Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Sender Originals - When the War Was Ended

(A Civil War Ode to the South)

And at the top of the morning
With her head held high
She set a course for the sun
But in the shock of the evening
With her dead piled high
She staggered back on the run

And in the cool of the morning
She would have no fear
In shameless glory she'd come
But in the dust of the evening
She could only sneer
At all her fate had become

And when the war was ended
All too soon she was quick to disclaim
Though the scar had mended
But in vain?
When the war was ended
Long forgotten the burden of pain
And of ultimate blame
And her hour never came

And at the top of the morning
With her head held high
She set a course for the sun
But in the shock of the evening
With her dead piled nigh
She staggered back on the run

And in the cool of the evening
She would have no fear
In shameless glory she'd come
But in the shock and the mourning
She could only sneer
At all the damage she'd done

And when the war was ended
All too soon she was heard to decry
And though the scar had mended
Can you tell me why, why?
And though her cause defended
Not forgotten the burden of hate
And the ultimate lie
And her hour passed her by

Passed her by

Saturday, May 7, 2011

1992 Begins (Got Live if You Want It. No?)

1/8/92
Got live if you want it. No? Shutup. 1992 explodes on the scene, after a December of tour de pawnshopping. Gary loses his midi virginity in Tusculum, not the first hayseed to fall off the turnip truck in that wild town. Les escalates his plan to croak with the most toys, sitting on a nestegg the size of zsa zsa (you try typing that) gabors waistline, but managing to bring home assorted odds and ends like 5 new keyboards, 400 diskette samples. Gary raids area roller rinks for larger than life itself speaker cabinets, to which Les can only say, where are the speakers? Dont be cranky now is Garys cryptic reply. This night found are juvenated duo plus Johnny Martin, fired last fall but once again rehired because Lou Penilla pawned his drums. Warm in the barnski. Halloween stuff still up. New petty explodes off the starting line. New sampling Milli Senderilli on Look to the Skies and War, wheres my headphones, sounds great. St Patrick Party bandied about already. Its a new year. Come with me now. Into the great wide open! cough

1/15/92
Oh no, the great snowstorm that wasnt! Gare runs thru 2 flakes and heads home. Les talking jive about Alesis digital goo, but will it happen.

1/22/92
Barnskie as booth disappears, cabinet-zilla installation begun, still taking down Halloweenie balloons. Les out with new Ensonmonique ESP or whatever, good War and Look millivanilli tracks. Snow Voices are callng for a tune. Johnny late but brings bonus drummer, whos OK but Johnny makes Gare nervous wandering around. Les never gets 12 string out of case. Gary breaks G string, goes inside for acoustic replacement, god wheres my roadie? New petty ok, new party book.

1/29/92
Oops its Feb 20 and I forgot to log this one. Other than me drinking 6 beers, what did we do? Oh yeah, this was the Snow Voice session, stubling around the oh so crowded music room at the Belleview homme for nympho sampliacs. Les has pile of 'used' keyboards in corner, all pilot lights still on. What else did we do?

2/20/92
Belleview trip to watch barn paint dry, who put the batteries in the creek, tell me THAT. Rival opera has us tuning up our much better product, Gary hosting ponderous 12er most of the eve, while Les ppounds on the EPS, or ESP, or PSE, or whatever. Visions of ADAT dance in our heads. Good organ blooze version of Truth, rare runthru of Song to Begin and Man before, sitar like rendition of Sliver of Life. Johnny calls to say hes moving downtown uh huh. No frenzy yet for St Pat patty. Life goes on. Maybe.

3/4/92
Johnny adding to his phone number collection, moves to the Arcade but no practice. Belleview set for tonight, let the Snow voices sing. Les banding about checks with more zeroes than Ive ever seen, as Snow Voices hits the mush. Gary almost drags Ernie to Gallatin. Johnny Noshow still not practicing as St Patty flyers delivered. Les with new YESPHONEBOOK. New cabinets to hold all that liquor. Vague tape of Snow goes down, its OK, my walkmans broke anyhoo. How far can fever pitch be?

3/11/92
ONLY party tuneup in barnski as temps plummet, March snowflurries after 70s, there go the peach blossoms. Music is perpetual mix as arches only half implemented. Tuning problems all night. Into some rare 60s stuff like No Sugar tonight and Laughing, plus rare reading of Midnight Confessions. Feet freezing up near end. Trying to build new booth on other side. Johnny rapping about new arcade location. Les 12 string looking for bone bros bass on Learning to Fly, but he stayed in where it was warm. St Pats party will be least prepared for ever.

3/19/92
Party preps at fever pitch, but weather looks frightful!

3/21/92
St Patrick extravaganza stars slow but builds a fair head of steam as 25 or so show up and easily drain the bubbly. Les has spare bass player and keyboard buddy out, but kb dude drinks too much scotch and passes out in his front seat, later putting on an impressive power barfing exhibition. White Volvo FINALLY gets picked up late Sunday. Weird blonde dude in my face, at least one at every party. Little wines given out for the few that painted green. New light/bar setup works well, new strobe cool. Gary completely forgets pretenders intro. 12 string set not too shabby. Not a bad time.

Sender Chronicles - Spring of 1992

4/1/92
Cold night in April in the barn, but Les and Gary stay warm from the heat off the new Wacky Tobacky midi Les estra ax, best business move since junior sold the dung wagon. Orchestral arrangements abounded in the meat locker like atmosphere. In somebodies immortal words, this changes everything! Modules, now he wants modules.

4/8/92
Two guys playing loud guitars in the barn, finally warms up, Les sick sick sick as usual, heading for Chicago. Still wants Queens song. Johnny no show as usual. Tobacco ax wall of sound getting better, Gary plays bone bros bass for awhile. Jam on dudes.

5/11/92
'Frequent' practices due to schedule from hell. Johnny brings out partridge family minus Keith, as Christine Mac Nicks tries belting out a few to mixed reviews. Keep those twins out of the taters dammit. The les estra debuttes new rack o bag after passing on the 56 les paul acquisition, a few tunes not sounding too bad. Gary finally gets good mike sound but it wont last. Who will Johnny bring next week?

5/20/92
Its next week! Out to belleview for the speaker stacking session, brief runthru of old favorites. No more calls from Johnny, must have broke up with stevie. Music room continues to acquire Mr Marklike look, no adats however. Les cranky due to no Moody tickets, but tape delivered in lieu.

Sender Lyrics - Subway Of Love

In the subway of love
Light ebbs as the netherworld resumes
Bleak denizens of deeper worlds
Dance blearily in stunted curls
In the subway of love
Heat rises as the city rushes down
Reeling from cacophonies of sound

In the subway of dreams
Standing naked on the tracks of fear
Blinding headlamp of our madness nearing
In the subway of love
Drunken brakeman asleep there on his throne
Slamming headlong thru the mausoleums of stone

Dont you understand
Time wont keep and a love wont sleep
When the crosstown traffic casts a shroud
Burst aflame in an acrid cloud but
Dont you understand
Riding shotgun emotions crawl and crowd
Through the turnstiles of night
In the subway of love

In the subway of love
Mass transit for our souls
Herding victims to the dragons mouth
Stygian ferryman of hearts gone south
In the subway of dreams
Pallid daylight arrests those bitter sins
Till the dark come again
In the subway of love

Dont you understand
Time wont keep and a love wont sleep
And the crosstown traffics all mislaid
Take a cab if you must be saved but
Till the night comes again
In the subway of love

Friday, May 6, 2011

Summer 1992 (Some U2 Nobody Knows)

6/17/92
Frequent entries continue. Moodies were old guys, good lights. TWO songs published with Doug Millaway as Gare nervously preps his solo career just in case. Johnny brings Nickie Lickingham out with the Bosey twins for a return engagement. Les cranky about prspects of moving into barn. Gary ponts out central heating cooling advantages, free heat all summer, free air all winter. Unlimited restroom facilities. Goat pasture view. Ad nauseum. Oh, Practice. Gares guitar goes out, great, until he bangs on it. Les had double nec and paul and sans amp, writes up ship of fools and some U2 nobody knows. Nicky does strange Rhiannon, disjointed Way but smells OK so who cares. And she repays beerskis. Twins got cranky so they left. Stay tuned.

6/30/92
Over to bachelor Les to meet Ron and the band in a box after hearing of Johnny and Nickys surprise split. After getting past the bike in the kitchen, gala recording ensued as Diana tracks laid, is it 60s or whot. A bit of archeology reveals missing Snow Voices and Subway of Love master, leading to hasty remix for lyricizing. What next?

7/22/92
Out to belleview to see new mercedes or was it bmw or was it bentley. Finalized 4 track of Deanna, off to HRSC Vol 6, copy of Vol 5 delivered. Makng plans to record River of Life. Johnny had gig, now is trying to find new girlfriend every night.

7/24/92
Lunch with the Senders, still no ADAT.

7/29/92
The ADAT lands, and Gary worships it like the scarecrow in front of OZ. River of Life goes down, with biab playng his hard disk off. The sounds of silence ensue as hiss is just a pleasant memory. Remix picke dup middle of week as Les never gets off phone.

8/5/92
12 string delivered in advance of There Are Times session tonight. Belleview for There are Times, mixed 12 string and 6 strings, did couple of vocals, paul solo. Discussing initial volly of publishing submissions.

8/11/92
Night in Beleeview wath les program the computer for a digital take at Deeana. Picks up mercedes in meantime. Dr Rhythm book temporarily lost but reclaimed in garys pants next morning. First pub tape out. Glowing review from Vandy studio. Everythings about to change.

8/17/92
Slug boy resurfaces with new job, new number, new girl friend, old schict, or whatever. Gala digital recording continues, a rare beerless practice as Ernies Leaving Home, Bye Bye. Digitized Deeana finally goes down, though solos are not popping the particular eve. Gary forgets tomatoes.

8/24/92
Deadly Embrace goes down after numerous technical difficulties. No mo beer. Les delivers mo chords to prototype of Through the Garden. No world on first pub tape out.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Fall 1992 (A Great Time Was Had By All)

9/9/92
Gala barn reunion with Lisa of the month instinctively gravitating into the johnny skybox, sulks in the corner most of the night. Les picks up new midi pedal on the way over, dropping by Franklin as if its right on the way, orchestral maneuvers in the dust. Gary beerless, whooda thought it. Mercedes over, does Les make it home with the top down? Doubleneck fits in trunk miraculously. Big 1 hour practice, wa wa's busted, party 7 flyer out.

9/16/92
Bellview where chuck has made unexpected appearance, alledgely from cavern days. Hasty but OK version of Isnt It Funny goes down with last second les paul solo and nice piano. Shasta wants tape of first two for publisher buddy. Last weeks 4 minute practice apparently satiated The Elusive Johnny.

10/7/92
Pre Hallo tuneup with new skeletons, bubbly on board, John Family Robinson and wifey of the week. Lisa actually comes out of cheap seats, briefly. Les es tra wheezing thru Moxie and Pepsi bass amps. Gary steps on binder barefoot and survives, whatta guy. Good Prunes, Help finish the night. Party 7 should roll.

10/14/92
Braves luck into series again, blowjays stumble in also. Out to belleview, ignoring impending party. New harmony box sounds like darth meets hal, Garden runthru shaky. Les cranky about new Paul dent.

10/21/92
Pre Hallo tuneup in barnski but helpers dont sho, only bass section. PA developing sinus trouble, Les amps have bad cought, state of the fart sound. Jays up 3 to 1. Gala opera runthru at end, bring the parttee on.

10/24/92
Fifth straight Hallow Barn Bash, 7 straight total goes down in vintage fashion. Les doesnt remember 3rd set, cheap whiskey meltdown, yanking those chords at end. First prices to droid dracula, second to sailor and prostitute. Braves tie the series in 9th as game outdraws Senders, blow it in 11th. Pam is Medusa, Gary wears dress and likes it. New police light looking good, Pam and Anita rolling around as usual after party. Good turnout, great time was had by all. The pros get better. Parlor seance.

11/11/92
Cinton wins big, no more cookies for Hillary. Droid Alumni bash never gets off ground. Gare decides THIS IS THE YEAR for new drummer. Again. Gare decides to leave hallo decos up all year, save time in 93. Brieft quickie to Belleview, Les late due to PTA meeting. Nothing new, oldie review. Les cranky about not playing bass enough. No wonder the beatles broke up.

11/18/92
Subway of Love night in Beelview as Les raps about 32 track auction, pondering what he could get for Ernie and the wiener warg. Gary sends tape to nightengale studio and expects a check in the mail any day now, finds out he don know how to mix 8 track as his Subway belongs underground. Talking new drummer. Again. Vol 6 of HRSC out, Deeana is blasting coast to coast to coast.

12/23/92 Postlog
Gare descended into a state of new existance consiting of work hell, Jury Purgatory,and Xmas prep bedlam. Stuff after that last entry,from which he is yet to emerge. Les retreated further and further into virtual reality, getting on a first name basis with neutrinos in the electronic maelstrom, even exchanging zodiac signs. The Chris Squire for Prez grassroots movement may indeed have already begun.

The 1993 Sender Resolutions
Highly resolved that new drummer action (if only briefly), record Lorien, on a toy piano if necessary. Start drinking beer again.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Sender Originals - Four Horsemen

History tells us of raging all out wars
With pestilence, sickness, and plague-inflicted scars
And just as the marchstep of mankind gains in speed
The promise will blight, in an all consuming greed

Let the horsemen ride!

Far down midst the ruins of the endless fortess time
Misery incarnate has stalked at the bitter line
The suffering of human tidal forces brought
By messengers sent to unleash all Hell hath wrought

Let the horsemen ride!

All the wealth in the world
Will never stop them on their ride
All the stealth in the world
Their fury will not be denied

Four horsemen, coming down
Apocalpyse is coming round
Four horsemen, growing near
Apocalpyse is growing fear
Four horsemen
Apocalpyse is coming for us all

History speaks of the Armageddon day
Will scourges of the earth reign at last
Under bitter sway?
For its then that the marchstep of mankind
Loses ground
Purveyors of death come at last
And they'll ride you down

Let the horsemen ride!

All the wealth in the world
Will never stop them on their ride
All the stealth in the world
Their fury will not be denied

Four horsemen, coming down
Apocalpyse is coming round
Four horsemen, growing near
Apocalpyse is growing fear
Four horsemen
Apocalpyse is coming for us all

Four horsemen of
Four horsemen of
Four horsemen of
The apocolpyse is now

Four Horsemen ride today!