| Lee Press-on and the Nails | |
|---|---|
Lee Press-on performing in California in 2007. |
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| Background information | |
| Origin | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Genres | Swing revival, big band |
| Years active | 1994-2004; 2006–present |
| Website | www.leepresson.com |
Lee Presson and the Nails (also known as LPN) is a swing band that formed in the San Francisco Bay Area in October 1994 during the late '90s swing revival. It disbanded in 2004 and reformed in 2006. As of 2010, the band has released five albums.
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LPN differentiated themselves from other bands of the late '90s swing revival by their wacky stage antics and the sinister appearance of band leader Lee Presson. The San Francisco Chronicle described LPN in 1996 by coining the term "Goth Swing." The band won a California Music Award (Bammie) in 1998 for Best Swing/Cabaret Act,[1] an SF Weekly Award for Best Swing Band later that year.[2]
LPN temporarily disbanded in 2004 when Lee Presson moved to Hollywood, where he played keyboard for the Oingo Boingo tribute band Dead Man's Party.[3]
After a two-year hiatus, Lee Presson and the Nails performed a reunion show in San Francisco on 16 September 2006 at the DNA Lounge as part of the inaugural launching of The Hubba Hubba Revue, a San Francisco Burlesque and Variety show.[4] After more shows, Presson moved back to the Bay Area and soon LPN was back in full swing, so to speak.
The band's lineup has been fluid over the years but of the original Nails, Mark "Marco" Donelley (Alto Saxophone) and Todd Grady (Trumpet) remain in the band. Tom Beyer (Stand-up Bass) left for a while to become founder and leader of The Acme Swing Company, another swing revival band, but is now a Nail once again.
In 2010, the band released Balls in Your Face, a download-only album of ballroom dance music.