*** All music in the music player is with Tim Bridgwood on drums***
Early:
We formed in Febuary of 2007, with the original line up being Michael Feldmann, Connor Doyle, and Tim Bridgwood. We wrote our first songs, Pizza (which is now called Michael Feldmann) and Endoplasmic Reticulum (Sometimes said just as endo, and its gone thru many changes since the original. The original consisted of an entirely different verse and had no lyrics at all).
Mid-summer Area:
During the summer of that year, we made total shit, and when i say that i fucking mean it!
Early Drew Days:
In September of 2006, Drew Prendergast joined the band! We wrote Corgan and Labyrinth (which we might rework and bring it back). Coran, Labyrinth, and Burn A Hole In The Sun were all recorded in Connor's basement. In early Novemeber, Zombie Revenge asked us if we wanted to play our first show at Jimmys old Town Tavern.
First Show:
It was Novemeber 27th. We were all pumped for our first show. But when we got on stage, total shit happend! Danke Connor! We first did a very very bad cover of Bulls On Parade with Michael on guitar and connor on bass. total disaster. Then we did Michael Feldmann which turned out to be decent. Heart in A Cage, a Strokes cover, was our next song and we basicly did very well. Then the total shit bag of the gig. It was like someone took a shit on us, Burn A Hole In The Sun, besides fucking up the whole song and drew writing the lyrics the day before and just saying random shit on stage, Connor decides to skip the solo and continues after we end. Slither was next and we did very well. Then came a revival of our old song Endoplasmic Reticulum, with new parts and everything and that was our best song of that night.
Hiatus:
After the gig, we did nothing. We tried to set up practices and nothing happend. Then near January connor left/got kicked out of the band.
Revival:
2008 became a year for change. Connor was gone, Joe Feldmann was in, and the band had a newborn burst of determination. On Joe's birthday, Corgan was re-recorded in the upstairs of Drew's house and provided the stepping stone the band needed to continue. Shortly afterwards, Endoplasmic Reticulum was Re-recorded as well, with the added vocals, in the basement (which, to this day, is their current practice spot). Then the first new song of 2008 was written, George Nelson/Electric Sheep. The song originated as two entirely seperate songs, and merged together to mold a finished song that satisfyed the entire band. The name originated from each section, the Electric Sheep section being previously decided upon by Joe and George Nelson being selected by Michael from a random name off a poster of designer chairs. Right after the recording of George Nelson/Electric Sheep, Joe came up with the semi-famous "Everybody Loves George Nelson" coda at the end and was immediately put in. Then after several aggrivating attempts, Michael Feldmann was finally re-recorded as well.
More Shows:
The band played their first gig with Joe at their old "stomping ground", Jimmy's. The set included the first performance of George Nelson/Electric Sheep, Corgan, Shakedown Street by the Grateful Dead, and Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd as well as a return performance of Endoplasmic Reticulum. The show went very well, but was sadly the last of their open-mic-night shows there as the rules became stricter and didn't allow them to play. Then the band played their school's "showcase of the bands", and did well enough to make it to the next round.
Moopberry:
Shortly after playing the first Showcase, the boys went back to writing new material, which included Japan and When The Time Goes. Japan showcased the bands talent at their instruments with driving speed. When The Time Goes was Joe's first song and was written some time before joining The Pressmen. However, WTTG was the only new original song played at the second Showcase, due to lack of certainty of band cohesiveness during Japan (which was finished about a week before or less). The day after the show, the band headed off to Morning Buzz Recording to record their first EP, Moopberry. After a six hour session, the basic tracks were complete and ready for a week of production. The band played BHS's Carnival with frustrating technical issues and lack of PA. The next day, they went to pick up the final product that was Moopberry.however, the first verse to Corgan was missing and following several homemade fixes to it, it was ready. Moopberry started as 25 individually packaged CDs, homemade and hand assembled by Michael, Tim, and Joe in the Target parking lot in Gainesville. After selling all 25 cased Moopberrys and a few none case ones, they raised enough money for a PA speaker.
Pressfest & Keep The Coins:
The band had originally planned on having the first Pressfest during spring break, but that fell through. So after consideration and planning, the first ever Pressfest was held July 1st. On the bill was starting band; Police Car, double Drew collaboration between Hyde and Blankenship; The D's, The Claw (who played their final show with an encore of Hand Banana right after the first performance of it), surprise performances by William Moore and Rayan Baksh, scheduled final performance of Zombie Revenge but exchanged for a semi-surprise performance by Swedish Fish (containing 3/4 of ZR), Heavy Jam-Band; Priceless Ennuendo, and The Pressmen. The show was a major success and showcased two brand new songs: Blowtorch and Orange Door Hinge, written entirely by Michael and Joe (respectively). Unfortunately the camera operator forgot his charger and only got most of Blowtorch (the pressmen's first song) but all of The D's, The Claw, and a song or two from Swedish Fish and Priceless Ennuendo. Weeks later, The Pressmen went to work on what would become Dr. Gonzo, originally titled, Keep The Coins, I Want Change
Presstoberfest & Dr. Gonzo:
After a handful of shows, the summer closed and autumn opened with Presstoberfest. The line-up faced several drop-outs and eventually the show started after an hour or two of nothing. Opening with Aaron Ryder and David Dudley, who did a small set, followed by a Salty Pocket Knife set, Transient Attack, Priceless Ennuendo, the new Will Moore project; Auteur, and The Pressmen. The show was recorded, but due to various issues, both technical and otherwise, it remains shelved and in the hands of The Pressmen and few others. The show led the band to recruit Taylor Stalford to be their soundguy, and opening possibilities for future live recordings. On election day, Dr. Gonzo completed recording and currently awaits a mid-November release, currently depending on packaging.
Check out our new Pure volume page!
http://www.purevolume.com/ThePressmen
