“Listening to this album was like watching a fantastic play.”
Chris Elston, Theatre/Art/Music Blogger
It all started with Ben Folds’ book, “A Dream About Lighting Bugs”. There was a lot of similarities - the hotheadedness, the drive, The Buddy Holly Story. When he talked about his creative process, for the first time in my life I felt like a puzzle started to come together in my head. I was paying attention to songs that I’d wake up to or the melodies I assumed were someone else’s. My ears were open.
During lockdown 2020, I thought a lot about life, career, family, love and most importantly truth. Songs seemed to flow out of me, melodies hit me in the middle of the night. I felt the jolt of creative energy at every turn. I began to write. I unpacked all of my gear into my garage in Country Club, Omaha and set up shop.
At the same time I was watching the Ken Burn’ Country Music documentary. I’ve never thought of myself as a huge country fan but always loved the old stuff my Dad’s mom would listen to - Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash. Their stories hit me hard. Their truth hit me even harder. They’d all tried to ‘play the game’ and were turned away. I felt that.
Two months later, under curfew, with the sounds of tear gas cannons firing and helicopters swirling in my city of Omaha as the backdrop, in the middle of a pandemic, protests and riots, I finished recording my album.
Every voice and instrument you hear is mine with the exception of the last song where you’ll hear my kids, Cartney and Ciaran. Every second of the album was played, sung, recorded and created by me, for you, too.
THE SONGS
Me and Peggy Sue
Seven Angels
Good For You
Little Metal Shed
Will You Stay
Wait A Bit Longer Now
Faceless Friend
Standing In The Place
This Trailer Park Was My Home
Hoss And The Stranger
Hold On My Brother
Nebraska Summer, Alberta Fall
After All
Baby Won’t You Leave Me
Together
For You, Too
CREDITS
Produced and Mixed by Ryan Milligan and Billy McGuigan
Album Photos by Carly Frolio
Recorded in Omaha, Nebraska at the Sonny West Studios in Country Club
Mastered by Doug Van Sloun at Focus Mastering
THANK YOU
Thank you to Kate
Thank you to Cartney and Ciaran
Thank you to my brothers, Ryan, Matthew and Jonathan
Thank you to Bill, Missy, Johnny and John for keeping us TOGETHER
Thank you to my entire team of superstars at Rave On Productions - your voices were with me every step of the way
Thank you to all of the people, venues and organizations that made this life possible
Thank you to my closest friends that helped me by listening in the early stages
Thank you to Rich for the drums and the Ringo’isms and the hangs
Thank you to Jason for inspiring me to keep going
Thank you, too
INSTRUMENTS USED
Recorded in my garage with GarageBand on an iMac (RIP), Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, Shure SM27 mic and enough knowledge to be dangerous.
Fender 1950s Custom Shop Strat (Peggy Sue)
Fender 1960s Custom Shop Strat (Number One)
Fender Eric Clapton ‘Blackie’ Strat (Courtesy of Ciaran McGuigan)
Freiden Telecaster Custom Saklar Set Up
Epiphone Elitist ‘65 Casino
Epiphone Texan Paul McCartney Signature Model
Rickenbacker 360 Custom Saklar Set Up
Gibson Gold Top Les Paul (Mimi)
Gibson J-45
Hofner Bass (Courtesy of Matthew McGuigan)
Rickenbacker Bass (Courtesy of Matthew McGuigan)
Alvarez Stolski 12 String Acoustic
Weber Special 12 String Electric
Axe FX Fractal with J Hanson Presets
Fender Reverb Amp
Fender Deluxe Amp
Lakai Ukulele Custom Saklar Set Up
Korg Krone 88 Key Keyboard
Assorted percussion and drum patches and samples