52 Pickup - Sun

Thursday, December 10, 2009, Williamsport Sun-Gazette
By DENISE N. CRAWFORD
dcrawford@sungazette.com
52
Pickup, a fivepiece modern
rock band from
the Philadelphia area, will perform at 10 p.m. Saturday at
the Cell Block, 154 W. Third
St.
Formed in 1997, the band
included several friends from
high school and college. After
the members finished up
school, some chose different
careers and some chose to stay
with the band.
The band members now
include Eric Crawford, lead vocals,
Upper Darby; Ryan Cooper, lead
guitar, King of Prussia; Bryan
Byrd, bass and vocals,
Philadelphia; Todd Oakes,
rhythm guitar, Philadelphia;
and Christoper Pelusi, drums,
King of Prussia.
“We’re more like a regional
cover band then anything
else,” Crawford said.
The name, 52 Pickup, comes
from an inside joke between band
members and the band’s original
drummer.
“When we went under new management as a cover band, we needed
a catchy name people could remember,” Crawford said. “That’s when we
decided on 52 Pickup.”
Crawford said the band plays
everything from Johnny Cash to
Snoop Dogg.
PHOTO PROVIDED
52 Pickup will play at 10 p.m. Saturday at the Cell Block,
154 W. Third St. Based out of Philadelphia, the band
includes Eric Crawford — lead vocals; Ryan Cooper — guitar; Todd Oakes — guitar; Bryan Byrd — bass; and Chris
Pelusi — drums. 52 Pickup formed in 1997 and plays songs
like “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash and “Let it Rock” by
Lilʼ Wayne.
“There’s really nothing we
don’t do cover-wise.”
Crawford said one of his
favorite covers to perform is
“Mamma Said Knock You Out,” by
LL Cool J.
“We made a heavy rock remake of
the song. It’s unexpected and lots of
fun to play,” Crawford said.
“Everyone seems to be into that song.
It gets requested a lot.”
Although the band welcomes
requests, audience members often
ask to hear songs the band isn’t
familiar with.
“Sometimes people think we can
play any song off the top of their
head without learning,” Crawford
said. “But it takes time and practice
to learn.”
Other covers the band plays
include “Folsom Prison Blues” by
Johnny Cash, “Let It Rock” by Lil’
Wayne and “How Far We’ve Come”
by Matchbox 20.
52 Pickup has been playing at the
Cell Block for about five years.
Originally, they played a showcase
6
with four bands and from then
on came back to play.
“Our manager got us on
board and we’ve been there ever
since,” Crawford said. “We usually play one show every five to
six weeks.”
Crawford said his favorite
part about playing at the Cell
Block is definitely the people
and the great staff that works
there.
“I love it; we joke around. It’s
like our home away from
home,” Crawford said. “There’s
a lot of loyal friends and fans
that we have made in that area.
They have been supportive and
make everything a lot easier for us.”
Crawford said the band’s motto
has always been “if were going to do
covers, let’s do covers that every
other band would not consider doing,
but covers people would know.”
“What’s the point in being like
everyone else?” Crawford said. “If you
want to see a cover band that’s a little bit different, come out and see us.”
Crawford said he is friends with
quite a few of the acts that play at
the Cell Block and that 52 Pickup is
substantially different from them.
“People should come and check us
out,” Crawford said.
“I guarantee we’re not like any
other band that has played at the
Cell Block.”
For more information on 52
Pickup, visit www.myspace.com/52
pickuprocks or www.52pickup
rocks.com.
Thursday, December 10, 2009, Williamsport Sun-Gazette
7