THE FLOOR MAY HAVE BEEN DECKED OUT LIKE A 70’S DISCO LOUNGE, but make no mistake, this was an old school CBGB’S PUNK SHOW! While the venue may no longer exist in NEW YORK, THE SPIRIT STILL DID in songs like “NEW MATERIAL” which featured someone in the audience yelling to DOM that he was his GUITAR HERO. Even heroes can bleed as DOM bled on his guitar during that song, making it a NIGHT TO REMEMBER!

The second half of the set may be seen as an audience loser, though in fact it ALLOWED THEM TO CATCH THEIR BREATH. AJ’S killer “OTHERSIDE” solo went over amazingly.  “STROKES TYPE THING” and “UPSIDE DOWN”relied on tight interlocking grooves from the REST OF THE BAND. With new song “KNOCKIN” the audience had no idea it was its live debut due to how TIGHTLY THE BAND PLAYED IT! The closer “HIGH ON A PLANE” recaptured the AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION. Once again, the band brought NEW YORK back to its PUNK ROCK ROOTS WITH A COVER OF LIAM LYNCH’S “MY UNITED STATES OF WHATEVER!”

Following that amazing performance, BOVINE BANDITS MILKED THE COW for ALL IT’S WORTH. Providing great instrumental jams, by my account 3 drummers and some amazing songs from their new EP SUPRAVENTRICULAR! The highlight for this writer was seeing their new, FANTASTIC SINGLE “MONEY” in its glory. The song truly is WORTH A LISTEN!

Night two, back in CONSHOHOCKEN, THE HOMETOWN HEROES returned from a lengthy journey. Tired, BATTLE WORN, but nevertheless STILL ROCKIN. Both artists played the same set, albeit with some noticeable changes. AJ redeemed himself and rocked the “GOTTA GET OUT” solo the way it was MEANT TO BE PLAYED. And BOVINE BANDITS took us on a trip to FUNKY TOWN. Oh and there was this killer band, THE DEAD EYES that featured a VIOLIN PLAYER who also PLAYED A KILLER FEEDBACK SOLO!

Our audience may have been dismayed by the 11:30 start time, though it didn’t stop our friends in LAZER SHARK for attending the show! Special shout out to JOE SIRIANNI and PHIL DIRENZO from attending. WE CAN’T WAIT TO JAM WITH YOU AGAIN!

Overall, a solid weekend of BLOOD, SWEAT, BEERS AND ROCK AND ROLL. For now, we take some time off, make you MISS US A BIT, then come back with something TRULY SPECTACULAR!

SPECIAL SHOUT OUTS: BOVINE BANDITS, LAZER SHARK, THE DEAD EYES, RUSSELL EISENLOHR, PIANOS, AND DAWSON STREET PUB!

SETLIST for PIANOS and DAWSON STREET PUB

007 (INTRO)

GOTTA GET OUT

SPOOKY

HIT THE ROAD

COUCH

OTHERSIDE

DAY IN/ DAY OUT

NEW MATERIAL

STROKES TYPE THING

KNOCKIN’

UPSIDE DOWN

HIGH ON A PLANE

WHATEVER (LIAM LYNCH COVER)

You heard it RIGHT FOLKS! Just as this writer can’t hear too well OUT OF HIS LEFT EAR, the bands life has taken a LEFT TURN! For the FIRST TIME EVER, we are INVITED ON THE ROAD! The awesome rockers in the band BOVINE BANDITS, have lived up to their name and are KIDNAPPING US away from PA. The band is set to play PIANOS in NEW YORK CITY the night before their headlining show at DAWSON STREET PUB SEPTEMBER 21^ST!

How did such a show like this come about? LIKE THE VOICES IN THE CORNFIELDS, if you BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME! The band has spent now over 2 YEARS building RELATIONSHIPS and CONNECTIONS to OTHER BANDS. The hard work is FINALLY PAYING OFF. However, deals like this don’t come without PERSONAL COST. Band member and SHREDDER AJ may sit out of the NEW YORK SHOW.  Or will he? If you think you’re going crazy seeing a person onstage who looks like THIS WRITER IN A HAT AND SUNGLASSES, playing AJ’s guitar, YOU WILL BE NONE THE WISER TO THINK THAT’S ANYONE BUT AJ. The real AJ (name short for ALWAYS JAMMON’) will resume duties with the band SEPTEMBER 21^ST at DAWSON STREET PUB.

Also in more fun news, a new show may come around THIS DECEMBER. Details are still SCARCE, THOUGH IT MAY FEATURE SOME FAMILIAR FRIENDS. Big things are happening, THE BAND NOW HAS 200 FOLLOWERS on INSTAGRAM and GROWING. BANDS WANT TO PLAY WITH US. We may only have ONE MONTH WITHOUT A SHOW THIS YEAR. I know, YOU DON’T, which month they have to rest.

UNTIL THEN, a special thanks to BOVINE BANDITS, DAWSON STREET PUB and PIANOS for having us! LET’S KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING!

UPCOMING GIGS:

TRIVIAL PURSUIT, FREELANCE SWEATPANTS, BOVINE BANDITS- SEPTEMBER 20, PIANOS, NEW YORK. FREELANCE SET TIME 8:30!

THE DEAD EYES, BOVINE BANDITS, FREELANCE SWEATPANTS- DAWSON STREET PUB SEPTEMBER 21. TIME TBT.

Where has the time gone? THIS SATURDAY, no not the rocking one we had LAST SATURDAY, SATURDAY the 24^th , is FREELANCE SWEATPANTS’ 2nd ANNIVERSARY. Run on sentence? Well, this band has been RUNNING ON FOR TWO YEARS! In that time they have accomplished things I WOULDN’T HAVE THOUGHT POSSIBLE!

Year two was described by JUSTIN as “THE YEAR OF FREELANCE SWEATPANTS” and what a year it has been. From losing THE JAM STATION, to finding new creative ways to REHEARSE, the band has SOLDIERED ON! REACHING NEW CREATIVE AND MARKETING HEIGHTS NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE. Yes, the diary of a madman like captions are intentional.

The bands following has extended beyond friends and family, bringing in quite the community of BANDS WHO WANT TO PLAY WITH THEM. Play they did, EXCELERATE, one of our longtime friends INVITED US TO PLAY AN ELECTRIC DAWSON STREET PUB SHOW. LAZER SHARK have agreed to reuniting THE GRAPE ROOM LINEUP. REUNITE WE DID!

The band, LAZER SHARK, and a scene stealing RYAN GADS brought a great show to THE RUSTY NAIL. While it may have been our LOWEST AUDIENCE TURNOUT, we won over the HEARTS of the BANDS and their FANS on the BILL. PAT, LAZER SHARKS ELECTRIC MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST was singing along with DOM to “NEW MATERIAL”.  KEVIN, the bands BASS PLAYER even asked if the band was playing their cover of “WHATEVER”.  Why am I talking about what the other bands think? I KNOW, YOU DON’T.

Over the last few days, FOOTAGE OF THE SHOW IN IT’S ENTIRETY has been uploaded to YOUTUBE. You can watch the sweat stains appear on SEAN in REAL TIME! The setlist hadn’t changed much since DAWSON STREET, but that was fine as a new AUDIENCE GOT TO WATCH FOR THE FIRST TIME! Even PAT remarked that AJ’S signature tune “OTHERSIDE” was HIS FAVORITE.

So, in another year, we are now becoming part of a MUSIC SCENE. Bands like our stuff, want to PLAY WITH US AND VICE VERSE WITH THEM. Things can ONLY GET BIGGER AND BETTER FROM THERE. It was a great show for ALL INVOLVED. LET’S DO IT AGAIN SOMETIME!

SPECIAL SHOUT OUT: CHRIS AND THE RUSTY NAIL, RYAN GADS, LAZER SHARK and SEAN’S PHONE ON A LITTLE TRIPOD for footage.

UP NEXT:

FREELANCE SWEATPANTS/ THE DEAD EYES- DAWSON STREET PUB SEPTEMBER 21.

FREELANCE SWEATPANTS (PRIVATE) BACKYARD BASH- NOVEMBER 2^ND

YOUTUBE LINK: