It was Friday afternoon, August 16, 2019 at 5:00pm CDT. Here is an accurate depiction of the squirrels in my head.
I’m contemplating what I’m going to make for dinner. I have Zeppelin’s “Fool In The Rain” blasting on the Bose when I flip open Facebook. The first mug I see? Jimmy Griffin. Uh, oh! It’s a video! Jimmy doesn’t usually do one-shot (solo) videos unless it’s some kind of announcement. What could he be announcing? Surely not El Monstero. They aren’t due until their winter marathon at The Pageant. Hmmm…..Celebration Day is already scheduled for September 14th. What could it be? Oh God! Please don’t tell me that it’s bad news! Is Celebration Day cancelled??? Is Jimmy leaving El Monstero??? ,Oh my god! For god’s sakes, Jimmy, spit it out!!!
The news was a little bitter, but definitely full of all of the sweet. Jimmy announced that Petty Cash Junction, a tribute to Tom Petty and Johnny Cash, would be disbanding. The good news is that he, along with other familiar key players that we all know and love, are in the beginning stages of a project in tribute to Tom Petty called, “The Hard Promises”.
*Before I go any further, please note that Petty Cash Junction has decided to remain and continue doing what they all do so well. So, PCJ fans: Do not panic. They’re staying put.
As soon as the news broke of the announcement of this new project, I contacted Jimmy and demanded a very detailed and in depth explanation. (Just kidding. I actually only asked him for a couple of statements.) He obliged, bless his heart.
Jimmy shared with us that The Hard Promises is in the early stages of production. He noted that given the rigors of rehearsals and planning for the upcoming Celebration Day show (concert information below), ‘Promises will not begin rehearsing until the end of September. He said that will give them plenty of time to get this together before their first show at Delmar Hall on November 15th. (Everything you need to know on this show, below.)
So, in doing the math, that only gives the group about a month and a half, from first rehearsal to showtime, to have this ready to throw down? I mean….an audience that will have incredibly high expectations for a monumental yield surrounding anything that involves Jimmy Fuckin’ Griffin. Then he explained and it made complete sense.
You see, the other members that make up the group are comprised of musicians who have played together for decades. Therefore, they are more than in tune with how cohesive the collaboration will be and they’ll also know what to expect from the moment they hit the first chord.
Essentially, if you stick this lineup in a room together and tell them that they can’t come out until they’ve mastered (any song here), the only thing easier for them would be breathing.
Joining Jimmy on this project:
Guitar – Michael Eisenbeis (Shooting With Annie, Whiskey Morning, Fine to Drive)
Bass – Kevin Gagenepain (Stir, El Monstero, Shooting With Annie, Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys)
Keys – John Gore (Dogs of Society, Billy the Kid, Petty Cash Junction)
Drums – John Pessoni (The Urge, El Monstero, Celebration Day, Samurai 5, Joe Dirt and the Dirty Boys)
So, as you can see above, The Hard Promises are all interrelated and have an extensive, decorated history with each other on some level. (Note: John Gore and Jimmy Griffin also played in a band called “Little John” together when Jimmy was 19 years old and John was 21. History Level: Expert.)
Special thanks to John Henry at Off Broadway for approaching Jimmy about doing a one-off tribute to the 25th anniversary of Tom Petty’s Wildflowers. It was this request that spawned the idea to bring this effort to fruition.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give to you…another St. Louis supergroup: The Hard Promises.
The Hard Promises: A Tom Petty Tribute
November 15, 2019
Delmar Hall, St. Louis
ON SALE Friday, August 23rd at 10am
GA $20 ADV | $25 DOS
All ages | $2 minor surcharge at door
Doors 7pm | Show 8pm
Tickets available at Suite 100 at The Pageant & Ticketmaster
Celebration Day: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Chesterfield Amphitheater
ON SALE NOW
GA $20 | All ages
Gates 6pm | Show 7:30pm
Tickets available at Ticketmaster.com, The Pageant Box Office & Suite 100 at The Pageant
