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During Foster's time off from traveling the east playing solo dates, he recorded new songs on a 4-track recorder. These demos eventually were heard by old friend Don Dixon, by way of Foster's new publishing company, BUG music. Dixon and Foster discussed recording opportunities. At the same time, Foster was working on new songs with some old friends. Jon Wurster returned on drums and Danny Kurtz and Brad Rice were on bass and guitar, respectively. In Danny's Raleigh basement, the newly-named Pinetops hammered out several new songs and planned to play live. Danny and Brad were pulling double duty in The Backslider's. In early 1995, Dixon called and said, "let's record tomorrow in Charlotte," and like magic, 3 songs were cut in one evening session. (Birds of Prey, Jesus Spoke and Sweet William the Cop)

Brad and Danny left Foster's lineup to devote themselves full time to the Backsliders. John Chumbris and John Pfiffner then joined the Pinetops and the first live show was in June of 1996. In the winter of 1997, seven more songs were recorded in a barn/studio beside Foster's home and mixed at Reflection Studio. These tracks make up the Pinetops' LP Above Ground and Vertical.

Jeffrey, Will Dyar, Princess Lynn Blakey at the wedding of Tabitha Soren and Michael Lewis, Fall 1997, upstate NY.

Before the release of Above Ground and Vertical both Wurster and Chumbris left the lineup to devote more time to their own bands (Superchunk and Glory Fountain). Wonderboy Will Dyar became the new Pinetop drummer and his first show was a strange one. The Pinetops traveled to upstate New York in October of 1997 to play at Tabitha Soren's (of MTV fame) wedding. REM's Peter Buck joined the band for an atonal mud-soaked version of Iggy's "I Wanna Be Your Dog" with pal Phil Morrison providing vocals. Senator John McCain in attendance was certainly dumbfounded.

Above Ground and Vertical was released in the USA by Soundproof/ Monolyth in the fall of 1998 and by Bluerose Records in Europe in early 1999. Multi-talented local hero Andy Mabe signed on to play bass. Writer, filmmaker and multi-instrumentalist Brian Sides joined onstage at Bill's Bar in Boston and a solid touring version of The Pinetops was born. In the spring of 1999 The Pinetops made a spectacular appearance at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. Longtime friend and wildass Chris Phillips (Squirrel Nut Zippers, Subculture) joined briefly on drums in late 1999. All Pinetops are still great mates and will be making more music in the future. Find out more about the Pinetops on the official Monolyth site by clicking here.

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