The Bottoms Up Blues Gang - 2nd Set (2004)

2ND SET was released in April 2004 and is not simply a collection of the Gang's music, but a project they gorged themselves on for almost nine months. The approach was simple, to capture the sound that comes from The BUBG's grueling live schedule, where each performance has a different cast of musicians at a new location each night.

The affect was an album filled with all ranges of The BUBG sound - expected and not so expected. 2ND SET features 7 originals, including All I Want and Can't Help But Love You, 2 Live tracks from Pop's Blue Moon, 2 completely acoustic tracks recorded with a single mic hanging in an empty room, and 12 special guests; Adam Andrews, Keith Doder, John Erblich & Eric McSpadden on Harmonica, Brian Curran, Sharon Foehner, Tom Maloney & Bennie Smith on Guitar, Matt Murdick on piano, Mike Graham & Gus Thornton on Bass, and Brian Casserly on Trumpet and Trombone.

2ND SET was also recorded at three different locations. Benton Park Studio is a well-known studio in South St. Louis run by local engineer Doug Rayburn and was also where the BUBG's first album, South Broadway Blues, was recorded. Pop's Blue Moon is a family owned bar/music venue in St. Louis that features local and national acts of all varieties. It was one of the first bars in St. Louis to hire The BUBG and has become almost like a second home. The Dogtown Gallery is actually an independently owned St. Louis Frame shop with an empty upstairs. The upstairs, with wood floors and no furniture, was the perfect spot for the BUBG to get the acoustic sounds on songs like Can't Help But Love You and Sail On. The result is a complete album full of the evolution of the Bottoms Up Blues Gang, their music, and their community.