The Free Bird Project

ALO

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DI Super Pals ALO (with bud Ron Johnson filling in for Steve Adams) took time out to smile pretty and raise a finger for the cause during the inaugural Bottle Rock Festival in Napa, CA. Impound lensman chum Joe Russo was a busy man backstage and we’ll have more Birdy pics from the fest in the next couple weeks thanks to his efforts.

Previously, Lebo offered us an aggro-face (see here), but passes the expression to skin pounder Dave Brogan (who recently shared his Favorite Beatles Songs with DI). We love that Ron seems to be levitating above the others, grin and “fuck you” glowing brightly – also, this man is serious bidness on the bass, so take notice anytime he’s involved in a project. Finally, Zach Gill‘s smile speaks of a near-lustful engagement with life. DI has a new nickname for Zach we want to popularize – Secret Sauce. It suits him because he’s ever so flavorful but you can’t quite place all the ingredients in the Gill recipe, yet you’ll crave it once you’ve had a taste. Feel free to use the nickname when you run into him and we’ll see if it sticks.

(L-R) Ron Johnson, Dave Brogan, Zach Gill and Dan Lebowitz by Joe Russo

Are you interested in giving Dirty Impound the finger? Are you in a band? Well, we wanna see whatcha you got, cowboys (and cowgirls)! Send us your birdie pics and we’ll add them to our archive and make sure folks know you cared enough to raise a middle finger for rock! Send pictures to freebird@dirtyimpound.com

Dearly Beloved

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This might be our favorite Free Bird Project entry yet. It gets right to the heart of what we love about this gesture, which stems directly from the roots of a genre dedicated to fucking ‘n’ fighting ‘n’ feuding with the powers that be – rock ‘n’ rollin’ indeed. Yes, members of DI faves Dearly Beloved are front & center in the shot, but many raising a finger are audience members, many beautifully going for it with a gusto that makes our heart swell three sizes. Everyone does this gesture differently, their expression and hands shaped in their own snowflake uniqueness. Flipping the bird, raising a middle finger, just putting it out there can be such a joyous thing. Even when done in anger, brandished at someone we feel deserves it, it still feels good to us. Go on, admit it and you’ll be free.

What DI loves so much about this picture is it encapsulates what a collective experience a rock show is, or at least can be when one is surrounded by folks willing to get into it with the band, leaping and yelling and being taken by the music in ways so wickedly wonderful there are no words to describe it. Big thanks to Dearly Beloved, photographer Alex Moscall, and the fine throng with them at this recent gig in Ireland – the Free Bird flies high and strong in you! Except for that one drunkenly dazed chap on the right. We hope someone drove him home that night.

Dearly Beloved by Alex Moscall

Slightly Stoopid

Brett Dennen

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This is one of the sweetest, most mischievous entries in DI’s ongoing salute to the raised middle finger in rock. To us, Brett Dennen looks like he’s stopped momentarily to accede to our request on his way to a cool rabbit hole that will whoosh him to a party with Paul Williams (in his Phantom of the Paradise costume), numerous dancing girls and other droll amusements, and a delectable spread drawn from Caligula’s notebooks. Yes, we’ve been told we have an over-active imagination. Thanks to Brett for flipping us off, and to most swell photographer Josh Miller for capturing the moment.

Brett Dennon by Josh Miller

Umphrey's McGee's Jefferson Waful

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Face it, the folks behind the scenes never get the same attention, fan love, etc. as the people onstage windmilling guitars and bashing a drum kit to cinders. But it doesn’t mean the busy operators in the shadows are any less essential to the overall enterprise, and that’s abundantly clear in the case of Umphrey’s McGee Lighting Designer/Director Jefferson Waful, whose nimble fingered poetry is a key part of the dextrous muscle that makes Umph really leap and soar in concert. The Impound finds Waful’s skillz pretty devastating in the best ways, an experience that writes emotions and ideas in impermanent waves. So, we offer the Free Bird spotlight to one of our favorite wizards behind the curtain in a shot courtesy of great DI chum Chad Smith.

Jefferson Waful by Chad Smith

Yelawolf

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The Alabama kid pulls Daddy’s Lambo over just long enough to give us the finger, and we thank him for it. Yes, Yelawolf is a man fond of flipping the bird, but this one was just for the Impound and we appreciate it. Thanks, too, to photographer Chad Smith for doing the asking & picture taking on this one. Together we can all give a fuck. Really. And mean it, too.

Yelawolf by Chad Smith

Beats Antique

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Usually one finds Beats Antique rocking some of the most interesting stage costumes around – which befits a band whose music steadfastly skirts any genre straightjacket while flowing with seeming effortlessness into unknown territory. However, DI lensman chum Chad Smith got them to pause backstage in their civilian garb to snag this charming Free Bird for us. Hands down, some of the best facial expressions in the series thus far – the kind of looks one usually only encounters in full-color cartoons. Love it. And check out their crazy new video below for plenty of new imagery to color your dreams tonight!

Beats Antique by Chad Smith

Coke Weed

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Showing a little effort wins points with the Impound. While we were already in the bag for Coke Weed because of their nicely warbled rock and fine general humor, these shots cement the deal. They just wrapped principle recording on album number three and are about to jump into a fall tour (dates here), and if you haven’t familiarized yourself with them yet, give a listen to their latest slab Nice Dreams (released April 17). Now to powder our nose and grind up some medicinal herbs…