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I’ve been trying to make this record for ten years.  Or maybe it just seems that way.  But it was never right before. It was never time. Now it is.

A couple weeks ago Mike Helm, Josh Seurkamp, Sharon Udoh, and I gathered at Crossroads in Cincinnati.  Josh had the whole place set up for us. Lights off, candles lit… the whole shebang. Brian Stritenberger engineered the ProTools rig far off in the green room, and over the course of two nights (May 19& 20, 2008) we laid down nine songs.  We did it live, as a band, the way they used to back in the day. I sat on a piano stool, played my guitars and sang till I was hoarse.  Mike brought an arsenal of basses and used just about all of them, playing through an amp that was older than most of us.  Josh coaxed dark beats from the skins with much pounding and prodding.  Sharon closed her eyes, rocked gently back and forth, and brought the keys to life.  In between takes, the spinning Leslie speaker of her Hammond organ sounded like a far-off carnival in our headphones. We had a lot of fun those two nights.

I then took the tracks back to a little hideout that Zach Stutzman let me borrow in the back of St. Elizabeth’s cathedral here in Norwood. Ric Hordinski loaned me some great mics, and I laid down some more guitar, vocals and the odd tambourine. Pete Hicks bent a string or two, Sharon sang a little more, as didLiz Bowater and Janet Pressley.  Mike laid down a little more bass, did some of the tastiest guitar work I’ve heard in a long time, and although he said he brought in that 16-voice Russian men’s choir in an air conditioned bus, I still think they all sound a little like him. My old friend and roommate Fred Kimldrove a Harley down from Cleveland for the night to lay some harmonica on a couple tracks. Steve Novotni humored me with some old-time shoutin’, and finally Jen Wheatley laid the icing on the cake with her lovely old French cello.

Over the following week, I stirred the pot, pulling out mixes one at a time – emailing them to friends and playing them for whoever would listen. As Ric told me the he other day, “Records are never finished. Eventually they just escape.” This one has flown the coop, and I couldn’t be happier. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I’ve enjoyed making it.

Thanks to all the people, listed here and not, who gave and played and encouraged and believed to make this happen. Finally, and most of all, thanks to Krystal for understanding and believing. A lot of people have hung up their guitars by this point. You never let me. It’s your turn. And to Avian for listening… always listening. I love you both. This project is for you.

It was never time before. Now it is.

Brandon Dawson // June 10, 2008 // Cincinnati, Ohio

Album Credits:
- Produced by Brandon Dawson
- Initial recording for all band songs, including Bass, Drums, Acoustic and National Guitars, Piano, Organ and lead vocals -
recorded live May 19th & 20th, 2008 at Crossroads, Cincinnati, OH. Engineered by Brian Stritenberger
- All other recording between December, 2007, and May, 2008, at 1801 Mills and St. Elizabeth’s – Cincinnati, Ohio.
Engineered by Brandon Dawson
- Mixed and Mastered by Brandon Dawson – June, 2008
- Cover design and concept by the wonderful Elizabeth Herron - http://www.ElizabethHerron.com
- Cover photography by Julianna Boehm - http://www.JuliannaBoehm.com