Al-Gene Hall - drums
Gabe Leavitt - bass
Mark Johndal - guitar & vocals

The City

a good song to listen to while watching snow fall in the light of a street lamp

Tin Man Chair

Rennie Pilgrem's remix of "Expand the Room" by the The Light is still such a banger. Just pure 90s breakbeat fun. I had to takes samples from it and do my own remix.

The Light – Expand The Room (Rennie Pilgrem vs. Grayscale)

When he was a boy his daddy said "Son,"
"To them that work hard the good things come"
An Ironhorse with Hesiod's heart
The man could put the world together if he had the parts
So they sang the song of the working man
As he wrestled with the serpent in the far high land
He bled and burned in the noonday sun
And he pushed until he got it done

All this time
He's been pushing that wheel
All this time
He's been striking the deal
But he ain't gonna push that wheel no more

When he was a child his mama said "Boy,"
"One day you're gonna put away them toys"
"You'll be a man and you'll work all day"
"To earn the money that they're gonna pay"
The only way to raise a family
Was to jack into an information economy
Chained to a desk with a screen in his eye
He pushed the earth up against the sky

All this time
He's been pushing that wheel
All this time
He's been striking the deal
But he ain't gonna cut that deal no more

A fool who thought he was a superman
Fought the battles in the boardroom over grains of sand
See him kill his dream and bury it
To join the overflowing ranks of the precariat
For every dollar that he made for the man 
He watched the Grey City rise and caught a dime in his hand
We sell tomorrow for our spending spree
We're the pushers of society

All this time
We've been pushing that wheel
All this time
We've been striking the deal
But I ain't gonna push that wheel no more

Push the Wheel (Demo Single)

Lyrics:

I'm too charming
You're too married
Lord it's a burden
I must carry, baby--You got me calling you baby
'Cause you got looks
And Personality
I can cook like a bastard
So here's the reality baby--I'll tell you anything but "maybe"
'Cause there's no such thing
As "just friends" with me
I've been here before
Some day you'll see it's true--And it'll be real soon
So let's end this now
Before hearts get broke
Before there's fire
There's usually smoke--and you are just a-fannin' the flame
I'm disarming
You're more than willing
You feel dismissed
Your eyes are weary, baby
They're screaming "please come save me"
'Cause you got took
Marriage is your malady
He vowed to cherish
But gives neutrality, baby--And you're driving me crazy
You spit him out
He's neither hot or cold
You wanna feel alive
Before you're too old--And you know I've been lonely too
So let's end this now
Before "that's all she wrote"
Before I get shot
And put in a hole--and you are feeling all the blame
I'm too charming
You're too married
Lord it's a burden I must carry

I'm Too Charming (you're Too Married) Demo

I'm not fine, but thanks for asking

Don't feel much like lying

Feel like I'm slowly dying

Tired of trying to hide it

From y'all

Cant put on a brave face

Soldier on in good taste

Fall with amazing grace

Anymore

Chorus:

I know that you love me

And you hope that things get better

And I'll certainly let you know when they do

But I wouldn't hold my breath

Seems the trajectory is set

With masses funneling money to the few

To the few

I'm not fine and that's ok

Don't feel like explaining today

Unless you've got a magic stave

To change things with a wave

Just move on

Please don't waste your breath

We done beat this horse to death

Y'all just rubbernecks

For this trainwreck life?

Chorus

I'm not fine, please stop asking

Can't find work for living wage

With a company that's safe

Living in chronic pain

With no healthcare

I know you're being a friend

And please don't take offense

But so were the other ten

That asked before

Chorus

We're not fine stop gaslighting

I'm no Nostradamus

But I can see what's come upon us

Corporate pawns in congress

Sold us out

Never gonna own a home

Getting spied on by our phones

Don't Boeing whistleblow

Or you'll get got

Chorus

I'm not fine thanks for asking

I'll let you know when I'm fine

And if you can't oblige I'm gonna screen this telephone line

For all your calls

I'm Not Fine, Thanks For Asking!

Jobe

Low day

Shank

Skim

Gary Oldman

Professional Amateur, self-styled DIY Philosopher, poor man's Renaissance Man, and Celebrant of the Mediocre.

Push the Wheel (Demo Single)

Dirtsmith