Great Unknown – Official Notes

Written, recorded, and produced by Garrett Anderson
Music by Garrett Anderson, Ryan Baldwin, Brandon Boring, and Kenton Dunson
*Track 3 was originally written for and performed by Old King Cole
*Track 10 was inspired by words and music written for “Archaeopteryx” by LUCA

Garrett Anderson – guitars, vocals, harmonica - keys on track 10
Lauren Anderson – vocals on track 5
Ryan Baldwin – drums and percussion
Brandon Boring – bass - vocals on track 8
Kenton Dunson – keys

Album art by Tristan Gilbert - runningmandesigns.com

Technical notes:

I set up a modest home-studio in my basement to record Great Unknown. We began recording on October 26th and the project was finished on November 19th. Thanks to Howie Carolan for lending me equipment to record the album. We ran 3 microphones through a Yamaha MX 12/4 mixer into my computer to record the drums. Everything else was recorded one track at a time through the mixer into the computer. I mixed and mastered the album using an old music editing software program called Cool Edit Pro. Thanks to Howie, Todd McCagg, Dave McMullin, and Kenton Dunson for their help during the recording process. CDs were mass produced by DiskFaktory.

1. Mindy
2. New Umbrella
3. Bohemian
4. Grandpas’ Song
5. Drop these Blues
6. Before Now
7. Day to Day
8. Church Pew
9. Prisoner’s Escape
10. Great Unknown

Mindy

Breathing life into the lines
Free to fly from your worried mind
Even if fools don’t catch your drift
Ever on these waves you will ride

We are fighting the fight
You and I have unsheathed our words
Taken to the sky with our voices
We are haunted by the same old ghosts

So keep on talking about it
Keep on praying out loud
When too many voices are crying
Let your whisper calm us down

Mindy it’s alright to crack that smile
After its all we ever wanted all the while
Mindy its alright to sleep at ease
In the morning you will find another trial

I am thanking heaven
For the gift of your voice
Singing sweet songs of creation and
Drowning out the unholy noise

When too many voices are rising
Let your whisper cut the crowd

So just smile

New Umbrella

So it comes to this and that and everything in between that I’m thinking
That I’m stronger to resist the temptress but I’d just as soon avoid the tempting
As it happens here’s your turf so I’ve no right to try to talk you into leaving
But you’ve got me in a bind and my will’s running outa time the clock is ticking

Through the chatter of the room somehow one voice seems to rise above the clamor
I know I’ve heard that laugh before but in a way this time sounds strange I think she’s faking
Though I try to keep my eyes fixed on the politicking gentlemen I falter
And sure enough she’s there and I do my damnedest not to stare but I can’t help it

What’s a Mississippi man do with a missy with a plan to clip his wings
She’ll Let him go and he’ll come on back cuz he’s attached and she’s pulling all them strings
She kept in touch without a word by being nothing but herself for no one else
Hence her being so polite for all the folks who see the world in black and white

Well she’s not the only one but she’s one of a kind and they’re few and far between
See I haven’t settled down cuz the one in my arms is the woman of my dreams
So please don’t donate too much charity to the happy hobo living wild and free
Cuz then he’ll haveta do your thing and find some rain to try his shiny new umbrella

Oh but When the storms come all I’ll need is a fire to dry my tired feet
So I won’t follow salt thrown over shoulders into memories
See I Don’t believe in luck but I’d be happy to take some if its just laying around
For a minor commotion or a sly diversion so I could bid adieu without ever having to talk to you

Bohemian

Times aint changing the rules ain’t breaking
Only the strong survive and strength is measured by the dollar sign
I got an itch to get in politics to change it from the inside out
But all the hands I’m shaking, money I’m taking could change the man who wants to change the world
But a law school drop-out bohemian lives a righteous life but only one so I’m leaving him
Unless his ink can flood the whole world unless we think about a new world honey

I gotta keep composing You gotta know you’re chosen
To right history your pen is permanent and your will is free follow me
To a new era don’t be scared of thinking in a new way start today
You got a mind of your own you gotta take control or you’re just another in the machine
That is bringing us down

Now my mind is shaking I can’t go insane
I’ve got to play the game

Grandpa’s Song

I look to the sky as I walk in the morning and take a good look like my last
I breathe in the peace that comes with the mourning and knowing that all comes to pass

So ride it high when times are happy and cry your eyes when they’re sad
Love your ma respect your pappy and tra la la loo ra loo

Well I live my life in circles and stories while others are living in lines
It’s just that I’ve found little use in the bothering of going with no end in sight

Grandfather clears his throat, takes my hand, and pulls me close
Says “Son, whatever floats your boat will lead you to your promised land”

Well the night’s cold and dark I can’t see where I’m going
But the sun’s on her way like she does
Well he’s off and he’s gone but he won’t be forgotten
He’s living on in all of us

Drop these Blues

I’m begging you not to burn me Cuz I’ve been burned before
I know I’m playing with fire Cuz I’m so tired of being cold

So hold me close so I can drop these blues

Its even getting hard now to sleep sound knowing you’re not here safe in my arms
And dreaming of you… well it only makes waking so hard

I didn’t think it would last forever
I just hoped it would last for a while

So keep holding on

Before Now

Like a penguin waddling through snow and ice awaiting spring I’m tired of your dawdling
Like a kettle boiling get to me before I scream Or I’ll be screeching suffering

I wanted you before now

Well I did not know you was you But I was looking anywho Lucky me you’re looking too

Fate was running late and I was tired of the wait We met not a moment too soon

Here we’re poised to take the plunge
Like putting flowers into guns
I’m pacified and overcome

Day to Day

I’m doing a new dance called the day to day
Ain’t thinking about tomorrow quit frettin’ on yesterday
And I’m feeling alright doing the day to day

I was just a young fool thinking I could look past the moments
Pre-acting anticipating cause
Wasted time trying to read all their minds
Instead of asking and embracing surprise

Couldn’t fit the whole in my head
Not enough cause for all the consequences
Of all the could that could come to pass
Just one will so I’m

It got so bad I was wishing that I had
Things I had that I had forgot
Too busy counting days till I had it made
Till it killed me I was missing my life

Church Pew

I’m singing along from the church pew
Like momma taught me to
Singing along from the church pew
Like daddy tries to do

Prisoner’s Escape

The jangling of many keys dangling off an iron ring
Alert we caged animals of a break in our routine
Perfume of tangerine betrays her anonymity
She called in all her favors from well-connected friends
To free me from this cell

It’s been seventeen months since I touched my love
Her beauty was somber and worse for the wear
Five I spent hiding, since the night of my crime
Dodging authorities, till they captured me
A year I’ve awaited this day

She begged of me “why didn’t you flee
To a faraway land beyond their reach?
It was a matter of when, not if, my dear
They’d hunt you on down if you stayed too near
Why’d you not run?”

“Cuz Oh Love Oh Love you ask of me what I cannot do
I stayed so I could Lay my longing eyes upon you
In alleys and sidestreets I hid from you and kept out of view
cuz I Knew they watched you too, mine were not the only stares
So they caught onto my trail”

Hand in Hand in cuffs we touched
Warmth in between the cold iron bars
She slipped me a heady juice and begged that I don’t refuse
The chemist assured her that I’d feel no pain
In my Venomous getaway

See the screams of my wife to be, unleashed the beast in me
The fates fondled history, like the drunks to my love
So she watched as I killed a man
And cringed as I killed again
The crimes, though in passion, were crimes just the same
But I had to stay

Careful not to let me know, tearless till she turned to go
She slipped another dose between her teeth
Death in her sympathy, freed us of misery
Our love was saved in its own peculiar way
A life we had waited…

Great Unknown

Wondering where it’s from my glance is at the sky
Answers we found before are slipping through my mind
From all the hints I’ve got I turn from what it’s not
To face the great unknown knowing it’s all I got

After my thinking’s done I find a clearer mind
Looking outside in and minding what I find
From all the hints I’ve got I turn from what I’m not
To face the great unknown knowing it’s all I got

The Foxhole Prayers' Gaurdian Angel

Last month, Greg and I had a long weekend of shows together - from Thursday Sept 17th at the 8 x 10 in Baltimore (Click HERE to download or stream the show) to West Virginia for gigs at El Gran Sabor on Friday and Mt. St. Brewing Co. on Saturday.

Friday evening driving south along 219 (near Deep Creek Lake), I called Greg to let him know our whereabouts. Turns out we were only a few miles behind. Abruptly in mid-sentence, I hear Greg say something about "Honey - watch out for this guy" - then an indiscernible crunching noise - then Adrienne (Greg's girlfriend) frantically apologizing, and Greg saying "We're alright, its OK, we need to get out and get everything out."

Shocked that I just heard them get into an accident over the phone, I was really concerned - Greg called a minute later from Adrienne's phone (his had flown out of his hand at impact and was yet to be found) to tell me that they were alright (thank God) but the car was totaled - Adrienne had to swerve off-road to evade a huge farm vehicle blindly pulling out into the road. (Funny side-note: my wife Lauren had gotten a massage that morning and was amazingly relaxed and zen about the whole thing - once she knew everyone was OK she was like "It's all good, we'll work it out" and went back to enjoying the scenic drive, while I was having visions of Greg and Adrienne running away from an exploding car)

We pulled up on the scene a few minutes later, and devised our game-plan. Luckily my folks were only a few miles behind us and could help out (they were actually in the town called Accident when I called them to tell them about the accident - weird, huh). So after the formalities with the police and exchanging insurance info, we loaded up all the gear and people into the other 2 cars, left the wreckage of Greg's car on the side of the road, and made it to the gig on time.

Peace, gwa

Lauren and I at a scenic stop


The deflated airbags

Greg and a police officer taking care of business

89.7WTMD Radio Play - rebroadcast Sat Oct. 17 @ 9am

I'm happy to report that a live version of "Grandpa's Song" made it onto 89.7WTMD's Baltimore Unsigned program this past Tuesday.

It'll be rebroadcast Saturday (17th) morning from 9-10am, and my tune is just over halfway into the program.

Thanks to TMD and host Sam Sessa for the exposure.

Come share in the groove tonight (Friday 16th) Full Band @ Joe Squared at 10pm - Free, opening for Break the Blue Line

Then next Friday 23rd, its back to the 8 x 10, this time with Brandon and Kenton rounding out the Trio. We'll play from 9-10pm opening for NellysEcho. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, so please contact us for the most affordable tickets.

Cheers,

gwa

My cover of "October Air" by KB Drive

I've always thought it'd be neat to cover my favorite songs by other local bands. Not only is it a tip o' the hat to the band that wrote the song, its local art reinterpreted by another local artist - so its like super-local...

With this in the back of my mind, wanting to dust off the home-studio gear, and feeling the changing seasons, I took a crack at recording a mellow version of "October Air" by KB Drive. I hope you dig.



Check out the KB Drive original at www.myspace.com/kbdrive

Support Local Live Music. Especially 89.7WTMD's Baltimore Unsigned tonight from 8pm-9pm - wink, wink!

Peace, gwa

From the Vault: The first cut of "Get You"

At some point during the packing and unpacking of my recent move to Catonsville, I happened upon a CD with the first demo recording of my song "Get You" from back on Sept. 29th, 2007. Thrilled that I found it and impressed with the quality of the take, I wanted to share it along with some thoughts -

I am taken aback that this track is 2 years old, and that has me reflecting on how songs and music projects evolve over time. Back in the Fall of 2007, I was just toying with the idea of putting together a CD of solo songs. So, I set about exploring the possibilities, hoping to hone in on a process. This early take of "Get You" was an experiment in having musician-friends sit-in on songs, with Howie Carolan laying down some tasty electric guitar licks and Todd McCagg playing bass, programming electronic drums, and recording.

I was pleased with the result, but opted to take the project in a more raw and intimate direction, embracing the freedoms and challenges of the "solo" aspect of "solo project" (but that's a story for another time).

The point of this story is that a song that was written back in Sept. 2007 wasn't "officially released" until I put out Portraits... on Jan 24, 2009. Funny how things unfold. Nonetheless, I love that I found this version and am honored that Todd and Howie took time with me to add their own flavor to this tune. Who knew that 2 years later it would emerge from a stack of forgotten CDs to be shared with the world?

New on Archive.org - LUCA reunion

Quick update: I finally got around to tracking and uploading LUCA's spring reunion show from the 8 x 10 on May 16, 2009. Check it, and other live recordings, out at www.archive.org/details/GarrettAnderson

peace, Gwa

A peak out from the Foxhole

Fresh off a 3-night run with Greg, I wanted to jot down a few of the highlights:

-Kenton joining us on drums Thursday and Saturday

-Tristan (of Break the Blue Line) sitting in on drums for a few tunes - he swears he's never heard before! - on Friday @ Joe Squared.

-Sitting in on electric guitar with Break the Blue Line for their second set on Friday night. Boy these guys can groove. Some tunes I sat back and strummed a little funky rhythm guitar, others they gave me the nod and I tried my best to hit some jazzy lead licks - the collective energy and musicianship was amazing - I was grinning like a kid gettin' dirty in the sandbox - especially tight was our take on the Meter's "Cissy Strut"

-Ravens winning (even though it was just preseason) added some great community energy to the Shanty on Saturday night. A request for some Beatles tunes led to a 1-2 punch of "Get Back" and "Dear Prudence" - Kenton added drums for the first time to my new song "Mindy". We joked our way through a "FreeBird" request, complete with singing riffs from the guitar outro, and wrapped up the night with a fun dance-off / sing-along to Greg's tune "Wednesday's Trash (Momma)".

Check out The Foxhole Prayers @ the 8 x 10 (for the first time!) Thursday Sept. 17th - doors 7:30pm opening for Zach Deputy - tickets are $8.

peace, Gwa

Incubus, check! To do - See Tenacious D.

A few years ago, I went through a phase where I almost only went to see my favorite jam-bands (Umphreys McGee, Raq, and moe.) in concert. I was thrilled by the musical wizardry, on-the-fly jamming, anthemic riffs, build-ups, sing-alongs, and appreciative energetic audiences. Often, I'd tag along with a buddy or two to take a quick trip to Philly or NYC (the farthest I've roadtripped for a concert, excluding Bonnaroo, was to Boston).

I eventually got the itch to diversify my concert-going experiences and check out my other favorite modern bands. So, I made a short-list of the bands I've never seen but really wanted to, and made it a mission to check them out in concert.

Bands I recently saw and can cross of the list are Phish (8/12/04 and 3/6/09), Radiohead (5/11/08), Pearl Jam (6/22/08), The Allman Brothers (9/30/08 -though I never got to see Duane), and most recently, Incubus (last night, 8/9/09).

I'm looking forward to seeing Phish (again - uh oh, am I relapsing?) at Merriweather next week and Weezer (among others) at Virginfest at the end of the month.

I've also never seen / would love to see Metallica, Tenacious D, Foo Fighters, Wilco, and Barenaked Ladies (crossing my fingers for a reunion, heard they put on a really Fun show).

Having logged many hours at concerts, here are some observations:

1) Tail-gating is always a good idea - beer and food in any venue is outrageously overpriced. Pack a cooler and get there early, or go to WolfTrap where you can bring your own picnic.

2) Jam-bands have too few lady fans - Why is that - Too few love songs? Too many sweaty hippies? Jams too long? Mystery to me...

3) Boycott Nissan Pavilion unless you absolutely can't help it - Only go if you've made a short-list of "must-see" Bands and Radiohead is that band and you obey observation #1 and get there very early... or risk getting stuck in traffic and missing the show.

4) The best way to guarantee you'll go to a show is to buy tickets the moment they go on sale. Get some extras for friends if you can afford to. That way maximizes the amount of time you can get excited about the concert, and when the show actually gets there, you've already paid for it, so you won't be so uptight about paying for parking or treating yourself to a snack or drink at the show (see observation #1).

4b) Good tickets are worth it, especially at larger shows. Unless there is general admission and you don't mind fighting your way to the front, shell out the extra cash for a good seat. After-all, the show is much more intimate from the 80th row than the nose-bleeds...

4c) If you can only get the nose-bleeds, still rock out! And appreciate that Eddie Vedder wore white pants that night so it was easy to see how much ass he was kicking! But, sing softly to yourself, because by the time the music gets up there it sounds like a neighbor down the street is listening to a CD in his car...

4d) Processing fees for tickets are a rip-off, but sometimes you haveta just eat the extra cost. Buy directly from the artist or venue if you can. Hopefully this will change sometime, but as long as there is a ticket-Master, there must be Ticket-Slaves...

5) Lastly, and this is applicable to life in general - Always have a spare t-shirt and bottle of potable water. A fresh t-shirt and a swig of water goes a long way toward reclaiming comfort after even the most grueling, sweaty, drunken, sausage-fest of a concert (You saw a jam-band, didn't you!).


Hope you all enjoy the live musical adventures as much as I do.

Peace and happy concert-going,

gwa

My song-writing approach

It's always fascinated me to hear how other writers go about their work. So much of it is intuitive and trial-and-error, but over time, certain tendencies and approaches emerge. Here are some reflections on how I write lyrics.

I have songs that tell stories and songs that don't. There's not much I can say about the songs that don't tell stories. They can be songs about feelings or just loosely related thoughts and word-play. Generally I'm less excited and sure of these kinds of songs...

...Because it's tough to get very far without a mechanism to latch on to - be it a character, a plot, a joke, or a vibe. I ask myself "Do the words add up to something and contribute to an overall picture?". Sometimes cutting words out is the best way to make the ones that are left better. When all the lyrics add up, it gives a song strength to stand on its own and be more interesting than me singing about how I feel or think or what I did on Tuesday night.

When the words and music interplay to enhance one-another, well, that's usually just dumb-luck.

For songs that tell stories, I often think in terms of 1) Telling an ordinary tale in an extraordinary way, or 2) Telling an extraordinary tale in an ordinary way.

On one hand, I might use lots of words in a song where nothing really happens. My song "New Umbrella" (*lyrics below), for instance, is an internal thought-monologue of a man while he realizes that an ex-fling is at the same social function. There are really only two pieces of plot-action: Man recognizes woman's laugh, and Man sneaks a peak to confirm it is her. The rest of the lyrics are all about how he interprets his predicament - specifically the temptation to pursue romance with this woman even though he knows it means trouble - and concludes with him wishing there was an easy way out of it.

On the other hand, sometimes I'll try to communicate a complex idea or story by telling it as simply as possible. The lyrics I wrote for LUCA's song "Lifted Away" (*lyrics below) tell a morbid narrative about a girl who escapes an abusive relationship. She writes (like in a diary) about her abuse to disassociate herself from it in a kind of psychological defense. The twisted abuser old man finds the writings and relishes in her re-telling of his offenses. She finally plans and executes her escape - The man reads about how she poisoned him, and comes to grips with his fate. What could (and maybe should) be told in a 2 hour Hitchcock movie is sung in just a few stanzas (over some spunky riff-rock, if I do say so myself).

I hope ya'll enjoy the tales as much as I enjoy tellin' em.

Peace,

gwa

"New Umbrella"

So it comes to this and that and everything in between that I’m thinking
That I’m stronger to resist the temptress but I’d just as soon avoid the tempting
As it happens here’s your turf so I’ve no right to try to talk you into leaving
But you’ve got me in a bind and my will’s running outa time the clock is ticking

Through the chatter of the room somehow one voice seems to rise above the clamor
I know I’ve heard that laugh before but in a way this time sounds strange I think she’s faking
And though I try to keep my eyes fixed on the politicking gentlemen I falter
And sure enough she’s there and I do my damnedest not to stare but I can’t help it

What's a Mississippi man do with a missy with a plan to clip his wings
She’ll Let him go and he’ll come on back cuz he’s attached and she’s pulling all them strings
She kept in touch without a word by being nothing but herself for no one else
Hence her being so polite for all the folks who see the world in black and white

Well she’s not the only one but she’s one of a kind and they’re few and far between
See I haven’t settled down cuz the one in my arms is the woman of my dreams
So please don’t donate too much charity to the happy hobo living wild and free
Cuz then he’ll haveta do your thing and find some rain to try his shiny new umbrella

Oh but when the storms come all I’ll need is a fire to dry my tired feet
So I won’t follow salt thrown over shoulders into memories
See I Don’t believe in luck but I’d be happy to take some if its just laying around
For a minor commotion or a sly diversion so I could bid adieu without ever having to talk to you


"Lifted Away"

Birds in flight Sucked into the engines of airplanes
Feathers falling

Dipped in Ink Having been found by the girl
Who writes it

She’s A writer
But more so of her history than a fairy tale
She’s A dreamer
Thinking that the girl and she are something other than the same

And it flows from her aching bones till the distance grows and She’s Lifted Away
And every line that she puts behind her is a little bit of pain Lifted away

She’s Revealing
How the old man puts the nightmare in her dreams

He’s Been reading
And getting off another time to her hurried hand

And it flows from her aching bones till the distance grows and She’s Lifted Away
And every line that she puts behind her is a little bit of pain Lifted away

She’s had enough And taking it upon herself
Puts her payback in his cup

He’s Unbelieving
And reading what she did he knew she got the best of him

And it flows from her aching bones till the distance grows and She’s Lifted Away
The bastard's gone so it won't be long until she's moving along and Lifted away

Support Local Live Music

"Reminder to Self (Don't Can't)"

(A brand new word piece, written in a 5 minute flurry of inspiration after lunch today)

Beneath the gripe
Just out of sight
Lies naught but a thought

A neural beast
Admits defeat
Never having fought

From vast expanse
Of un-thunk thoughts
To center stage this notion

Will slip through time
And be forgot
Like sand grains under oceans

But in this now
The power wielded
Dictates the realm of chance

So be aware
Mind - be shielded
Succumb not to the can’ts

Summer '09 Update

It's been a whirlwind 2009 so far. As I've thought at so many great concerts - "that was just the first set! There's still a 2nd set coming!"... Who knows what will be in store for the rest of the year... Below is a quick recap of the highlights from the first half!

Keep in touch on-line at:

GarrettAndersonMusic.com

Facebook

Myspace

Preview and purchase my solo CD "Portraits of the Young Man as an Artist" on itunes

peace, gwa

New Years '08-'09- Foxhole Prayers gigs (backing up Greg Riordan and Mark Dinaldo) in Thomas, WV @ the Purple Fiddle- opened for and guest jammed with Brooklyn Gypsy rockers Kagero.

Jan 24- Released my indie solo debut "Portraits of the Young Man as an Artist" with a full band performance of the album at the 8x10 club in Baltimore. I was joined by Kenton Dunson, Ryan Baldwin, Todd McCagg, Cassandra Anderson, and Lauren Hawthorne.

March 12 - Co-organized and performed "Sounding Support for the System that works", an awareness show for the MD Medical Evacuation Helicopter Fleet at the Sly Fox Pub in Annapolis. Attended by politicians, medical professionals, trauma survivors and supporters, it was emotionally touching as well as politically significant - Our efforts helped defeat bills aimed at dismantling and privatizing MD's role-model system. Thanks to all the volunteers who made it possible!

April 12 - Played a UMD Music Business Society gig at Santa Fe Cafe in College Park - with an all-star cast of Greg Riordan, Kenton Dunson, Brandon Boring, and Tristan Gilbert.

May 12 - Promotional Radio Play! LUCA's "Feed the Meter" played on 89.7 WTMD's Baltimore Unsigned

May 16 - One-Night-Only LUCA reunion show at the 8x10 Club. Great energy and support for the LUCA rock and groove. Awesome to share the stage with these guys again.

~ Thanks for supporting Local Live Music ~