Another version of Velocity

Still uploading videos from Tyranny of Dave's show at Simon's Tavern in Andersonville last weekend. You've heard this one before, but I like this version. Didi is such a killer guitar player, it's ridiculous, and I just love singing this song. Lyrics are below if you're interested in singing along to everyone's favorite astronaut waltz. Buy the original track (with Dave's vocals) here. Hope you enjoy it!



"Velocity" by Tyranny of Dave
Here in the cockpit there's nothing but dreams and dismay
Sometimes it feels like this expensive tin can
Does nothing 'cept sit here and wait.
Now I'm hearing the countdown, but at seven my thoughts drift away.
As the countdown gets lower I move toward the ground
And as we lift off I finally touch down
Glad I'm not leaving and proud of my narrow escape
But I'm pulling away...

And they'll be with the one who's not right for them
And leave me in misery, floating in gravity.
And they'll kiss the one who causes me pain
It's not a question of vanity, it's just a trick of velocity.

Unbuckle my seatbelt and I want to get up but I stay
And Houston is yappin' and though I am dreamin'
I flip all the switches they say.
Is it me or the ship that starts to buckle and sway?
As I pitch forward my head hits the floor
And someone yells but I'm not there anymore
I burn on reentry and look for a soft place to lay...

As they sleep with the one who makes me lie awake
As I drift through the infinite, the air's cold and intimate
And they'll marry the one who's not right for them
Can you tell me what plane that is without looking overhead?
You should know by the sound, if you look up we'll both be dead
I'll fall to the ground into your open mouth.
There's no room inside you now so I'll have to get out
And fall back up to my craft
And answer those questions they'll ask,
Like what was I thinking about?

And I guess I'll marry the one who's not right for me
I've done it several times
And it's always worked out alright
You can't fight velocity.

Roman Road

My band played a show last night at Simon's Tavern in Andersonville. (Go for the glogg, stay for the live music.) Highlights include the many wonderful friends that showed up to support me and the guy sitting at the bar that wrote me a lovely note full of compliments. (A note! An actual written note! Chivalry is not dead!) My friend Shara took some video that I'll be uploading to YouTube this week. The first one, "Roman Road," is below.

We don't have any more shows lined up at the moment -- we need to find a permanent bassist -- but I'm having a blast and looking forward to more opportunities to make music with the incredibly talented musicians of Chicago. I'll keep you posted, but in the meantime be sure to "like" us on Facebook for more photos, videos, etc.

Now to find some caffeine...

Velocity, from ToD's April 3 Show at the Gallery Cabaret

My band, Tyranny of Dave, performed a live set last night at the Gallery Cabaret in Chicago! My roommate Brittan was kind enough to film one of our songs on a little point-and-shoot camera, so I've got a song to share with the ever-loving Internets. We also had a camcorder set up so as soon as I can figure out how to transcribe technologies, I'll get that up as well.

Our next show is at Simon's in Andersonville (Chicago) on Sunday, May 8. Hope to see you there!

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UPDATE, 9:16pm: I've got photos for you too!

Rock Band seems to be a theme for me lately

My friend Megan is in a band. A rock band. We were also in marching band together in college so when she started saying stuff like "I have band rehearsal now," I'd snicker and advise her to be more specific. She took to declaring "I have rock band rehearsal now," which was way more awesome.

I also find myself in something of a rock band, and I would be remiss if I didn't include somewhere in this blog a mention. It's called Tyranny of Dave and is led by a guy named Dave Wechsler, who has been writing and performing his own music for years. I met him when he came to my undergrad campus to record an SAI recital in the spring of 2009; in return we recorded some background vocals and horn parts for his self-produced album, "The Decline of America: The Bush Years," released in May 2010. (Follow the link to download the album for free; we're on tracks two and four. You can also download ToD's 2007 album "Vacations.")

A year later Dave paid me a huge honor by asking me to sing and play trombone with him and his reassembled band. He also offered me a tambourine once and then quickly took it away and gave me an egg shaker instead. Smart man.

The full band played our first show together this past May, and then Dave and I played an acoustic set last Thursday. We're busy rehearsing and setting up more shows; if you want to be kept in the loop, "like" us on Facebook.

Ahhh, social media. Making music easy since MySpace 2003.

Setlist: Thursday, October 28, 2010, Horseshoe Chicago
American Man
Everyone Says that I Love You
Wake Up in Brooklyn
Salt of the Earth
Too Late
Poison
Ballad of John Banvard
We’ve Finally Come Home
Velocity - I sing the lead on this one :)
Border Guard