Finding Lyrics and Randomly Generating Songs

I'm searching for some lyrics sheets to a couple of my older lesser played songs but I'm not having much luck. Could be I never wrote them down to start with. It seems to me like maybe I should have a binder of some sort full of this kind of thing. Instead, I have them all scattered around - some in my computer, some in my file cabinet, some taped to the back of the many turtles in the back yard.

I haven't given up yet, though. I'm toying with the idea of working out some kind of random song generator for tonight's show. That's probably something as simple as slips of paper in a hat. Some other thoughts, though, were a dart board of songs for audience members to throw darts at, a bingo ball cage with a turny thing (I'd have to assign each song a letter-number combination), and an advent-calendar-type-deal where each door has a picture and audience members pick them and upon opening them they find song titles.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tonight.

Friday May 22 - 8:00 PM
Henning Solo
Mocha Maya's in Shelburne Falls
FREE Admission.

MadLib For Tomorrow's Show and A Song List.

I've just finished up writing an original audience-participation MadLib for tomorrow night's show in Shelburne Falls. I love MadLibs. I used to love them even more. I remember being at an age where I wasn't clear on the definitions of "adjective" and "adverb", and it made me nervous while doing MadLibs. But I still loved them anyway. I can remember giving the wrong type of word and my brothers jumping down my throat, "That's not an adjective, you Idiot!". Hoo boy, good times.

I also remember that I thought "sloppy" and "slimy" were the two funniest words you could use in a MadLib. I bet if I ventured into the basement, I could find some old books and when I dusted them off and opened the pages, there would be a "slimy" or "sloppy" on more than one entry.

MadLibs. Awesome.

By the way, today is my brother Norbert's birthday. I hope you have a Happily Birthday, Norb.

It's been a long time since I've had a full length solo show and I've been thumbing through the songs in my head and I came up with this list to choose from. I think I could make it through just about all of them without screwing up any lyrics. If you're up for it, take a gander at the list and see if I left any songs out. Let me know if there are any you think I should play or shouldn't play. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Mocha Maya's in Shelburne Falls, MA - 8:00 PM - Free Show

2002
1,000 Times
20,000 Dollars
A Machine To Break Your Heart
Autumn's For Leaving
Ayla
Back To School
Bagel Song
Bees
Boring Dream
But We Did
Campground Daughter
Candy Cane
Can't Believe How Fast
Carnival
Cynical Girl
Day Job
Disgruntled Lover
Don't Know If I've Got What It Takes Anymore
Don't Tell Me That It's Easy
Dreams I'll Never Have
Everybody Loves Martha
Feel Like I Should
For Seasons
Frankenstein Me
Held His Gaze
I Won't Quit This Music Scene
It's Now
Journal of Lies
Knot In My Lace
Levitation
Looks Like I'm Tall
Map
Motion Sickness
Nightly Progression
Omnivore
One Lady Dancing
Overs
Periscope
Photobooth Curtain
Pick A Gripe
Planes Trains and Automobiles
Remind Yourself
Rock and Roll Camper
Rumor Doomer
Save My Place
Saving Your Life (Is Gonna Be Real Interesting)
Screen Door
She Does She Does
She's Getting Anxious
Short
Sitcom Theme
Slow Down
Some Things Can Last
Somebody Else's Problem
Something's Taking Over
Soup of the Moment
Stereo Glow
Superhero
The Center Of Time
The Infinite Kitchen
The Title Song
Thinking of a Time
This Time It Looks Good
Thug
Turn It Down
Uncomfortable
V66
Waiting for Life
When No One's Looking
Wichita Train Whistle
Young Lucy Lavalier

Write-Up In Advocate

This is from this week's Valley Advocate:

Nightcrawler: Ohlenbusch Unaccompanied
Henning O plans solo show

Thursday, May 21, 2009
By Gary Carra

He may be a member of some half dozen of the area's more high-profile bands and a contributor/collaborator to virtually all of the others in varying ways. But at the end of the day, veteran Valley musician Henning Ohlenbusch has always considered himself a singer/songwriter. And at the end of several days turned weeks turned months, the affable multi-instrumentalist says he realized it had been a while since he last sat down by his lonesome and delved deep into his copious collection of pretty pop ditties. And, with some help from his friends the Lonesome Brothers, that's a situation he says he plans to remedy this Friday, May 22 at Mocha Maya's in Shelburne Falls.

"I was itching to get back out solo, and Ray Mason [of the Lonesomes] suggested the venue," Ohlenbusch explains. "So I went there to see the Lonesome Brothers play, and just loved everything about the evening... the band, of course, and the friendly and comfortable atmosphere."

In addition to selections from his solo CD catalogue and tunes from his bands School For The Dead and Humbert, the evening's headliner says that he may very well dust off some chestnuts that, for whatever reason—not fitting in properly with a certain batch of material, or simply being brand spanking new—never found their way onto recorded media. Ohlenbusch, unaccompanied, starts at 8 p.m., and admission is free.

Henning Solo at Mocha Maya's - Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts

Is it too soon to already start planning for next weekend? I don't think so. I know what I'll be doing. On Friday night, I'll be standing in the window of a small coffee shop in a tiny village tucked in a river valley in The Berkshires. I'll be playing and singing songs to a darkened comfortable room. The door will probably be open, allowing in the warm spring mountain breeze.

Have you been to Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts? Have you strolled across the Bridge Of Flowers or climbed around on the Glacial Potholes? Have you eaten at one of the great little restaurants? I suggest that, this Friday, you take a little trip down Rt. 2 and make an evening of it. Even the short journey is nice. No matter what direction you are coming from you will be traveling among green hillsides or cold mountain streams on small roads with farm stands and trading posts. Look out for deer and bears and eagles and cows.

Shelburne Falls is just under a half an hour from my home here in Northampton but it feels like a whole different world to me.

On Friday, I'll be taking the stage all by myself at Mocha Maya's. I'll be playing a nice long set of School for the Dead, Humbert, and solo songs. I'll gladly take requests. Heck, if you want to come up and sing along, please do.

I had never been to Mocha Maya's before a few weeks ago when I went up there to see Ray Mason and Jim Armenti of the Lonesome Brothers play a show. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of it. Its a pretty tiny place with some cozy chairs facing the window where microphones were set up. A few people were milling around the coffee bar ordering hot beverages and admiring the artwork on the walls. It was hard to imagine it as much of a performance venue until all of a sudden the room filled up and the lights went down and Ray and Jim were bathed in warm colored lights as they tuned-up. The next hour or so passed quickly as they played their amazing songs and joked around with the audience. I instantly loved the place and I became very excited about my show.

If you are looking for a nice way to spend next Friday night, here's what I recommend you do:

1. Go to http://www.shelburnefalls.com and browse around a little.
2. Pick a restaurant (we ate here: http://www.cafemartin.wp.net and it was great)
3. Make a reservation if you can for 6:00 or 6:30.
4. After dinner, if you have a few minutes take a stroll to the Bridge of Flowers and check out the Glacial Potholes (Just follow the constant sound of the rushing water).
5. At a little before 8:00 head up to Mocha Maya's (all these things are in short stroll distance of each other).
6. Get yourself a nice hot beverage, pick a comfy chair and hang out with me while I play some songs.

Sounds pretty good, right? I'll be there from 8:00 to 9:30 or so, I think. So even when that's over you'll have time to explore the teeny little village some more or even head back to the real world and let the night unfold as it will.

I hope you can make it. I'd love to see you there. The show is entirely free.

Here's the website for Mocha Maya's: http://www.mochamayas.com

Thanks for all your attention and support.

Your pal,
Henning

Lesa Bezo Solo Tuesday May 19 at The Elevens in Northampton, MA

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 19: Lesa Bezo performs at The Elevens in Northampton!

Our good friends in the band Spouse have a weekly residency at The Elevens. The shows are all early ones at 7:00 and they are all Free. Each week they have special openers before they take the stage. This week is Lesa Bezo. She'll be performing solo and with friends. Before Lesa is a very special (I'm not allowed to say who) act. It's something that you rarely get to see up close.

You should come out to the free show. I've been to one so far and it was a really nice experience. ALSO: Tomorrow is Jason Bourgeois' birthday. I betcha he'll be there and would love a pat on the back or a huge gift.

I think Lesa will have the rest of the Fawns up for a few songs, in fact, I think Ken might even join us again on keyboards!

See you then.

Click Clique--for whose benefit is the Click Track?

I'm hoping the following essay doesn't put me in a naive, ignorant light, for if there's anything in this world to which I've devoted my time with interest and curiosity, it's music and all things having to do with it.

What follows could be better organized, but that may have to wait.


As a drummer who has appeared on about 15-20 records in as many years, I think I finally feel confident in saying that I really dislike the fact that drummers pretty much have to play to a click track if their band aspires to any amount of mass popularity.
When did this happen? Who is to blame?
First off, to those who don't know:
What's a click track?
It is a pre-set rhythm/pulse that a drummer hears in his headphones while recording his part, so that he or she doesn't commit the sin of speeding up or slowing down. It's a rhythm
harness. Or more like a straitjacket. And yes, some drummers do absolutely need this, but I dare say if they're really speeding up or slowing down that noticeably, perhaps it's time for a new drummer. Or time for everyone to stop insisting everything needs to be so god damn inhumanely perfect. For a band to come across as "purveyors of real rock and roll", down to vintage gear and spotty skin, but to STILL record to a machine keeping time for them? Wrong wrong wrong...a lie. There's nothing wrong with using one, but it's like if they came out with "organic Pepsi". Fuck, I got WAY ahead of myself...

Ok, let's ask the question again and give a few possible answers.
For whose benefit is the click track?

--the overtired producer/engineer who would rather have a broken stick shoved in to his eye than hear another lousy rhythm section?
--the band with no money who doesn't have time for said rhythm section to get a good take so instead they spoon feed the pocket to them?
--the band with no time because they have exactly 5 days to record a single before heading off to Japan and New Zealand?
--commercial radio?
--extended dance remixes?
-- dance clubbers because after 9 drinks, you need the beat to be like clockwork or you might fall?


True, none of my bands have actually achieved an enormous amount of fame (and so here's when the pro-click track faction points and says "SEE?"), and in the darkest nights I wonder if it's because I've never (ok, I have twice) had anyone insist that I play to one. In fact, I've even suggested a click on a couple of occasions and have been told "why?...".

This is not the part where I toot my own snare and say "oh, I'm so amazingly steady", because I know damn well I'm not. I hear every little waver in my timekeeping whenever forced to listen back to a take. I hate it. But I'm not going to get cosmetic surgery. I didn't get into music so I can sound like everyone else.
In fact, I liken my drumming to a wrinkled shirt or a messy head of hair (hey! I presently am sporting both!). If I was meeting the Queen or trying to pass muster with a drill sergeant, I'd be shown the door. And unfortunately, sadly, if I was auditioning for Fall Out Boy, I'd be shown the door too. If you want to rock for a living,you must follow a lot of damn rules, and drumming to a click is symbolic of it all.

I've recorded drums to a click exactly twice in my music career and they were both within the last two years. And both were only because the music had been recorded ahead of time. The first time was harrowing and caused all sorts of self doubt, which was aided/hindered by treats being shoved in my face by the recording team whenever I got a good take. Or a bad take. The second time was much easier, but I'm sure would've been fine either way.

I of course do know the advantages of a click. If the drummer screws up an otherwise great take, you can do a punch in. If you want to add synthesized percussion or other effects, it's a snap to just match up the beats and measures. I too heart Garageband. I love taking their pre-recorded beats and blending them and putting 4 measures of "Motown #12" panned hard left on the final chorus and half of a measure of "modern rock #4" at the end of every verse. It's a boatload of fun and I could do that stuff all day. All day. Really. I wish I could.

But I'm just talking about Rock Band A going into the studio to record their straight ahead guitar pop song, and having the drummer be chained to a click track in his headphones. Gah!

Like I said before, what was the paradigm shift that dictated that it must be done? Was it disco? Was it the "no more raggedness in pop" 80's/the harsh reaction to the sloppy 70's?

I am a bit conventional minded when it comes to some things. In one band I'm in, I early on had to swallow something that seemed to go against my very core.

The scene: rehearsal.

Singer: Brian, you should slow down a tiny bit in that instrumental part.
Me: wait, you mean like you do in your demo?
Singer: exactly.
Me: I thought that was just you fucking up or being drunk when you recorded.
Singer: No, that's how it has to go
Me: So just like slow down a tiny bit...??
Singer: But then eventually get back to the original tempo
Me: (ego talking, feathers ruffled) people are going to think I'm just a bad, sloppy drummer who can't hold steady time. Why don't I make it more pronounced so everyone knows "ok here comes the part where they slow down"? I mean sloppiness is nice, but I never wanted to be known as sloppy...
Singer: Don't think of it as sloppy. Classical music does it all the time. It's a common feature.
Me: sigh....ok then.

People who know me probably know exactly what band I'm talking about, and the oh-so-subtle slow-downs and speed-ups are now totally second nature in said band. It's a point of pride, in fact. I just had to learn how awesome and unique it could be.

Why doesn't everyone point to The Beatles' "You Won't See Me" and say "they suck so much! Ringo totally slows down as the song goes on!".
They don't. it's a fucking great song. and not until I point it out do people say "Christ, you're right. How stoned was Ringo?"
Or the Rolling Stones "I'm Free", "Time is On My Side" or "Heart of Stone", where the damn tambourine is in a different time zone all together. Or the Buzzcocks first 3 albums and all those singles. Amazing energy, but lots and lots of sloppy fills and wavering tempos. Or those drunken louts The Faces?
Do people like this today because it's quaint? Because "oh, they just did things differently then". ??

I know I'm far from the only purist out there. And in fact, I'm not even a fan of totally sloppy drumming. It's why some indie rock doesn't do it for me.
Actually, no....scratch that. It's bad sounding drums that I hate. Like a floppy sock or a wedgie-inducing pair of undies. I just wanna fix it.

To hear Paul McCartney say the click track is absolutely essential in this day and age is a little heartbreaking. I know Paul's a perfectionist, but...

Ok, two more things: music and rhythm are signs of life on Earth.
Is your pulse or breath exactly the same all day? No. Something relaxing slows it down, something exciting speeds it up. Often, you have no control. You may be in a relaxing bath, but for some reason, the smoke alarm downstairs goes off.
And, rhythm is often sexual. Do we have sex to a click track? God, I hope not.

And lastly, yes, dance music is all about BPMs. But next time you're watching people dance, take a look....many of them aren't even dancing to the damn beat. They have their moves down, but crikey...nothing in those moves suggest that they could clap in beat to the song if they tried. It makes one wonder why all the fuss over BPMs?

Sigh...I know I'll get lots of flack from people I love and respect, but it's genuinely a thing I ponder with an air of suspicion. As a drummer, and a former marching band member, I feel like over reliance of click tracks is tantamount to a drill instructor barking out orders from every corner of a city block.

If the leader of the drumming secret society appeared now and said "Brian, you could have been one of us..." and said that if I had recorded every album I've been on to a click track things would be a whole lot different and I wouldn't be sitting here griping on a lap top, would I wish that I'd done things differently?
I dunno..I kind of like having a soul.

Jason Bourgeios Band at The Montague Bookill this Saturday

This Saturday, It's The Jason Bourgeois Band at The Bookmill! I haven't played a gig here in many many years. It's a swell place to spend an evening. Great food, a natural waterfall, a record store, books, and three musical acts. We'll be playing pretty super quiet. Look for guitars, bass, drums, banjo, acoustic stand-up bass, glockenspiel, melodica, and multiple ukuleles.

Jason's band for this show is Brian Marchese, Ryan Quinn, Andy Goulet, and me.

It's an all ages show and preceding Jason's set will be Jesse Smith & This Frontier Needs Heroes. It's only six bucks despite what the website says about ten bucks.

Start Time: Saturday, May 16, 2009 at 8:00pm
End Time: Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 12:00am
Location: The Montague Bookmil
Street: 440 Greenfield Rd.
City/Town: Montague, MA
Phone: 413-367-9206

Crow Vs. Bunny

Yesterday evening, Lesa and I were just finishing our dinner when she looked out the window and noticed a little bunny in the yard across the street. It was my first bunny of the season. This spring has already brought cardinals, hummingbirds, a groundhog, cats, raccoons, skunks, chipmunks, squirrels, and a bear, but no bunnies.

As we sat there watching the little guy bounce around eating grass, a crow suddenly swooped down and started trying to attack the bunny! The rabbit hopped away a little and then the crow followed, again trying to attack. I was surprised to notice that the crow was actually larger than the rabbit.

The bunny hopped under an overgrown hedge and the crow stood there looking in. Eventually, the crow tried to go around the bush and flush the bunny out but when it got to the back it noticed an innocent bystander squirrel and started chasing it a little bit. While that was going on, the bunny slipped back out of the bush and hopped away a little to a fresh patch of grass.

What is the moral of this story?

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - The Song

Are you all tired of me posting videos? Or is it OK? I think they'll be more of it to come, so I hope it's OK.

On Saturday night, I played a secret show in Easthampton, Massachusetts. It was an in-the-round or round-robin type performance with me, Jose Ayerve and Adam Greenberg. What that means is that we were all on stage at the same time each with a microphone and guitar. One performer would play a song and then the next would play a song and we would go around like that. Occasionally, the other two performers would chime in on harmonies or accompaniment. It was very casual and comfortable and the intimate room was pretty much full-up. The view from the stage reminded me of a TV show performance that you might have seen int he seventies or sixties. It was sort of like a Sesame Street thing where people were sitting in chairs, and sofas, and some were on the floor and some were perched up high on back cabinet. It was a really nice group of people. There were snacks and drinks and outside a thunderstorm swept through.

In the beginning the show was a bit nerve wracking but as it progressed and a few jokes were cracked I was able to really relax and just enjoy the event. Not only did I get to play my songs for a very attentive crowd but I also got to see wonderful performances by Jose and Adam. I've played in bands with both of them in the past and I'm a big fan of both of their work. Adam and I even pulled out one of the old Greenbergs songs we used to play. Of course, I used to play keyboard in that band, but luckily I still had my old cheat sheets so I was able to chime in on acoustic guitar while Adam played bass. The song was "Overcalculating". Jose displayed a whole mess of new tunes, all of them just felt like incredible hits to me and I can't wait to hear them again in a band context. I don't know if they will become Spouse songs or Nuclear Waste Management songs but either way, I'll be happy. One in particular jumped out at me. I don't know the title but it seemed to be written from the perspective of a rock star's boyfriend. We finished the night with a cover of Matthew Sweet's "Winona" which has always been a favorite of mine.

I played a mixture of old and new songs. This one here is, well, I guess its not new anymore, though it hasn't yet made it to an album. I suppose it'll be on my next solo record whenever that happens. Here's a video, it's called "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and yes, it's about the movie.

Videos: Wes Anderson Night

Here are some video clips of last weekends really fun Wes Anderson Birthday and Soundtrack Tribute Night.

Henning Ohlenbusch performs "Stephanie Says" by The Velvet Underground:


Thane Thomsen and Friends perform "Billy" by Bob Dylan:


Los Hijos Unicos perform "A Quick One" by The Who":

That Devilish Breeze

This story is sad and sublime at the same time. From Yahoo News:

BERLIN – German police said an elderly man was so annoyed at hearing the same serenade over and over that he called authorities to report his neighbors — only to discover the culprit was a musical greeting card on his own windowsill. Police said Tuesday the 82-year-old from Goslar in central Germany told officers he was sick of the music, which would come at irregular intervals and at all hours.

Upon further investigation, police found the musical greeting card on his windowsill, where occasional breezes opened the card just enough to play an irritating tune.

Police said the retiree was happy to find out his neighbors weren't trying to annoy him.

What kills me is this poetic sentence:

Upon further investigation, police found the musical greeting card on his windowsill, where occasional breezes opened the card just enough to play an irritating tune.

Photos: Wes Anderson Sound Track Tribute Night and Birthday Party

Sarah Gagne has some nice pictures up on Flickr from last Friday's Wes Anderson Birthday Bash.