I thought that it would be a good idea to put up the theme song for Bullets for Jesus as a movie on YouTube. Our new CD, American Dream will be available next month as a physical CD and as a mp3 download. You can find out more information on the movie Bullets for Jesus at the official website.
I’ve been holding all of this back until we were ready to launch, but I
just couldn’t wait any longer!
Another Pint is releasing a new CD next month, entitled “American Dream:
Music from and inspired by the Motion Picture, Bullets for Jesus”. The
original project started a while ago in my mind about creating a CD with
some of my favorite songs, but done in a very simplistic way that still
had drive and a rich musical tapestry.
I had been arguing the idea back and forth with poor ol’ Joel Simpson
and he wasn’t biting on the project at all. Joel is a great guy, but
since the passing of James Brown, he has taken over the mantle of
“Busiest Man In Show Business”. Joel has more projects and side projects
going on than I do. Somehow he still gets more sleep than me even though
he has three kids. The last CD we made together, I worked Joel like a
dog and wore him out to the point that he never wanted to do another one
with me again. I take full responsibility for that because I know that I
pushed him hard to get it done and make it sound good. I still listen to
it and there are only a couple of changes that I would make after the
fact.
Even after getting more than a few dirty looks from Joel about doing the
project, I still wanted to do it, but I couldn’t find a way to get him
to pull the trigger. That’s when I received a message from John Reign
from Reignstorm Productions. He was in the process of filming a movie
and asked if Another Pint would like to provide the soundtrack for the
film. Before I had even talked to Joel about it, I agreed to provide the
soundtrack and then I called Joel to tell him that my on again, off
again project had to go and go now.
Joel was a good sport about it and we gathered the guys together and I
planned out the songs and created the arrangements that I wanted.
Everything was the same as with the old project except that now I had to
write three original songs and I couldn’t record anything that had a
copyright on it. The nice thing about some modern folk songs is that
some are written to a tune that is in the public domain. In other words,
if I recorded the song for the CD, but deleted any vocals from the mix
after, it could be used in the movie free and clear.
The movie, of course is called “Bullets For Jesus” and I can’t wait to
see the finished product. The hardest part of this whole experience was
coming up with the theme song. The movie is about a killer who uses
scripture to justify his killings. I had written and re-written the song
three times and I could still not come up with a song that encompassed
the theme of the movie, phrases from the movie and wasn’t so over the
top offensive as to turn people off. It’s a tall order to do something
like that so I turned to the one person who always knows what to do, my
wife Sandy. She told me to sing it like Cash and that’s what I did. Once
I had that the song was written in about 3 minutes.
We are currently putting the finishing touches on the CD and it should be out in September. As soon as I get a release date for the movie, I will be sure to let everyone know.
Just to wet your appetites, here is the trailer and the theme song to
Bullets for Jesus and I’ll be back soon with some new videos.
[jwplayer mediaid=”3099″]
Joel and I were very happy to be back at The Historic Methodist Campground on Saturday. We always have a fun time there and everyone is very, very nice and enjoy the music.
Sandy was kind enough to come with us and videotape the performance. Here are some clips and I hope you enjoy.
Sandy and I celebrated 16 years of marriage yesterday. I swear that it doesn’t seem that long ago, but time has flown by.
I met Sandy while we were both in college in Champaign, IL and for me, it was love at first sight. For Sandy, well…the first night I met her and asked her for her phone number, she told me how to spell her name and said that I had to find it for myself. I don’t know why, but that really got me and I went straight home with my buddy Don Shepard and called information and got her number. I called her the next day and she didn’t seem surprised at all.
It was not an easy courtship because the regular rules did not apply. Sandy didn’t care for compliments or overly romantic things. She liked straight talk and sincerity. It took me a long, long time, but I finally won her heart and she agreed to marry me. It had to be the single greatest thing that I have ever done. I am not saying that in some sweet, syrupy way. I mean it because I have no idea what I would be doing and where I would be living if it wasn’t for Sandy. I was and still am a “seat of the pants” kind of guy. If I decide to do something, I just do it and to hell with the consequences. Sandy is the complete opposite. Everything is thought out, analyzed and planned. She is one of the quickest studies that I have ever seen. If she decides to do something, her motto is “don’t try, do” and, by God, she does it.
We are the exact opposites in so many, many ways. I was and sometimes can still be a very, very emotional person with a temper that can flare in a second and it will be over just a fast. Sandy thinks about it for a long, long time and then there is no changing the outcome. The first few times we had a fight, I thought that like most husbands, I was going to lose just because I was the husband, but I soon learned a lesson with Sandy that changed my life and hers for the better.
You see with most couples a fight over not doing the dishes could cause a huge row that could last for days, but one day I found the secret. Sandy was very upset that didn’t clean some pots and pans that were in the kitchen sink and like most couples, the fight was on. There was a point in the argument, that I still remember to this day, that I was suddenly hit with an epiphany. I found that when Sandy was upset with me about not doing or purposefully doing something she would use the phase “common sense would tell you…”
It suddenly hit me that when she said that, she meant “logic dictates”. That was it! I had found the one thing that prolonged our arguments, my wife was a Vulcan! I know it sounds harsh, but it’s not. Sandy is first and foremost a very loving person with a huge heart. She is also an engineer and a damn good one. When say that she is a Vulcan, I don’t mean that she doesn’t have emotions, far from it. She has very, very strong emotions that are controlled by a very disciplined mind. She does not suffer any foolishness and everything should be in its proper place and lack of planning is cardinal sin.
I will never forget the day that I told her that I had found her secret identity as a Vulcan. She said to me, “I not a Vulcan, I have feelings.” I told her that Vulcans had very strong feelings but controlled them with their intellect. Her answer was, “More people should do that.” I explained that what she just said was a perfect Vulcan-like statement. Her answer to me was that I was a Klingon because I would rather smash something into submission than think about it and find a solution. She was, as always, 100% correct.
Over the years, we have had a great influence on each other, she is quicker to act before thinking and I can’t remember the last time that I lost my temper. Every day we pull each other to our natural opposite. Just yesterday she decided in about 15 seconds to organize a 10 K run. Now the Sandy of 5 to 10 years ago, would have thought it out for a few days, analyzed the hell out of it and driven me crazy with pros and cons. It has not all been one-sided because when I decided to start teaching banjo lessons, I actually sat down and wrote out everything that I wanted to do and how I wanted to proceed. 10 years ago, I would have just jumped in with no idea of what I was doing. Even now with the band, I’ll go to her and explain what I want to do and she’ll help me come up with a plan.
Now that the years have passed since my discovery, Amber and I tease her and say “Live Long and Prosper”. She replies, “I am sure I will, but I am not sure about you two.” It never fails to amuse….
The only negative thing that I could ever find to say about Sandy is…she is a better banjo player than me, but won’t play it! Then again, maybe that’s a good thing. I’ll have to ask her…. 🙂
It was a great and busy weekend. It all kicked off with Another Pint performing on a pirate ship at Chicago’s Navy Pier for Windy City Sail. It was a fun and raucous cruise and they danced all night.
Yesterday, Sandy’s cousin Lisa got married and Amber was a bridesmaid. It was a very beautiful ceremony at Starved Rock. Amber was great and had a blast. I actually got to dance with her and Sandy.
We’re still plugging away in the studio and I hope to be back to making videos next week.
See you then!
Kelly
Sorry folks, I was back and now I’m out again. I’ve been in the studio with Joel Simpson for over a week and we had a full weekend of gigs. I’m in the studio now while The Colonel lays down whistle tracks.
Ive been getting home when Sandy is leaving for work, sleeping three hours, and doing it again. I haven’t seen Sandy in over a week and her cat, Mufasa gave me a dirty look this morning at four.
I am hoping to be back next week. See you all then.
Kelly
Worried Man Blues is a great song and since I just recorded the song for our new CD, I thought it would make a great addition for the Folk Song Of The Week. It’s a really good song to play in frailing banjo or clawhammer.
Play along and have fun with it. Enjoy yourself while you play a happy melody with worrisome lyrics.
It [G]takes a worried man to sing a worried song
It [C]takes a worried man to sing a worried [G]song
It takes a worried man to sing a worried song
I’m worried [D7]now, but I won’t be worried [G]long
I went across the river and I lay down to sleep
Went across the river and I lay down to sleep
Went across the river and I lay down to sleep
When I woke up, put the shackles on my feet
Twenty-nine links of chain around my leg
Twenty-nine links of chain around my leg
Twenty-nine links of chain around my leg
And on each link was the initial of my name
I asked the judge, what might be my fine
I asked the judge, what might be my fine
I asked the judge, what might be my fine
Twenty-one years on the Rocky Mountain Line
Finally! I’m back and because Amber finally listened to the words after all of these years of me playing this song and started laughing, I had to do it!
We Willie is a fun song and all you have to remember is that Marleys are Marbles! Have fun with it!
C
Wee Willie’s lost his marley*,
G
wee Willie’s lost his marley,
C F
Wee Willie’s lost his marley,
C G C
down by the Springfield Road.*
It rolled right down a gratin’,*
It rolled right down a gratin’,
It rolled right down a gratin’,
down by the Springfield Road.
We Willie got a big stick
We Willie got a big stick
We Willie got a big stick
down by the Springfield Road.
And he shoved it down the gratin’,
he shoved it down the gratin’,
He shoved it down the gratin’,
down by the Springfield Road.
But he didn’t get his marley,
he didn’t get his marley,
He didn’t get his marley,
down by the Springfield Road.
We Wille got some dynamite,
We Wille got some dynamite,
We Wille got some dynamite,
And he blew up the Springfield Road
Wee Willie’s found his marley
Wee Willie’s found his marley’
Wee Willie’s found his marley
down by the Springfield Road.
It was in his bloody pocket
It was in his bloody pocket
It was in this bloody pocket
down by the Springfield Road.
I was really expecting to get some videos done this weekend, but the list of projects that I am working on are taking a toll.
Currently, the biggest project involves the whole band, Another Pint. We have been contracted to provide the soundtrack to a movie. There will be more details as the project gets closer to completion, but for the time being I am polishing up some original songs and trying to set up songs that go with the feel of the movie. When we are finished, which should be in a couple of weeks, there will be a new Another Pint CD for sale.
This new recording will be a departure from our previous recordings. We are going for a very primitive sound with just a few instruments and no overdubbing except where it is absolutely essential. I have two songs, one for the movie and one for the CD only that will take Joel’s hand in getting them up to my expectation. It’s been fun and I’ll post what I can when things start to shape up. I have also written a couple of songs for the project and I think they are shaping up well.
I’ll be back as soon as possible and I’ll keep you all updated.
Kelly
Joel Simpson and I had a great time together at An Seanachi in Blue Island, IL. It’s a great pub, the beer is cold and the people are great. I love just being able to play the banjo all night long and enjoying some cold adult beverages. We’ll be back in a few weeks and I’m ready for a few more cold beers.