The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit sounds like something everyone has heard of, but just can’t place their finger on. Maybe because it has so many words? Maybe the word “Outfit” can lend itself to almost any kind of band in any genre? Five words and only six syllables — the name has an all-encompassing quality to it.
And when you have the phrases “Good Luck” and “Thrift Store” in the same name, it’s bound to have an interesting sound.
And they sure as hell do.
Though the group — consisting of five men who mostly have their roots in Modesto-area bands (Built Like Alaska, Fiver, The Puffin‘ Billies, Grandaddy) who had a moderate amounts of success — is usually pegged as “bluegrass,” their sound carries a little bit of everything — from classic country, with the vocal harmonies of husband/wife duo Willy Tea and Bethany, to traces of heavy metal and folk rock, courtesy of lead guitarist Matt Cordano and former Grandaddy drummer Aaron Burtch. (That’s right, someone from Grandaddy is in this “bluegrass” band.)
The name actually does make sense: The “Outfit” refers to band members wearing their Sunday’s best onstage, which were likely purchased from thrift stores.
Perhaps one of the reasons for the band’s unique sound is the member’s approach to music as a project — they are constantly putting their ideas into tunes, and likely because of the 52-Week Club.
“Most of us had been doing the singer/songwriter thing as all separate solo performers for almost a year without ever intending on forming a band, just sitting around a fire barrel taking turns,” said Chris Doud, singer and guitarist in GLSTO.
The 52-Week Club started out as an endeavor to come up with a song a week for one year.
This led to the musicians showcasing at open mic nights at the Cow Track in Oakdale — GLTSO’s stomping ground. They took the show on the road to the Mainzer Theater, and were temporarily called Horsefinder.
“During that first incarnation of the band, we had seven members, six of whom wrote 52-Week Club songs, five of whom’s songs we regularly performed — each writer singing they’re own songs — and four of whom’s songs we recorded for the first album we did, which happened within about three months of us playing our first gig as The Good Luck Thrift Store Outfit,” said Doud. “Probably not the best way to go about things, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Like, why not.”
The band’s newest album, “The Ghost of Good Manners,” is a well-rounded, Roots/Americana/Folk/Country mix that leaves the listener ready for another round. The album was released in March 2009 on the band’s own label Heckabad Records. (heckabad.com)
Though the group’s played with dark grass innovators like The Pine Box Boys, the highlight of GLTSO performances was definitely at the 2009 Spring Strawberry Music Festival. The performance meant more than having backstage passes, free entrance, a guest list, a cabin and some cash — a spot on the line-up to this festival is coveted.
But the band feels this is the beginning of something bigger.
“We kinda feel like we just now are coming into our own, as in we’re transitioning from a good-times bar band that isn’t all that concerned about what the P.A.

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