Congrats to the Milwaukee Brewers: Fear the Beer Project Goals and Outcomes 2025

Well, the Milwaukee Brewers season ended this weekend in the same way it started--a devastating series sweep at the hands of a non-salary capped large-market juggernaut. But in between those harsh bookends, the Brewers had a remarkable and magical year. They had the best overall record in baseball, set a franchise record for most wins, set a franchise record 14-game winning streak (Yay, free George Webb hamburgers for Milwaukee!), and brought a lot of joy to a lot of people in some pretty dark times. They beat the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS and they also inspired me to write an entire album of original songs about them.

Because Fear the Beer was intended to be a soundtrack to this year's Brewers' playoff run and because this weekend marks almost exactly two months from when I wrote my first Brewers song (8/15), I thought I'd take a quick moment to reflect on the project's goals and share some of the outcomes.

It took roughly four weeks to write eleven songs, practice them, and to record guitars and upright bass for all twelve tunes while also keeping up with my full-time job. It was a joy making music with friends (many thanks again to Randall Finley, Andrew Harrison, Dmitry Karev, and Art Stevenson!) and also to record backing vocals with my family (thanks again Adam, Ethan, Lilly, and Whitney!). And none of this would have been possible without my super-talented nephew Ethan Gibson encouraging me and putting in so much time recording my vocals, playing guitar, editing tracks, as well as mixing and mastering the entire thing. It was a real joy working with Ethan on this project!

It then took a week to design the artwork (many thanks to Rachel and Mike Lee for the assists!), getting my vision to match the printer's layout (many thanks to Travis "Daddy-O" Quam!), press the CDs (many thanks to Sooper Dooper!), register copyrights, get the album uploaded to Bandcamp, and to set up streaming and digital distribution. I also partnered with Wisconsin Humane Society during this week and pledged to donate all (if there were any) of the profits to them in memory of Hank the Dog.

During that week I also began seeking out press and I'm so grateful to Richelle Wilson and Rob Ferrett at Wisconsin Public Radio, Ashley Rodriguez at The Cap Times, Christopher Hawbaker at Channel 3 News, Jared Blohm at Milwaukee Record, Bob Koch at Isthmus, and Andy Moore of WORT's 8 O'Clock Buzz for taking an interest in the story and spreading the word. Thank you, all! As of yesterday (10/17) WPR's video of me singing "Fear the Beer" has 40,000+ views (on Facebook and Instagram). Chris's news segments aired on multiple days, The Cap Times gave it a full page, and in just two weeks, the album accrued 4,000+ streams via Bandcamp, Spotify, and YouTube. The album has also been in regular rotation on WI radio stations including WORT [many thanks to Art, Bobbie and Bill C. Malone, and Brian Oh Brien!], WXPR [thanks, Betty Jo!], and WVMO [thanks, Eric!]. 

Nearly all physical and digital sales were done via Bandcamp, which has worked out amazingly, and I also listed them on eBay and Discogs for discoverability. The CD was also sold in Rushmor Records in Milwaukee and both B-Side Records and MadCity Music in Madison bought copies, too. My friend Bobby Batyko even took CDs to several local jams and sold a bunch for me (many thanks again, Bob!). The initial print is now very near sold out!

When I started writing this country music love letter to the Brewers, I really had no idea if anyone would care or take an interest. I didn't do it to make money, but to my surprise, after two weeks I had recouped all of my expenses. In the following week and during the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, we sold another $400+ in CDs and digital copies--all going directly to the Wisconsin Humane Society to help animals in need and their WI families. Please adopt, don't shop!

These past two months I really tried to focus on the positive things around me. I wrote a bunch of original music. I got to do a music project with my nephew and several friends. I went to some amazing baseball games (including two of the incredible Brewers-Cubs NLDS victories!!). And we raised several hundred dollars for the WI Humane Society in the process. A sincere THANK YOU to everyone who purchased the album and supported the overall mission!! It's easily the most fun I've had watching baseball in the last couple decades and it's been a healthy distraction from the daily onslaught of horrors brought about by this federal administration. 

Now that the Brewers 2025 Playoffs run is over, you may be wondering, "what's next for Fear the Beer?" Well, I don't really know that answer, but there is actually a group of music marketing majors at Emerson College currently discussing that very question. I'll be sure to keep y'all in the loop! In the meantime, many thanks again to the Milwaukee Brewers for an absolutely magical season and for the flurry of creative inspiration! Go Brewers!

NLDS Game 5 Brewers v Cubs is Saturday Night

Oh man, last night's NLDS Game 4 was a stinger. But the good news--that just means more baseball for the rest of us! The big NLDS-deciding Game 5 of the Milwaukee Brewers v Chicago Cubs series is tomorrow night and if ever the Brewers needed a rallying cry in catchy song form, now is that time!

Fortunately, I've already written one--Fear the Beer! Actually, it's an entire album about the Brewers, it can still serve as your soundtrack to this year's exciting playoff run, and CDs and digital downloads are available via Bandcamp: https://nategibson.bandcamp.com/album/fear-the-beer-a-musical-salute-to-the-milwaukee-brewers

Even more exciting, as of this Tuesday evening, the recording and manufacturing expenses for the Fear the Beer project have been covered (in less than two weeks!) and all sales from this week forward will be donated to the Wisconsin Humane Society in memory of the Brewers unofficial mascot, Hank the Ballpark Pup. Go Hank! Go Animals! And Go Brewers!!

Foot-Notes Playing the Barn Dance at the Old Barn on Capitol View 10/10

Tomorrow night (10/10) I get to play upright bass with Foot-Notes for the Barn Dance at the Old Barn on Capitol View. It's an amazing venue, we're expected to have beautiful weather, and there'll be a barn full dancers, musicians, artists, and folklorists (a group more broadly defined as, friends). I cherish these rare opportunities to play bass with Foot-Notes from Decorah, IA and I equally cherish the opportunity to polka, waltz, schottische, and two-step to the music of Madison's ScandiAm Jam.

Hope you can join us from 6:30-8:30! Free to all. No Brewers game. Punch and pie.

Fall Pledge Drive on Back to the Country 10/8

Howdy Friends, I'm excited to be hosting Back to the Country again tomorrow morning from 9am-noon (cst) on WORT FM. The theme this week is music that I think you will like and that will make you want to contribute to our Fall Pledge Drive. It's kind of a heady theme, but I played some of the tracks I plan to play for our puppy Gidget this morning and she was totally blown away.

I'm mighty proud to be part of a volunteer-driven, community-sponsored radio operation like WORT FM and I think now more than ever it's important to have alternatives to commercial radio and mainstream news. WORT's been around for 50 years thanks to the support of our listeners, so here's to 50 more years of community building through music and the arts! You can tune in via 89.9fm in southern Wisconsin, via wortfm.org, or streaming via the WORT app.

Milwaukee Record features Fear the Beer and Rushmor Records in Bay View now carries the CD

Oh my! On my way to the first ever Brewers-Cubs MLB Playoffs game last Saturday, I got a message alerting me that Jared Blohm had just published an article and album review of my Fear the Beer album for Milwaukee Record. I eagerly pulled over to read the piece and it is incredibly thoughtful and generous. Jared is a big fan of the Brewers, of sports-themed records, of all things Wisconsin music, and particularly of classic country music--so he is basically the exact person for whom the album was made. I so appreciate him taking the time to talk with me about it and for his enthusiasm for the project. Thank you, Jared! Folks can check it out here:

https://milwaukeerecord.com/music/nate-gibsons-fear-the-beer-gives-the-brewers-a-country-tinged-playoff-soundtrack/

After the game--and oh my, what a game it was!!!!!!!--I trucked over to Bay View to visit Dan at Rushmor Records--Milwaukee's longest-running record shop. I asked if he would like to see the new album and he eagerly snapped up 10 copies for the store! 

Folks can still order physical and digital copies of the album through Bandcamp (https://nategibson.bandcamp.com/album/fear-the-beer-a-musical-salute-to-the-milwaukee-brewers), but if one would like to have and hold it TODAY, Rushmor is the only record store in the Milwaukee area where you can pick up a physical copy. It's a great way to support local music, support local music stores, and support the WI Humane Society! 

And tonight, it's time for Game 2 of the NLDS. Let's hope for more of that Game 1 Magic! Go Brewers and Fear the Beer!!

Fear the Beer in The Cap Times on this Bandcamp Friday

At long last, today is Bandcamp Friday--a rare 24-hour occasion when Bandcamp waives all its fees and all sales go directly to the artists. If you haven't yet ordered your own copy of Fear the Beer, today is a great day to do so. https://nategibson.bandcamp.com/album/fear-the-beer-a-musical-salute-to-the-milwaukee-brewers

And in case you need a little extra encouragement, Ashley Rodriguez just wrote a really nice story about the album's inspiration, production, and release for The Cap Times here: https://captimes.com/entertainment/arts/new-brewers-album-fear-the-beer-blends-country-music-and-baseball/article_035b5232-1714-4c45-ae32-aa2b542f87f6.html

It's a great article with all sorts of behind-the-scenes photos of the sessions, an outtake of the album cover photo by Rachel, and even a surprise appearance of Gidget the Dog hiding inside Andrew the Guitar Player's guitar case. Many, many thanks again for your time and the story, Ashley!

The record was also featured in WPR's Wisconsin Today newsletter with a link to my in-studio performance of the title track, "Fear the Beer." Much love and gratitude, WPR!

And since you're likely already heading over to Bandcamp to check out Taylor Swift's new "The Life of a Showgirl," why not give "Fear the Beer" a spin while you're there?!

Fear the Beer is on Wisconsin Public Radio

Last week, WPR producer Richelle Wilson kindly invited me to talk about Fear the Beer - A Musical Salute to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wisconsin Today. The segment aired Monday (9/29) and she has since written up a blog post w/ photos to go with it. You can check out the blog w/ audio link here:

https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-country-musician-fear-the-beer-milwaukee-brewers

Many thanks again to Richelle, Rob Ferrett, and the Wisconsin Public Radio team for inviting me to sing and talk about the record! The 2025 MLB Playoffs are officially underway and the soundtrack is now streaming on all major platforms (and still available via Bandcamp)!

https://nategibson.bandcamp.com/album/fear-the-beer-a-musical-salute-to-the-milwaukee-brewers