Whatever Swanson (You’ve Gotta get a Real Job)

As I sit here grinding it out at the job again, I can’t help but reflect back on my 20’s when I was a struggling touring musician.  Those were good times (or were they).  That’s the catch 22 of life and whatever professional route we take ourselves in the pursuit of making a living, are we totally content?  I am not blessed with contentment undoubtedly.  I need to make that mind shift.  Or do I just need to solely be a recording artist with a golf bug which is my ultimate goal.  Would I be content then?

#worklifebalance

“They tell me You’ve Got to get a real job and stop living like a slob”

Click to listen to entire album.

Another Round for My Friends

Happy New Year!  Let’s start the year of with a song about celebrating with friends and reflecting on the past year.  2015 was a good one for me musically and otherwise.  I enjoyed my first year with Joy and Coral, my new twins, developed a bunch of solar, managed to release 5 albums and 5 singles and to have a little bit of fun along the way.

Thanks for another great year.  Here’s another round for you.

 

Eclectic

I’ll move from the Seeing Eye Band album back to my other recent re-release Getaway Plans Anniversary Remix.  This is a song that didn’t make the original album for some reason but it has now been resurrected.  Recorded with the Parakeet Nelson band featuring John Wayne Tuggle on slide guitar, Dwayne Wallace on bass and Dave Brockway on drums.

It’s a song basically telling the story of my music career.  I’ve always been so eclectic and all over the place I guess it’s always been hard to put my music into one category.  We played this song live for a few years but this is the first time it’s been unleashed into the online music lexicon.  Thanks for listening!!

Click to listen to the entire album

Lucky Umbrella

Today marks the beginning of several re-issues from my long musical history.   I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since I released ‘Getaway Plans’ on the eve of my departure from Athens, Georgia.   In celebration of it’s ten year anniversary, I have remastered and re-imagined the album, changing the song order and adding four new songs that were recorded during the same era.

The album features the fantastic Parakeet Nelson touring band of 2001 – 2004 featuring John Wayne Tuggle, Dwayne Wallace, Dave Brockway and John Kell with special guest Andrej Kurti tearing it up on violin on several songs.   The infamous Mike Lowdermilk also makes an appearance on a few of the new added songs.

Umbrella is one of my most enduring songs about turning things around, staying positive and being there for each other.  I have sung it at many charity and spiritual events, not to mention many bars too for that matter.  Ha!  Thanks for listening!

Click to listen to the entire album.

First Funk Baptist

Yet another intermittent song post from my ‘Risky Biscuits’ album.  We are finally getting near the end.  This little diddy is a comedy song featuring the ultra talented Coda Baerfider spouting tongue in cheek spiritual wisdom (in prompt-tu) with the brilliant sax work of Gary Hartle in the background.   We recorded the sax in the bath tub!

 

Click to Listen

I Can’t Summarize Your Sunny Skies

After not posting for about two months I’m finally getting back to posting the next song from my ‘Risky Biscuits’ album.  This was recorded on my 1/2 inch eight track tape machine and features Mike Elam’s brilliant flugelhorn.   It also features Jeramy Lamanno on drums, Dwayne Wallace on bass and John Wayne Tuggle on slide guitar.  Thanks for listening!

Click album cover to listen to entire album.

U Don’t Believe My Traction

Back to posting ‘Risky Biscuits’ songs.  This one is a super jammer.  A little bit reggae a lot rock.  We recorded this live with an eight piece band in Wes McDonald’s studio (a fine musician and artist himself look him up  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/wes-mcdonald/id6432590).

Anyway, this song is a declaration of love with a little innuendo and a great great band!!  John Kell, Chris Costigan and Gary Hartle’s saxes are on fire on this one and John Wayne Tuggle plays a tasty guitar solo.   I had a broken hand and a ruptured radial nerve but I still managed to hold down the rhythm guitar.  Incredible drummer Seth Hendershot and legendary bassist AJ Adams round it out!  Thanks for listening!

Click to Listen or buy

Bukowski & Captain Kangaroo

One of my all time favorite jams (and a favorite of all my bands over the years).  This is an uptempo funky super jam about trying to relieve boredom with the help of Charles Bukowski, Captain Kangaroo and golf.   This song features the full power of my Parakeet Nelson band from this era.  Seth Hendershot, Gary Hartle, John W Tuggle, John Kell, Dwayne Wallace and lots of interesting background (and foreground) sounds.

Click to Listen or buy

 

Risky Biscuits – Song sustenance for the new year

Let’s start this year off right with some “Risky Biscuits”  

 

Click to preview or buy

New Sport for Primetime (song of the day)

This used to be a crowd favorite in the Parakeet Nelson days.  I remember many a night with John Wayne Tuggle ripping a solo or two.  This was recorded live with eight piece band in the studio.