Joe Arrives
Not music. Just worth it to hear Joe say “What’s going on dude” /”What do you guys got – play me something”. As he always brought a vibe and energy to the situation. I skipped the slopes that day and stayed back to set up some mics and a Pro Tools session w/ Jesse. When Joe got back from skiing, we got started.
Deer In the Dunes, etc.
After a couple of warm-up bluegrass jams (which I added to the end of this page), we played an oldie fallback original. I was under the weather, so the lead vocals are a bit rough — but that actually suits the softer version we ended up with.
This song was written back in 1995–96, when Jesse, Kristian, and I were fifteen. I’ve got at least three recordings of Joe playing this solo — here’s one of the stronger takes (Joe’s solo comes in around 3:10). This version is mellow, with nasal straining vocals, but I love the gentle harmonies from Jesse and Joe and the touch of mandolin that ties it all together.
Joe solo at 3:33.
Probably (working out)
Joe introduces his catchy original with a more melodic, laid-back feel compared to the funkier version from nine months earlier. We meander a bit, hitting wrong notes and experimenting with counter-melodies — but that’s part of the fun, working things out as we go.
Poison
Recording begins at some point after the verses. A song Joe and I cowrote. Kristian returns from the slopes and joins on electric guitar. I had a little acoustic hawaaii vibe verse going that was rhythmic. Joe heard that and turned it into something entirely better by writing a strong countryesque chorus. We then wrote the bridge together. I put down lyrics and Joe added a rock guitar intro lick (not heard here). Joe comes up with a cool vocal counter melody outro thing that when I hear now, makes me wish was on the album…“How could I have been so blind, shoulda seen it comin’ down the line…”.
Fatboy
Kristian plays a sweet Santanaesque guitar riff to a song Joe wrote from an experience in Albany years earlier. Jesse adds mandolin. The outro is kinda cool (5:41). Far too often the keyboard comes in obnoxiously as a distracting nuisance. I need to try and edit out of this mix and re-upload, if possible. But this will do for now. The album version features saxophone from the great Ritchie Connata.
These are primitive bluegrass jams. Jesse has since become a serious bluegrass player, specifically a dobro player, which he doesn’t play once this entire ski weekend. But you can hear that featured on the Jeff’s House Jams page. It compliments Joe’s rhythm so well. It’s interesting to hear Joe, who was pop-oriented, and blues influenced at this point take interest from Jesse’s passion for bluegrass. Years later I recall Joe at his apartment with a bluegrass book taking a deep dive. That book sits under my bed. He was always academic and would dip his toes in the water with anything from Spanish/Classical guitar to jazz. And his respect for bluegrass was no different. This is the first time he tried to play in such a style.
Trad Bluegrass Jam 1
Trad Bluegrass Jam 2
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