The Blues or Die

The freaks up in Marble Falls, Texas once gave my band the Unables a choice: play the blues or die.

It was eloquent, and really scary. You know COUNTRYMUSICNOW or we'll kill you. I felt like I was in the Blues Brothers.

I survived, and wrote a song about it:

hot freaks down on the dance floor
sweating in front of me
hot freaks give you one option
play the blues or die

let’s dance you could move me
if you would i’d surely come unglued
just lay it all out on me

rough seas the band starts listing
starboard is sinking
a big wave spilling oe’r the dancers
the hold won’t hold all of us

when we go down
tell me that you won’t lie to me
don’t please
just lay it all out on me

lay it on me
i mean just tell the truth
i can take it
i can take it
i can take it

Christmas

I'm learning Christmas songs to play to a group of fifth graders. It is always so eye opening to see music thru a child's eyes. It makes me remember the reason why singing is such a natural way to express yourself. To raise your voice, get kids to dance.

You better not pout.

Acting Thru Music

Let me sing like turning a wooden ring
we spent nights toiling by twilight
by the river's edge I pounded my drums' heads
until they changed the locks

on and on
this acting thru music
on and on this dying inside
on and on and on

I won't sing
I won't speak
I won't write
I won't fight
I won't act
I won't lie
I won't pretend that "we" won't die

on and on
this acting thru music
on and on this dying inside
on and on
this acting thru music
on and on this suicide
on and on and on
on and on and on

on and on

Losing My Left hand

Surely music doesn't occur, or rarely occurs, in a vacuum. So I sit saddened at the departure of a long time collaborator, co-conspirator from my inner musical circle. I sing sadly today. Music and love to u.

- Erik.

The Smiths

I've been listening to the Smiths fairly incessantly for the past 4 weeks. It started with a night with John Dufilho in Dallas. I flew in to rehearse with him, to ready him to stand in for Joe Reyes in Austin. We stayed up till 4, drinking beers, and playing songs. At one point, in his office studio, maybe 3 AM he said, "you know the Smiths are really good." He played "Girlfriend in a Coma" and since then I've been re-finding, obsessing on this band.

And now, as I navigate some very strange waters, and I feel totally adrift, I find comfort in Morrisey's laugh out loud, perfectly melodramatic lyrics. Words that I thought too campy, and songs that I blew off in high school. And in a way I'm thankful. I find that even at my age, I can get back that high school feeling, that thorough love for the new music.

Has the Perrier gone straight to my head? Yes!

Oh, and thank you John.

oh happy day

i spent 4 nights in the hospital by your bed

it was just payback

when i was young i was so sick

late nights when i shook holding my stomach in

72 pounds and i couldn’t eat anything

as old as you are

as sick as you might have to get

i want you to live

as tired as you are

please this is temporary

i want you to live forever

i dont care

bout much else

but we’re so fragile

i see it now in everyone

i changed your bed sheet

oh happy day when you pulled thru ...ooohhh

as old as you are

as sick as you might have to get

i want you to live

as tired as you are

please this is temporary

please .... i want you to live forever

but we’re so fragile

i see it now in everyone

oh we’re so fragile

oh happy day when you pulled thru

(but) it’s so fragile

a happy day can go away so fast

so easy to break

it’s so fragile

a happy day

tiny adventurers

these late nights, coming home from a performance, crawling into bed at 4 am. they can wear you out, but after a thrilling show like last night at lambert's in austin, tx, with great friends the Darling New Neighbors and new friends, the Tiny Adventurers, I find myself singing all day.

that is until i got a call that rose, buttercup's pro temp manager, had a car accident today. she hydroplaned and was hit by another car. she's physically ok, but shaken up.

everything can change in a second. so scary. this is the fact that permeates my lyrics. the weather can shift on you, and the next thing you know, you're skidding out of control.

tiny adventurers, we all. and the winds sometimes blow us right of the stage. i'm glad that rose will be all right.

"everything just changes in a second.

pinic! hey! lightning! hey!"