RV Song

On one hand, this is one of my favorite songs that we've ever written. On the other hand, I'm not exactly sure how it fits into our oeuvre. I sometimes resent having to ask these kinds of questions; not to mention the subsequent ambivalence they generate. Luckily, all songs have a home on Sawtooth Mountain.

Here's an unadorned, first-take rendition.

Download "RV Song"

Wolfe Moon

So, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that our new album, Wolfe Moon is now available on iTunes! You can also find it on sites like, Amazon and eMusic; whatever your fancy.

We don't currently have distribution for physical CDs--so if you'd like one of those you're going to have to come to a show (or just ask nicely).

In other news, Sawtooth Mountain is back on schedule. This week's song is in the can and I'll be posting it in the next few days (first I want to give Prairie Way its due).

Stay tuned.

Prairie Way

We had our hands full with a record release party last week so here’s one from the vaults.

In Tallahassee’s infancy we were meticulous documentarians. We used to record every practice, show-every idea. It was a great way of keeping perspective. It’s something I wish we were still in the habit of doing. Sadly, most of these early recordings perished in what our biographies will one day refer to as, "the great Christmas EP incident of 2008."

Prairie Way was a live staple and one of our favorites for a long time. Shawn was particularly fond of it. He was also first to throw it under the bus. At the time, I was the only member of the band to rise to its defense. I thought we were being capricious. In hindsight, I can’t see it fitting on either Cellar Songs or Wolfe Moon.

Here are two versions of the song. The first was recorded live to a handheld recorder in Brian’s old living room in Providence. Rachel Panitch joins us on violin.

The second version is the "official" demo, engineered by Loren J. Sammons.

Download "Prairie Way"

Jealous Hands

If being in a band was a burning building the one thing I'd run back inside to save would be songwriting. Making songs with my friends might be the only part that I actually like--I'd happily watch the rest of it go up in smoke.

I write this on the eve of the release of our first full-length album, Wolfe Moon, which drops in less than a week. Upon completing the record, we attempted to instill a songwriting moratorium in an effort to channel all of our energies into promoting the fruits of our labor. I am writing this because the dam has broken. The proposition of only being able to share ten to twelve songs a year feels both outmoded and at odds with our creative spirits.

Brian brought this song in pretty much intact. We've been wanting to do a piano-driven song for a while and this one seemed like a strong candidate. He graciously allowed me fifteen minutes to write a piano part before he pressed record (on Sawtooth Mountain we shoot from the hip). The vocals, acoustic guitar and Rhodes were all tracked live in Brian's dining room. Later, we added banjo, toy piano and some ace backup vocals by Anna Barss-Bailey (pictured) in my bedroom, between spoonfuls of potato leek soup.

Download "Jealous Hands"