Return of the Muse

I may have finished writing two songs today. Each had a verse or two left to compose, plus some polishing, and I think that I worked them out this afternoon. They are tentatively called In the Meantime and Pablo Fiasco. We shall see if I still like them as I incorporate them into my practice setlists over the next few weeks. 

If all is good, then I might be a little closer to the completion of the album that I've been chipping away at for quite some time now. I also started putting lyrics to another song today. All in all, it was a productive Friday.

Once I have recorded versions that I like of the new songs, I will post them somewhere. 

Stay tuned...

All-In

Human beings are social animals, and for tens of thousands of years, cooperation has been the key to our survival. When we work together toward a common good, we are all better off (including you). 

 

These songs are rooted in a fundamental belief in the intrinsic benevolence of humanity and our collective will to overcome obstacles and obstinance:

Be Civilized

 

Panic Attack

 

Weather Patterns

 

Hand-Me-Down

 

Gravity

Modern Inconveniences

 

Now or Forever?

 

Better Days

 

Entropy

 

Do or Die

 

Fever Dream

Wake Up!

 

Living in Oblivion

 

Plastic Flowers

 

Light Pollution

 

Tunnel Vision (Out of Habit)

 

Shine...

 

Begin

 

Civilization is built upon the idea that together, we are more than the sum of our parts. Optimism fuels progress, which is how we build a better future. 

Don't let cynicism and hatred destroy us. Resist fascism.

Sunday Best

I just played another set at the Buzzard's Roost. If you were there, thank you. I hope that you enjoyed the music. If you dug my songs and want to know what they were, my setlist went something like this:

 

1. Fireflies

2. Dandelion Wine (If Only...)

3. Baby Blue

4. Don't Forget Who You Are

5. Life Preserver

6. Be Civilized 

7. Antidote

8. Haunted

9. Gravel Roads

10. Mixtape

11. Signs

12. Go It Alone

13. Turn the Page

14. Particle

15. Quicksand

16. Imperfect Creatures

17. Goodbye

18. Screen Memories

19. The Fool

20.  Begin

21. The Limits of Man

Thank you for supporting local, original, independent music. 

 

Inside Music

There are certain songs that I have never performed live. This is because whenever I play a gig, it is always on guitar, despite there being plenty of other songs that I have written that were built around other instruments. I quite like these songs, even though very few people have ever heard them. That in mind, I thought that I would share a handful of them with you here today.

 

The first is called Petals in the Grass. I have never gigged with my baritone, and in my semi-professional opinion, this song doesn't really work without that low-end thump. I also kind of dig the vocal harmonies, which I have thus far been ill-equipped to reproduce live, as sadly, I was born with only one larynx.

Holiday is a good piano song. I have also never brought a keyboard to a performance space, although I have imposed my performances upon pianos in public spaces. But pretty much only my neighbors, friends and family members have heard this song.

Black Ribbon Day was written on my banjo, which seldom leaves the dining room and has never been used on stage, despite it being a very enjoyable instrument to play.

Most of my gigs are in bars. I have never played Wasted before a live audience, as it seems an inappropriate place to sing about poisoning oneself. It has one of my favorite endings to a song and album. I like to think of it like musical fireworks.

As for the last track that I would like to recommend for today, I have played it exactly once. Of my sixty-five released songs, it is my only instrumental track. It is called Shadow Puppets. I put it at the beginning of the album as a nod to the first Pixies album that I ever got into. I leave it to you to find your own words in the improvised, ebow-riddled composition. I did, and the "ghost lyrics" that I perceived inspired the song's title.

Thank you for listening. Music is meant to be heard. If you like my songs, like my songs. If you really like them, then I encourage you to share my music, if only to prove to your friends once and for all how fucking cool you are.

Meet Frank

I recently went back to Michigan for a bit. While there, my brother gave me this guitar:

 

I love it. I didn't even know that I needed a new guitar, but this thing is great. From what I can tell, it seems to be pieced together from several other guitars and aftermarket parts. It's what you call a Frankenstein guitar, and it's even the right color for it. 

 

I have yet to figure out what all of the switches do, and I suspect that they are not wired per stock configuration, but I've always wanted a guitar with this many options. It's also nice not having a toggle switch to accidentally hit while strumming. If there is one thing that I dislike about my "modern" Squier Jazzmaster, that would be it. 

 

On the headstock, this one says that it is a Fender Jaguar, but I'm pretty sure that those are decals that someone put on there after bringing it back from the dead with a new neck, hardware and electronics. There is also a spot on the bottom where the paint doesn't quite match, which further suggests previous trauma of some kind. I think Jags usually have short-scale necks, too, and this one is full-size, which I also happen to like.

 

The tones are incredibly clear and glassy, perfect for the kind of stuff that I play. It also stays in tune remarkably well, although when I do tune it, I have to remember that is has left-handed machineheads for some reason. I expect that this instrument will play a significant role in my next recording venture, as well as in any upcoming performances. 

 

Thanks again, Nick. This thing rocks.