Meet the Melroys

Jordan Leiner is quick to shy away from the title "frontman" in the new incarnation of The Melroys.

Since the band's founder, songwriter, original frontman and Jordan's father, Randy Leiner, died in February 2005, the young Leiner has stepped into the spot to carry on the Melroys in his absence.

Jordan knows that, even though his name is Leiner, he's not the wise old man in this new Melroys. And he knows that even though Randy is gone, The Melroys is still his dad's band.

"I don't want it to be thought of as me being the lead singer, me and Gregg (Hopkins, bassist) kind of divvy that up now," Jordan said. "Those were Randy's songs and they don't go straight to me now that he's gone."

Saturday night the Melroys will headline the Scott City Fun Party -- a three-band gathering that features 13th Floor and the Rivercats (featuring Randy's widow Sally Leiner on drums) along with the Melroys. Fans will get a chance to see a new Melroys that lies somewhere between the Randy days and today -- a line-up without Randy playing songs he wrote before his untimely death.

The band will give a sneak preview of the songs on its upcoming second release -- tentatively scheduled to hit shelves in September -- mostly written by the former frontman. In addition, Jordan said The Melroys were actually able to use tracks recorded before Randy's death for a few songs on the upcoming CD.

Of course, in the live show Jordan, Hopkins and drummer Mike Enderle will have to try and re-create the sound of a Melroys fronted by Randy.

One of Jordan's first performances as a key member of the Melroys trio came a little over a year ago at an event held in his father's honor. The day-long festival at Scott City Park featured six bands and raised money to endow a scholarship at Southeast Missouri State University in his name.

The day of music was both a poignant tribute to the late musical hero, as well as an extremely effective fundraiser. The $10,000 to endow the scholarship was raised, and then some.

At first it seemed like the memorial festival might become a yearly event. But the Leiner family quashed the idea, saying too many people had already given too much.

"We had so many volunteers last year and we felt like we made the goal, and we were so thrilled about that," said Sally. "We did it with all our help from our friends and family and felt like they contributed enough."

Jordan said the family felt it would actually be a dishonor to Randy's memory if another scholarship benefit festival were held this year.

"Once we had enough money raised for the endowment, anything above and beyond that would be mere vanity," he said.

But they admit Saturday's performance will definitely be a time to remember Randy again, and that his death still feels painfully close.

"Something like this, I don't know if you ever get on with it, and I'm so pleased that The Melroys have continued with Randy's songs and completed his second CD," said Sally. "One of the reasons we do continue with this is Randy. It keeps him close in our thoughts and keeps him as a part of us.

"I don't know how it couldn't help but be a remembrance of Randy, because he was such a big part of all of this."

Steve McPheeters, organizer of the Fun Party and a friend of Randy, said the sole point to the event is to have fun.

Sally said there's no doubt Randy would have had more fun than anyone at Saturday's performance, seeing his son on stage.

"I know he would be very proud of Jordan," she said.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182

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Want to go?

What: Scott City Fun Party featuring 13th Floor, the Rivercats and the Melroys

Where: Schock's Pub, Scott City

When: Saturday, June 24, 8 p.m.

Info: 264-1176

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Band history

The Melroys got their start in Southeast Missouri, with the band's four original members -- Michael Enderle, Gregg Hopkins, Randy Leiner and Denny DeVette -- playing in bands throughout their youth in Southeast Missouri.

In the 1980s the four moved to St. Louis and played under various combinations and various names until the late 1990s, when The Melroys was born. The band's sound, a mix of American roots music with classic rock influences, produced a sound that has been termed "Beatlebilly."

The band's first CD, the self-titled disc "The Melroys," was released to Americana acclaim, getting national airplay on Americana stations. Some of the songs even reached the Americana charts. All the songs were written by Leiner.

Throughout the years the group kept its ties to Southeast Missouri, playing gigs at local bars often. Their local following was, and is, very large.

Leiner died unexpectedly in February 2005 as the band was preparing songs for a new CD. The band continues in Leiner's absence with his son Jordan performing guitar and some singing duties. The new Melroys CD should be released early this fall, with several songs written by Randy Leiner and some tracks of his actual performances, recorded before his death.