http://themaydayorchestra.bandcamp.com/
All the recordings from The May Day Orchestra are now on-line for listening, download and purchase of physical records. Visit the site above.
'May Day, or Songs for Lucy Parsons' is the 2009 debut, acoustic arrangements featuring members of The Rats and People Motion Picture Orchestra to tell the story of the Haymarket affair in 1880s Chicago and the anarchist involvement in the labor movement.
'Ota Benga' tells the tale of the pygmy brought to the Saint Louis World's Fair in 1904. A slightly different line-up presents a folk-rock opera to tell the sad tale. The story of Roger Casement is interwoven into the narrative. This one was recorded in 2010 and is available on CD and LP.
Finally, two new tracks previewing the work in progress: 'Wake'. One strand of the story concerns a little-known 17th century pirate called Yusuf bin Hasan, former sultan of Mombasa. Modern-day Kenyan history plays into the story as well. The band that brought you 'Ota Benga' returns.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Union Electric - project 3 of 3
The Union Electric will follow up its 2012 CD "Time Is Gold" with a new 45 for Record Store Day. You can hear the two new songs on our bandcamp page as of next week
theunionelectric.bandcamp.com
Vinyl maybe pre-ordered or found at some stores on Saturday, April 20.
"Out In The Streets" and "Mysteries of Saint Louis" were recorded by Kevin Buckley and feature Mic Boshans and Brad Vaughn on drums, side A and B respectively.
The band will be playing about 5PM at Apop Records and again that night at Off Broadway.
theunionelectric.bandcamp.com
Vinyl maybe pre-ordered or found at some stores on Saturday, April 20.
"Out In The Streets" and "Mysteries of Saint Louis" were recorded by Kevin Buckley and feature Mic Boshans and Brad Vaughn on drums, side A and B respectively.
The band will be playing about 5PM at Apop Records and again that night at Off Broadway.
Saturday, March 16, 2013
The May Day Orchestra - project 2 of 3
The May Day Orchestra, active since a show at Black Bear Bakery in early 2008, has released two full-length albums, "May Day" in 2009 and "Ota Benga in 2010.
The third project was readily conceived but slow to be executed. Two songs, however, will be released as a 7" for Record Store Day to preview our new record still in progress. The band, featuring members of Tenement Ruth who also played on the "Ota Benga" record, will play the new single as well as some other new songs at Off Broadway on the evening of April 20. This single works in the same storyline as The Chainsaw Gentlemen track mentioned in an earlier post. A few songs about a 17th century Muslim pirate will comprise on part of the next record. More recent Kenyan history fills out the rest of the work. More later.
The third project was readily conceived but slow to be executed. Two songs, however, will be released as a 7" for Record Store Day to preview our new record still in progress. The band, featuring members of Tenement Ruth who also played on the "Ota Benga" record, will play the new single as well as some other new songs at Off Broadway on the evening of April 20. This single works in the same storyline as The Chainsaw Gentlemen track mentioned in an earlier post. A few songs about a 17th century Muslim pirate will comprise on part of the next record. More recent Kenyan history fills out the rest of the work. More later.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
The Chainsaw Gentlemen - project 1 of 3
The Chainsaw Gentlemen, a project started with Chad Ross and Alvy Caby of Rusty Nail, began playing occasional gigs at the Urban Chestnut Brewery in 2011.
This past January we met up learned a new song by Alvy and a new one of mine and set to recording them. Alvy and Chad added mandolin and accordion to my track while I threw in a guitar track with a lot of reverb on theirs.
Side A is called "Rag and Bone Man", the first of a series of songs about a junk collector that Alvy has in the works. My song on Side B is called "A Sort of Buccaneer", one part of a larger work in progress called "Wake" which involves one storyline about a particular Indian Ocean pirate of the 17th century.
The Union Electric's new spin-off label, Extension Chord Records*, will release this first Chainsaw Gentlemen single on Record Store Day 2013. This limited pressing will be on splattered color vinyl. We will also have a batch of t-shirts for the occasion. The group will play at Urban Chestnut on April 13 and again May 3.
*note: Extension Chord Records will also be releasing another single for Record Store Day, a split single by Town Cars and Beth Bombara will be the first of the label's catalog.
This past January we met up learned a new song by Alvy and a new one of mine and set to recording them. Alvy and Chad added mandolin and accordion to my track while I threw in a guitar track with a lot of reverb on theirs.
Side A is called "Rag and Bone Man", the first of a series of songs about a junk collector that Alvy has in the works. My song on Side B is called "A Sort of Buccaneer", one part of a larger work in progress called "Wake" which involves one storyline about a particular Indian Ocean pirate of the 17th century.
The Union Electric's new spin-off label, Extension Chord Records*, will release this first Chainsaw Gentlemen single on Record Store Day 2013. This limited pressing will be on splattered color vinyl. We will also have a batch of t-shirts for the occasion. The group will play at Urban Chestnut on April 13 and again May 3.
*note: Extension Chord Records will also be releasing another single for Record Store Day, a split single by Town Cars and Beth Bombara will be the first of the label's catalog.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
every weekend in March and new records on the way
it's been a while but there are shows to announce and new records to mention...
Saturday, March 2 - The May Day Orchestra returns to the Schlafly Tap Room after an absence from the world of live shows. Popular Mechanics and Chateau Nowhere are also on the bill. Free show, 9PM.
Saturday, March 9 - The Union Electric returns to The Blue Agave in Belleville, IL
Friday, March 15 - Off Broadway hosts the third annual Phil Ochs tribute show. Tim Rakel, solo or with minimal accompaniment, will play a couple numbers by the late songwriter.
Saturday, March 23 - Tim Rakel, solo, opening for Tim Lowly and Ribbons of Song. This show will take place at Foam on the corner of Cherokee and South Jefferson.
Saturday, March 30 - The Union Electric plays Plush for the first time, opening for Great Isaac on the occasion of their CD release.
Record Store Day weekend -
Saturday, April 20 - details tba - record store sets and afterparty -
three new 7" records from The May Day Orchestra, The Chainsaw Gentlemen, and The Union Electric to be released amongst the other festivities.
Saturday, March 2 - The May Day Orchestra returns to the Schlafly Tap Room after an absence from the world of live shows. Popular Mechanics and Chateau Nowhere are also on the bill. Free show, 9PM.
Saturday, March 9 - The Union Electric returns to The Blue Agave in Belleville, IL
Friday, March 15 - Off Broadway hosts the third annual Phil Ochs tribute show. Tim Rakel, solo or with minimal accompaniment, will play a couple numbers by the late songwriter.
Saturday, March 23 - Tim Rakel, solo, opening for Tim Lowly and Ribbons of Song. This show will take place at Foam on the corner of Cherokee and South Jefferson.
Saturday, March 30 - The Union Electric plays Plush for the first time, opening for Great Isaac on the occasion of their CD release.
Record Store Day weekend -
Saturday, April 20 - details tba - record store sets and afterparty -
three new 7" records from The May Day Orchestra, The Chainsaw Gentlemen, and The Union Electric to be released amongst the other festivities.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Time Is Gold
The Union Electric will release its first full-length album this July.
The new release is called "Time Is Gold" and the lyrics to the eleven songs follow.
1 - Truman (or That Great Atomic Power Scared Charlie Louvin More Than God)
There's a White House war machine, the one Wilson switched on waited long enough and joined the side that won Roosevelt was dying, they had to find a man who would keep things running just like they planned Henry Wallace said what he really thought and there's no room for that no chance for that to move up in Washington When Roosevelt died, they had Truman move in left all the furniture exactly how it had been Independence to Washington Show me a man who would seem to take a stand got the White House blues all across this land MacArthur covers a whole nation's eyes and he waits for William Laurence to come claim his prize Hiroshima to Washington That great atomic power, scared Charlie Louvin, scared him more than God. Drop the little boy and the fat man now you got the whole world with the Marshall Plan The doctrine was in order, they just needed a name almost any other man, it would have been the same it's a shame in Washington Now you have to close your eyes to deny the rumors the working class, we're all consumers Truman left the White House, his job was done left all the furniture for the next one Eisenhauer to Washington The Rosenbergs were still in prison, going to the chair now there's a new man in the White House it doesn't change a thing, in Washington because that great atomic power scared Charlie Louvin scared him more than God.
2 - Saint Francis Of Illinois (for Vachel Lindsay)
Saint Francis of Illinois says only poverty will bring our redemption walk the muddy roads like they were the paths of heaven stay away from the main road stay away from the big town beg a meal at five o'clock and find a place to settle down for the night and tell your stories to pass the time when I was the king of birds I slept in the stables of horses tell your stories to pass the time trade them for bread, it's better than toil distance yourself from the machinery of the cities bleeding oil Saint Francis of Illinois says only poverty will bring our redemption walk the muddy roads like they were the paths of heaven When I was the king of birds I slept in the stables of horses
3 - Center Of The Storm (for Lucy Parsons)
Up from Waco, where we're not welcome up from Waco to Chicago to the center of the storm to the center of the storm I said I still see slaves with longer chains they said leave town or you will hang you can vote for bread clothes and shelter you can vote but they won't give you these things leaders make the laws and live real comfortable live off you workers like foreign kings what you produce is no guarantee toil and pray your time is gold your time is gold and when you have no means that's what gets sold Up from Waco, where we're not welcome up from Waco to Chicago to the center of the storm to the center of the storm I said I still see slaves with longer chains they said leave town or you will hang
The following will be reprinted soon but can also be found by searching The Union Electric lyrics already posted:
4 - Tunnels (Under the Hotel Imperial)
5 - Thyalcine (written by Stefene Russell)
6 - Bugs (based on the true story of Ross Lessor)
7 - Casino Janitor
Kinsale to Congo, displacement displayed heavy drinking and a collapse of any structures ever laid out of your element from the farm to the town a wasted life wondering how it all broke down I wonder about the help here and where they came from I wonder what we're doing and how anything gets done
8 - Bucket Of Blood (based on various tales, including Mr. Townsend's own)
Henry he hopped that north-bound train jumped off in the yard in east st louis henry was a shoeshine boy fronting for that bootlegging man downtown henry learned to play that mean guitar henry learned to play that sweet guitar had some folks jealous with the way that he played JD Short got him in the back that coward with a knife got him in the back Henry was a bleeding he nearly died when that coward snake got him in the back henry wanted to take his revenge went hunting JD Short through all the joints cornered him at the bucket of blood Henry stepped up and short pulled his knife Henry drew his gun and he took a shot Short jumped up yelled and fell down Henry left the yard same way he'd come in Short lay bleeding hurting on the ground Henry he's an old man now stack-a-lee's been long dead now with many a song to sing and many a tale to tell the city Henry knew it ain't there no more the Booker Washington theatre been torn down the city Henry knew it ain't here no more
9 - Necklace Of Shoes (for Muntadhar al-Zaidi)
Roll out all the red carpets Put up a castle out in the sand Put up a throne out in the desert go to hell where you'll bother no one This is a farewell kiss, you dog Now you’ll wear a necklace of shoes A ridiculous disgrace Ridiculous and ready to kill us Keep moving to stay alive Oh, the people… Keep moving while asleep The people are sharks Corrupt but loyal, it’s the customer’s money It’s about money it's a rich land It was a rich land and now it’s a poor one by the sleight of a government magic hand Wars and walls all around ourselves Roll out the carpet so full of sand Put up a throne out in the desert now you're king of a forsaken land This is a farewell kiss, you dog Now you’ll wear a necklace of shoes A ridiculous disgrace Ridiculous and ready to kill us
10 - Sentence (see note above)
11 - The Laughing Song (written by Hunter Brumfield III)
He's sorry that things turned out as they did, it's a god-forsaken shame small was the box in which that he hid to temper his poisonous brain he reached for the stars, came back with stumps in a downpour, yearning for rain happiness got him once he hit bottom gonna laugh his way through all the pain Believe him it's easy to drink and be sleazy as your conscience just limps along mistaking freedom for license, he screamed in the silence and his echo said boy you're all wrong well, life is absurd, haven't you heard? keep laughing boy, that's your best bet Life is absurd, haven't you heard? keep laughing boy, that's your best bet
The new release is called "Time Is Gold" and the lyrics to the eleven songs follow.
1 - Truman (or That Great Atomic Power Scared Charlie Louvin More Than God)
There's a White House war machine, the one Wilson switched on waited long enough and joined the side that won Roosevelt was dying, they had to find a man who would keep things running just like they planned Henry Wallace said what he really thought and there's no room for that no chance for that to move up in Washington When Roosevelt died, they had Truman move in left all the furniture exactly how it had been Independence to Washington Show me a man who would seem to take a stand got the White House blues all across this land MacArthur covers a whole nation's eyes and he waits for William Laurence to come claim his prize Hiroshima to Washington That great atomic power, scared Charlie Louvin, scared him more than God. Drop the little boy and the fat man now you got the whole world with the Marshall Plan The doctrine was in order, they just needed a name almost any other man, it would have been the same it's a shame in Washington Now you have to close your eyes to deny the rumors the working class, we're all consumers Truman left the White House, his job was done left all the furniture for the next one Eisenhauer to Washington The Rosenbergs were still in prison, going to the chair now there's a new man in the White House it doesn't change a thing, in Washington because that great atomic power scared Charlie Louvin scared him more than God.
2 - Saint Francis Of Illinois (for Vachel Lindsay)
Saint Francis of Illinois says only poverty will bring our redemption walk the muddy roads like they were the paths of heaven stay away from the main road stay away from the big town beg a meal at five o'clock and find a place to settle down for the night and tell your stories to pass the time when I was the king of birds I slept in the stables of horses tell your stories to pass the time trade them for bread, it's better than toil distance yourself from the machinery of the cities bleeding oil Saint Francis of Illinois says only poverty will bring our redemption walk the muddy roads like they were the paths of heaven When I was the king of birds I slept in the stables of horses
3 - Center Of The Storm (for Lucy Parsons)
Up from Waco, where we're not welcome up from Waco to Chicago to the center of the storm to the center of the storm I said I still see slaves with longer chains they said leave town or you will hang you can vote for bread clothes and shelter you can vote but they won't give you these things leaders make the laws and live real comfortable live off you workers like foreign kings what you produce is no guarantee toil and pray your time is gold your time is gold and when you have no means that's what gets sold Up from Waco, where we're not welcome up from Waco to Chicago to the center of the storm to the center of the storm I said I still see slaves with longer chains they said leave town or you will hang
The following will be reprinted soon but can also be found by searching The Union Electric lyrics already posted:
4 - Tunnels (Under the Hotel Imperial)
5 - Thyalcine (written by Stefene Russell)
6 - Bugs (based on the true story of Ross Lessor)
7 - Casino Janitor
Kinsale to Congo, displacement displayed heavy drinking and a collapse of any structures ever laid out of your element from the farm to the town a wasted life wondering how it all broke down I wonder about the help here and where they came from I wonder what we're doing and how anything gets done
8 - Bucket Of Blood (based on various tales, including Mr. Townsend's own)
Henry he hopped that north-bound train jumped off in the yard in east st louis henry was a shoeshine boy fronting for that bootlegging man downtown henry learned to play that mean guitar henry learned to play that sweet guitar had some folks jealous with the way that he played JD Short got him in the back that coward with a knife got him in the back Henry was a bleeding he nearly died when that coward snake got him in the back henry wanted to take his revenge went hunting JD Short through all the joints cornered him at the bucket of blood Henry stepped up and short pulled his knife Henry drew his gun and he took a shot Short jumped up yelled and fell down Henry left the yard same way he'd come in Short lay bleeding hurting on the ground Henry he's an old man now stack-a-lee's been long dead now with many a song to sing and many a tale to tell the city Henry knew it ain't there no more the Booker Washington theatre been torn down the city Henry knew it ain't here no more
9 - Necklace Of Shoes (for Muntadhar al-Zaidi)
Roll out all the red carpets Put up a castle out in the sand Put up a throne out in the desert go to hell where you'll bother no one This is a farewell kiss, you dog Now you’ll wear a necklace of shoes A ridiculous disgrace Ridiculous and ready to kill us Keep moving to stay alive Oh, the people… Keep moving while asleep The people are sharks Corrupt but loyal, it’s the customer’s money It’s about money it's a rich land It was a rich land and now it’s a poor one by the sleight of a government magic hand Wars and walls all around ourselves Roll out the carpet so full of sand Put up a throne out in the desert now you're king of a forsaken land This is a farewell kiss, you dog Now you’ll wear a necklace of shoes A ridiculous disgrace Ridiculous and ready to kill us
10 - Sentence (see note above)
11 - The Laughing Song (written by Hunter Brumfield III)
He's sorry that things turned out as they did, it's a god-forsaken shame small was the box in which that he hid to temper his poisonous brain he reached for the stars, came back with stumps in a downpour, yearning for rain happiness got him once he hit bottom gonna laugh his way through all the pain Believe him it's easy to drink and be sleazy as your conscience just limps along mistaking freedom for license, he screamed in the silence and his echo said boy you're all wrong well, life is absurd, haven't you heard? keep laughing boy, that's your best bet Life is absurd, haven't you heard? keep laughing boy, that's your best bet
Thursday, February 2, 2012
The Return of Robert Blake, Robert Sarazin Blake that is
For several years now, Robert Sarazin Blake travels from the northwestern-most corner of the most northwestern state to visit us here in Missouri.
The first show was a chance encounter in a basement. The Seven Shot Screamers and Bad Folk were both asked to play. Members of both bands, but neither band in its complete form, showed up to play acoustic sets. Despite the person who booked the show not being there nor the people who lived in the house above, those that were there in the basement were treated to a nice evening of music.
The following year, Bad Folk, once again without its complete line-up, joined The Adversary Workers in another basement for a show with Robert Blake.
Out of the underground, Blake has staged shows on actual stages in the intervening years. One of my current projects, The Union Electric, played its first show at Off Broadway with Robert Blake and his drummer Jordan Rain in 2009.
Now, seven years after that first basement show, former Bad Folk Tim Rakel, former Seven Shot Screamer Chris Powers, and former Adversary Worker Glenn Burleigh will reconvene with Robert Blake during a series of shows around the area.
Here are the details:
Wednesday, February 22 - RSB at the Urban Chestnut Brewery
Wednesday, February 29 - RSB, Irene Allen, The Union Electric and The Red Headed Strangers at El Lenador. Spend your extra leap year hours drinking Stag beer, won't you...
Thursday, March 1 - The David Mafield Parade, Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost and Robert Sarazin Blake at The Heavy Anchor
Saturday, March 3 - Robert Sarazin Blake and The Griddle Kids (featuring Chris Powers) at Mangia Italiano
Blake / Union Electric tour:
Thursday, March 8 - Springfield, MO with Angry Panda
Friday, March 9 - Columbia, MO
Saturday, March 10 - Kirksville, MO
The first show was a chance encounter in a basement. The Seven Shot Screamers and Bad Folk were both asked to play. Members of both bands, but neither band in its complete form, showed up to play acoustic sets. Despite the person who booked the show not being there nor the people who lived in the house above, those that were there in the basement were treated to a nice evening of music.
The following year, Bad Folk, once again without its complete line-up, joined The Adversary Workers in another basement for a show with Robert Blake.
Out of the underground, Blake has staged shows on actual stages in the intervening years. One of my current projects, The Union Electric, played its first show at Off Broadway with Robert Blake and his drummer Jordan Rain in 2009.
Now, seven years after that first basement show, former Bad Folk Tim Rakel, former Seven Shot Screamer Chris Powers, and former Adversary Worker Glenn Burleigh will reconvene with Robert Blake during a series of shows around the area.
Here are the details:
Wednesday, February 22 - RSB at the Urban Chestnut Brewery
Wednesday, February 29 - RSB, Irene Allen, The Union Electric and The Red Headed Strangers at El Lenador. Spend your extra leap year hours drinking Stag beer, won't you...
Thursday, March 1 - The David Mafield Parade, Bob Reuter's Alley Ghost and Robert Sarazin Blake at The Heavy Anchor
Saturday, March 3 - Robert Sarazin Blake and The Griddle Kids (featuring Chris Powers) at Mangia Italiano
Blake / Union Electric tour:
Thursday, March 8 - Springfield, MO with Angry Panda
Friday, March 9 - Columbia, MO
Saturday, March 10 - Kirksville, MO
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