NEW WAY BAR / SATURDay DECEMBER 10, 2016
BEERMAS

T'was the most wonderful time to drink beer.  Our last official Beermas as a band.  If you remember this tradition started way back on 12/11/96, almost twenty years ago to the day at the New Way Bar.  It was the New Way's Holiday Party with Gus and Tina mixed with Free Beer's holiday party.  We started inviting other bands from the neighborhood and next thing you know, it's a tradition.  This year we switched things around a little to cater to our aging audience.  First we kicked off with Domino Effect featuring Free Beer fill in bass player Mike Weilgat at 9PM.  As usual they rocked musically and brought a great crowd with them.  At 10PM, Free Beer did a pop up 45 minute set so the folks who can't stay up to see our full set could still enjoy one last dose of Free Beer.  Good news was that they all came and saw us play.  However at that point the bar got so packed there was nowhere to stand.  At 10:45P Free Beer stepped off the stage and The Candy Bandits ... Paula's new band with Maggie and Rob did a set of kids tunes, caroles and surf rock while Free Beer got to wander the crowd and converse after our set.  By 11:30, they were done and we hopped back on stage to finish with 2 hours featuring our Christmas songs and every request the audience could come up with.  Another really cool thing?  We did a Facebook Live feed of Blister in the Sun and Add It Up.  People actually watched.  Funniest part was when Tom Daldin's son Anthony responded to his shout out in the feed from California!!  Plus, It didn't snow (until 2AM) and everyone had a great time.  Jamie, the new proprietor of the New Way said it was the largest crowd they have had in 4 years.  Great way to ring out our last full year.

BONUS VIDEO:  Free Beer did Facebook Live during "Blister In the Sun / Add It Up".  Our first live Video Cast!

BONUS VIDEO:  This is "The Grinch" courtesy of Bobby White