Jeff Elbel + Ping - ProfilesArchive

About Me

The Eleventh Hour Storybook contains ten tracks of fully amped rock and roll storytelling, with an emphasis on good fun and embracing the challenges of real life. The album is suitable to rock all ages, from hip kids to veterans alike. The whimsical "Bark Along with Cody" and "Muffin in the Oven" have been featured on The Dr. Demento Show. Ace guitarists Andrew Carter (Andrewesley) and John Bretzlaff cut loose on a Stonesy examination of married life called "Goodnight, Rabbit." Hammond B3 maestro Phil Madeira (Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris) guests on several cuts, including the Subterranean Homesick pop of "You Little Victim" and a freewheeling tale of exhilarating chaos called "Engine of Destruction." Mastering performed by Dan Stout (Wilco, etc.). Proceeds will benefit Habitat for Humanity.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/15/2004
Band Website: marathonrecords.com/ping
Band Members: Jeff Elbel (vocal, guitar, production), Clint Davidson (bass), John Bretzlaff (guitar), Kim Bretzlaff (harmony vocal), Andrew Carter (guitar), Stacey Krejci (keyboard, bass), Andrew Oliver (drums, percussion), Chris Wicklas (percussion)
Influences: Kinks, Rolling Stones, Cake, Bob Dylan, Wilco, Pete Townshend, Bob Geldof, Dr. Demento, Spinal Tap, Beatles, Adam Again
Sounds Like: Cake, Rolling Stones, They Might Be Giants, Big Star, Wilco, Kinks
Record Label: Marathon Records and Lo-Fidelity Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Rocking the vote

Conrerstone Festival is taking a voting poll (again) to help determine who plays on the 2008 line-up. Ping has played at Cornerstone many times, but we're never a shoe-in and can't take a p...
Posted by Jeff Elbel + Ping on Fri, 21 Dec 2007 04:04:00 PST

Sharpe World Music ensemble, Bills nuptials

I'm playing upright bass for a full band show with Sharpe World Music Ensemble this Friday at Heartland Cafe in Chicago, IL. Check Ping's Shows Page for a map and details. I just returned...
Posted by Jeff Elbel + Ping on Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:43:00 PST

Ping pix from Cornerstone Fest 2007

CLICK an icon to see FULL-SIZE imageStill images captured from footage filmed by Jonathan Andrews "Testify!" Guitarist/singer Jeff Elbel, bassist Marc Ludena, and guitar tech Michael Roe (from...
Posted by Jeff Elbel + Ping on Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:17:00 PST

Jeff plays a Los Angeles set THIS Wednesday!

Here's a last-minute surprise ... I'll briefly be in Los Angeles this week, and my friends at the Talking Stick have booked me for a set following their regular open mic night this Wednesday. I'...
Posted by Jeff Elbel + Ping on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:18:00 PST

Jeff plays a Los Angeles set THIS Wednesday!

Great Performers of Illinois

If I perform in the Great Performers of Illinois series with somebody else's band, does that make me a great performer of Illinois? More likely, it makes me an Accessory to a Great Performer of Illino...
Posted by Jeff Elbel + Ping on Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:47:00 PST

Meet Your Maker lives!

A smattering of wonderful people continue to politely harangue me regarding Ping's apparently-shelved Meet Your Maker concept album. I began work on this project at the same time I started on the path...
Posted by Jeff Elbel + Ping on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 04:29:00 PST

Jeff Elbel + Ping: Cornerstone, Filming, Contest Winner, etc.

In this newsletter: * Jeff Elbel + Ping: Cornerstone Festival, LOST DOGS date * Filming * CD sale through July [plus iTunes, etc.] * We Have a Winner (poor sap)! * Chicago Sun-Times article abo...
Posted by Jeff Elbel + Ping on Sun, 24 Jun 2007 09:51:00 PST

Jeff Elbel + Ping at Cornerstone, filming, etc.

I Forget

Here's a new song idea. It's not going to win any awards for brilliance in poetry, but I think it's got potential to be fun. It's a good thing I write lyrics for myself now, because the si...
Posted by Jeff Elbel + Ping on Tue, 22 May 2007 11:03:00 PST