Let me tell you just what Bill Bleistine is made of.

When Bill first joined the group, there were some shows where I questioned if his drumming was up to the standards of Ceili play, as we have had a long line of stellar stickmen.I went so far as to fire him- twice. Each time he came back saying he knew he could do it, pressing me for exactly what he could do to improve, to please, to fit the bill.

Here we are 14 months later and the man has stood his ground, he's dug down and found what it takes to drive the Ceili Train, he has DONE IT!While we all need tweaks along the way ( I refer here to the "plank in mine own eye!") Bill has always responded with grace, with patience, with fortitude, and with the drumming Ceili Peeps have come to expect.Having said all that, the greatest beauty of Mr. Bleistine is the inner beauty. This is a terrific guy, always treating everyone he meets with equal respect. He is a fabulous band member, as he pitches in and makes the calls for rental cars, arranging Nashville departure times, taking the marching drum on the plane (oy, what a pain), doing whatever task comes along that needs tending to.And Bill is super-personable, always reaching out to the audience before and after a show, always making everyone feel special.

Bill's wife Aly is his greatest booster, and he wisely seeks her "better-half" counsel along the road of life. Bill's drumming skills are most evident when he takes his "Hug Yourself" solo, something he gets ever more proficient, fluent and dazzling at. His ensemble playing is also terrific, having come leaps and bounds forward under the terrible Hooli-Scrutinous eye.Hailing from Lebanon, PA, Bill played for years in cover bands and Christian bands, then made the move to Nashville in the late 90s. Lucky for us all he didn't stay in PA! Long may he sit in the Ceili drum chair!