Porkchop Sandwich (bar band that plays at Joe's) article

Alison Neubauer
Final Draft
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Marissa Monson
11/21/08



When the clock strikes 10 PM on 5th street in Champaign the crowd picks up on the main floor at Joe’s Brewery as the live band strikes the familiar chords of Billy Joel’s “My Life” or maybe Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl.” As the night progresses, the room fills, and people are dancing, smiling, cheering and singing to their favorite songs.
They call themselves Pork Chop Sandwich. The present lineup consists of brothers Callan Beeson on bass, Drew Beeson on guitar and Myles Beeson on drums along with the oldest member Colin Leslie on keyboard and vocals. This four piece cover band plays at Joe’s every Thursday night and jokingly started calling themselves after the Thursday special.
“We’re on the board and cost $6.95 on the side” Callan Beeson said with a smile, sporting a backwards baseball cap covering his bald head.
This band began about four years ago going by the name Doxi and consisted of only three people. They started out playing at White Horse until they were invited to play at Joe’s every week. None of the original members still play but the band’s existence is carried on as members graduate, new members are added until it arrived at what it is today.
“We’ve been here a couple of years now so as long as we keep the band we have the job” Collin Leslie said. The band plays covers everyone sings along to.
“We try to play hits from everywhere” Callan said. Every song is a well known song or hit from the radio that the majority of people will recognize. They consist mostly of popular bar/karaoke songs.
Pork chop Sandwich have tried playing originals but now, according to Leslie, they only play covers since it is easier to market, especially at a bar notorious for dancing, where people want to hear songs they already know.
“The hope is that we play something that appeals to everyone” Leslie said. Some of the regular songs include “Come Sail Away”, “Hey Jude”, “I Want it That Way”, “Lean on Me”, “Piano Man”, and even a country song called “Something Like that.”
“Playing the Backstreet Boys shows that we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Leslie said, “We like to have just as much fun as the people who come to see us.”
“We put on a serious show with a not so serious attitude” Leslie said.
According to the band, they never practice together. Callan said that he has had maybe two formal practices ever.
“Our practice is every Thursday night at 10” Drew Beeson said from behind his chin length, curly brown hair. The audience would never be able to tell since the songs are played with little to know noticeable mistakes. The crowd doesn’t notice anyway, they are too busy dancing and having fun. New songs are brought to the table every couple weeks and the first time they play them together is that night.
“ ‘The Clocks’ by Coldplay went awesome on the fly and Ghostbusters were just gonna wing it” Callan said.
Nonetheless the crowd enjoys them. Many people are regulars and go to see the band often. It’s a unique night since the music is live and interactive instead of just a DJ. Plus, the band members are students and have a history at the university. They have made a name for themselves
“It helps that they play on a Thursday which is a pretty big night. They are known because of word of mouth,” Mike Butts said, “A few years ago when they began I noticed they had a huge group of friends that would come watch.” Butts is a manager at Joe’s and has been around since the original lineup four years ago.
Pat McCaffrey is a friend and fan of the band and describes his feelings in detail.
“Drew’s power comes from his hair, like Sampson. That’s why I follow them,” McCaffrey said, “It’s the general aura, his power, and he kicks ass at Super Smash Brothers.”
McCaffrey considers himself a huge fan.
“I put out don’t I?” McCaffrey said with a laugh. This band is all about fun, humor and showing their crowd a good time.
“Watching drunk people try to dance is funny” Callan said.
“We ride the line then we ride the groupies, just not the fats ones, “Leslie said jokingly, “But no seriously we love interacting with the crowd and feeding off their energy. It’s something you can’t get anywhere else.”
According to the band, they love to play every week.
“ I hate it,” Leslie said, “I’d quit but I need to make car payments”.
“I try to call in sick but it doesn’t work” Callan said.
The money they earn isn’t just used for recreation. They put it to use and to pay for college.
“We invest the money into more equipment to make the sound better but it is mainly to get money for college” Drew said.
The band is continuing strong with no end in sight, with plans of a possible live recording at one show and to possibly start playing at Station.
“Everyone has future aspirations of recording their own original songs at some point,” Drew said, “but it’s hard to play originals as a bar band.”
“We discussed an intergalactic tour with Gwar. That sounded good” Leslie said.
Those plans aren’t set in stone yet. As for the near future this band is taking it one week at a time.
“Where do we see ourselves going in the near future? To Joe’s every Thursday night” Leslie said.