Browns Kickoff Party at Four String Brew with The League Bowlers

The Cleveland Browns will be kicking off the season at 1 pm on Sunday September 11th  against the Philadelphia Eagles. To celebrate the occasion, Pencilstorm Browns bloggers The North Coast Posse will be converging on the Four String Brew Taproom (985 W. 6th) at noon to begin their annual tradition of heavy self-medication to survive another Browns campaign. Four String Brew will be the NCP home of the Browns for the 2016 season.

Follow @northcoastposse (The NCP were named a Top Five follow by the actual Cleveland Browns)

As if watching two of the NFL's worst teams play while day drinking wasn't enough, The League Bowlers (featuring Four String Owner Dan Cochran on the 4 string bass, duh) will be performing a set of rock n roll at noon. The event is FREE. See you there!

Four String Brew's Dan Cochran Talks About Playing in Why Isn't Cheap Trick in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

Why Isn't Cheap Trick  in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? is playing Ace of Cups Friday, April 8th. Click here for details

- What is is about Cheap Trick that motivated you to join this band?
 
Dan - I’ve been a Cheap Trick fan for years now.  They have such a great catalog of tunes, and most of it is underrated.  In addition to that, they have toured forever.  It’s great for fans, because they come through most American cities every year.  They headline their own shows, open for obscure bands, play corporate gigs, and come through on festival dates.  If you pay attention, you can see them a couple times of year without having to travel very far.
 
 - Tom Petersson and his 12-string bass have a very distinctive sound, how has your rig evolved over the years trying to simulate it?
 
Dan - When we started this thing four years ago, I really had no idea what I was getting into.  The first few years, I used one of my Fender basses and my regular rig.  I’ve always played with my fingers and continued to do so on the Cheap Trick tunes.  In the end, it didn’t feel right and it didn’t sound right.  What a lot of people don’t understand is that Petersson’s sound is most of what you hear in the Cheap Trick sound.  His bass covers a giant frequency range, and the way he plays holds down the bottom end while creating melody and full harmonic range at the same time is truly distinctive.  

Once I really started listening to the Budokan record, I realized that he was playing most of the parts.  What I thought was guitarist Rick Nielsen in so many places was actually Petersson.  Nielsen really just paints on top of everything with tasty leads (and writes nearly all of the tunes).  Even Robin Zander plays more guitar live than people think…..and not like a pussy either (Bono).  So, I realized last year that I needed to take the plunge and get the 12-string bass sound going.  For those who don’t know, Tom Petersson literally invented the 12-string bass.  His basses have multiple outputs and he splits his signal in many ways.  Nobody knows for sure exactly how he is crossing the frequencies. He also changes his amplifiers on a regular basis.  For me, part of the fun of going to see CT is to stand stage left in front of Petersson and look at what amps he brought out.  It’s different every time, and always totally bad-ass.  

Dan Working on Gonna Raise Hell at his Brewery. Photo by Chris Casella. Bass Tuning by Oscar.

I decided against buying a 12-string bass.  What I would want is ridiculously expensive and I’m still not convinced it would sound right.  So, the challenge is to get a distorted 12-string bass sound from a 4-string bass.  With some help from bandmate Rick Kinsinger, I started building the rig.  I have played with bass distortion for many years, and there is a major problem with it.  No matter what pedal you use, the low end goes away when the distortion is engaged.  So, the answer is to split the signal.  I use my regular rig for a clean low end.  It’s a Traynor 200 watt bass head on an Ampeg SVT ported 4x10.  For the high end, I’m basically putting a guitar half-stack on top of my other amp. This year I’m using a Sovtek 50 watt head on a vintage Music Man folded cabinet.   The high end signal is run through distortion and a pitch fork pedal.  The pitch fork gives me the octaves for the 12-string sound.  Together, it sounds killer!  

The other issue is what bass to use.  When I plug a Fender bass through it, it sounds great, but not like Petersson.  Last year I used a vintage Gibson Thunderbird.  It was perfect!  Everything I wanted.  Lately, Petersson has been playing a semi-hollow body Gretsch 12-string.  I recently found a 4-string version of the bass that is really cool.  That’s what I’m using for the show this year.  The hollow body gets a great low end tone and tons of feedback!  It’s basically a giant guitar envy setup, which has been a lot of fun. 

- Do you feel like Tom gets enough credit strictly as a bass player? 
 
Dan - No, I don’t think he does. I think it’s linear with Cheap Trick as a band.  They are one of the great bands in rock & roll, and most people don’t realize it.  Petersson is the same way.  If you ask bass players who their favorite players are, his name doesn’t usually come up.  It’s probably because of his crazy tone and 12-string basses.  What CT fans need to know is that his sound IS Cheap Trick.  His sound covers the entire stage.  He’s more than a bass player.  There aren’t many other examples of this.  John Entwistle from The Who is one.  I remember reading an interview with Pete Townsend talking about the reunion tour The Who did back in the late 80’s.  They decided that because of hearing damage, the stage volume would have to stay below 90 db.  The problem was that when The Ox wasn’t able to turn the full rig on, they had to hire strings, keys, and horns to sonically fill things out.  Petersson does the same thing.
 
 - What are your favorite Cheap Trick songs to perform live?
 
Dan -  I really like the heavy stuff….Auf Wiedersehen, He’s a Whore, On Top of the World, etc.
 
- Who are some of your other favorite bass players?
 
Dan -  There are so many: James Jamerson, Donald “Duck” Dunn, John Paul Jones and Paul McCartney are a few.
 
 - Four String Brewing is going through a major expansion and you have two young ones at home, how do you find the time to squeeze in a project like this?
 
Dan - That’s a great question.  My time has gotten really tight in the last year or two.  We just built a new production facility on the West side, expanded the Grandview taproom, and opened distribution in the rest of the state.  I decided a few months ago to promote my two year old son, Oscar.  He’s basically running the show these days: running the brewery, booking gigs, and working as my bass tech.  He gets a little whiny sometimes, but I don’t have to pay him.  It’s a good deal.  The brewers get a little pissed off that they have to report to a two year old, but whatever.
 
- If I stopped by the Four String Taproom and I hear some Cheap Trick playing, what beer would go best with that?
 
Dan - Definitely a Brass Knuckle Pale Ale!
 
 - Any chance of a special edition 12 String Brew in honor of Tom Petersson making the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
 
Dan - I think we would have to brew (3) Four String beers for the math to work.

Dan Cochran is a founding member of the band Why Isn't Cheap Trick in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? and the Four String Brewing Company. He also plays bass in Colin Gawel and The Lonely Bones and toured the world and elsewhere with the band Big Back 40. Four String Brew is available everywhere so look for it on a tap or in a store.

Auf Wiedersehen / Goodnight - Cheap Trick Live 01-21-89 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Tom Petersson Hoisting a Four String Brew to Honor Dan.

Pencilstorm Hall of Fame Nominee: Reds Opening Day at The Library Bar - by Colin G.

The latest class of the Pencilstorm Hall of Fame will announced Thursday April 14th at the CD1025 Big Room Bar. Doors at 6pm Willie Phoenix and The Soul Underground play a set of rock n roll at 8 pm. FREE!! Click here for full list of nominations.

I'm a pretty big fan of Major League Baseball in general and the Cincinnati Reds in particular. But you know something, I've never gone to a Reds opening day. I probably would have, except for me, if I can get the time free, the best place to spend opening day is at The Library Bar.

Cricket, the owner and a serious Reds fan himself, is behind the bar pouring drinks and encouraging everybody to grab a free hot dog off the grill. Some years the weather is nice and the front door is open. Other times flurries fall from the gray skies. Sometimes the Reds win, sometimes they lose, and once in a while the home plate umpire drops dead right before the first pitch and the game is cancelled. Oh well, bottoms up.

Cricket recently celebrated his 30th anniversary of owning The Library. Think about that. With all the changes that have hit campus, ONE MAN, has owned and worked at ONE BAR for THIRTY YEARS!! How about that for a small business success story.

Back in my younger years, The Library was my main hangout. I mean, don't get me wrong, I hit lots of bars, but The Library was home. When bands would come to Columbus, Watershed would always invite them to come and hang out at the Library Bar. It wasn't stuffy and it wasn't cheesy. It wasn't trying to be something it's not. It was just a bar in the Midwest with the owner behind the bar. That vibe resonated with my circle of friends.

It is still the stuff of legend the night all four members of Cheap Trick showed up and closed down the place. And just slightly less impressive, The League Bowlers played their first show there, too. Many of the old haunts are extinct. Bernie's is gone. AC/DC Cult Night is no more. And poor Larry's had it worst of all, it became The Sloppy Donkey and poetry night was never the same. I hear even Rocket From the Crypt stopped hanging out there. Ouch.

Long Live MLB Opening Day and The Library Bar. I will be there at 4 pm Monday April 4th. Please join me. I urge my committee members to approve of it's nomination to the Pencilstorm Hall of Fame. Go Reds (gulp). - Colin G.

The 5 Columbus Craft Beer Week Events You Should Do (If You Can Only Do 5)

Columbus is home to one of the most happening craft beer scenes in the US, so every week is a good week to be a beer drinker in the 614.  However, the next week promises to be an extra special time for local beer lovers. Columbus Craft Beer Week is upon us. Oh, the humanity!

Columbus Craft Beer Week (CCBW) is the brainchild of the Ohio Craft Beer Association, a not-for profit organization founded in 2008 to unify the Ohio brewing community, market Ohio manufactured beers throughout the state and beyond, and promote a strong beer industry in Ohio. The first ever CCBW showcases the talented breweries, beer bars, and restaurants of Columbus.  And with over 200 events going down around town, it's easy to see why it will take a week, or nine days actually, to happen. 

Let's face it, there is no way in hell anyone is going to be able to partake in all 200+ events without sacrificing his or her liver. But don't get all fussy about it, you fussy craft beer fussifist. Pencil Storm has you covered. Although our resident craft beer fussoligists did not carefully review all 200+ of the amazing CCBW events, we did browse through the entire list, which still took a helluva long time. Here are 5 CCBW events that caught our eye:

1. Collaboration Beer Growler Tap Takeover at The Ohio Taproom  Saturday, May 2, 11AM-9PM.  One of the coolest things about CCBW are the collaboration beers that the various Columbus breweries are doing with each other. Seventeen local breweries randomly selected teams to create beers exclusively for CCBW. You can read all about the beers here. One of the coolest things about Grandview is The Ohio Taproom, a growler shop serving only Ohio brewed beers. This event will be spread out over the day, so if you don't do big crowds you will enjoy the opportunity to sample all of the collaboration beers in the relaxed, charming surrounds of the The Ohio Taproom and take home growlers of your favorites.  

2. Hoof Hearted Hot Tub Hang at The Daily Growler - Powell - Saturday, May 2, 5-9PM. This is your chance to hang out with the zany folks from Hoof Hearted Brewing in an inflatable hot tub and sample their insanely popular brews. BYOS - bring your own Speedo. If you haven't yet heard about Hoof Hearted, you will very soon.  Brewer Trevor Williams has been called the "David Lee Roth of dry-hopping." Hoof Hearted favorites  Tub Life and Thud Staff will be featured, as well as their newest creation called Syzzurp and the long awaited re-release of Roller Blabe, an intensely hopped Double IPA collaboration between Hoof Hearted and event host The Daily Growler.

3.  Sour Beers of Ohio at World of Beer Brewery District - Monday, May 4, 3PM-2AM  Believe it or not, there is much more to craft beer than IPA's. Beers that are intentionally sour and tart are one of the fastest growing segments in craft beer. So pucker up and head over to the World of Beer in the Brewery District and try some of Ohio's finest sours from Columbus-based Actual Brewing, Rivertown (Cincinnati) and Thirsty Dog (Akron).  

4.  Four String Brewing Co. Tap Takeover, Food Pairing and Live Music at Woodlands Tavern - Thursday, May 7, 5PM-2AM  If you are a Pencil Storm regular then you know that we have serious man-love for Columbus brewer and bass player Dan Cochran and his brewery, Four String Brewing Co.   Seven different Four String brews will be on tap at this event including a new Solo Series, a "Secret Stash" saison and their CCBW collaboration beer, as well as a special cask of Suncaster Summer Wheat. There will also be food pairings from Woodlands' new kitchen. And if that's not enough, enjoy some locally brewed music from Pencil Storm favorite Erica Blinn & the Handsome Machine!

5.  Six One Pour at Brewmaster's Gate - May 9, 5-9PM  -  The culmination of CCBW happens with Six One Pour, the ultimate Ohio Craft Beerfest at the historic Brewmaster's Gate in The Brewery District. More than two dozen Ohio craft breweries will be on hand to sample their Ohio brewed beer. All seven of the collaboration beers will be available, along with live music and a special menu created by Chipotle for the occasion. Click the link above for all the details, including a list of attending Ohio breweries and the beers they will be serving.

To be quite honest, there are so many great events to choose from throughout CCBW you can't go wrong with any of them. The entire calendar of events is here. So have at it. Let's get fussy, Columbus!

Watershed Drinking Tour Stop in Memphis January 31st / February 1st.

For immediate release: Watershed has announced a two-stop Mississippi Delta tour for the weekend of January 31st in Memphis, Tennessee. Fans of the book Hitless Wonder are familiar with the groundbreaking "Drinking Tour" concept first pioneered by the band in 2012. The "Drinking Tour" allows fans to interact with the band without all the hassle and noise of an actual performance. If you would like to actually see the band live, click here for a pro shot full concert. on Youtube.

Saturday January 31st Watershed guitarist Colin Gawel, along with legendary road manager Mike "Biggie" McDermott, will be making a 7 pm appearance at Sam's Town Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. The exact location is TBA, but expect them to be at a bar near the River Palace Entertainment Complex where later that same evening they will be attending a performance by Jerry Lee Lewis. Click here for details on the show. 

Sunday February 1st Biggie and Colin will be joined by roadie extraordinaire and rock historian Ricki C. at the fabulous Buccaneer Lounge (1368 Monroe Ave, Memphis, TN 38104 Click here for more info). The event is scheduled to begin at 5 pm or whenever they finish touring Graceland earlier that day.   

Conversation topics expected to be covered over the weekend include: Sun Studio, Dewey Phillips, Stax Records, Big Star, Cheap Trick, Elvis, Jerry Lee crashing into Graceland, Watershed crashing into Dash Rip Rock's van in Memphis, BBQ, Mike Conely is a bad ass, Cheap Trick again, the Memphis Yellow Fever epidemic, where are we going to watch the Super Bowl?, Biggie's under-inflated balls and much more. 

Admission to both events is free though fans are encouraged to buy drinks and/or chocolate milk (Ricki) for band members. They will be happy to sign any Watershed-related records, CD's, or books. 

If you missed September's Watershed drinking tour stop in St. Paul, Minnesota, you missed a great time with Joe Oestreich and Mike "Biggie" McDermott. Don't miss this one. See you on historic Beale Street.

details at watershedcentral.com   or follow @colingawel on Twitter.

Stone Brewing Can Shove "Gratitude IPA" Right Up Their Ass by Colin G.

I realize that telling somebody to shove gratitude up their ass isn't exactly in the holiday spirit, but The Stone Brewing Company has been a very bad boy, and people in Columbus should choose another beer to support this Holiday season. 

You might recall that back in June, Columbus made a hard push to convince Stone to build their new brewery in our fair city, creating all kinds of good jobs for the hardworking folks of Central Ohio. Richmond, VA had long been the front-runner, but then Stone Brewer and Pataskala native Greg Koch cracked the door a little, showing up at Comfest (Lonely Bones gig, no less) in June encouraging his former hometown to make a strong push because we still had a chance. And push we did. Hell, we even covered it here on Pencilstorm. The entire Stone2Cbus campaign was a major success. They got tons of press and sold pallets of beer as we tried to show them our love.

Just after the 4th of July, Stone was just about set to announce the site of the new Brewery: Richmond or Columbus. Then the announcement was pushed back a week. Then another week.  And yet another. On August 7th they announced we were one of THREE finalists.Then no word at all except that it is very close. Very, very close. Keep on dazzling us, Columbus. Keep buying Stone. You still have a shot. Finally, on OCTOBER 9TH, a full THREE MONTHS later, Stone announced that Richmond had won and the new brewery would be built there.

But in another press release they assured Columbus that the decision had been very hard and that to show how much they appreciated our effort and all the Stone beer we bought, they were brewing a special beer just for us, to say "Thanks for letting us play you. Suckers." It didn't actually say that, but it did say, "This is no consolation prize."

Ummm, First Prize is a 74 million dollar investment and 288 jobs and Second Prize is we will sell you more of our beer (which - by the way - you don't get to brew, losers). That sounds exactly like a consolation prize. And a crappy one at that. They didn't even throw in the Stone board game so we could play at home.

So "Gratitude" IPA has hit the shelves in Central, Ohio just in time to compete with all of our local breweries. How nice of Stone to think of us. They brewed it just for Columbus. How nice. Is any of the money going to stock the local food pantry, heat the homeless shelter or help pay for the new Ohio State offensive coordinator? Stuff people in Central Ohio really care about.

Nope, that money you spend on "Gratitude" goes to pay for the new brewery in Richmond. Two questions jump immediately to mind:

1) How stupid do they think we are?

2) How stupid are we?

Or put another way: This is like a being in a relationship wherein an attractive woman strings you along for months, until her old boyfriend gets her the big rock she always wanted, but she lacked the leverage to get boyfriend to come across with until you came along. Now, after breaking your heart AND wallet, she is going to show you her gratitude for being so nice by letting you take her out to dinner one last time. Then, after you pick up that big dinner tab, she is heading home to bang her new fiancé Richmond all night long. (Feel free to plug in whatever gender works for you.)

People of Columbus, I implore you to show a tiny bit of pride and put that Stone Brew down. This holiday season and beyond, show a local brewery some genuine "Gratitude" for providing jobs and beer for your city. Drink Local. But whatever you do, don't drink Stone.

Colin Gawel founded Pencilstorm and plays in the almost-famous band Watershed. His other essays include "Starbucks Can Shove That Pumpkin Spice Latte Right Up Their Ass" and "Epic Records Can Shove Silverchair Right Up Their Ass." His opinions represent nobody's but his own.