Note: Originally published as print-only in The CWE Griffin Newspaper.

Live music brings people together, and it’s also Bob Gleason’s favorite thing in the world. He’s been playing since age eleven when he picked up his first instrument: a banjo. He can also play the guitar, harmonica, drums, clarinet and more. Yet, even with years of experience playing solo and with bands, he’s incredibly humble when it comes to his own talent.

Gleason’s main gigs are with the local rock band Serapis, in which he plays drums, and solo gigs, where you can find him booked at local pubs, parties and events, and when you’re out in the Central West End. You might recognize Gleason from being in the CWE and hearing his guitar, harmonica and voice filling the street corners.

When asked what he enjoys about performing in this community, he said, “I love it. Here, you get a real collection of different types of people. It’s a way different kind of gig, and you have to like that busking aspect and that’s a culture all in itself. But I like that aspect too, all the different ways you can play.”

Busking refers to playing music in a public place for voluntary tips or donations. Gleason, however, is booked for his weekend sets in the CWE, though tips are appreciated for the effort he puts into getting there, setting up equipment and doing his sets without breaks.

“I typically don't take a break because I figure I'm here to play and I get to play, and if I take a break, I don't know what to do with myself,” Gleason said.

He enjoys playing all different kinds of music, from new releases to old time favorites and across all different genres. What he’s asking is, what’s the demographic? Is he seeing a lot of couples, families, singles, or groups of friends? And then, he’s looking for what they might be reacting to in his setlists.

“I can say truthfully and wholeheartedly, it's not to get that immediate applause or response,” he explained. “I mean, sometimes when I play down here, the weather is kind of funky. There's not too many people coming by, so a lot of the time, I play to nobody. Or, I play to one person or two people who are talking and they're really not paying attention. That's okay, because I get to play.”

He’s constantly having a conversation with himself to develop a setlist as he’s performing, always looking for that one person in the audience who might be tapping their foot along to the beat. He considers whether or not to pick up or slow down the tempo, switch intermets, play a classic or one of today’s top hits.

“For me, it seems stupid to say, but it's kind of like a religious experience. It really is. When you're playing, it is very out of body,” Gleason said. “And whether it's the band or as a single, it's a deeply meaningful experience.”

As the drummer for Serapis, Gleason enjoys making music with a group he considers the greatest bunch of guys one could ever dream to be in a band with. They’ve been together for 41 years, playing in St. Charles and surrounding areas.

“They’re all wonderful players,” Gleason stated. “We have the greatest time. We laugh more than any other band I’ve ever been in, and we never play a song the same way twice in a row or really ever.”

​​The beauty of music for Gleason is that it is different every time. He doesn’t strive to be identical to a recording because that’s already been done. What’s fun for him is simply playing for the purpose of bringing people together. Even though he might not consider himself the best there is, his performances are loved in the CWE and St. Louis community.

Keep him in mind the next time you need to book live music, say hello when you see him playing on a nearby corner, and check out his videos at bigmusicbob.com.