The Last Thing We Ever Do: Warrior Songs Volume 3
Hmong Vietnam War stories. Music for Veterans.

Bloody Mekong

Jeff Hamilton (of The Violent Femmes/BEATALLICA) - lead guitars; Ryan Charles (of Beatallica) - extra support drums; Matt "sticky" Meixner - keyboards.

Inspired by the movie: “The Wrestler”. It resembles a man who struggles with his outside life away from the stage. And that he finds himself at home, internally, when fulfilling his utmost desires and claiming his most sincere possessions. Revealing to himself, the beauty within him, the music. Which he had lost inside of him for years now, but is now undoing his path over again, coming back to what he loves most. Thus, shifting to the conclusion that, “it only hurts when I’m out there.” He finds his will to live again and fight again. Conquering his fears and again, owning his confidence. Igniting the flame of passion that he once lost, rekindling his soul. He returns to the inside, back to the stage, for good. Where he is most safe and warm. A scapegoat and solidarity of his existence.

INSIDE

Carl "Toys" Landwater - keyboard; Mike Greylak - banjo.

There are only a few people in this world who get this and feel this way. A universal thought, both metaphysical and spiritual. The rest are wanderers. Still waiting and searching for their turn. Finding ways to figure things and sort it out. It’s a song of overcoming and commemorating. Of opportunity. Of preparation. Of experience. Of understanding. Being ready for the world and being at peace with one self. Being willing and able to sacrifice, not living in vain, but moving forward, for the betterment of humanity. The 5 percenters. Life has 4 phases: pseudo-community, chaos, emptying and then community; or forming, storming, norming and performing. Where are you in life?

The ONLY Ones

Carl "Toys" Landwater - keyboards; Victor DeLorenzo (of The Violent Femmes) appears courtesy of Brain Owner Media International - background/extra vocals

MSG Miracles

Victor DeLorenzo (of The Violent Femmes) appears courtesy of Brain Owner Media International - drums; Matt "sticky" Meixner - keyboard; Family and Friends: (Julie, Sandy, Joua, Cameron, Nora and Coreena) - additional group background vocals

EACHOTHER (Beautiful Mess)

Brian Kurczynski - additional keyboards; Paul Kuhn - violin

Smiling Face

Jeff Hamilton (of The Violent Femmes/BEATALLICA) - lead guitars; Ryan Charles (of Beatallica) - drums

BELT

The ultimate tag team is here. Tell me how many variety of different musical genres you hear on this one. Takeover style. Watch out. It's happening. 

The story behind this song is on the website: www.miraclecomeback.com

Golden Door (Black Wolf ft Elvis Thao)

The Water Street Experiment - CD Music Montage mix

A musical adaptation based off the documentary The Starfish Throwers:
http://www.thestarfishthrowers.com/ 

For the video footage of (The Making of) “THROW”, go here:
https://youtu.be/qw-gx_5Lil4
 
______________________________________



Lead Vocal - Claudia Cunningham (Actress/Singer at Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theater,   toured with The Color Purple, www.ThisisClaudia.com - Claudia Cunningham Music)

Additional Vocal: Elvis Thao (has worked with drummer Victor DeLorenzo of Violent Femmes and played with national recording artist Willy Porter of Weasel Records - www.elvisthao.com) 

Drums: Rich Stitzel (has toured with Country Superstar Miranda Lambert, worked with Norah Jones, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Cathy Richardson of Jefferson Starship - www.richstitzel.com) 

Bass: Chris Clemente (has worked with Umphreys McGee, Jon Secada, Jennifer Hudson and was contributing music composer to Oprah Winfrey’s Harpo Studio - www.chrisclemente.com) 

Electric Guitar: Mike Wheeler (has worked with Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, B.B. King and is considered “the hardest working Blues band in the city” by Chicago Tribune - www.mikewheelerband.com) 

Acoustic Guitar: Daniel Mullen (was inducted into the WAMI Hall of Fame in 2015 and was a member of Psychedelic Rock band Plasticland which included Violent Femmes artist Brian Ritchie - www.express-productions.com/greatest-hits/) 

Gospel Choir: Tribe of Judah (Sopranos - Karen Jones, Ashley McCall)(Altos - Ashlee Linton, Claudia Cunningham)(Tenors - Alfred Golden, Greg Stewart)
 
Video by: Jonathan London (GoViral Media Group - http://www.goviralmediagroup.com) 
Photography by: Tammy Chang (www.tammychangphoto.com) 
 
Executive Producer: Elvis Thao (www.elvisthao.com) 
 
Recorded at: Chicago Recording Company (www.chicagorecording.com) 
 
Engineered by: Ron Etters (Rapid Audio, LLC)
Second Engineer: Jeremy Chereskin (www.rapid-audio.com) 


"THROW" (The Starfish Song)

Elvis Thao and The Creatives - “The Water Street Experiment”

Featured guest appearances by: Jeff Hamilton (of The Violent Femmes/BEATALLICA) - lead guitars; Carl "Toys" Landwater - keyboard; Eric Jacobson & David Cusma (of Kings Go Forth) - trumpet/trombone; Brian Kurczynski - saxophone

03 NO! (Neutralize)

Milwaukee is often referred to as “America's best-kept secret,” a hidden gem. Known as the gathering place by the water, and often under-appreciated or overlooked. With its outgoing residents and year-round calendar of events, the city enjoys a growing reputation as a destination that will never disappoint. It’s beautiful cityscape offers you space to gather and mingle. As the largest city in Wisconsin, it has a revived downtown area alongside the Milwaukee Art Museum charming millions of visitors every year and plays host to guests looking for a fun getaway. Entertainment, celebration and fun are the essence of Milwaukee's rich cultural experience. This jewel of the Great Lakes is a joy to discover, an easy city with a warm brand of hospitality sure to surprise & delight, showing there is much more to The City of Festivals. The diversity in this city proves the city is no exception and it’s festivals celebrates the sounds, sights and scents of the city's diverse ethnic heritage, a season that is second to none. It is also the largest cultural gatherings of their type in the country. Welcome to the Brew City. 

08 Brew City

My current song. Deemed by several individuals as: “Powerful, explosive and……a lot going on.” Tune in.

I Don't Know JP V1

I took a lot of my time out this past month to write and record a song for this kid, by his father's request. About his life and his current situation. His name’s Rasheed. Yet another single in the books. The recording should be distributed to media worldwide. Soon enough. - For full story see: http://www.miraclecomeback.com/ 

Elvis Thao

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