Professor Gall
'Expert in all...master of none'. A mysterious, nefarious, and demur demeanor.
Upfront dark satire, lurid absurdity and pseudo-psychological lesson plans. As
a backdrop, a neo-traditional bent, culminated by a favorable twist on vintage
sounds. Songs are filled with playfully sinister fiction-offered to the
audience as fact...of course. Professor Gall seeks to uncover the
contradictions of an ambiguous and native-less society, 'dreaming the
existentialists' dream', while at the same time pleading for individualism,
peace, and more fun at funerals.
The Portland, Oregon conglomerate consists of Drew Norman on vocals, guitar, and
banjo, who conveys a ‘Top Hat’ stage persona and is responsible for the initial
musical and lyrical embellishments. He is also a ‘go to’ man hired for studio
work and live shows for the likes of Jeff Hanson (Kill Rock Stars), Chris
Robley’s Fear of Heights(Cutthroat Pop) and Will West(local roots troubadour).
Chad Youngman, a long time musical cohort of Norman’s, provides stand-up bass,
polytheistic vision, and conceptual lyrics, while Scott Johnston heads up the first chair
position for the horn section, arranging charts and providing his saxophone
alchemy. Rounding out the ensemble is Monte Skillings on trombone, Tony
’rattlesnake’ Esperanza on drums, and Andrew Clarinet on the.…ahem…clarinet.
Critical acclaim for their first full length CD ‘Intravenous Delusion’ has
enabled Professor Gall to become a regional favorite, sharing the stage with
semi-national/national acts like The Devil Makes Three, Eric McFadden Trio, Slim
Cessna's Auto Club, Billy Nayer Show, Vagabond Opera and Sleepytime Gorilla
Museum at venues thought the West Coast as well as festivals like the Fremont
Street Fair in Seattle, WA. The band is currently working on their upcoming
sophomore release entitled ‘The Psychology of Booze and Guilt’. Some track
titles include, ’Whiskey was the medicine to get me through another Christmas
eve night’, and the confessional psalm, ‘I’m a Drunk’.
Enter Drew Norman, the guitarist and influential songwriter of Portland, Oregons' The Cow Trippers, hired hand for The Sort Of's (Chris Robley's Quintet), and BB's Fistfull of Babies (featuring many musicians including Paul Brainard). Drew has been working on his Professor Gall alter ego in spare moments while the 'Trippers released three critically acclaimed albums during '99 to '04, performing at many regional festivals (including NXNW), building a following in west coast markets, and at the same time touring extensively in western North America as a solo artist. These travels have taken him as far south as Mulege', Mexico and as far north as Fairbanks, Alaska supporting his solo CD 'Safe At Home'. Using many of the same musicians, as well as some newcomers (including some March Fourth Marching Band horn players), the conglomerate presents 'Intravenous Delusion', the first full length studio album to date to be released on their own BEW Records label.
Drew Norman: voices, guitars, banjo, lap steel, trap kazoo
Chad Youngman: bass, ukulele
Tony Esperanza: drums, rattlesnake
Benny Morrison: baritone saxophone, clarinet
Scott Johnston: tenor and soprano saxophone
Daniel Lamb: trombone
Paul Brainard: trumpet and pedal Steel
Tricia Beck: vocals and noises
“Displaying influences as diverse as crazed klezmer, artrock, bluegrass, alternative folk, experimental jazz and cowpunk, Professor Gall's 'Intravenous Delusion' sounds like a roller coaster ride through some ragtag Gypsy carnival catering to the broken misfits of a smokey Mad Max world." Scott Lewis, The Oregonian, PDX, OR
“This Portland collaborative effort prides itself on being the good kind of weird as they mash up old-timey, sometimes Vaudevillian but mostly joyous swing numbers…sounds like something you’d find on Tim Burton’s iPod” The Source Weekly, Bend, OR
“The paths each song goes through can be downright creepy, but perhaps that's his appeal, a need to rip open the human psyche one layer at a time to be able to reveal something about ourselves that we are afraid to admit...the emotions created and obtained with 'Intravenous Delusion' is worth a serious listen, and worth letting everyone know about it's genius via word of mouth." John Book, The Run-Off Groove #133, musicforamerica.com
“...this is sure to be a show a that will sweep you away with it" Jason Simms, Willamette Week, PDX, OR
