Free Some Something | Quarteroy Release | 1998
Paranoia | Quarteroy Release | 1998
Lousy Rhyme | Quarteroy Release |1998
Bong Hits (acoustic demo) | Martha’s Vineyard, MA | 1999
Quintessential early Joe. Fun, light with silly rhyming and a touch of funk. Stripped down acoustically here. A touch of G. Love inspiration. A fun hang out and sing-along tune. A full electric band version is heard on Dr. Shay’s Live and was also recorded in 2005 and released in 2006 on Redefined (reissued as Down that Road). His child-like nature exudes with the line “….lovin’ Peter Pan ’til the day I die”, which sums up the vibe and his playful easy going personality.
Brand New Life | Don’s Basement | 2000
Recorded one late afternoon on my BR-8 digital multitracker in my basement. Joe conveyed a topical concept and perspective we shared. I sat at the computer writing the lyrics as he egged me on. Was so much fun. A bridge was written with lyrics but never multitracked (although here is a rediscovered hanging out jam that includes that bridge, a decade later). We take turns delivering vocal verses. An approach we took years later on Poison. No drums or bass—just a demo idea. With no idea how to properly play, I layered Joe’s guitar with keyboard/organ. Joe came up with the music, a simple progression with a strong Joe rhythm. I had him double his guitars. I hummed a bridge idea and he translated it to guitar instantly. I also asked him to play extended measures at the end for a solo we never recorded, leaving it to meander a bit. It was never meant to be a 7:32 song—just another unfinished project, but a lot of fun experimenting. We always talked of doing a proper recording of this. Over two decades later his final direct text to me brought us back full circle as he requested I send him a copy of this song.
Avenue of Joy (feat. Kristian Amato) | 2000
Joe got his own digital multitracker and recorded this in his room. There is a play on words regarding his then girlfriend’s middle name. Some really nice guitar tones here. Tight vocal harmonies. Very clean and bright recording. Smooth. He opens with a guitar approach akin to Dave Matthews’ Warehouse with a similar rhythm and first 7 note attack. However he makes this an entirely upbeat song and the Allmansesque double guitar harmony from Kristian Amato gives it another dimension all together.
Next Page | Live 98-2000