There were several unintentional themes to this night’s set: I played mostly songs from this young millennium, with 5 of the 7 tunes being released in the last couple years, and only one that came out before 2004. There were several Texas connections, which I have no explanation for… There was also a strong father theme, and even though i discovered the music in this set through other avenues, it reminds me that there is a huge part of my father in everything I do, especially enjoying music.  I always thought if my dad would learn 3 chords and start penning some tunes he’d be a modern day blues legend, at least in my eyes. I love you dad - you gotta get behind the mule in the morning and plow.

The best part of this night was being joined by my great friend David Bowick (check out his many projects as an artist and producer: Alder, and more…) for a few tunes in the middle of the set.  D-Boogie has been my musical brother for a couple year now in our rock band Ocelot Robot and beyond.  I always learn something from playing and writing with him.  We played three songs together in this set that I couldn’t have done without him, and I look forward to making music with him for years to come.  Here’s how it all went down…

June 9, 2011 - Club Good Hurt - Acoustic show

1. “Won’t Be Home” - Old 97’s (Drag It Up - 2004)

The single greatest song to listen to while driving every created, “Won’t Be Home” is an open road anthem.  This Dallas-born band delivers crafty americana pop that gives me a bad case of lead foot.  Drag It Up is a great album to start with to discover Rhett Miller and company, and really all of the records they’ve made since then have put a smile on my face and some fuel in my tank, check ‘em out.

2. “The Titan Who Cried Like A Baby” - Monster Magnet (Mastermind - 2010)

Anytime your favorite band puts out a new record there is an element of anxiety that comes with the excitement.  At 54 years old, Dave Wyndorf of Monster Magnet steps to the plate with some of the most powerful lead rock vocals my ears have EVER heard on 2010’s Mastermind.  Check out “When the Planes” (my favorite song of last year) to see what I mean and purchase the album here.  ”Titan” is a brutal drum-less dirge that jumped off this album at me as a perfect song to cover - listen for yourself:

3. “Can’t Hardly Wait” - The Replacements (Pleased to Meet Me - 1987) & Justin Townes Earle (Midnight at the Movies - 2009), featuring David Bowick on Guitar and Vocals

Though this originally was a very dark song by the ultimate pre-grunge garage band, the Replacements, we performed something closer to a recent version by Justin Townes Earle from he Midnight at the Movies album.  The son of one of my favorite Texas country-punk renegades, Steve Earle (check out Transcendental Blues), Justin put a really nice touch on “Can’t Hardly Wait” that I’ve wanted to cover ever since seeing him play at the Echo with Joe Pug (see below) last year.  However, this tune relies heavily on the flavor of the lead guitar and David knocked it out of the park.  Check out both versions, first the Replacements’ studio cut from vinyl, then Justin’s live version, done in the key of A, the “people’s key, when G isn’t available” - in the words of my friend AP#1, thanks internet:

4. “Don’t You Think Someone Should Take You Home” - Butch Walker (I Liked it Better When You Had No Heart - 2010), featuring David Bowick on Guitar and Vocals

David turned me on to the solo work of this incredibly talented producer, writer, and former Marvelous 3 frontman.  This song was the perfect tune to take on as a duet, and everything I know about singing harmony I’ve leaned from David.  I Liked it Better When You Had No Heart`  is not only a great album name, but a great starting place for discovering Butch’s music, as you’re probably more familiar with his production credits.

5. “Hard to Believe” - [Original] (written by Nate Hertweck and David Bowick, unreleased), featuring David Bowick on Guitar and Vocals

I love writing with Boogie, and only recently have we begun to explore the process outside of the rowdy pop/rock theme of our band Ocelot Robot.  In truth, “Hard to Believe” is not far off from being a Robot song, but we wrote it earlier this year under a heavy Butch Walker influence (see above).  However, it wasn’t until we were playing it on stage that i realized that it’s really a love song about the great Budweiser beer - At least that’s what I meant by the lyric, “you’re so easy on the lips.”  David was likely referring to BushmIlls… Thanks for making music with me David!

6. “Tokyo Storm Warning” - Elvis Costello (Blood & Chocolate - 1986)

This raucous track 3 of one of Elvis’ best efforts of the 80s is one of my all-time favorite songs to sing.  It appears to be a tale of a british punk band traveling to Japan on tour, but to me (seeing as how I have never done that) it’s more about the attitude of the vocal delivery.  Costello’s word choice in “Tokyo Storm Warning” begs to be spit out with a healthy dose of the playful aggression that makes his songs stick to my ribs.  I cannot wait for the day when I get to perform this song with my dear friend Geoff on the drums, providing the pounding backdrop for this audacious poetic romp (hopefully at a full-band Razorface show in the fall…).  In the meantime, purchase this album, an essential the true Elvis fan.

7. “I Do My Father’s Drugs” - Joe Pug (Nation of Heat EP - 2007)

I saw Joe Pug open up for Justin Townes Earle at the Echo last year, as I mentioned above.  Before he went on there was a buzz going around the room about this guy being a sort of modern day Bob Dylan - a tough claim to live up to.  However, Pug’s performance transformed everyone in the Echo that night, and I swear that if you can listen to “Hymn 101” without being totally shaken, you’re probably already dead inside.  At one point during his gut-wrenching performance, he was singing off mic with his guitar unamplified and somehow staring every single audience member in the eye at once - it certainly was how I imagine seeing Dylan in ‘64 would have felt.  ”I Do My Father’s Drugs” from his Nation of Heat EP was just one of the many songs he played that night that I seemed to remember every word to when I listened to the record the next day.  This EP is something everyone should hear and share…  I found this video of him playing the song at a house party in my hometown only days before I would see him for the first time in L.A., enjoy:

Thanks for reading!

Upcoming Razorface shows:

• Thursday, June 23, 8:30pm - Club Good Hurt

Photos by Jay Lee