In 2020 my band, The Tonic Brothers (TB for short), put out our first CD. Most of the recording was done prior to Covid but some overdubs were done remotely during lockdown. And I had the time to work on the recordings.
Of the 12 songs 2 were covers, one was written by John Ciezcheck & the remaining 9 were written by myself. Those 9 songs were the ones I felt were good for the band to play & good enough to play live & record. Some were over 30 years old! I’m proud of that CD.
But as Covid dragged on & the band wasn’t rehearsing or playing out I figured I’d start recording the handful of tunes I had written but had not brought to the band. Mostly I didn’t think they were band material or not as good or newer songs I never had the chance to show the guys so we could work them up. And by now I had retired so had even more time.
But as I was recording rough demos I had the idea to move beyond the band members to contribute. I first invited two old St. Louis drummers & good friends Danny Hommes & Chris Lanham to remotely record drum takes for a couple of Tonic Brothers songs (“Learn That Lesson” and “I’m Gone” respectively) for release on Spotify. TB drummer, Neal Erickson, had no means to record remotely. That worked so well that a bigger plan came into focus: Invite as many musician friends from my entire life to record for this project. Mostly ex-band members, I reached out to many old pals to see who wanted to play. Unfortunately, some folks had no way to record remotely but some did. And soon the tracks started rolling in and songs, once a rough demo of just me playing all instruments and software drumming, benefited from the wonderful musicianship and creativity of the many musicians that are on this current project. They became “songs” with life and personality! How fun was this gonna be?!
TB was the bands second name after first being Counterbalance. I had a long list of potential band names and one that I really liked was Clashing Plaid. The name came from a flannel shirt & some plaid PJ bottoms I wore a lot. Both red but clash they did. It was the working title for this new project but as the idea formed the name worked well… a clash of musicians on one album. Doug and friends, if you will.
I wrote all but 2 of these songs. Rudabaga and Wacka Wacka.
So here you have it. Clashing Plaid: Mach 1. The first in a series, The non-band songs, the mellow ones, the B-sides, the newest songs, the goofy songs, the songs I just don’t know are any good. All in, get ‘em down, noodles on the wall. Thanks for listening and good luck! Hope you find something that works for you….
credits
released May 19, 2023
Learn That Lesson
This was a song the band had just started working on when Covid hit. Here we have TB minus Neal with Dan drumming. I think we can all relate to the theme if not the situations.
Mark Anderson: Guitars
John Chiecsek: Guitars, vocals
Doug Hagen: Bass, Guitar, BG vocals
Dan Hommes: Drums
The Foolish Virgins
These two songs are with my old St. Louis band “The Foolish Virgins”. We were together from 1978 until 1980. Mike was the main song writer, much better than I, but we played this one song of mine and a cover I brought to the band. Please remember that I was really young when I wrote this!
In 2015 we played a live show after 35 years apart. It was so much fun that we decided to record some of the old songs the next time I was in St. Louis. These are just 2 of the 4 songs I brought to the band (The other 2 will be on the next Clashing Paid release), the recordings of Mikes songs have yet to see the light of day. And MAN was it fun playing with these guys again! More silly songs. Recorded at Dans home studio in about 2017.
Mike Burgett: Guitars, Vocals
Dan Hommes: Drums, Vocals
Doug Hagen: Bass, Vocals
3 Casual Guys
A song about 3 of us dudes who shared a house. Mostly true…
Wacka Wacka
Wacka Wacka was a song by the Atlanta punk band The Restraints. I was lucky enough to have seen them play live as well as hang out a few times with the singer Chris Wood.
Stranger In My Own Skin
The chorus just came to me while riding my bike to work one day. I tried 3 or 4 different melodies & chord progressions. Hated them all. Then one day I just played this simple riff & it all fell into place. I’m sure I stole it from Foghat. I have no idea whatsoever what it’s about.
Special guest Tim Reynolds on guitar of Dave Mathews Band & TR3 fame. I went to high school with Tim & lost touch. We reconnected years later when he & Dave were playing an event at the KeyArena where I worked & have been in touch ever since. I am honored that he came to my little studio & laid down these killer riffs!
Tim Reynolds: Guitars (Rhythm right channel. Fills, solo)
Tony Fafoglia: Guitar (Rhythm left channel)
Doug Hagen: Bass, Guitar, vocals
Dan Hommes: Drums
Every Crack
A newer song I felt wasn’t right for the band. It’s proved to be popular and many people contributed to it giving the option for a few versions. And I like them all!
John Chiecsek: Guitars, lead vocals
Doug Hagen: Bass, BG vocals
Andy Liotta: Piano, lead vocals on version 2.
David Salonen: Guitars
Dan Hommes: Drums
How Does It Feel
A song I had written a few years back. Just not right for the band so it sat for a long time. I’m happy to see this one become a reality & wow did my friends pull out all the stops!
So, I gotta tell you about Bobby Ingano. Bobby is my wife’s cousin who lives in Hawaii & is a world famous Hawaiian lap steel player. He plays guitar and steel in Taj Mahals touring band! So he was in Seattle with Taj and I asked him to record lap steel for this song. He wasn’t happy with the takes saying he needed his 7 string steel, not the 6 string I had. So he picked up the guitar & played these absolutely beautiful parts. He returned the next night & played these also beautiful steel lines. Together with John’s picking guitar part they bring this song to new heights.
Bobby Ingano: Lap Steel, Guitar fills
John Chiecsek: Acoustic Guitar, vocals
Doug Hagen: Bass, BG vocals
Daisies
I call this a “Brutal breakup song”. It’s fiction.
David Salonen: Guitars
John Chiecsek: Guitars
Doug Hagen: Bass
Dan Hommes: Drums
Mike Burgett: Vocals
This Time
I decided to try writing a song as if it were the 60’s. It’s “we’re the new generation so move over”.
Doug Hagen: Guitar, Bass, Vocal
Eric Waggoner: BG Vocals
Chris Lanham: Drums, Keyboards
Dorcas
Dorcas was my friend and co-worker at the Whisky A-Go-Go in 1987. She was goth but wasn’t. She was dark but funny as hell. She was a hoot. Wonder where she is now.
John Chiecsek: Guitars
Doug Hagen: Bass, guitar
Eric Waggoner: Vocals
Dan Hommes: Drums
Shadows Of Love
A newer song about loss.
Guitars: Mark Anderson, Rick McArdle
Drums: Rob …
Bass: Doug Hagen
Vocals: Doug Hagen
I‘m Gone
This had been a regular TB tune we had played for years but somehow wasn’t on the CD. Had to correct that! Again, TB with Chris Lanham in place of Neal.
Mark Anderson: Guitars
John Chiecsek: Guitars
Doug Hagen: Bass, vocals
Chris Lanham: Drums
Pass the Rutabaga
This song was written by a mysterious character I met in Atlanta in the early 80’s, Jimmy Strang. I memorized most of the song as he played it but forgot parts so added lyrics as needed. And I added a bridge because, why not. Silly, funny & fun!
John Chiecsek: Guitars
Doug Hagen: Bass, guitar, vocals
Dan Hommes: Drums
Wacka Wacka
See above notes under “Foolish Virgins”
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