From The Desk Of The Jescos’ James Jackson Toth And Timothy Bracy: Jackie Gleason

Given MAGNET’s detailed coverage of the end of the Mendoza Line—a beloved, ragtag countrypolitan bar band that went up in flames in 2007—it only seems fitting that we have plenty of access to the formation of the Jescos, the new group featuring the Mendoza Line’s Timothy Bracy and Wooden Wand’s James Jackson Toth, as well as Bracy’s wife, singer Elizabeth Nelson. Bracy has found his rambling pub-rock foil in Toth on the forthcoming Remembrance Of Things Trashed, a debut album that guts it out for rock ‘n’ roll glory. Read our Q&A with Toth and Bracy.

James Jackson Toth: My hero. A great and undervalued dramatic actor, Jackie Gleason (pictured left with the cast of The Honeymooners) overcame many obstacles to become a star whose Dionysian exploits stood out even in an era of total, almost comical, Hollywood excess. He’d borrow money from friends, then immediately use it to buy a round of drinks for everyone at the bar. His stubborn, without-a-net approach to his craft (he hated rehearsing) would make a free-jazz band wince. He was reported to be extremely generous, sensitive and troubled, like most geniuses. He conducted entire orchestras, undiscouraged by the fact that he was unable to read a note of music. Viewing old episodes of The Honeymooners, Gleason’s instinct and charm, for my money, make him the most downright watchable star of all time. They don’t call him “The Great One” for nothing. (Actually, Gleason came up with that nickname himself!) Video of 60 Minutes‘ 1984 interview with Gleason after the jump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_vPLCJRvuE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM2336rhGZA