"Delaware Druids" LP

From the desk of Gentle Jones:

I first met Paul “Woz” Woznicki years ago during a psychedelic concert we both performed at. (Because, of course, that’s where all meaningful friendships begin, right?) His set was like a musical unicorn had galloped through a forest of mind-melting synths. After the concert I told Woz his stage show was brilliant and he agreed, and thus, we immediately became great friends and members of a Mutual Appreciation Society (which is basically the same thing).

Not long after, I found myself in his downtown Wilmington home, expecting just to hang out. Except we didn't hang, we dove headfirst into the musical equivalent of spontaneous human combustion. In a quarter hour we had somehow jammed out two improvised songs recorded live. No plan. No rehearsal. One take. Just hit "Record" and let the chaos happen. Woz is a wizard, a true multi-instrumental sorcerer who can probably play kazoo and accordion at the same time while solving a Rubik’s Cube with his feet.

Making music with no audience, no expectations, just us and our collective vibration, this is what musical artists do for kicks. This is how we amuse ourselves when no one is looking. So, Woz and I continued to get together once a week in his home studio, joined by the marvelous guitarist Ron Pecqueur. Our first session together with the 3 of us? We knocked out 2 full songs in under an hour. One was called God Bones, the other? Penis Reduction Surgery. No, you’re not misreading that. Yes, it’s as absurd as it sounds. And yes, they’re both on this collection. You’re welcome. After that session we decided to gather a full squad of killer players from the area with me, Woz, and Ron at the core.

“Basement Tapes” is not an apt description of this colorful fiasco. Picture this: a full band crammed into Woz’s tiny basement on Jefferson Street, all of us recording together on a single track directly into a Windows XP computer. There would be no gameplan, no discussion, each piece was created on the spot, improvised live while we stood shoulder to shoulder in a cloud of smoke. And every week, we’d emerge from that basement, stoned, elated, and with hours of totally improvised music that we didn’t even remember creating. Just a pile of musicians hanging out and making adventurous noise for no reason other than the fun of it.

This album? It’s like a musical acid trip gone deliciously off the rails. Each song presented here is a full performance in a single take. The Testa twins are an unrivaled rhythm section. Bob Danyo brings a sack of instruments, plays all of them whenever he likes while Mel Holden keeps time. Woz and Ron were always there guiding the tour. It's like Lord of the Rings but with more riffs and less walking.

If you thought my last album was weird, brace yourself. The Delaware Druids crank up the weirdness dial to “befuddlingly bizarre”. Get ready for a trip.

Personnel:
Gentle Jones - Vocals
Paul Woznicki – Keys, Accordion, Flute, Midi Breath Controller, Drum Machine
Ron Pecqueur – Guitar
Steve Testa – Bass
John Testa - Drums
Bob Danyo – Trumpet, Mandolin, Guitar, Flutes
Mel Holden – Drums
Kostas Kantzouras – Album Mastering
Danny Hellman – Cover Art

Side A:
Wash The Lions
Summoning Spirits
Graveyard Of My Own
God Bones
The Last Miracle

Side B:
Hold Your Breath And Pass Out
Penis Reduction Surgery
When Giants Do Battle