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Photo by Andrew Pickett. Thanks to music journalist Andre Salles for valuable support.
Director Andrew “frosh” Pickett’s wry “Waiting Room” video paves the way for The Threefinger Opera, the latest LP from Chicago-area progressive roots-pop collective Jeff Elbel + Ping.
Ping spins penchants for storytelling and rock ‘n’ roll into a relatable song cycle drawn from true-life misadventures. In spite of its calamitous catalyst, The Threefinger Opera is defiantly optimistic and relentlessly fun.
Not long ago, longtime The Big Takeover scribe Elbel endured a crushed nerve that paralyzed two fingers on his left hand. Rather than mope through a lengthy rehabilitation, Elbel decided to see what he could accomplish with his remaining three fingers. “I took the attitude that life may slow you down, but you don’t have to let it stop you,” says Elbel.
Band photo by Becky Souder Knorpp.
Pickett’s tongue-in-cheek clip finds The Threefinger Opera’s central character firmly entrenched in an unanticipated new routine. The gliding alternative pop shimmers with shades of The Church’s 12-string jangle, Smashing Pumpkins’ less-caustic acoustic favorites, and ’80s firebrands Big Audio Dynamite.
“Waiting Room” features tenor vocal by Derri Daugherty of the Choir, joining Elbel’s baritone and Ping co-vocalist Maron Gaffron’s soulful alto.
The Threefinger Opera demonstrates Ping’s affinity for wide-ranging musical styles, unfolding as a virtual jukebox. The sonic house party hosts a plethora of musical guests, including friends from the Fixx, Calexico, PLS PLS, the Claudettes, Resurrection Band, the Seventy-Sevens, and more.
Click here: The Threefinger Opera is available now via Bandcamp.
Album artwork by Brian Heydn.
on Facebook: facebook.com/ping.rocks
“Waiting Room” written by Jeff Elbel. Published by Zimbalon (ASCAP).
John Blum: drums
John Bretzlaff: guitar
Mike Choby: keyboards
Jeff Elbel: guitars, synthesizer, brass, baritone vocal
Maron Gaffron: alto vocal
Stacey Krejci: bass
Tom Sharpe: percussion
Guests
Derri Daugherty: tenor vocal
Megan Elbel: brass
Abby Haworth: violin
Joseph Mancuso: chorus harmony
Chris Taylor as the Operator
Mixed by Matthew McCabe at Finley Sound, Loomis, CA.
Mastered by Miro Svetinsky at Mirolab, Long Beach, CA.
Lyrics:
Never liked the hospital
Never liked the clinic
Even in my worst malaise
You wouldn’t find me in it
Funny how things turn around
My, how things have changed
Now I’m in the doctor’s queue
Nearly every day
The waiting room is stuck on hold
The corner is my second home
Time ticks by as I grow old
Check my phone, check my pulse
The waiting room is stuck on hold
Monday I will take my chair
I’ll take the same on Tuesday
Wednesday, Thursday find me there
Making plans for Friday
The waiting room is stuck on hold
The corner is my second home
Time ticks by as I grow old
Check my phone, check my pulse
The waiting room is stuck on hold
Nurses are like family
Physicians are my friends
Reading old Time magazines
‘Til they call me in
– Lyric written by Jeff Elbel. © 2021 Marathon Records. Published by Zimbalon (ASCAP).
Click here: The Threefinger Opera is available now via Bandcamp.
