Just ran into my homegirl Em at the grocery. She was getting berries. I was getting water and wine.

I came home and whipped up a quick bowl of Vietnamese style soup with shrimp using a stock I made from a pound of chicken feet just yesterday. Outstanding. Get some chicken feet and thank me later.

In case you couldn’t tell, this is not a post about a movie or a book or a political cause. l just wanted to check in with you, dear readers, and share, as I often do, a work in progress. One of the reasons I started blogging in the first place was to be able to open a window on my creative process and share the goings-on while they were in the process of going on.

I have a number of plates in the air musically speaking. I am in the middle of completing an full length CD entitled The Wicked and I am also about to start a mysterious single-cutting project (A/B, two songs total) that I will reveal more about in the coming weeks. For now, I give you the following…

Today I cut a demo for what may be an-only-partially-completed song called you got your troubles. The demo is a rather awful recording, but it’s got great vibes and the lyrics come through. Here is a sampling of the wordy words in this sing song…

YOU GOT YOUR TROUBLES

I see your clouds
Have taken your sky
I know your sun
Was too young to die
Well, look at my brothers
These comrades and clowns
They only get high
On the way down

C’mon. C’mon. Girl don’t you see
There ain’t no difference between you and me
C’mon. C’mon. Baby don’t cry.
You got your troubles and
So do I
You got your troubles and
So do I

You never played
Those girl-go-round-games
But i heard your saints
Still changed their names
Well, none of my angels
Care too much for flying
And all of my loose ends
Are too torn for tying

C’mon. C’mon. Girl don’t you see
There ain’t no difference between you and me
C’mon. C’mon. Baby don’t cry.
You got your troubles and
So do I
You got your troubles and
So do I

If you like this, add me on Facebook and write me a message telling me so. If you do, I’ll forward a version of the demo to you.

Joe Nolan <3

"You lookin' at me?"

Although The Band is known for their American roots music, only drummer Levon Helm was born in the ‘States. Robbie Robertson, Richard Manuel, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson all hail from Canada.

After meeting up as “The Hawks” – the backing band for Ronnie Hawkins – the band came to prominence supporting Bob Dylan on his legendary, first, electrified rock tour.

Having secured a recording contract of their own, The Band released their classic debut – Music from Big Pink – in 1968. One year later the group released their eponymous follow-up-and-acknowledged-masterpiece The Band.

This 1997 VH1 episode of their “Classic Albums” series features interviews with band members and studio engineers as well as great footage at the soundboard, exploring the record’s mixes in-depth.

This video is brought to you by our YouTube Channel. Check it out and subscribe!

Now that the blog is finally back I wanted to give away a little something to you, my faithful, sleepless readers:

I’ve added the songs from my newly-remixed debut album to the player at the bottom of this post. It’s now available for digital download at all major music sites like Amazon, iTunes etc.  I’ve also made the title songs of the 2 discs – Blue Turns Black and Plain Jane – available for free download! Check out the player and click on the glowing download button when you play to the title tunes.

Enjoy and leave comment!

Stay Awake!

Joe Nolan <3

A quick one while he’s away.

Just wanted to let my Nashville homies know that I will be performing a Short Set at The Family Wash tomorrow night, Tuesday, 6/2/09.

I also want my Michigan posse to know that I will be performing at the Art Hop at the Kalamazoo Library on Friday, 6/5/09.

Come down and say hello.

I will actually be spending the weekend in Chicago, working on a new CD project with JP Lilliston.

Want a preview?

Download these demo tracks and get a sense for what we’re up to:

The Ol’ Double Zero

All These Things

Enjoy!

Use this player to listen to my new CD. Purchase a song or two at your favorite digital outlet and help us stay awake here at Insomnia!

Find the archives to my Sleepless Film Festival, and more at my You Tube channel: Imagicon

Listen to my earlier releases, and enjoy free downloads here!

Please consider supporting this site by making a PayPal donation and check out our friends using the links on the right.

Love,

Joe Nolan