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No new song up today because of the Barehand Jugband

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I didn’t get a chance to sit down and record a new song before today. Mainly because I was pretty busy with a few Barehand Jugband shows over the last week and a house concert last night.

But that’s enough excuses.

I’ll get the new song up tonight or tomorrow sometime.

So today, I’ll tell you about what I’ve been up to….

The jugband played Quencers Saloon last Saturday night, the 11th (after also playing a fun house concert down in Bridgeport). We shared the bill with the Duke of Uke. They’re this really great band from down state in Champaign-Urbana. The show was packed and the crowd was pretty sweaty. This past weekend we played the County Fair over in Garfield Park Conservatory and the Harvest Jam Festival in Lincoln Square.

Next up for the band is the Design Harvest Fest on October 2 and 3. Did you hear there’s no Hideout Block Party this year? Well, this is sort of the replacement for that since there’s construction on Wabansia and it would’ve been too hard to put on the Block Party. Anyway, it’ll be a great time. We play both days.

Then we’re playing the Abbey Pub on October 8. Check it out. It’s a great bill.

The house concert out in Oak Park I did last night was part of a series put on by Craig Bonnell who writes the songs:illionis blog. He did a review of my 2 albums that that released last month and then asked me to come play a 30-minute set. It was a really great party and the audience was one of those that you really always hope for. Matt the Electrician, from Austin, also played. I hadn’t heard him before, but he was pretty amazing. Sort of reminded me of Ramblin’ Jack Elliott in that he’s stories were just as entertaining and captivating as his songs. You should check him out and buy his new album. And his old album too. Two is better than one.

Next up I’ll be playing solo at Cafe Mustache in Logan Square with Jonas Friddle, Jessica Robbins, and kt the band (Katie Alvarado). That’s on October 23. Should be a fun show.

Okay, so now I’ll go get to that new song.

See ya.

Listen, New Song

New Song: The Wake-up Blues

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Work Songs Week

Okay. Here’s the song I was talking about yesterday. I changed the chrous line a little bit. Now it goes like this:

Oh, I got the wake-up blues, yeah, the wake-up blues,
Well, I may be weary, but I can’t stay here with you

That fit better into the rhythm and melody of the song, which is basically Blind Boy Fuller’s “Step It Up and Go.” If you check out those lyrics (by clicking on the linked title) you’ll see a note with some explanation about the song. Blind Boy Fuller‘s is basically a rip from an old jugband tune, which is probably ripped from somewhere else. So, mine, here, is not in any danger of infringement of any kind. It’s also really similar in a lot of ways to my song “Pray to Your Lord,” from my self-titled, full-length album that I released back on August 10. That one is also formed around the same Blind Boy Fuller song.

I guess I like that song.

When I wrote this one I wasn’t too confident in the lyrics, being somewhat silly and matter-o-fact. It’s also more of a traditional-sounding blues song, which I don’t really write as much anymore. But I’ve grown to enjoy it over these past 12 hours or so.

And now that’s another new song for this week, which has become Work Songs Week. If I want to get any more songs about work I’ll have to write some more cause I don’t really have any in my backlog of recorded material. That’s probably appropriate, though. To have to work on the songs for Work Songs Week.

We’ll see what I can come up with.

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No song posted for today…but…

I just wrote another new song that probably fits nicely with the one I wrote on Monday. It’s probably gonna be called “The Wake-up Blues.” The chorus is sort of like this:

Oh, I got the wake-up blues, yeah, the wake-up blues,
Not much I can do when I just wanna be with you.

So, I’ll record this tonight and post it tomorrow. I guess this week is sort of turning into “Work Songs Week.”

Listen, New Song

New Song: Working all day

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Work Songs Week

Here’s a stupid little song. I wrote it last week. It’s sort of a blues song. Sounds a lot like most of the other songs I’ve written lately…and is, obviously, based loosely on the Roy Orbison song Workin’ for the Man.

Anyway, that’s that for today. I’ve got some other songs bubblin up this week. Don’t know, though, what kind of theme it’s gonna turn into, if it does at all.

Looking ahead, the Barehand Jugband has a few gigs this weekend and I’m playing a house show Sunday night in Oak Park.

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Song Post: Goodnight Babe

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Songs for Children Week

Here’s a song I wrote last summer. It’s a lullaby. Not much else to say about it.

It is on one of my 2 new albums that came out a few weeks back, though. You can buy and download the mp3s at iTunes or on CDBaby.com. It’s pretty easy to do and you’ll feel great after you do it.

In other news, I’m playing a house concert at The Grand Manor (3721 W. Grand in Chicago) this Thursday, 9/9. The show starts at 7pm. Al Scorch is first, then me, then Madeline Adams. The show’ll be done by 10:30pm. It’s free and CDs will be available for purchase. Maybe I’ll see you there.

Songwriting, home recording and vinyl records from Chicago folk singer and songwriter Andrew Francis.