DIRTY DEEDS WE DONE TO SHEEP...

It’s done—great lead, bass and drum work by the Gemster. Good model for how it can be made to sound with a band. I have performed it in public a couple of times, but the rhythm guitar part is really sparse (despite being difficult for me to play)—it really does sound better with a band.

Second sit-down with Screaming Gulch Wednesday night. I think they’re ready to accept me as a lead guitarist. They’ll play some of my songs, but they’re really interested in the fast ones: “Bluebird on My Windshield,” “Naked Space Hamsters in Love,” and of course “Dirty Deeds We Done to Sheep.” They’ve a very high-energy band. Haven’t tried “Test Tube Baby” out on ‘em yet. Of course, I think they do a really good job on the slow songs, too, and a good third of the songs for the New CD are slowies.

Worked out the music (finally) for “Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire.” I finally just gave up on trying to do Mel Torme-style jazz guitar, and decided I might as well face the fact it was going to turn out country. At that point, the music got a lot simpler—and the song became performable. Did it for the crowd at the Wild Goose, and they liked it. I’d like to record it—but it really needs a clarinet or similar woodwind doing the lead. (I do know a flute player. I’ll ask her.)

I’ve got a job for another of the Southern Oregon Songwriters, too. Now that the cold is over, and I’ve got my voice back, I’d like to re-record “Hey, Little Chicken” with a blues harp doing the lead (and again, I know a blues harp player). With the new pickup in the guitar (which has better volume), I can probably keep the rhythm guitar to one track and have a track available for a lead guitar, too. If I can produce a good product with these folks’ help, it might stimulate ‘em to do more working together.

UPDATES: No trip to Nashville in January; they won’t do another Demo Derby session until next summer’s Pineyfest. A chance, maybe, to save my pennies.

Joe