The Big Parade- Photo Essay

There's something strange... in the neighborhood.
A photo "essay" of The Big Parade, 05/27/2009.
(Click each thumb for a larger version)

Here is a glimpse of "b-side" photos from the event, that would otherwise just be discarded
[Either too blurry, 2nd take. Some of these came out funner/livelier than the originals, though.]

Comments or grievences?

''Carpet Fours''

There's A Mind Sale Going On

Name Which King

The Spell Of A Prayer

Rough draft copy. 'Shall possibly be spruced up, but since it is only three minutes or so old, Here's the "off the head(out the mind) version:

In the light of things, I’m not the only one whose feet caught up beneath
Enamored by the consequence, They sealed the papers within a cell.
She drank, He shot, Armed to the chest but not their teeth
Burning each page alive, They tried, but nothing can fade a spell.
Yeah, the branches were sore and couldn’t brace a bird
The ground stubborn, caving in, no plains or mountains anymore
The oceans over risen, the preacher fooled his word
I tore the walls and frames and sides down, No shelter, space or door.


A thousand towns all sinking, though many could simply not tell
Burning themselves alive, they tried, but could not fade the spell.
Yes, I saw myself in the mirror without a face
I looked on down a thousand yards into the wishing well.
Unmarked prayers and consequence all thrown in with an attached buck
Some wanted love, some death, and healing while some just wanted a fuck.
The skins of tattered faces floated alongside each petty retort
I tried to smile but couldn’t, because I don’t believe in luck.

The stars still shined while Alabama sunk in
Kansas drifted downward so far
I picked up the phone to dial the congressman
But his brain was stuffed into a jar
My feet were damp, and getting sore
My shoulders becoming worn from the flames
I tried to find boots and an overcoat
But the only bargain was a soul, what a shame.

A dangling key straddled the clouds,
But nobody’s hands could dare reach
Some charged for seminars upon where to get the best ladder
Others searched for faces to keep.
Grains of sand blew beyond billboards in the rough
I asked “Is this heaven or hell?”
I passed a sign surrounded by barbed wire
“ATTEMPT: You cannot fade the spell.”

This is how you dry socks in the city

Days without Sleep (New songs Phase One)

Days without sleep
New songs: (Phase one)

Right click to stream, Left click to save to your computer.
Electric Lines (3.44 MB 3:44)*
March Of The Time Bandits Pts 1&2(4.77MB 5:12)^
Electric Lines (Second Take) (2.43 MB 2:38)*
The Amazing Swine Flu Song (1.78 MB 1:56)*
Feed Every Soul (3.55MB 3:52)




* Recorded 06/12/2009.
Dylan P.-Guitar on Electric Lines/Lee M.-Vocals/ Harmonica/Perc.
Lee M.-Guitar Vocals on Swine Flu Dylan P. Background Vocals Percussion
Early takes of songs.


^ Off the upcoming soundtrack-oriented album DEATH:The Infomercial

Electric Lines: We both pretty much had fallen right into this song. I asked Dylan to come up with some guitar, while I flipped through my notebook. My thumb ended up finding itself upon this page of a recent poem about Electric Lines comprising the sky/world we exist. This was after recording a song called "She's Chain Smoking" which was created in the same manner. The melody just crashed in on the first version.. This is how we usually come up with a tune, Pieces will just mold together and we'll add more upon each take. The second take came out well, but I had this itch, having to record another version. Well, we did and the first song posted is the third take of this song, recorded on a picnic table 06/12/2009. This tune was by far the funnest to record, next to "She's Chain Smoking."
Lyrics to this song are posted here

March Of The Time Bandits: The intro piece has been sitting around for a while. Collecting dust in a giant cabinet of yearning songs for almost a year. Some are good, some are terrible, but I always had a fondness for this one. However, the original song it had led into seemed more like a Star Wars theme song than anything else... So, Later I had come up with another track, which needed an introduction. That track became the second half of this song. The introduction very much reminds me of the beginning soundtrack to Jon Carpenter's "They Live." A sub-conscious inspiration? Possibly. Apparently, this song version was completed on 04/21/2009, while the intro was created on 03/28/2008. The song is going to be on the Death:The Infomercial soundtrack-themed album that I have been gritting my teeth editing and comprising,re-ordering and nitpicking songs for some time now. My objective to this song is for the listener to get the same feeling hearing it as I do. Almost some sort of militant fantasia with scenes being carried out to each second.. A heavy daydream. That is the point of this album it is being added to, a Soundtrack for the mind. No moving pictures needed (Though I'd love to create a film and score the music someday, If time allows.)

Electric Lines (Second Take:) This is where we were flexing and shaping the tune right after the improvised structure of the first take. I like recording this way. Over thinking and manipulating a song can be alright sometimes, but there is this stress from the universe and self that builds up so often. It needs to be released... It all comes punching out for me in a situation like this. Sometimes there will be little messups that add character to a song. Maybe my voice ain't the best, but the feeling you have from playing music, knowing you have that same feeling going through you that can't be beaten out, that truly represents the music, and finding an off-the-head home for some lyrics to reside.. well... You can't explain it really. You can take the words whichever way you would like. I put a bit into these words and there are multiple meanings. If you take the symbolism of the "walking on all fours segment," that comes from the ancient stories and tales of the Sphinx and passing the test whereas the answer is man. I could go on and on about the meanings, and probably will concisely someday, but it's always funner to at first see how other's will recieve the lyrics.. Or to see if there was a meaning that was unintentional, as that often happens and can be very, very interesting. (I still like the 3rd take better!)

The Amazing Swine Flu Song: Does this tune really need a write-Up? Haha, alright now.. It's fun when in a good mood, or it can annoy the hell out of you.. But hopefully it won't. It was blast to record at least. I didn't know what to say! But it was said. Things were still recording and we didn't feel like quitting the tunes yet. The avian flu, mad cow disease and anthrax are all getting jealous. I randomly plunged chords and Dylan tested out his new drum. I hope you remember to wash your hands (Please don't get vaccines.)

Feed Every Soul: I had a short write-up and posted lyrics to this song here
"If you can’t change your own life then you’ll never change anybody else."
Simply put, I see so many people trying to turn the world in many different a direction. Is it not insensible to tell people to change their own ways, beliefs and overcome struggles when we ourselves refuse to look into our own ghosts or skeletons in our closet? Our own little changes to self: There's always this need to let anger overtake. I've noticed it within myself lately.. To let the lower vibration of stress, fear, insecurity over run. It is really within us, to our own consent to let this takeover that allows the state of things to be in such a situation. To be bluntly put, we must get our own shit together and figure our own lives out before expecting the change to be put forward, and doing so could offer some of the best results to be seen yet. A balance, more or less, personally. How many cultures have recommended a certain balance? The thinker must think and the doer must act but having one without the other can over weigh one trait.. I'll allow myself to think upon that for a little while, and others hopefully to do so as well, before getting more into it. (From Greek, Egypt, Sumeria.. To practice the physical, the mental, the spiritual.. To never be almost too certain of yourself or ability.) Anyhow, this song is floating out among space much like the "Enter Aquarius" track from a while back, and will eventually find a home in a very, very vocal album, but right now that will be very pushed aside.
Thanks for taking the time to listen/read these write-ups,
Lee.

Electric Lines

I am sitting here, 5:30 AM, editing and bathing in music. Music, music, everywhere! Too much to account for.

Two new songs from a little project I'm playing are up. "Electric Lines" and the "Amazing Swine Flu" song (Which is different than the soon-to-be dance hit "Swine Flue Shuffle" for those in the know.)

I thought I would share the lyrics to the song "Electric Lines" with whomever may cross path of this place. A second take version of this song can be heard HERE. I am unsure if that version will be used or re-recorded in the future for a release, So consider it a possible b-side/rarity that may be gone at some point.

Electric Lines, Large movie signs sold into my dreams
Electric Lines, Unpaid fines for breaking through the seams.
Shadows-In a black room
Eyes closed, nothing on-The fall.
Shadows-Merged through minutes' hands
Pandora's box, The luring call.

The answer is man - Whom crawls on fours
Who walks on two, and three will stumble.
Transparent walls, A deck stacked so neat
But the Joker falls from fooling around.

Like a hanged man, The King starts to crack
up in a laughter as he starts to bleed.
One man who cursed the world is praised and roams free
But a pyro who scorched a tree - Eternity.

Electric Lines- Run Through The Hills
Lightning like the shape of veins
Electric Lines, Weathered like false time
Big gun, No ammo, Yet still aims.
Nobody will know that the shells are blank
That the firearm contains nothing inside
The click of a gun will make the children run
Just a natural response from the mind.

Electric Lines, shadows in a black room
Eyes closed, Nothing on- The fall
Shadows merged through the minutes' hands
Pandoras Box - The LURING call.

Signed off the dotted line,
Lee

06/11/2009

Tommy Tucker

"Oh Gosh, you sweet thing, you must've been stuck out there in the rain all day!" Mrs. Williams was a cat lover. 45 with long brunette hair and a fancy for Velvet blouses, she knew the windy city was not such a place for a striped stray-- Not one such as Tommy Tucker the cat, at least!
He had been traveling for a month and two days. Kansas, Missouri, a strange loop following the howling of feline pussy in heat and derailed by the trails of fresh salmon by the dumpsters or yummy leftovers in suburban garbage cans. Alongside the raccoons he would scower through trash bins, leaving residents rightfully pissed by each morning with the mess that would have to be gathered up and re-bagged, but Tommy wouldn't have to be there to take the heat! Once a farm cat living off mice and nestling in the haystacks, he thought best to up and leave after growing weary of being chased off by the mean 'ol farmer and his hussie bitch wife whom would shatter poor Tommy's ears with her demonic howls. "Geyt yerself up on outta here you mangy bagg'a fur!" He took fine advice from those very words and was quite tired of the same sluts he would bury into each night and dickhead dogs that would howl like muscle heads and it wasn't until that very leap of fate that Tommy would see his first river, or grow fond of the same very scraps of luxury mentioned earlier that humans would consider leftovers. Sure he would miss the pure trip of watching the windmill spin circles or the entertainment of batting around the grass snakes and letting them dangle between his teeth, or the possums, skunks and squirrels which he would always talk it up with, but his welcome was stale like the sips of the dirty mud puddle. Hell, even would even moreso miss the fine quality catnip that he would get fucked up on every evening, but for every will there is a way. Now, he did not know any other cats named Will, but he found his own way anyhow.
He made sure to eat heavily the night before giving the place the 'ol "see ya later, suckers" and fed his belly with two field mice, a bucket of water and some lovely shards of grass to clear his digestive system.

That is all of this tale for now. To be continued?? What will Tommy's adventure will consist of? Will the story ever get finished??

In the AM Juggling tasks

4:57am. Good morning!? Soon I'll have a handful
of songs up, each coming from a different project. Right
now I'm looking for film producers and those interested in low
budget visual arts to start working on some "gritty fluff."
Most notably, a collection of short stories all pretty much
clashing together. But that's a far-from-now idea. The end result
usually always comes out as a creature of it's own, taking it's own
turns and personifications, establishing double-meanings often
accidentally, so I'll see where it's all headed when it gets there.
"Freelance your ass off!" Well, I am. It is so hard to try not to laugh
when pulled over by a bike cop, especially when you, as well, are
on a bicycle.


This interview is very hopeful and interesting for me personally.
Then again, if I could shove recommendations down people's throats all day, Days would turn into years with the articles, interviews and interpretations I am lured into.

Right now I am sitting down, listening over the "Soundtrack" themed album that I have on and off been slopping noises over noises and swaying one song into another. Sometimes I will listen to it and it will really draw me in. As compared to some of my other songs, that I will get sick of so easily and quickly, tossing them into that giant scrap bin. Music will change your mood, hell, it can change your day, and that is something that must be taken into high regards and consideration. As for any artist, or craftsmen, or anybody really.
There are so many tall steel stoplight poles. The steel poles all have fliers ripped down and bits and pieces of paper from art or upcoming shows that are seen like broken shards. The gucky tape aftermath. Or the billions of staples left from the outer skin of wood on the telephone poles. Cities armed with grey boxes against the walls. Think of the message of intent here. I won't even say it, but think of the message of intent and dehumanization that comes off whereas what the goal of "art" really is for those things that do not get torn down. All in all, I was going to compare that to the accepted status of adversive arts praised high and low, placed high and low, and the impact it has on courage, questionability and feeling.
Ramble,ramble,ramble, these words are best left for the notepages. Basically I am just exhaling between projects.
Here comes the sun, out the side of my window.
A couple of writings next time, and I will try and gather together some stale photos.

Sometimes amongst ripe May

More soon
if you want

But who is holding the photo of the photo!?

05/04/2009. As I took a walk through downtown.

I cannot really paint that well but would love to start painting images of these types of "photos that did not work."

05/05/2009 Feed Every Soul

This song has literally just been finished and is immediately up for download,
and will eventually be on one of the many releases I am working on.
I would say that the last few days have inspired this song, but it'd be
more suitable to say that it is the last twenty one years. Hopefully the
message will taken positively, as it is yourself that needs to change before
the world does.. Something I never really heavily considered until looking
at some of my past actions or inactions.

Anyway, download the song here 3.54 mb
Lyrics:
Each footstep forward sunk into the ground like a boulder
As sweat dripped from my cheek and I checked over my shoulder.
My pockets rattled from change, this felt like part two
Of what is this and what the hell am I supposed to do.
I’ve noticed myself taking many unknown paths
Hoping for better answers, but winding up in traps.
And I’ve noticed myself repeating all the same mistakes
Some times I swear it’s all a dream about to break.
Sometimes trust seems harder when you can’t trust yourself.
But to learn from yourself will bring you out of inner-hell,
And mistakes go repeated because everyone’s so accustomed
To follow that path they’ve fallen through… The tough one.
If we can learn from ourselves, and each thing that caused regret
Then we can make a better life and wouldn’t vote for presidents.

If we could feed every soul and get creative once a day
Then we could think ourselves to wonders in which we’d be amazed.
And how many people today have gone without a meal?
What number of people had been senselessly killed?

This is a wake up call to those here and to myself
If you can’t change your own life then you’ll never change anybody else.
I know we’re pushed to get angry and point fingers at each other
While we continue unhealthy practice of slowly sinking under.
It’s no wonder cold-hearted hate preachers convince us all to kill
We believe it’s necessary, we hate our presence and pay our bills.
We bitch of slow jobs that don’t require any skills
Yet we have the choice, to leave at our free will.

I walked further up the road as water dripped towards the drain
Wondering why we’ve always been disgusted by the rain.
When I realized where to look upon the things I blamed
I saw to change myself so things could rearrange.
I saw to change myself because you can’t ignore your yearning
To find out your own faults, to put out that mental burning.

If we could feed every soul and get creative once a day
Then we could think ourselves to wonders in which we’d be amazed.
And how many people today have gone without a meal?
What number of people had been senselessly killed?

The last handful of months have collected a large amount of sounds.
What I am going to do with the next releases is just offer them up for
trade, or possibly have everyone interested in a free copy receive one
through the mail. I'm getting off my ass and going to do spoken word and
more shows.. Figure out how to get a speaker system on the go so I can
perform both the hip hop and acoustic style music. Really I just want to
share my works, and get out to meet people.
Sick of the anger, of the blame,I admit past mistakes.
If you can’t change your own life then you’ll never change anybody else.
Lee