“Run Away From Me” by James John Wilson

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Run Away From Me

If you like what you hear, then become a fan… http://www.reverbnation.com/jameswilson

Song Background

My band mate, Marc Jacob showed me a really cool capo setting he saw Steve Earl using.    It is on the second fret without the top E string left open.  The E string is left to resonate really deeply.   I was looking for something more emotional and resonant. I found three great chords using this setting.  This need was inspired by The Uglysuite “… And We Became Sunshine” which I had been playing over and over again.

I was riffing just to figure out where the words would go and how they would sound.  These were the first words that came out.  I try to make a habit of trusting my instincts, my insides, and they need to let my subconscious speak.  I feel songs becomes more personal and emotional that way.

The words are short and sweet.  I believe the have the following meaning… I seem to have an annoying, perpetual sense of not being worthy or not belonging.  But that other people and creatures alike are drawn toward things… to migrate, to  congregate, to be together, but I do not have this as a part of my life.

Lyrics

Run away from me

Birds fly towards the warm sun

Little boys and girls, they run to their mom

We’re FAMOUS! Upcoming gig at Black Cat Cafe!

Here is a banner from http://www.rivertownsguide.com/index.php for our show this Saturday.

2010-02-05 #social #media #music #finds #this #week

This is a little late, but late than never.

Chelsea Lyn Labate

Found via @reverbnation review of top 25 folk music artists in New York City area.   She truly has a distinctive voice almost cultural like Sineade O’conner but more elegant.

http://www.reverbnation.com/jameswilson#/chelsealynnlabate

Mumford And Sons

I bought “Little Lion Man”

Found via @Evnstn via twitter http://www.myspace.com/mumfordandsons

Nice fiddle gives a blue grass feel.  Lyrical very strong and sung with a lot of passion.  They appear to have a very large following.  Nice find!

KELLI RAE POWELL

Rated one of the 50 best albums by Lucid Culture.  Her press is unanimous… “Sultry… sassy… jazz… and a wonderful entertainer… “

http://www.reverbnation.com/jameswilson#/kelliraepowell

Emma Wallace

Found via Emma Wallace (@jamemma)

Piano centric folk music, lyrically strong, can be bouncy at times, but in a cool way I guess, catchy.  Really clean and put together compositions.   Voice is very nice with interesting intonations which I love,  sweat and clean.  Nice find.

http://www.myspace.com/iamemma

Other Mentions

Amber Rubarth

http://www.myspace.com/amberrubarth

Singer-Songwriter Sessions Venue: The Bitter End (212) 673-7030 149 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10012+1437

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Sorry Bob! …for my bastardized version of Subterranean Homesick Blues

Here is a recent video I did with an awesome team from Onboard Informatics to promote a new HR system.   We work hard but we play hard.   It is another spoof on the legendary video for “Subterranean Homesick Blues” by Bob Dylan.  That was Bob’s first top 40 hit back in 1965.

Video

Review Blues Lyrics

(verse 1)

A

Johnny’s in the corner nook, surfing on facebook

I’m by the trash cans thinking about career plans

Boss is always running late, changes the date, says to wait

Says it’s a bad day, I didn’t want to anyway

D                                A

Look out kid, something you did, god knows when, but you’re doing it again

Better duck down the other way , Suddenly he’s not your friend

E

Dreading when we sit down, no one else will be around

A

Wants me scoring low to keep my chances down

(verse 2)

Never did career goals, always stayed away from those

Doesn’t matter anyway, I’m prolly where I’m gonna stay

They don’t want me promoted; don’t they see I’m devoted?

Says we’ll talk in early May, probably more like Labor Day

D

Look out kid, don’t matter what you did,

A

Brushing up to get a 3, what the heck is a competency?

Professional, functional, sounds more like a bunch of bull

E

Let me eat my lunchable, it’s something more affordable

A

I don’t need a CDP, to know what they expect of me

(verse 3)

Almost a 2, almost a 3, almost ain’t fooling me

Boss says things about me, 12 months from memory

Remember when, wrong again, I don’t recall I dropped the ball

Spending time below the line, toe the line you’ll be fine

D

Look out kid, you’re gonna get hit

A

Numbers, superiors, peer reviews, I ain’t inferior

E

Thinking you can rate me but don’t communicate me

A

I want a real meter, so that I can be a leader

(verse 4)

I get rated, I participated,

No review on the shelf, Gonna Rate myself

Get assessed, not stressed, try to be a success

Please her, please him, Moving up, don’t whine;

don’t give up many years of trying, many years of trying

D

Look out kid, don’t keep it all hid

A

Don’t ignore my goals, I got myself a new role

Don’t avoid the feedback, time for my career track

E

Time for new direction, performance resurrection,

A

Now its all in my control, I got a future, let’s roll

“I Regret To Say”

Click here–> “I Regret To Say” Download or Stream stream ReverbNation.com

If you like what you hear, please become a fan. http://www.reverbnation.com/jameswilson

About the Song

This song was written, recorded, upload and blogged in 4 hours on Saturday, 30th, 2010.  The inspiration and emotion comes from way back.  No one should have to live in a bad situation.   Words hurt…  Enough said.   Sometimes a song spills out… messy… but can be very cathartic.

Lyrics

F                                              A

You tried to run me down

…………………F

With your words

………………………………..A

You tried to run me down

……………B

It was            hateful and hurtful

………………………….A

And I don’t have to live

…………………………………….E

I don’t have to live this way

…………………………..C

I can do without this

G                                  D               Em        C                A       Bm

I regret to say  - e   -eh   -ay  -yeah

……………..E

I regret to say

C  G  D  Em  C  A

Bm                               E

………I regret to say

2010-01-29 cool #twitter #folk #rock #music #lyrics finds

This is the cool music I found this week by following random twitter links, meeting folks at open mics,  etc.

Space Ghost Cowboys

a.k.a Space God Cowboys?

This was the only outstanding band I found this week because I spent the whole week listening to last weeks finds  …mainly The Uglysuit who are so enjoyable.  That said, Space Ghost Cowboys was another great find.   I listened to their latest album  ”The  Sad Album” which I got from Aaron directly.  (I met Aaron playing at an open mic night at Lucy’s Lounge hosted by Petey “Hop” Hopkins).    The music is stylized in a Will Oldham sense meaning you know that you have heard something distinctive, eclectic.   The genre fits the voice, the voice fits the song, the voice fits the lyrics.  Simple and lyrical, soulful and just cool with a morsel of muted trumpet which is a nice surprise.  I love the rough twang escalating to emotional moments that are just perfectly and purposefully every so slightly off key and then diminish slowly back into key (violent femmes like) .

http://www.myspace.com/spaceghostcowboys

I owe Aaron $10 which I will willing give up when next I see him.

Other Mentionings

The turning point (Venue in Piermont, NY)

http://www.turningpointcafe.com/

Worth the trip to see some great bands.

David Lindberg (@DLindberg49)

For folks that like easy listening piano.  This guys has some relaxing music, meditation and Christmas music.

http://www.davidlindbergmusic.com/David_Lindberg_Music/Welcome.html

Al Oomens (@aloomens)

http://www.reverbnation.com/aloomens – Varied types of music, well produced.  Listen to “Going In Circles (Featuring Emi)” for country/folk sound.  Lovely voice on this track.  Rest of the music is well product… not 100% for me but they sell well on ITunes!

My List of Open Mic Nights (And Afternoons)

Running List of Open Mics in New York Metro Area I have visited and my feedback.  Pretty short for now but it will grow over time.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW OF OTHERS!!!!!!!

Saturday’s

Banjo Bill’s – Open Mic – Hosted by Wayne Kral and Jeremiah Birnbaum

Location: New York, NY

Sign-up 2:30; music 3-6:30pm;  EVERY SATURDAY

http://www.banjojims.com/gigs.htm

Monday’s

Lucy’s Loung

Location: Pleasantville, NY

Hosted by Pete “Hop” Hopkinson (peteyhop1@aol.com)

Sign-u p ~9PM, Starts at ~9:30  EVERY MONDAY

http://www.lucys-lounge.com/

This is a really great open mic.  Can get a little noisy/chatty which blows but people generally listen.  Verified as a live running open mic series.  Host is friendly and easy going.  The atmosphere is very supportive.  Good turn out of performers with a modest crowd.  Talent is good even eclectic.

Tuesday’s

Pete’s Saloon ~ unverified.

Location: 8 West Main Street, Elmsford, NY 10523

Starts: 9 PM – ; Supposed to be EVERY TUESDAY

http://petessaloon.com/

(914) 592-9849

Thursday’s

www.12grapes.com

12 North Division Street
Peekskill, NY 10566
(914) 737-6624

Hosted by Pete “Hop” Hopkinson (peteyhop1@aol.com).  EVERY OTHER THURSDAY (I start on 2/4/2010)

8:30-11:30pm

Open Mike Resources:

• http://openmikes.org/calendar/NY
• http://www.minstrelrecords.com/fmsny/repeating.html

2010-01-22 cool #twitter #folk #rock #music findings this week

This blog entry is the result of following all of music lovers on twitter.  These are the links that floated to the top above the others.

The Ugly Suit

Ethereal voices and harmonies.  Simple and moving, melodic.

Found via @ajsleeper on Twitter.

http://www.myspace.com/theuglysuit

The Floorwalkers

So nice.

http://www.myspace.com/thefloorwalkers

via @randirico

The Wood Brothers

Found via hypem.com via http://groovescapes.com/os/component/content/article/40-news/239 Blog.

http://www.thewoodbrothers.com/

The Northern Hooks

http://www.myspace.com/thenorthernhooks

via @Ladylake

Things Fall Together, Turn To You.

This group has nice songs.  They are easy to listen to.  I found myself snapping my fingers.  Catchy.

Cool Mentionings

Shawn Bray

Listen to #1 electronic music dude in Loveland

http://www.reverbnation.com/shawnbray

Indie Rock Cafe

MP3 submission page

http://www.indierockcafe.com/labels/About%20IRC.html

“Haze” by James Wilson

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“Haze” by James Wilson

About the Song

Suicide is a profound event for an individual and anyone related to that individual.  Most of us are sort of “comfortably numb” living life.  In times of extreme stress, sometimes our minds wonder “what if…”   Would it be peaceful?  All the stress floating away.    This song tries to capture some of the intense emotion and thoughts of suicide.

About the Lyrics

I had better explain this line… “I’m pregnant with laughter In my darkest dreams”.    Being pregnant is not quite there.  There is no baby, so there is this intense anticipation that something is coming BUT is not happened yet.   Taking this further, pregnancy can be very uncomfortable and even life threatening.   Being “pregnant with laughter” means that laughter is not being experienced.  It is there all tied up and uncomfortably and awkward inside.  Have you ever seen a really pregnant future mom trying to walk, to sit, to stand.    It can be hard for them.     There is something that is stuck inside, not experienced, but on hold waiting to come out.  And, when it comes outs, it will be a big event, and quite painful.  So there is an uncomfortable connotation to this line which is accented by having it occur in “dark dreams”.  This is instead of “wildest” or “happy” dreams.

Every verse line rhyme with “aze.”  This was a little bit of a challenge to myself, but I was happy even though some of the lines are a little trite.   I did not have the chorus words rhyme so it stands out.  I used the following site to help find words.  http://www.onelook.com/?w=*aze&loc=scworef&scwo=1&sswo=1&ls=a

Video

Shot at Lucy’ Lounge – Pleasantville, NY. Please excuse the a group of three of four really loud assholes in the audience;  otherwise, the crowd was great.  Notice at the end, I almost pull over the entire PA system.  Whoops. Ahaha.

Chords

3/4 timing

| D | A | G | Bm | A | x 100

| D | A | G | Bm | A | E | A|

(I do not play or stress the middle beat of three.)

The Lyrics

(verse 1)

Her mind is ablaze

Her emotions a maze

Her eyes have a fixed gaze

Her smile is a thin glaze

(chorus)

Please don’t fade into the haze

Please let me be

Please let me go

I’m pregnant with laughter In my darkest dreams.

(verse 2)

She’s gone at the holidays

She hides in a daze

She swears it’s just a phase

She says they’ll be better days

2010-01-15 #Twitter #Folk #Music this week

Monsters of Folk - The Sandman, The Brakeman And Me

Monsters of Folk – Baby Boomer

Found via Hypem.com

Home Page

Hypem.com Player

Mariam Matossian – Armenian Folk Songs

Found via @HaroAvo

From her About page… “Nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award (Outstanding World Music Album of the Year for her album In the Light) and two Canadian Folk Music Awards (Traditional Album of the Year for In the Light and Best New/Emerging Artist) in 2008″

Home Page

Youtube.com Promotional Video

Avett Brothers – I And Love And You

Found via someone cool that I forgot.

Powerful, engaging and very thoughtful lyrics.

Web Site Album Page

The Fruits Bat – When You Love Somebody

Found via @timusica

Myspace Link

Cool Mentionings

• Turkish Collaboration