Biography

"I don't ever remember a day that didn't include music." Says Flibbertijibbet frontman Drew Dockry. "Music matters, always." The five members that make up the band feel the same way. Coming from different backgrounds they fuse their approach to deliver their version of some of the finest rock-n-roll a la The Band, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Counting Crows & Phish. Proud to call themselves a Jam Band they might string three songs together and play for 20 minutes just as much as delivering straight up songs about characters who've always lived in the American diaspora. There's songs about the Old West, young lovers, rebels and seekers but perhaps the overarching theme of their music is happiness with a rich vein of songs celebrating life. 

The band always wants you to have a good time. First formed in 1991 out of open jams hosted by Drew at the Popcorn Tavern, La Crosses' home of Live Music, the original lineup was a trio soon expanded to a four piece including current bassist Eric "Guido" Lemon. By the mid 90's they were the house band playing 2-3 nights a week to ever increasing crowds. Staunchly an original band from the beginning Drew was constantly writing material consistently keeping the band flush with new songs. They recorded their first cassette in the early 90's. By 1996 they had a solid lineup including current drummer Dave Orr, new bassist Tim Powers and lead guitarist Bill Motzel. They went into the studio to record their first proper album, Take Off Your Shoes. With a new album to support they were soon traveling around five states. The late 90's and early 2000's found them playing more shows while growing their audience as well as releasing two more CD's, The Finished Product Vols. 1 & 2. Never quite breaking out by 2006 they had decided to call it quits. After 600+ shows, a break was welcome.

Fast forward to 2016 when Drew asked the guys to reunite for a one-off show in front of thousands in their hometown of La Crosse. That went well, and Drew rekindled the spirit of performing live again after receiving some life changing news. Diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease in 2011 there's an urgency to squeeze all he can from this version of the band but not at the expense of what brought him to music in the first place, the simple joy and happiness that reaching out  to your fellow human beings only performing can provide. Flibbertijibbet's current lineup besides Guido and Dave now includes two of the most talented young musicians found anywhere in lead guitarist Kyle Renfro and keyboard player Matt Salvo. Now a five piece the band has been performing regularly for three years while increasing their song catalog and filling up their sound. Adding a keyboard player after all these years is the missing ingredient. While continuously adding new originals the band has been holed up in the studio working on a new soon-to-be-released record called "A Mississippi Life".