Will Gail Dance?

Will Gail Dance? entertains audiences by putting on a fun-filled show featuring excellently performed 80's and Gen-X hit songs with the goal of getting people out to the dance floor. Between songs, audiences can expect some unexpected hilarious banter between Ley and Rob because, well look the band picture and take a guess!

A typical show consists of one set per hour. Each set may include up 12 songs, less if the audience want a particular song to keep going (it happens), followed by a short break. A 75 minute show will feature one long set. A 90 minute show might feature one short set followed by one standard set. Any time there is a 30 minute increment in the performance time (e.g., 2-1/2 hours), the number of sets and setlists are modified to accommodate beginning and ending as scheduled.

Due to the nature of the genre, the Will Gail Dance? setup is a little more complex than some bands. Depending on the technical requirements of the event (PA and lighting), the band requires 1-2 hours for setup and prefers to be ready to go 30-60 minutes prior to start. Likewise, the load out process may take 60+ minutes.

Who's Gail?

We'll get to that in a second. But first, all Will Gail Dance? members grew up in the 80's, are highly skilled, active musicians, and have thousands of hours stage (and studio) experience. They pride themselves in playing their tribute songs as close to the original version as possible to hit home the experience of seeing an iconic band in a live situation. Will Gail Dance? currently has about 80 songs in their repertoire allowing them to build customs showcases for any event. Now then, who's Gail?

Will Gail Dance? was conceived in December 2021 on the heels of two years of lockdowns, working from home, nightclub and restaurant closures, and rock musicians having nowhere to play. Greg asked his wife Gail if it would be okay to fire-up his band again now that things were returning to normal. He reached out to his old bandmates and, for whatever reason, thatreunion wasn’t meant to happen.

One evening between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Greg was scrolling through random songs on his phone and asked, “Hey Gail! Would you dance to this?” Something similar happened the next evening and the evening after that. Before long, a new playlist was forming featuring mostly Gen X standards from the 80’s. Greg thought, “What if I were to start a new band altogether?” He bounced it off Gail, and she liked the idea.

Let’s Dance
On December 25th, 2021, Greg posted the following to a local musician Facebook page:

I’m putting together an 80’s rock dance project for fun and charity. Not a hair band… Think cover band playing the song 30 years later, but modernized—not trying to sound exact, but paying homage to the artists and having fun… I just want to play in a band that makes you want to dance. It’s time.

The next afternoon, Rob sent a response by messenger, “Interested, I play bass!” He was in Las Vegas at the time, but within a couple days Rob called Greg asking about the project and when he could audition. The two were already chatting like old pals 10 minutes into the call. There would be no auditions–this project was about getting the heart right, and Rob and Greg were rhythmically aligned from the get-go.

By late January, Rob’s friend Eric joined the band and the three started rehearsing in preparation for a first gig a couple months out. There was no doubt these three, each with their own lifetime of experience in various bands and projects, would lay a solid foundation for the forthcoming shows of Will Gail Dance?

Old buddies, Ley and Greg had been talking about starting a band for several years. Ley started singing with Will Gail Dance? in January but was not able to fully commit. So, the search began in earnest to find a lead singer with a wide vocal range and the perfect 80’s vibe. As luck would have it, Ley became available a few months later, and Will Gail Dance? got back to work. Ley delivers an energetic lead vocal to a wide array of songs, an impeccable Christopher Walken impersonation, and, quite frankly, he’s just a totally awesome dude!

Will Gail Dance? features 4-6 performers at any time depending on the occasion. The minimum stage/area for performance is 160 square feet (16 feet wide by 10 feet deep). Professional PA can be provided. Streaming music between sets may be available when PA is provided. Wireless mic(s) for emcee may be available when PA is provided. Auxiliary stage and ambience lighting is provided when applicable (indoor/night).