A few weeks ago, I got together with a few Harlowe bandmates and worked on a few of my songs. I have a number of fragmented ideas that needed either a thumbs up or a thumbs down. With their help we fleshed out a new song and arranged a new version of an old one. Since Brittain Ashford has been recording her new record at the house, drums with quality microphones allowed us to easily put our arrangements to tape.

They’re still a work in progress- Mark left on tour before he could add vocals to one of the songs. But they’re both far enough along to share.

Bob Reynolds: Drums
Mark Robertson: Electric Guitar, vocals
Andrew Campbell: Bass, vocals
Me: Acoustic Guitar, vocals

New Song: Madness

Old Song: Untitled

Let me know what you think.

Also, Harlowe and the Great North Woods is playing this Sunday night at Ella St. Social Club here in Portland.

Alright, time to open another Gatorade and watch more Buffy.

I’m in a band.

Two weeks ago Andrew introduced me to his new Portland housemates: Mark and Bob. Their band, Harlowe and the Great North Woods, just released a CD in Chico before moving up to Portland. A few of the members stayed in California, leaving people like ME available to fill in the gaps.

We’ve had a few practices and they’ve been great! We played a show Saturday at the home of David Dyas along with Kathleen Grace and Envelope Peasant.

More shows on the horizon.

It feels good to playing with other musicians again.

(photo courtesy of Kim Miller)

Since I’ve been asleep for six months, I don’t have any new music to post. Although I did have a dream in which I discovered a wonderful new band. The band is called Soft Crest, the EP is called Neon Chrome.

I encourage you to follow the link and take a listen.

I heard a rumor that a full length could be in the future.

Hi Everyone!

I feel a little bad because I haven’t uploaded anything in a while. My goal was something every week, but that was when I was unemployed. Now that I’m working, I haven’t been as blog-productive.

I realized this early in the week and sat down to record something, only to find my recording interface not working. I called the manufacturer, found that it was under warranty, and mailed it in. I’ve recorded some keyboard only music, but according to my wife it’s only meh.

So, in the spirit of Christmas I’ve decided to repost a youtube video that has been online for a couple of years. My friend Neal Jonas made a short film for a rendition of Deck the Halls that Luke Sweeney and I recorded. Luke’s weird, Neal’s weird, and I’m weird. Guess what? The video is really weird!!

Enjoy.

The song I’ve uploaded this week has clips from an interview with Jack Kerouac.

Jack Kerouac 2009

I have a wonderful recording setup these days. The time it takes to grab my microphone, open up Logic, and press record can happen in less than one minute.

Yesterday I was looking at something I’d written and decided to work it into a melody. I grabbed my guitar, played around for a few minutes, then recorded it real quick so I wouldn’t forget.

I didn’t intend to add other instruments and make a song out of it.

Gin and Lies v.1

Put me in a cage
tell me I’m dead
I never want to see the sky again

I held onto the airplane
I thrashed against the side
My body was breaking

I drank gin and body of lies
and everybody died
I held a gun for the very first time

Fired 6 shots into the side of a barn
Felt blood flow and the feeling was warm
My body was breaking

If you’re wondering how a picture of me and Ryan Knight with our shirts off relates to this song, it doesn’t relate at all.

I just get the impression that blog posts without pictures are boring, so I like to scan my wife’s flickr account and link something.

This picture is of us in Krabi, Thailand, stinking it up in a hot, humid mosquito net watching Tropic Thunder on a netbook. That might sound cool, but that specific night ranks as one of the top five worst nights if my life. Illness + cramped, muggy quarters + clogged, filthy toilet + sleeplessness = Terrible.

Maybe the picture does relate to this song.

I have mixed feelings about this song. I feel the same as the day I beat Marvel vs. Capcom on a single quarter; I feel proud of my accomplishment, but just as easily I feel embarrassed.

I won’t say much more. I’ll just admit to using auto-tune on my voice and a warranty card for the lyrics.

Apogee’s All Right (2009)

Last night Kim and I went to the Laurelthirst Public House here in Portland to attend the CD release show for Kelly Blair Bauman’s new album, Gomorrah. I’m not versed in reviewing music or concerts; my breadth of musical knowledge and ability to describe sounds is unfortunately rather elementary. But I can say that the album sounds absolutely fantastic.

As far as using better words to describe music, it took me a long time to realize what angular guitars meant, and that word confused me at a time when my band was described as angular. At least I think it was. Music journalism is an art form all its own.

Four years ago, Kelly was kind enough to help me with recording a handful of songs. I showed up at his house once a week for about a month and a half. His schedule was always busier than mine, so I appreciated his willingness to share his time. Kelly never asked for anything in return; although I tried to make him happy by occasionally bringing snacks or beer.

The point is this: In addition to being a mind blowing musician and songwriter, Kelly Bauman is an awesome guy. His new album is beautiful and well worth your time. I’ll even attempt to describe it with musically descriptive words: floating, twangy, layered, atmospheric, and wonderful.

The album can be purchased for $10 at the record label’s website

Here are a few pictures from last night’s crowded event, courtesy of Kim:

Here’s a song that my wife Kim wrote a few years back. I don’t know what melody she had in mind, I found her lyrics and chord changes and recorded it before asking her. Actually, I’ll post exactly what I found:

C          C
I dedicate all my nights
Am                 G
To call your name, to know your face
C                 C
So where are you? Where'd you go?
Am            G
In my arms or in my
C            C
Rotting soul

C                  C
I'll carry you and that August day
Am                     G
In the back of my mind and to my
C               C
Swollen grave
Am                     G
Where all the children sing so
C               C
Loud and brave

C                C
Who's gonna care when we all die?
Am                         G
When you've got the bullet in your brain?
C                C
Who's gonna stop and wonder why
Am               G
No one is saying "I'm so happy
C                C
To be alive"

C              C
And after they all say goodbye
Am               G
Who's gonna open the champagne and say
C                C
"Cheers to life! Cheers to love!
Am                         G
Here's to all those things I've been
C                  C
dreaming of."
Am                          G
Yes, here's to those things I'm
C                   C
Dreaming of.
Am         G
This is my ode to
C                    C
Life and love.
Am            G

You can hear what my version sounds like, or you can record your own and send it to me. I show you mine, you show me yours.

Loud and Brave

Kim wrote another song, actually recorded herself singing it, then made a video for it. You can find it here on her blog.

Also, I didn’t get any response for the last song I posted. I know the lyric says, “find love in the graveyard,” but I swear it’s not about anything morbid or disgusting.

Eastern Side v.1 (2009)

Here are the lyrics as they are in the recording.

calm down on the eastern side
feel up and down your spine
find love in the graveyard
feel that moonlight coil

calm down on the eastern side
calm down on the eastern side

she’s gone away like dawn
she’s gone away like dawn
she was bright
but she died

fall light on the eastern side
fall light on the eastern side
fall light on the eastern side
fall light, fall light

P.S. – Happy Birthday, Mom.