Sinatras and Sleestacks LIVE!

Location: Kraftbrau Brewery, Kalamazoo MI Description:

(from the makers of Leppotone Karaoke Overdrive and New Year’s Eve)

The Leppotone Social Aid and Pleasure Club

proudly announces a

Rock-and-Roll Class Reunion

at the illustrious Kraftbrau Brewery of Kalamazoo.

$5 at the door gives you access to a rare reunion of two legendary local bands:

THE SINATRAS and THE SLEESTACKS

 

If you’re already a fan, then you know you need to be there. If you’re not familiar with them, a brief history lesson follows:

In the early 1990s, three Kalamazoo-area bands joined forces to combat self-important frowning within the local scene by forming the Leppotone Electrical Recordings label. The Sinatras (local legends of unclassifiable power pop), the Sleestacks (rock-opera composers and goof-groove merchants), and King Tammy (beautifully damaged folk-art metal men who are, sadly, unavailable for the rock-and-roll class reunion) were groups with musical styles that varied wildly from band to band, as well as from song to song. What they had in common, however, was more important: an outlandish sense of humor, performing/songwriting chops, and a wholehearted belief that live shows should be ENTERTAINING AND FUN.

Leppotone Showcase evenings featuring any combination of the three flagship bands (as well as recombinant offspring such as Twister, Triplemint, Fortune & Maltese and the Phabulous Pallbearers, etc.) gained cultural clout as the area’s best and most reliable underground entertainment value. Showcases could, and often did, include elements of film, theater, comedy, homemade special effects, and magic acts (no, seriously!), along with the genuine and distinctive rock-and-roll put forth by the bands.

August 11th’s Showcase show will revive this grand local entertainment tradition, with performances by both bands and surprises galore.

Vital Information

Date: Friday, August 11, 2006
Time: Doors open at 9 p.m., show begins at 10 p.m.
Location: Kraftbrau Brewery
402 East Kalamazoo Ave.
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 384-0288
Cost: $5 (beer/wine tab not included)


Comments

dingey's picture

huh?!

Whoddat?!
Kapn's picture

what Sinatras?

A Sleestack asked me if I was available for a radio chat Tuesday or Wednesday - I was not. I didn't know anything about it beyond that. I knew the Sleestack would be talking but I didn't know to what extent, or if music was getting played, or what. Sorry - I forgot to mention it to the missus too.
m0nz's picture

1990 lineup

Nathan

When you say 1990 lineup, do you mean the accordian player will be there?  With his flowing red locks?

dingey's picture

gasp

Steve the Cyber-luminary?  Where the hell IS Steve these days?  I always did like that nut.  What's Rockman got?  (Check 'im out, everrybudday)
dingey's picture

wah!

I never did get to see any Friday freebies--I was not allowed when I lived at home, and by the time I moved back to K-town, they didn't seem to be happening anymore.  I remember my friend Donny knew who the Sinatras were because they gave him Screaming Yellow Zonkers at a friday freebie.  "Hey, man....want some food?"

A Sinatras show made me fall in love.  Or realize with a sudden unexpected jolt that I seemed to be in love.  With a Sinatra.  Awwwwwwwww.

Samantha Stephens's picture

thats cute

thats cute
cinnamon girl's picture

admit it

it was Ron wasn't it?
dingey's picture

gasp!

*blush*
wizzybit's picture

Ah, the Friday Freebie

Where would I be without the Friday Freebie? It's a sad thing to ponder. I went every Friday that I wasn't spiking a 102 degree fever (and even then, I did show up, but had to be driven home because of the shaking). It really didn't matter who was playing. It was an excellent chance to wear ridiculous outfits, watch skateboarding guys, and swim in the WMU fountain.

I would love to say I remember clearly the time I saw the Sinatras there. But, that would be lying. I do truly remember it - just not clearly. I mostly remember there was a really tall guy there. I was told later there were snacks (it seems highly unlikely that I would have been unaware of that). And, I was undoubtedly having an excellent time.

m0nz's picture

Alas I will not be there

Alas I will not be there I wish you well for your show on Friday. I hope to see lots of pictures next week on this site.  (Maybe even a Youtube clip... is that too much to ask).  If you look towards the southern sky you may see a bubble from my bubble pipe.  I will blow it for all it is worth thinking of the Sleestacks on Friday.
Jake's picture

YouTube

Sorry they're so dark. Too dark to really see anything other than Mark's firebomb on "Land of Lincoln."

cinnamon girl's picture

Lousy planning

HA!! that is funny, the only film I got on my camera is also of "Lousy Neighbor" - it is relatively clear except for the pan of the audience I tried to get - I will throw it up on YouTube and post it later!
dingey's picture

thank god!

Because I don't want my flat-ass face panned in public for nobody's viewing laughter!  I look Downs-y on camera. 
cinnamon girl's picture

Okay, my video is up on

Okay, my video is up on YouTube, since I am a Macky Mac user it seems impossible to post links and such - it is under "the Sinatras" my username is kcank.  Don't worry Dingey, no pancake face for you! you do get a guick shot of Tim's glasses and Nathan gettin' down! Oh, and for some reason, it is a little darker on YouTube...sorry! 
dingey's picture

MAD!

SO HOW COME NOBODY TOLD US THE SINATRAS WOULD BE ON THE WIDR NONCHALANT CAFE HOUR?!  WHAT TH'?!  I MISSED IT!  WHO KNEW ABOUT THIS IN ADVANCE?!
redstarwraith's picture

Oh man. . . oh man!

The Sinatras are playing. . .oh man. I'm all awash in 1980's flashback. . .WIDR Friday Freebies, Sinatras, Murder of Crows. Battle Creek outdoor extravaganza with the Sinatras (and Murder of Crows) and??? The thing is, we played a lot of shows with the Sinatras and it seems there was always a lot of alcohol and fun involved. I can't remember 90% of the bands MOC played with "back in the day" but I've had very fond memories of the Sinatras ever since meeting you guys at some mid-80's anonymous house party. I'm really looking forward to this show. It'll be the first time I've ever seen you guys sober (that's me sober. I don't expect you all to be sober. I expect you to be Bob Stinson-like drunk like you used to get. Anything less and I gotta say I'll feel cheated)!
Dwight Skeeziks's picture

Well, load up the bubble pipe!

This blast from the past is almost worth a return flight to K'zoo! 

Broken Trust's picture

Sinatra's Show...yay

Um, sorry man I don't know what the AKS is.
Broken Trust's picture

Well, it's about time!

I can't wait to get out to see the Sinatras; it has been a very long time! I'm tellin' all the people I can. Hey, maybe somebody can bring some MEAT!!
Tree's picture

Hey, Broken Trust, are

Hey, Broken Trust, are you "The AKS?"

Kapn's picture

life is but a dream

Hmmm... I'm trying to see if I can relate the dream to Sinatras reality at all... we did have three other members at different times - along with Nathan's brief stint, there was our ol' pal Brett who played with us for more than a year (and is featured on our best '80's sessions), and my old roommate Al who sang with us early on (and wrote and originally sang "Sweetest Kiss" - that's his voice on the "Imaginary Singles" version)... but none of them were like the Bill W. you describe - we all got along famously. We DID do a rehearsal one night with the guitarist from The Lips are Back, whose serious alcoholism decimated his body to the point where he couldn't play anymore (in fact I'm not sure he's still alive) - perhaps that's the Bill W. link? He was a nice guy too, in a Bob Stinson kind of way - short, stocky blond, older than us, got awesome rock god riffage out of his guitar, just wanted to have a good time all the time.

And I'd be more than happy (as would R'n'S, I think) to do an interview for any write-up you do, CN.

m0nz's picture

Sleestacks

When was the last time the Sleestacks played?  Are you performing a Rock Opera?  If so which one?  Am I really thinking of driving up for this show?  It is 800 f-in miles.  Geez.  Is Martijn playing?

Nathan's picture

More info

Sorry, Monsma, but Martijn cannot make the show. It will be the full 1990 lineup.

A few selections from our extensive catalog will be performed. We will not be doing a revival of any particular show.

We are promising certain other surprises.

mmm.

Surprises.

It would be great to see you, but I do understand the driving thing. Then again, you'll probably have to wait another eleven years to see the Sleestacks again ...

dingey's picture

yay

 Wally Made Me Wave!
Arthur's picture

Sinatras Dream

I had a dream about the Sinatras last night. The three Sinatras, and that guitarist whose name starts with N., were going to set up a reunion show with the full band. Aparently there had been more members. I was tagging along becasue I was writing about it (maybe I should write about this real-life Sinatras reunion?) They were on their way to meet long-estranged member Bill W., who was in real life this creepy dick who went to my middle school. As far as I know, he has no musical skills, nor was he hip on anything hip back in 1980.

We get to Bill W.'s appartment. An argument breaks out -- old wounds! I have no idea what it was about, but we all leave in a huff. The project was doomed from the start. The Sinatras would have to stay in their smaller form.

Then I went right into a dream where we found this baby camel. We had to follow it in the sand to make sure it found its home. It went down stairs into some ruin, and tried to catch some white albino cave rodent...

Samantha Stephens's picture

yeah Dorben was telling me

yeah Dorben was telling me about this last night.  Awesome I never got to see the Sinatras before so I am looking forward to this.  The date is interesting too because its on the 11th one day before my birthday how about that!!!!!
OldFatMarriedGuy's picture

SWEET!!!   SWEET!!! 

SWEET!!!   SWEET!!!  SWEET!!!

 

 

Now where is that cd at?