New Song(s), New Life

Work has begun. Hot on the heels of "Hard to Swallow" a new collection of songs are being prepped for recording. Some new, some we've been playing... but a solid collection in my humble opinion. More on that later. Here's the lyrics to a new one. I just returned from the beautiful and awe-inspiring subject of this song, so recently that I can still taste the clear mountain air.

I wrote "Cottonwood Canyon" on the first sitting. I can't remember the show I saw that night, but as soon as I got back to our house I bee-lined for my guitar and it all fell out... every single word. The chords and lyrics leaped from me all at once. That's not the sort of thing that happens with every song I write, but when it does it really creates a bond between us (myself and the song).

I used to struggle to write things that were not directly about my life. In the past few years I've been able to find the path to turn real-life experience or emotion into fiction. This song was written, perhaps (as I'm still not 100% sure), from the point of view of some one on their death bed. Crying out of delirium for the wishes never achieved, or opportunities never attained. The protagonist has seen and lived hard times. He's been infirmed since his youth and, nearing the end, wants to return to the one ray of light that cut through the murk of his rough journey.

"Cottonwood Canyon"

When we going back to Cottonwood Canyon
All my life I've been asking,
But you just talk about the bad times.
You just recall all the bad times.

We packed everything we owned
And headed out for the West
Nothing wet like the Pacific
Just dirt and brier and all the rest.
Not a penny for bread,
not a nickel for beer
You can't hide that shaking in your eyes,
holding back all the fear.
When we going back to Cottonwood Canyon
All my life I've been asking,
But you just talk about the bad times.
When we going back to Cottonwood Canyon
All my life I've been asking,
But you just talk about the bad times.
You just recall all the bad times.

When I was just 15 years old
My lungs were filled with black coal dust
The town doctor, he sent me home
To lay around my days and rust
Nothing but dirt to fill our bellies,
we were too damn dry to cry
That poor son of a bitch my daddy,
he's just waiting around to die.
When we going back to Cottonwood Canyon
All my life I've been asking,
But you just talk about the bad times.
When we going back to Cottonwood Canyon
All my life I've been asking,
But you just talk about the bad times.
You just recall all the bad times.

I remember those summer days
When the creek would get all swollen
We would lay in the tall grass there
In the quiet we'd stolen.
You were a vision all covered with dirt,
brown and sweaty from the field you worked
And I just laid there 'neath that broad shade tree,
dreaming away the hours 'till you were there with me.
When we going back to Cottonwood Canyon
All my life I've been asking,
But you just talk about the bad times.
When we going back to Cottonwood Canyon
All my life I've been asking,
But you just talk about the bad times.
You just talk about the bad times.
You just live amongst those bad times.


*I can also see the song as a duet, with a female voice singing the last verse.

Affirmation from on High

I don't want to say much, but what I will say is it was pretty freaking cool. We managed to get "Hard to Swallow" into the hands of some folks who are supposed to know what our kind of music is all about. The kind of folks who are big enough that bands are super stoked when they get with them, and leave feeling controlled and reined in.

They took the time to call me, we chatted and I hung up feeling good. They aren't working with us but the response was more than encouraging. They proclaimed the record to be "well written", with a "great vibe", and "well recorded". Contact info was swapped and encouragement was laid thick like the guy who's repairing my leaking roof right now is hopefully doing.

Right now I feel this way, I'm sure it will change in time, but...
If nothing ever happens, if the band implodes, if life pulls us away from the path - at least my work (as the chief songwriter) and the hard work of the rest of the boys has be affirmed by at least one person who's supposed to know his shit. At least I can say that the hours and hours, the spilling of guts and the dollars spent were worth it to some extent. Whether anyone hears it or not, at least it "Could have been a contender". I mean, in this day and age who has the time to call some random bunch of hacks to blow smoke up their ass, right?

We All Brought It

Last Friday night we played the Waterfront. It was great to be back after a much too long hiatus. The place was packed and folks were really into it - dancing and hollering, singing along at times, and (would you believe it) actually listening. We had a blast, and it seemed like everyone there did as well. In a joint where the crowd can be in a constant flow, in and out on some nights, it was great to see groups of people staying through the whole show. It was also great to see so many folks (old friends and new) really digging it all and having such a good time. It's infectious, when a crowd brings it, when they're into it. It makes us play better, and it just makes the whole thing more fun for everyone. Thanks so much for all the kind words after the show, too!

After what's been a bit of a grind the last few months, it was great to get out (and get into it) and really deliver like the band can. The rhythm section tightened up to air tight as the night went on and allowed me to go where ever the hell I wanted... and it felt great.

Nights like these... they make you want to get after it again.