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PJ After Dark
Stepping Stone
Stepping Stone is
PJ After Dark's latest effort,
produced by PJ and Randy Casey.
This recording features the core band,
Larry Case on guitar, Doug Herkenhoff on bass,
and Buck Gronberg on drums,
plus guest appearances from Randy on guitar,
Noah Levy on drums, and Eric Hohn on bass.
c2005 bootleg records * pj magic music/ ascap
you are listening to PJAD - 'If'
PJ After Dark
Temptation
Ken Callahan and Randy Casey produced Temptation
which featured 3 songs in the feature film Summer Solstice.
Kenny brought in some musicians to augment PJ, Larry, Doug, and Buck,
and included Kraig Johnson, Marc Perlman, Andy Olson, John Eller,
and Raz (Mike Rassmussen) on fiddle. Plus some of Kenny's drums, and Randy's guitar of course.
Take a listen to Relapse, Professor Longhair, and Remember
Taking a break from the non stop touring
PJ refocused on songwriting and recording.
He recorded 3 projects during this downtime.
He recorded Affairs of the Heart with John Hartley
at HomeBass Studios in Minneapolis with
the help of Dave, Larry, Doug, and John.
We had guest appearances from Max Ray, and
Pat Mavity. This session included
Hereafter, Misty, and Jawbone.
PJ and the Magic Bus
Hit the Road
Doug Herkenhoff joined PJ, Dave, and Larry to form the Magic Bus.
Doug had been involved with PJ's bands as a soundman,
and had played bass in the Rodents, with Larry and Buck Gronberg.
The first order of business was to get Doug in the groove which started with
a tour that went everywhere, including Texas, Chicago, New York, and Europe.
Then it was into the studio to record with legendary producer/ engineer Steve Fjelstad.
That session was called 'Hit the Road', which is exactly what the band did
for the next four years. The non-stop touring included shows with the
Beat Farmers, the Plimsouls, Martin Zellar, and The BoDeans among others.
PJMB were even picked one of the best new bands by the New Music Seminar in NY.
Who could ever forget Tipping the Bottle, or Treat Me Right?
Then it was Tour Tour Tour. In 1988 alone the band put on over 35,000 miles.
The next recording sessions turned into Pete the Dog, and included
Letter from Mexico, I Don't Mind Waiting, and Travelin' Man.
Listen to
Treat Me Right - Tippin' the Bottle
PJ and the Magic Bus at Nicollet Island in Downtown Minneapolis
Larry mixing at Underground Studio
Legendary Colonial Warehouse Party with Alberto and Fee Fi Fo Fum
PJMB at the Luxembourg Train Station on their way to Roma, Italy to rock and roll.
The fall tour stops off for a wine tour outside St. Louis in Jefferson County.
PJ and the Zen Terrorists
Prisoners of Hope
When Randy left the group to form his own band, Larry Case, from the Rodents stepped up to play guitar. Joaty Adducci from Chicago, and the bands Uptown Rulers, and Souled American signed on to play bass. The 4 piece band performed regionally before recording ' 'Prisoners of Hope' with Producers' Leo Whitebird and Dale Goulet. That recording project included the classic hits Fear, Questions, Summertime, Attitude, The Great Escape Artist, and Moment of Eternity. This is when the band settled at the Colonial Warehouse in downtown Minneapolis. Check out these photos.
PJ and the Terrorists
Territory
Ater taking time off from touring, and regrouping from the Specimens years,
PJ spent the winter in Amsterdam, where he concentrated on writing.
He returned to Minneapolis and got his new band together, reuniting with his
highschool drummer Dave Pedersen, and adding Randy Casey on guitar.
The trio then headed out on the road, refining their sound.
They recorded 'Territory' with Bob Cain at Ambient Sound Studios.
Who could forget Jesabelle, Work Work, or The Late Night?
Impressions of LA, and the Jeff Butcher directed video even made it on to
MTV's Basement Tapes. View photos from the Territory Tour
Live at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA
Setting up on Venice Beach for the 'Impressions of LA' video,
directed by Jeff Butcher, and DP'd by Tom Richmond (Repo Man)
Larry and Randy in Asheville, North Carolina, admiring the new
paint job on Bessie done in New York City by artist Dominic.
the Specimens
44 Binford Street
Dan Cross, PJ, along with Dan Bury (from Paradox), and Eric Hohn,
decided to make original music and became the Specimens....... .
The first show was at the Longhorn Bar in Minneapolis with a band called the Replacements.
After performing the Minnepolis scene, which included the Longhorn, the 7th Street Entry,
and Duffy's, the boys, along with trusted roadies Larry Case and Doug Herkenhoff
packed up and moved out to Boston. They wanted to play in a bigger city
where there were more opportunities to perform. They landed in
a warehouse 44 Binford Street, where downtown meets Southie.
They proceeded to play regularly at the Rat, Cantones, The Channel, Bunrattys,
The Underground and performed with rock and roll legends such as
Johnny Thunders, Violent Femmes, the Bo Deans, GG Allin,
Larry Lifeless and The Sickness, and Lydia Lunch among others.
They crisscrossed the country many times, performing in clubs that included CBGB's in NYC,
and Madame Wong's Chinatown in Los Angeles.
Their last show together was at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.
Check out these photos from the Alaska Highway...
The Paradox
It was at Washburn High School when PJ hooked up with Dave Pedersen,
Billy McLaughlin, and Dan Cross in the yearly talent show, to form the Paradox.
The 9 piece group continued playing high school dances all around town,
as well as private parties, before PJ went to Los Angeles to attend college.
PJ started playing piano at age 5. He was trained in classical music,
and started taking music, and the piano seriously after he discovered
Scott Joplin and ragtime, then Beethoven, and then early Elton John.c2005 bootleg records * pj magic music/ ascap
