Glean Infusion
Like obtaining a musical doggy-bag, Glean Infusion will offer fans the chance to take home a second helping of their fresh live sound, with the release of their new disc, Alive and Well. The Grand Rapids jam/fusion band will celebrate the album’s release this month with a brewery tour of West Michigan, coming to Bell's Feb. 9, New Holland Brewing Co. Feb. 10, and Founders Feb. 11.
“The band formed out of our love for improvisation, musical communication and trying to infuse our original music with our influences, which varied drastically from member to member,” bassist/vocalist Paul Geoghan told Recoil about Glean Infusion’s origin. “We were all in other projects and this sort of became our mutual improv outlet. So, in a way, we were the leftovers, or the ‘glean,’ from other bands and projects at the time. The name, like lots of other band names, just kind of stuck with us. It does give some sense of our mission, or our origin, so to us, it’s fitting.”
Glean Infusion is made up of Geoghan, Adam Balcer (guitar, vocals), Jason Wheeler (mandolin, vocals), Dan Robinson (drums), and Steve Wheeler (percussion). The band began in February 2007 and has already released one studio album.
Their new live CD, Alive and Well, is a five-song, 45-minute live set featuring the band’s newer instrumental music, one new vocal tune (“Sometime Soon”), and a lot of improvisation. They recorded all the tracks live at the Intersection last September at a gig with their friends Greensky Bluegrass and The Crane Wives, and mixed the album in October with Greg Baxter.
“He mixed and mastered the show and served as a visionary of sorts in the studio by helping us bring the essence of our sound to the forefront on the recording,” Jason Wheeler said, adding that Brek Rosengren did the graphic work for the album.
After quickly releasing their first album just to get their name out there, Glean Infusion spent a lot of time trying to walk the line between composition and improvisation. Allowing itself to sink into the right groove, the band left behind their earlier material and evolved, with more direction, and a clearer common intention to their music.
“It’s kind of a re-affirmation of sorts,” Jason Wheeler said about the new album. “We felt it necessary to remind folks that we’re around and progressing, and most importantly, we’re enjoying each other’s company and this music we’re sharing. We’re so excited to be releasing something that we as a band feel really represents our approach and our style.”
While the band couldn’t pick a favorite brew from the amazing selections offered by Bell’s, New Holland, and Founders, they said they love the atmosphere at all the breweries, as well as the food, and the beer.
“We do appreciate the fact that these venues use and support local business, agriculture and produce,” Wheeler said. “It’s important to us to be enhancing our community, even if it’s through drinking a beer.”
Glean Infusion will release Alive and Well Feb. 9 at Bell’s, Feb. 10 at New Holland, and Feb. 11 at Founders. They’re also preparing to head into the studio to record a second studio release they hope to have out later this year. For more info, check out reverbnation.com/gleaninfusion.