Here's an original tune from my record Love & Harm.  I hope you dig.  Emily Zeitlyn sings back up.  Jon Hyde on pedal steel, Aaron Otheim on keys, Andrew Dorsett on drums.  Mixed by Todd Erk.

The Reins

Here's a tune by Zach Miller (Dr. Dog, Philadelphia).  This is from my record Love & Harm.  I wrote the bridge part.  
The band is Aaron Otheim, Andrew Dorsett, Jon Hyde on keys, drums and pedal steel guitar respectively.   My brother Peter Ormsby Blau plays trombone on the bridge and my daughter, Poppy Jean Blau sings back up bumbums.  This song was mixed by Chet Delcampo at Hong Kong Stingray, Philadelphia.

Natural Limit

Chattanooga

"Clothes Your I's" was properly released in the Fall of 2013 with the Anacortes label Knw-Yr-Own.   It features some great moments with Phil Elvrum, Nate Ashley, Anna Huff and brother Peter Ormsby.  "Clothes Your I's" is the first album Blau recorded at K's Dub Narcotic Studio, and was one of the earlier recordings to be produced in the Cherry St. loft location.   You may listen to the rest of it here:   klaps.bandcamp.com/album/clothes-your-is
And compare it to the 4-track cassette version from "Songs to Make a Living" at klaps.bandcamp.com/album/songs-to-make-a-living

Here are the lyrics:

Answer your own question
By listening to the tone
Of your voice-box blaring 
Like a monkey with a stone

I hold you high
And your heavy words
Break over my head
A giant dotted "i"
Is crammed in my throat

Now I'm left with thoughts unsaid
You're doin' service to a battle
Only shared in vain
Your fist - a child's rattle
On my memory a stain

I hold you high
And I'm a target for your bombs
It's not your fault

All I know to do is lift with these hands
All I know to do is lift with these hands
It's not your fault

I Hold You High

A Link Wray tune, this track is from my forthcoming album release "Introducing" which features Tucker Martine's production (as well as drums!), Eli Moore's beautiful guitar, Steve Moore on the piano and organ, and some backing vocals by Jim James of My Morning Jacket and Laura Veirs. 

"Introducing" releasing May 13th 2016 on Bella Union(UK/EU) and Raven Marching Band Records(US) has elements of country and soul and features tunes written in the 70s - Tom T. Hall, Waylon Jennings, Don Gibson, Barry Gibb, Townes Van Zandt, Tom Rush are some of the songwriters covered.

Thanks to The Line of Best Fit for sending out album/single announcements this February 18th 2016 post -  http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/karl-blau

Introducing Karl Blau

Fallin' Rain

From upcoming "Raise the Lower'd" digital release by Karl Blau.

Raise the Lower'd

Plague Odd

This track, Tumble Bee, is from 1995, tape release "Doin' Things The Way They Happen" and rereleased on Shell Collection (knw-yr-own CD 1998).
Now re-released digitally on bandcamp:
https://klaps.bandcamp.com/album/shell-collection

Laura Veirs covered it on her kid's album "Tumble Bee" (Raven Marching Band, 2011)

Tumble Bee

Songles

The Wrong Stuff

This recording was made by a sandwich taped to my mic stand.  The main vocals is the monitors, but otherwise the mics are actually mic-ing the instruments.  Andrew Dorsett on drums, Eli Moore on bass and Jon Hyde on pedal steel with yours truly on guitar and voice. (pic by Brian Snider)

Ropes In Paradise(Little Wings Cover Live from Privatklub, Berlin - March 2017)

Slow Children

Beckon

Out Her Space

Blue as My Name

Dub the War Away

I've Got the Sounds (Like You've Got the Blues)

Valley of Sadness

Where Ya Goin' Papa

Inspired by Dave Brubeck in around 1998, I recorded this piece in the tiny, sweet but empty and damned to demolition house Bret Lunsford had just sold now a Starbucks  across the street from the old Business at 1717 Commercial(now antiques).

From the album "Purple Shack of 4-track."   I multi-tracked this onto the Tascam 414 cassette 4-track I call Quatro-Synco in 1995.   

Stream/Purchase "Purple Shack of 4-track" here:  http://klaps.bandcamp.com/album/purple-shack-of-4-track

Homage to Dave Brubeck, huge inspiration to expand our minds and try new things.

Brubeck-esque

Original music by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the year 1818.

Stille Nacht

Written by Laura Veirs in the late 90s, ever since I heard this song and instantly I knew that Soundgarden had to cover it.   And when they just didn't and then didn't still I realized that I had to do it.   This song is one of the reasons I started this project of covering women songwriters of my periphery and influences of mine.  West Coast Chalice is a Grunge album in spirit, bringing a new spirit to the songs.   That West Coast Chalice actually achieves Grunge, or that Grunge itself is even correct terminology is debatable.   



Junkyard Dog

A Little Bit At A Time: Spacebomb Family Rarities

On The Inside

Karl Blau, hailing from beautiful Anacortes, Washington State, is a singer and multi-instrumentalist with a passion for recording music.  He has performed solo and in bands (EARTH, Laura Veirs, Bright Black Morning Light, Maher Shalal Hash Baz, D+, The Gift Machine, The Solvents, The Microphones/Mount Eerie, Little Wings, Lori Goldston to name some), touring across the globe since the mid 90s.

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Thank you for stopping and listening.




Karl Blau

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