New Song Rough Draft - No Place Like the Guillotine

I've been working on this one for a few weeks now and like the overall direction it's headed. I plan to include more lyrics during the last half and envision the final cut involving some electric lead and a drum kit played with brushes or something. What do you think?



Take me to Babylon. I'll settle in there,
forget the Son. I'll live my life with the blinds--
completely shut down but doin' fine.

I'll sink in
I'm thinkin'
I am survivin' on sin.

It's all I've ever known; each sentence ends
and I feel at home, because then I find my head--
and it's always wearin' the devil's red smile.

I bleed it
I need it
I am survivin' on sin

Amplifier

I'm quite stoked to announce that I recently ordered an SWR California Blonde "acoustic instrument amplifier" (aye, not just for guitars) and it just arrived in the mail today! I'm not entirely certain of the year it was made, but I'm pretty sure it's from somewhere between 1999-2002. I haven't had a ton of time with it yet, of course, but so far I'm impressed with it's big bold, natural sound. For an amp that's probably 12 or 13 years old it's in great shape. It's pretty dang loud, too! It's labelled at 360 watts, but I'm pretty sure that's only possible with an extension speaker. Standing alone, it's probably around 160 watts, though I could be wrong since I don't have the manual for it. Either way, it's going to be perfect for gigging; not only does it have volume and voice, it's also got an XLR microphone input I can sing through while playing. So, in the absence of a PA system the show can still go on. It's just great. Anyway, take a look!

Gigs of Late

In an attempt to fund my musical endeavors and "get out there," I've started playing some small gigs whenever I can fit one between work and school. So far, I think they're going pretty well. I enjoy sharing my music and playing for people--I just don't do it very often, so it'll be a little while until I feel totally at home in front of an audience. Overall, though, I'm having a blast. It doesn't seem like anything too exciting, but being heard is pretty thrilling after you've poured hours into writing and practicing a set. Live music is an awesome form of communication--so, I'm feeling pretty stoked just to be doing it.

The last I played was at Salt Tears, backed by Bobby Reeves on drums. Thanks for playing, Bobby. I'd say we make a pretty damn solid two-piece. We'll be doing more together in the next few months. Check the Shows page for upcoming performances. Thanks!

Promo Flyer Template

Tonight my good friend Max helped me put together this flyer template for small gigs. It's designed so that any location, date, and time can be written in before it's slapped on a bulletin board or window. Simple and easy to look at, it's just what I need. Thanks a ton, Max!

2 New Songs, 8 New Recordings

In an attempt to put myself out there a little more, I decided to post a set of "live takes" to serve as an example of what I sound like flying solo. I figure until I've got a band to more closely align my studio sound with my live sound, I might as well have some stuff posted that represents what I sound like when it's just me and Darla. I recorded the set at home and all in one night. Some are better than others, but that's how it goes playing live.

Aside from a couple of rough draft demos, the 8 songs I posted have yet to be officially recorded. Thus, they're all relatively new to the public ear. 2 of them, however, are brand new--never before heard; "Handle the Hurt" and "Antigospel." 

So, visit the Music page and let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy my live takes. 

Nature Songs - 2 New Demos

I've been working on both of these songs for awhile now and I've made some revisions. So, here are some rough recordings of what they've developed into.





White Pine

My brother told me all about the white pine blister rust
and he said the bark beetle's bite hurts like hell
Well, I'm just as tall and I'm just as rough
and any chance I stood sat down when he fell

So I count the witches brooms and the bloody needle tips
and the sum comes up at the end of each damn day
but my mama told me once with time between her lips
that everything is nothing but change

So, I will go...

I hate the sound of a slap laid down from the lightening on a mountain's face
but the scar speaks for the flash in a sacred moan
that there is beauty in what is brief and even more in what we waste
like the blue in a sea of black that lives alone

So when it's my time to fall, to bleed, and to break
I only ask you one simple thing:
don't say it was enough or that I've gone to a better place
just hold your head in your hands and let regret sing

Oh, let me go.
If I could I would stay right here.
Oh, let me go.

And though futile my fight might feel
I've still got to try while I've still got time
to make it all a little worth while.
_____

Evergreen Wolf Song

If you can feel my beat rock your ribs, my tongue and teeth comb your winter coat
then hold your head beneath and whisper with the earth stuck in your throat
into my withered ears the sound of your howlin' tears singin' softly
and I will call the moon to tug your tide and make you high when you think of me.

And I'm gone but you've still got me
as long as you think of me as home.

Out on the outskirts, while I feigned to follow father's verse, you waited for me
and now I wait for you up above in the seed at the edge of the limb of the evergreen
and when the forest burns the flames will cast a killing curse and we will finally fall
into the ash and dust 'til the spring reigns over us and we can let our roots crawl.

And I'm gone but you've still got me
as long as you think of me as home
and even though I'm feelin' the ache of change
I know that without it things would stay the same

And now I wait for you up above in the seed at the edge of the limb of the evergreen.

New Song - My Vow

Just completed the first draft of this one. It's for my lovely wife, Hailey.

I pressed the black ink down onto the page
Old words from a pen of such a young age
They were written for you on our wedding day
and spoken for all to hear

I stood before myself in a three-piece suit
trying to look like the guy who should be with you
but I ran into some problems, I found quite a few
I spent some time looking in the mirror

I know I'll never be the man you want
but I hope that you can love me while I try
'cause even though, no doubt, without me you'd be fine
If you didn't have ribs to hold your heart
I'd give you mine

The weather's been rough but the work's been good
There's been bad overlaid but we've understood
And I've done you wrong like you knew I would
You've shown your love the most

Do you remember that night when the storm came through?
It shook the house and shook me, too
I cannot believe I did that to you
I thought I'd lost us both

I know I'll never be the man you want
but I hope that you can love me while I try
'cause even though, no doubt, without me you'd be fine
If you didn't have eyes to see your worth
I'd give you mine