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Sporting lederhosen, beer goggles, and waist-length dreadlocks, the 6-foot-6 Josh Mannen, musician, front man, and professional…

drinker…makes for a charismatic character and promoter for his band Drunk in the Garage.

A beer-centric band with songs like “Bud Light,” “Professional [“drinker”],” and “More Beer,” the band is a regular feature and performer in the Occasional Pasadena Doo Dah parade.

This year marks the band’s fourth year as a participant in the parade and they’ll follow up with a gig at the local Colorado Bar for an immediate after party (not that the party ever stopped).

The band’s name solidified six years ago with its recent lineup after Mannen attended Doo Dah with his friend, prop master  Tom Waisanen, while nursing a hangover.

“He said trust me…and he sort of drug [sic] me down to the parade,” Mannen said. “So as I’m watching it, he said, “Drunk in the garage! Next year!’.”

The band creatively decorates itself in beer attire and beer “décor,” including Mannen’s own signature “Beer” goggles. It’s various entries have included a constructed garage, the Bud Light Knight, and a “Cascading Beer-A-Mid” that was later displayed at the Pasadena Museum of History for a Doo Dah Parade exhibit.

Through the years, they have been known to give free closed-container beer as gifts to parade goers. Then later, root beer. But with mess issues and food regulation, the giveaways have gone away.

When the parade moved from Old Pasadena to East Pasadena, the band approached the Colorado Bar for a post-party gig, and the rest is history.

“I know the band for three years,” said Johnny Jerejian, who co-runs the Colorado Bar. “They come in, they have a few drinks—two guys that come often. They are they nicest guys.”

With a background in theater and post production film as well, Mannen’s own fascination with the process of making beer—specifically that of cask-conditioned ale making—fuels a passion for the brew that goes a bit beyond the highs of actually drinking.

He spoke eloquently with extensive knowledge about the cask-conditioned ale process that is his profession as a Ciserone Certified Beer Server—essentially a sommelier for beer—where he formerly worked with MacLeod’s Ale Brewing Co. that specializes in small-batch craft brews.

The very first incarnation of the band and catalyst to the initial band formation was when Mannen was a community college theater arts summer camp counselor. In a celebration around the campfire one evening, the idea for a band that sings most exclusively and lovingly about alcohol was born.

“The second track on our CD ‘Bud Light’ was hugely expired by that. It was kind of like the camp beer of most of the counselors,” said Mannen of the inspiration of a huge parade favorite of the band.

Oddly, actual sponsorship from the beer’s manufacturer has eluded them.

“For the record, we are accepting all endorsements,” laughed Mannen.

“It’s every musicians dream to have a big hit, even if it’s just one,” Mannen added. “We realize our subject matter is a bit controversial, so we realize it’s a niche. But we are more than happy to play to our fellow drinkers.”

On the subject of groupies, Mannen was evasive and hysterically direct.

“Let’s put it this way. I don’t think anyone has ever said ‘This damn band is cock-blocking me!’”, he said, laughing. “You know? Or ‘If it wasn’t for this damn band I’d get laid more often!”

On the band’s upcoming play schedule and continuing participation in the parade, the future looks bright. The Beer Goggles help.

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