Scott Garred Music

"Born on a Train" was written by Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields. His music has expanded my boundaries for sure--from songwriting to production, he does it all. He's funny and talented and it comes through in this song. I don't think this is my favorite song by The Magnetic Fields, but it is one I knew I could believe in while singing it. What I do love about it is the melody and the idea of being born on a train. Simple music for serious people.

My recording features the suitcase drum kit. I outlined the song using my 12-string Danelectro guitar, and recorded the drums twice--partly to hide my mistakes and partly for effect. Then I added bass guitar, my Casio chord organ, and some counter melody parts, also played on a Casio. I found myself phrasing the vocal performance much like Stephin Merritt would sing it. I tried to get at something different, but his distinct vocal style was stuck in my head. 

No foolin'. I have loved The Cure for forty years.

Photograph by Kevin Hill on CC 2.0

I have had the pleasure of seeing Willie Nelson in concert many times. The mix of fun, artistry, and musicianship is always top notch. I had tickets to see him around September, 2000, at a large outdoor venue in Austin, TX. In the early part of the same day, he was also playing an in-store performance at Waterloo Records. I remember standing in the crowded record store and smelling the unmistakable stench of marijuana. I turned one way, and then back, only to realize I just missed Willie walking right by me.

After the brief in-store performance, it began raining with lightning. Someone announced that the evening concert would be cancelled, but that Willie would stick around to sign autographs until nobody wanted one anymore. I grabbed a copy of Red Headed Stranger, and stood in line. As my place in line inched towards Willie, I realized how nervous I was becoming. When it was finally my turn, he leaned on his elbows. He said, "Hi there. Who can I make it out to?" I couldn't form a thought at all. When I finally did get a word out, I just said, "Jim," which is my dad's name. He said, "Well Jim, it's nice to meet you." I did not bother to correct him.

My personal favorite Wiliie record remains Red Headed Stranger. It's a great example of how good of a writer he is. However, the song by him that I just might love the most is "Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground," from the 1980 movie Honeysuckle Rose. It's a perfect song, one that can describe a scene vividly in just a few minutes. 

I decided to share this one now because I just learned that his sister Bobbie passed away last week. I can't imagine losing a sibling, especially one you played music with professionally for nearly fifty years. I wonder how Willie feels to have had to say goodbye to his sister. Unimaginable really.

Rest in peace Bobbie Nelson (Jan. 1 1931 - March 10 2022).

I count myself lucky to have seen Beat Happening, an arty trio of raw self-expression, in concert. I was still in high school making frequent trips to Pullman, WA and Moscow, ID to skateboard and experience my first live music. When I wasn't skateboarding, I was very likely watching a band practice in a basement. I was hooked, admiring real humans interacting amidst noise, sweat, and melody. At the time, lyrics weren't as important to me as they are now. I really just loved the sounds.

Butch's Den was a small little multi-purpose area in the basement of the Compton Union Building at Washington State University. I got to see likely a dozen bands play there before I was even out of high school. One exceptional bill featured Fastbacks with Beat Happening, supported locally by one of the best bands I may have ever seen, Ignatius. 

Even Calvin Johnson, the lead singer of Beat Happening, was impressed. He stepped on stage and uttered, "Ignatius." His deep booming voice stretched this one word into at least five syllables. Then, he stared at the crowd, contorted his body, and let it rip. The band was simple: guitarist, drummer, and singer--all three of them changing up instruments. My take away from this performance was that you don't have to master anything to make art happen. Just be expressive.

I don't know that I've seen a better show.

"One of Us" was written by Eric Bazillian and performed by Joan Osborn for her 1995 debut album called Relish. It gives us the idea that God is just a "stranger on the bus trying to make His way home."  While I'm not a huge fan of her music, I'm a big fan of God and this song resonates with me. I will admit that working on this one was challenging. I was so in love with Joan's version that I had trouble getting away from that feeling she created. I was almost ready to move away from it but...

It's the Lenten season and I like the idea of sharing this one now. 

While I'm usually one to research an artist I admire, I must admit that I know very little about Bill Fox. He is a songwriter from Ohio and I think of him as Cleveland's Bruce Springsteen, if all Springsteen ever made was Nebraska. He sings about real people and real stuff. His recordings share the same quality of 4-Track home recordings, although considerably more lo-fi than even Nebraska is. 

I learned about Bill Fox from my friend, Eric, who also lives in Ohio. For years, Eric and I made tapes for each other. We were constantly introducing each other to great music and still are. I distinctly remember a stand-out track from Bill Fox on a mix tape from Eric that I listened to while walking all over Austin, TX.

One day, I went to my favorite record store at the time and ordered everything I could find. A week later, I went back home with two CDs: Transit Byzantium and Shelter From the Smoke. In researching Bill Fox just now, I learned that Transit Byzantium has just been released on vinyl for the first time by Scat Records. It's on this album you will find the song "For anyone that you love." 

It took me ages to decide on a Bill Fox song to cover. I really love his music - the melodies and lyrics resonate deeply. I learned "For anyone that you love" the old fashioned way - just listening and writing down the words I could recognize. There's a section that changes and I don't think I have the lyrics close at all. I hope Bill Fox doesn't mind. My aim is to pay tribute. 

This is a beautiful song.

My most John Denver pose, photo by Christina

Me: (Listening to John Denver) "That John Denver's no joke."

Wife: (Trying not to listen to John Denver) "You do love yourself some John Denver."

Do you love John Denver's music or do you hate it? I find his music to be simple and straightforward. His poetry about the natural beauty of the world is very moving to me, and this is one of his best examples. When he sings "This is a prayer for nonbelievers," I just have to smile. So John Denver right?

I dedicate this post to my friend, Tom Hudson, because everyone needs a friend who loves John Denver. You are my guy, Tom! When he told me over 30 years ago that he loved John Denver's music, I just knew we would have a lasting friendship. I remember the day well. We were at an outdoor concert at the University of Idaho, maybe '91 or '92. Tom and I had just started playing music together. We watched the band, Engine Kid, performing their version of "Rocky Mountain High," which they call "Mountain High." I think Tom said something like, "Fuck, I love John Denver."

I recorded this one on my phone just sitting on the couch. Keeping it simple I guess.

There used to be such thing as a "Fall" album. My friends and I believed in this. We would be walking around campus, new autumn leaves on the ground, with a chill in the air, and a new album by a favorite band would make the perfect soundtrack for the season. Sebadoh's Bakesale was one such album for me. Sub Pop released it on August 23, 1994, just in time for my senior year of college. 

I was in Pullman, WA living alone on Main Street, attending Washington State University. I had my Thursday 1 P.M. radio show on KZUU "Pullman's only alternative." This album would have been in heavy rotation at the time. The promo copy we had at the station featured a black and white photo of Sebadoh sitting on desks in a classroom or library. I loved the lyrics of this song, "Skull": "There is history in this place. There are dragons to be chased." My own career in music was just starting, for it was at this time I bought my first 4-Track cassette recorder and began what would eventually be called Super XX Man.

When I started this 50 Songs Project, I knew I would include a song from Bakesale. I recorded my version of "Skull" using only a Casio CT-X700 keyboard. The only exception is the vocal, recorded with a microphone. I imposed these limitations on myself because I felt like using a guitar would have sounded too much like the original. 

I just hit delete on everything I thought I wanted to say about this song. I'm just going to let it be what it is. It's called "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)" and written by Don McLean. Recorded with the usual tools and mastered in Australia by Warren Gardiner. Thanks for listening!

Cooking up a summer concert series. If you or anyone you know would like to get involved please don't hesitate to reach out to me. For now, I'm just planning Bay Area shows but open to venturing out if it it makes sense to do so.

I had the best time last weekend on my winter vacation. I met up with my childhood friend, Chris Gage. He and I met when I was still in junior high. I've looked up to Chris pretty much from the moment we met. I learned to skateboard and snowboard with him.

We went snowboarding at Schweitzer Mountain. I hit the beginner park and felt like a champ.

Then we met up with the rest of Chris’ family in Coeur d’ Alene, ID. We read old Thrasher Magazines from 1987 - 1990. We skated the family mini ramp after chipping away the ice and heating the wet spots with this weird heat gun. 

We decided to hit the local park and I got this gnarly ollie tail revert. Chris got this cool rock-n-roll. And carving this corner was kind of like being on the mountain again.

You can check my Instagram feed for all of this footage.

That’s what I did on my weekend winter vacation with my childhood friend of nearly 35 darn years. 

Oh and on the way to the airport Chris handed me a stack of photos from the late 1980s. That's a long time ago. We talked about the early days snowboarding at Moscow Mountain. This is legendary area pro, Keith Wallace, blasting out of the half pipe around 1987.

And this is Steve Matthews with three of us looking on.

We both had half pipes. Mine was in my backyard. His was down by his dad’s shop. This is my ramp on 'opening day' with fresh masonite.

Here I am on my Blockhead skateboard in the middle of a big grind.

Here's a picture so you can see how a ramp is put together. This would become Chris' ramp.

Chris did not land this one.

I learned to skateboard in the old Lewiston Country Club pool. We used to hop the fence, use buckets to bail the water out, and skate. Please don't tell anyone. Chris said that he and his friend Jim Cole discovered the pool. Once word got out people showed up from all over. I don’t know this guy’s name but he was the real deal. If memory serves, it could be he was visiting from a nearby college. I think it had 2-3 feet of vert so to see this guy up on top like this scares the crap out of me. 

Anyway, now I’m finished sharing my weekend winter vacation. Oh, almost forgot to ask. What did you do?

Oh crap, one more thing and then I promise I'm done. This is my recording of "I wanna be sedated" by Ramones. It was one of the first CDs I ever bought around 1987.