"It takes a lot of ideas, demos, and various takes to get to the final product of a finished album. This collection contains not only some of my favorite demos from the process of making 'Two on a Bench,' but many original tracks that were cast aside in the name of a making a finished and cohesive work. Knowing that they would never see the light of day otherwise, it seemed fitting to release them here in at least some form. The quality is all over the place and the mistakes are present, but there is some interesting stuff going on. 'Inert to Noble' and 'Apocryphal Instrumental' could easily have been finished tracks and it was a shame we couldn't use everything. Thanks for checking them out, I hope you enjoy listening!"
-Dax

Demos and Bench-Sides
• All songs written and performed by Dax Schaffer
• Recorded (mostly) by Steven Ray Morris (mostly) at Justice Street Studios in West Hills, CA
• Mixed and mastered by Dax Schaffer at Stay at Home Studios in Los Feliz, CA
• Additional mixing by Steven Ray Morris on "Inert to Noble," "In the Edge of Nowhere (Demo/Alternate Mix)," "Persistence of Vision (Early Take)," "For Now, From Me (Phone Demo)," and "Two on a Bench (Hendrix Mix)"
• "Dial Tones (Drippin' Yellow Madness Version)" recorded at #19 View Studios in Silverlake, CA
• "Placidity" recorded at Stay at Home Studios
• "Two on a Bench (Original Demo)" and "Supplement to the Animation Song (Amped)" recorded at Cat Pad Studios in Calabasas, CA
• Harmony Vocals by Laura Jackman on "Rorschach Moon (Live Recording)"
• Violin and Additional Lyrics by Erika Ishii on "Inert to Noble"
• Harmonica by Steven Ray Morris on "Persistence of Vision (Early Take)"
• Additional Wordsmithery by Erika Ishii on "Rorschach Moon (Live Recording)" and "Persistence of Vision (Early Take)"
• Keyboards by Steven Ray Morris, Bass Guitar by Evan Koehne, & Ukulele by Kyle Rousseau on "Dial Tones (Drippin' Yellow Madness Version)"
• Cover art by Dax Schaffer

Thank you to Steven and everyone involved.

You Were Born in a Shoe

Written by Eric Idle

Join me, Dax, for an unsolicited evening of acoustic numbers! Half my own material, half covers... some of which have no business being done on ukulele, but I'm doing them anyway! This collection is free and done for the greater good of "why not?' I thank you and hope you enjoy listening.

Friendly Gratitude to: 
Brennan's Pub. Thank you Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland (aka Dinosaur Tooth) for letting me play an hour from your usual time-slot. You guys are great dudes and great musicians! 
Evan Koehne for bringing your Zoom audio recorder to catch the concert, and for being a cool guy in general. 
My parents, Arden Schaffer and Kim Harwood, for making amusing comments throughout the whole performance and for being who they are. Thanks Dad for letting me practice at your house the weekend before the show. Thank you Mom for also recording each song. The primary audio blew out at times and without the secondary audio source you had, I would not have been able to post the whole thing. 
Steven Ray Morris (aka thank goodness) for taking the cool cover photo and being a constant partner in Lo-fi musical endeavors. 
David Halegua for some notes on mixing. 
And all my friends who showed up on a Tuesday. Love you all.

• All songs performed by Dax Schaffer at Brennan's Pub in Marina Del Rey on March 3rd, 2015 (Check each song for writing credit) 
• Cover photo by Steven Ray Morris, Cover design by Dax Schaffer 
• Recorded by Evan Koehne and Kim Harwood 
• Mixed Live by Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland 
• Recordings mixed and mastered by Dax Schaffer

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life [Eric Idle / Monty Python]

Join me, Dax, for an unsolicited evening of acoustic numbers! Half my own material, half covers... some of which have no business being done on ukulele, but I'm doing them anyway! This collection is free and done for the greater good of why not? I thank you and hope you enjoy listening.

Friendly Gratitude to: 
Brennan's Pub. Thank you Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland (aka Dinosaur Tooth) for letting me play an hour from your usual time-slot. You guys are great dudes and great musicians! 
Evan Koehne for bringing your Zoom audio recorder to catch the concert, and for being a cool guy in general. 
My parents, Arden Schaffer and Kim Harwood, for making amusing comments throughout the whole performance and for being who they are. Thanks Dad for letting me practice at your house the weekend before the show. Thank you Mom for also recording each song. The primary audio blew out at times and without the secondary audio source you had, I would not have been able to post the whole thing. 
Steven Ray Morris (aka thank goodness) for taking the cool cover photo and being a constant partner in Lo-fi musical endeavors. 
David Halegua for some notes on mixing. 
And all my friends who showed up on a Tuesday. Love you all.

• All songs performed by Dax Schaffer at Brennan's Pub in Marina Del Rey on March 3rd, 2015 (Check each song for writing credit) 
• Cover photo by Steven Ray Morris, Cover design by Dax Schaffer 
• Recorded by Evan Koehne and Kim Harwood 
• Mixed Live by Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland 
• Recordings mixed and mastered by Dax Schaffer

Can't Help Falling In Love [Elvis Presley]

Written by Dax Schaffer

Join me, Dax, for an unsolicited evening of acoustic numbers! Half my own material, half covers... some of which have no business being done on ukulele, but I'm doing them anyway! This collection is free and done for the greater good of why not? I thank you and hope you enjoy listening.

Friendly Gratitude to: 
Brennan's Pub. Thank you Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland (aka Dinosaur Tooth) for letting me play an hour from your usual time-slot. You guys are great dudes and great musicians! 
Evan Koehne for bringing your Zoom audio recorder to catch the concert, and for being a cool guy in general. 
My parents, Arden Schaffer and Kim Harwood, for making amusing comments throughout the whole performance and for being who they are. Thanks Dad for letting me practice at your house the weekend before the show. Thank you Mom for also recording each song. The primary audio blew out at times and without the secondary audio source you had, I would not have been able to post the whole thing. 
Steven Ray Morris (aka thank goodness) for taking the cool cover photo and being a constant partner in Lo-fi musical endeavors. 
David Halegua for some notes on mixing. 
And all my friends who showed up on a Tuesday. Love you all.

• All songs performed by Dax Schaffer at Brennan's Pub in Marina Del Rey on March 3rd, 2015 (Check each song for writing credit) 
• Cover photo by Steven Ray Morris, Cover design by Dax Schaffer 
• Recorded by Evan Koehne and Kim Harwood 
• Mixed Live by Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland 
• Recordings mixed and mastered by Dax Schaffer

Somber Stroll

Written by Paul McCartney / Marcus Mumford

Join me, Dax, for an unsolicited evening of acoustic numbers! Half my own material, half covers... some of which have no business being done on ukulele, but I'm doing them anyway! This collection is free and done for the greater good of why not? I thank you and hope you enjoy listening.

Friendly Gratitude to: 
Brennan's Pub. Thank you Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland (aka Dinosaur Tooth) for letting me play an hour from your usual time-slot. You guys are great dudes and great musicians! 
Evan Koehne for bringing your Zoom audio recorder to catch the concert, and for being a cool guy in general. 
My parents, Arden Schaffer and Kim Harwood, for making amusing comments throughout the whole performance and for being who they are. Thanks Dad for letting me practice at your house the weekend before the show. Thank you Mom for also recording each song. The primary audio blew out at times and without the secondary audio source you had, I would not have been able to post the whole thing. 
Steven Ray Morris (aka thank goodness) for taking the cool cover photo and being a constant partner in Lo-fi musical endeavors. 
David Halegua for some notes on mixing. 
And all my friends who showed up on a Tuesday. Love you all.

• All songs performed by Dax Schaffer at Brennan's Pub in Marina Del Rey on March 3rd, 2015 (Check each song for writing credit) 
• Cover photo by Steven Ray Morris, Cover design by Dax Schaffer 
• Recorded by Evan Koehne and Kim Harwood 
• Mixed Live by Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland 
• Recordings mixed and mastered by Dax Schaffer

For No One / Sigh No More [The Beatles / Mumford and Sons]

Written by Ben Gibbard

Join me, Dax, for an unsolicited evening of acoustic numbers! Half my own material, half covers... some of which have no business being done on ukulele, but I'm doing them anyway! This collection is free and done for the greater good of why not? I thank you and hope you enjoy listening.

Friendly Gratitude to: 
Brennan's Pub. Thank you Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland (aka Dinosaur Tooth) for letting me play an hour from your usual time-slot. You guys are great dudes and great musicians! 
Evan Koehne for bringing your Zoom audio recorder to catch the concert, and for being a cool guy in general. 
My parents, Arden Schaffer and Kim Harwood, for making amusing comments throughout the whole performance and for being who they are. Thanks Dad for letting me practice at your house the weekend before the show. Thank you Mom for also recording each song. The primary audio blew out at times and without the secondary audio source you had, I would not have been able to post the whole thing. 
Steven Ray Morris (aka thank goodness) for taking the cool cover photo and being a constant partner in Lo-fi musical endeavors. 
David Halegua for some notes on mixing. 
And all my friends who showed up on a Tuesday. Love you all.

• All songs performed by Dax Schaffer at Brennan's Pub in Marina Del Rey on March 3rd, 2015 (Check each song for writing credit) 
• Cover photo by Steven Ray Morris, Cover design by Dax Schaffer 
• Recorded by Evan Koehne and Kim Harwood 
• Mixed Live by Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland 
• Recordings mixed and mastered by Dax Schaffer

I Will Follow You Into The Dark [Death Cab For Cutie]

Written by Dax Schaffer, Additional wordsmithery by Erika Ishii

Join me, Dax, for an unsolicited evening of acoustic numbers! Half my own material, half covers... some of which have no business being done on ukulele, but I'm doing them anyway! This collection is free and done for the greater good of why not? I thank you and hope you enjoy listening.

Friendly Gratitude to: 
Brennan's Pub. Thank you Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland (aka Dinosaur Tooth) for letting me play an hour from your usual time-slot. You guys are great dudes and great musicians! 
Evan Koehne for bringing your Zoom audio recorder to catch the concert, and for being a cool guy in general. 
My parents, Arden Schaffer and Kim Harwood, for making amusing comments throughout the whole performance and for being who they are. Thanks Dad for letting me practice at your house the weekend before the show. Thank you Mom for also recording each song. The primary audio blew out at times and without the secondary audio source you had, I would not have been able to post the whole thing. 
Steven Ray Morris (aka thank goodness) for taking the cool cover photo and being a constant partner in Lo-fi musical endeavors. 
David Halegua for some notes on mixing. 
And all my friends who showed up on a Tuesday. Love you all.

• All songs performed by Dax Schaffer at Brennan's Pub in Marina Del Rey on March 3rd, 2015 (Check each song for writing credit) 
• Cover photo by Steven Ray Morris, Cover design by Dax Schaffer 
• Recorded by Evan Koehne and Kim Harwood 
• Mixed Live by Nate Hertweck & Jeffrey Cleveland 
• Recordings mixed and mastered by Dax Schaffer

Rorschach Moon

A recording of a live performance I did for my singing class a few years ago. I listened to it again recently and decided it was worth sharing. One of my favorite songs... and it was nice to have a pianist accompanying me for it. I thank my friend Bonnie Magoun for turning on her recorder, as I would have otherwise not had a copy.

Vocals by Dax Schaffer
Piano by Donald Fredrickson

And So It Goes (Billy Joel)

Collecting time on your new bedroom floor
I see the trinkets of a lie from before
Stir the memories in a soul of regret
The haunted pieces of a world I can't forget

Sprawled out on the bed of my room
Think about the life you cater to
On my shelves, in my work and my head
The afterimages of what I thought was dead

Moving shadows
Casting in time
I know that it's mine, but
Light is shallow
Uneasy to see
Tell me what you want to be

I'll give you one more reason to stay
My sun-cast silhouettes have faded away
Crept off to a sunnier home
It seems my shadow has left me all alone

I guess without him, I'll have no past
The brighter memories don't seem to last
I must admit that I now feel hollow
But who would trust a man without a shadow?

Eluding shadows
Collapsing in time
No more light to find them
But in our marrow,
I feel it set free
In new light they will be
Moving shadows
It's finally time
without you I'm blind and
The night's All Hallows
Evening
I've lost everything

Vocals, Ukulele, Composition, Lyrics, Recording, Mixing, Mastering, & Album Art by Dax Schaffer at Stay at Home Studios in Los Feliz, CA.

Originally written and recorded for the 13 Days 13 Shorts Festival of October 2013. Additional harmonies and ukulele overdubs recorded in October 2015. http://13days13shorts.tumblr.com/

Special thanks to Steven Ray Morris, David Halegua, all the people involved with 13 Days 13 Shorts, and anyone who deserves thanking that hasn't received it yet (You there, you look like you deserve some thanks. Go ahead, take it! No one is judging you. There, doesn't that feel better? Now go out into the world and do all the things you're meant to go and do!)

Moving Shadows

A cover of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings" in the style of Barenaked Ladies. Their version is one of my favorite holiday songs and I have always wanted to try playing it. I love the faster tempo they use. Merry Christmas!

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryrYQf4HDU

Composer:
Traditional/John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (1857)

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - We Three Kings (Couverture Noir)

A melodica theme for my new vlog series: bit.ly/daxtraneous1
Download on Bandcamp as well: bit.ly/DaxtraneousTheme

Daxtraneous Theme

This is what happens when I try to figure out how to make Chiptune music using FamiTracker. It's free software, in case anyone out there is interested: http://famitracker.com

Link to this track on my Bandcamp: https://daxschaffer.bandcamp.com/track/antsy-melancholia

Also, Ben Burnes' tutorial vids are extremely helpful if you want help figuring out the program: https://bit.ly/37xl60U

FamiTracker is designed for creating the type of music used in NES/Famicom games. I could even export it as a Nintendo Sound File if I wanted to, which is pretty cool.

Antsy Melancholia

Singer/Songwriter/Artist/Person. Some ukulele, acoustic guitar, and whatever tickles your sweet spot.
www.DaxSchaffer.com

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Dax Schaffer

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