Studebakers

There's a reason the word "moldy" sometimes appears before oldie. Songs you know by heart can sound stale when you hear them for the umpteenth time.

Joey Glassman was determined to avoid that with the Studebakers. He takes the energy and passion he poured into punk for years and channels that his scorching oldies band. Studebakers are as far from lounge as Las Vegas is from Venezeula.

"It's oldies with a twist," said Glassman. "I wanted to do a 60s band with a little more energy, something a little more extreme. Bands back then like the Seeds and ? and the Mysterians did music that was very aggressive, with a lot of energy."

Studebakers zero in on garage rock, one-hit wonders, and psychedelic classics. They can play Amboy Dukes' searing "Journey to the Center of Your Mind" one minute, then swing into Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally," no problem.

"One thing we get complimented on a lot is our choice of songs," Glassman said.

It helps that his band feels at home in a range of styles.

"This is the best band I've ever been in, in my life, as far as musicianship," Glassman said. "They're all good people to work with, too, so that makes it all real easy."

Glassman talked about the Studebakers with Showcase.

HOMETOWN:
Erie

BAND MEMBERS:
Band members: Joey Glassman (lead vocals, guitar); Johnny Pelinsky (bass, vocals); Henry T. (lead guitar, vocals); John Skendall (drums, vocals)

THE INSPIRATION:
One of Joey Glassman's favorite all-time bands is the Ramones, who cherished that old-time rock and roll, including bubblegum and girl groups. Glassman understood the connection. After years of playing punk, he decided to dive headfirst into his favorite songs of the 1960s with the Studebakers. The key was finding veteran Erie guitarist Henry T., who's played with the Graduates, Younger Brothers and scores more. Bassist Johnny Pelinsky was also in some popular bands, including Character.

THE SET LIST:
Beatles, Stones, one-hit wonders, Motown, surf rock, garage-rock, and psychdelic nuggets are all fair game. "What we're doing is playing what people want to hear; whatever they're telling us," Glassman said. "So, of someone says they heard 'Rock 'N' Me," by Steve Miller on Froggy and asks, 'Can you learn it?' we do. And we do it good."

Studebakers also try to keep things fresh but learning a dozen or so new covers every few months. For their next show, they added the Standells' "Dirty Water," the Stones' "Mother's Little Helper," the Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night" and "Mary Mary" by the Monkees, among others.

ALL-TIME FAVORITE ONE-HIT WONDERS:
"There are so many," Glassman said, clearly tormented. "We do a lot of them. But 'Come On Down to My Boat' (by Every Mother's Son); 'I Fought the Law' (by Bobby Fuller Trio); and 'Time Won't Let Me' (by the Outsiders)" are up there, he said.

WHAT'S IN YOUR CD PLAYER NOW?
"'Nuggets from Nuggets,'" said Glassman. "It's got like 15 songs on it from the collection. All the good stuff."

LAST GREAT CONCERT YOU SAW:
"I haven't been going to too many lately," Glassman said. "But Motorhead in 2000 (at the Agora in Cleveland) was pretty cool. Nashville P. and the Supersuckers opened. And when the Drifters were at Forward Hall awhile back, that was a good show. Henry T. played with them that night; he was contracted by the Drifters. So, we got back stage and we all got to meet Charlie Thomas. He was like taking a nap between sets and we were trying to get his autograph. But he was very cool guy and in good voice."

BAND YOU'D MOST TO TOUR WITH:
Los Straitjackets. They look weird in those Mexican masks, but you know anyone else who plays surf-rock like that? "I just love those guys; they're cool," says Glassman. "I love music and they're so great at it. I saw them at Lefty's a long time ago. I'd love to tour with that band; that would be swinging."

WEBSITE: www.geocities.com/thestudebakers_RNRTributeBand