Jul. 2—POTTSVILLE — More than seven years since its last full-length recording, Gleasons Drift has come back with a new set of original rock 'n' roll tunes.
The longstanding Schuylkill County-based rock band is set to release its fifth studio album, "Just the Same Whatever," at the end of the summer.
It will follow Gleasons Drift's self-titled fourth album that was released in May 2016.
To promote its upcoming album, the band will host a release party Saturday at Hucklebucks.
Gleasons Drift will headline a set of four performances, including from fellow Schuylkill County band Leisure Living; the Berks County-based band Pseudo Seal; and the Martini Bros., a group from Harrisburg.
While the new album won't officially be released until later in the summer, copies of the vinyl edition will be on sale at the event.
All records will include a code for a free digital copy of the album.
Admission to the event is $10. In addition to records, there will be T-shirts and other band merchandise for sale.
Bill Whalen, the longtime vocalist, guitarist and co-founder of Gleasons Drift, said the album is a showcase of the band's signature style, with influences ranging from 1950s rock 'n' roll to '70s punk and pub rock.
"It has all the Gleasons Drift hallmarks," he said. "Lots of guitar, lots of stops and starts, and turnarounds and changes, and a pop-oriented chorus."
The band has gone through personnel changes in recent years, and its current lineup consists of Whalen on guitar, Ira Walton on bass, Paul "Tip" Konkus on drums and Ron Stabinsky on keyboards.
Walton, who joined the band in 2019, said his bass playing has contributed to a more pronounced, "driving" backbeat to the group's sound.
"It kind of keeps it basic and moving forward," said Walton, whose musical influences include punk rock, reggae and soul. "We used to describe (the band's music) as 'rock 'n' roll with a twang,' but I think we've lost that 'twang' since I've been in the band, and now it's more of a driving sound."
Although some of the new album was written before Walton joined the band, Whalen said the bassist has "put his own stamp" on the songs and helped shape the performances on the record.
"In a lot of ways, he inspired the playing on this album," Whalen said.
Konkus, a local musician, also joined the band recently, filling a vacancy left by the departure of former drummer Justin Schaeffer.
Stabinsky, another new member, rounds out the band's sound on piano and keyboards.