Bootleg Series

Bootleg Series is a recurring YouTube series by PINK HAT® that features flagship artist The Free Rock Trio performing live at PINK HAT® Boston.

The series (and corresponding live album) is the first entry in the Free Rock Saga.

Episodes
The debut season of Bootleg Series featured 8 episodes and premiered on October 7, 2019. The music featured in season one is primarily pulled from the Threadsboro Saga, with the exception of episode 5. Season two continued this theme, with the exception of episode 9.

Episode #1-#9 were filmed at PINK HAT® Boston. Episodes #10-#16 were recorded remotely due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The season concluded with "Peach" on November 13, 2019. On November 29, a compilation of the first 8 songs titled Bootleg Live, Vol. 1 was released. It featured the entire first season's soundtrack, mixed and mastered for digital outlets.

The series returned with "Head in the Sand" on March 16, 2020, but further episodes were delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis. The track was featured as a bonus on Bootleg Live, Vol. 1 on the band's Bandcamp page. The second season returned on June 29, 2020, with the announcement of seven new episodes recorded in quarantine. The final five episodes of Season 2 were released in a single week, climaxing with the release of "Racket," the lead single from the band's then-upcoming seventh studio album Gone Wild. A second live compilation appropriately titled Bootleg Live, Vol. 2 was released on July 9, 2020, featuring the seven songs recorded in isolation. "Schlitz," an original studio recording made during isolation, was also featured as the closing track on Vol. 2. "Head in the Sand" (episode #9) is the only track from the Free Rock Saga to be featured so far.

Personnel
Jacob Keplinger - Guitar, Vocals, Editing

Justin Siegel - Drums, Vocals

James Siegel - Bass, Vocals

Mike Mazzu - Lead Guitar (#5)

Unreleased Content
While 8 videos were released in the first season, there were a handful of other episodes that didn't quite make the cut. "The High Road," "Mountain," "Womble," "Strawberry Shake," "15/16," "Bongo," and "California Bound" were all filmed, but ultimately scrapped before release. Mazzu was featured on guitar for "Mountain" as well. "California Bound" was re-recorded for Season 2.