Johnny's songwriting covers a wide range of topics but often returns to love for his family. Michael's gift for adding just the perfect touches of harmonica shines through on this track.

FourShadow

Life In A Different Way

SoL - FourShadow - Life In A Different Way

Johnny Rodriguez composed both words and music to this soulful song early in 2003:
"Wisdom is sought not found;
You should know what it's like to be on your own--
Fortune favors the brave.
And how you've reaped the rewards
Of adopting the life of a rolling stone!"

SoL Mall Gig

Welcome Back Eloise

SoL - Mall Gig - Welcome Back Eloise

The ultimate high energy rock anthem closer, this original song by Johnny Rodriguez finished out many of SoL's sets. "Don't forget your brothers back home!"

Brothers Back Home

SoL - Mall Gig - Brothers Back Home

This instrumental jam was a favorite warm-up at SoL practices, and was often at the top of set lists. Engineer's Note: The reason several tracks by SoL fade in is simply because whoever was recording it failed to hit the button fast enough. To be fair, this was recorded in the dark times of magnetic tape, which wasn't cheap, or infinite in supply.

Artworks

Whuut

SoL - Artworks - WHUUT

This funky simple two-chord jam backs a catchy lyric that perfectly captures the funk-blues style of song-writers Johnny Rodriguez and Michael Aguilar.

Soul Shade Mechanic

SoL - Artworks - Soul Shade Mechanic

James Taylor wrote this ballad and released it in 1970. Taylor says heartbreak inspired the lyrics. Johnny's singing brings this out, while calling back to his  roots in blues standards, making this cover uniquely his own. The introductory slide guitar is from Johnny warming up for the two quieter acoustic numbers he performed back to back, Lo and Behold and Rollin and Tumblin'.

Lo And Behold

SoL - Artworks - Lo And Behold

One of Michael's earlier guitar compositions, it might best be called "ambient experimental", which was the style that acoustic guitar seemed to bring out in him, and the band accompanying him.

Lotus

SoL - Artworks - Lotus

Practice with Brett's friend the keyboard player sitting in.

China Alley 9

Only Seven

The second time SoL played at Artworks Cafe in Hanford, California. The recording was done bootleg-style with a single cheap cassette tape recorder.

Je T'ame Beaucoup Alanah

07 SoL - Artworks II - Je T'ame Beaucoup Alanah

Two Be Alone

06 SoL - Artworks II - Two Be Alone

Little Family

15 SoL - Artworks II - Little Family

The Thing That Wasn't Said

14 SoL - Artworks II - The Thing That Wasn't Said

Mike's Nameless

13 SoL - Artworks II - Mike's Nameless

Life in a Different Way

12 SoL - Artworks II - Life In A Different Way

Better With Age

11 SoL - Artworks II - Better With Age

White Island Rain

10 SoL - Artworks II - White Island Rain

Before the Blood

09 SoL - Artworks II - Before The Blood

Killing Floor

05 SoL - Artworks II - Killing Floor

Cinnamon Opinion

The BuiltMore

Funky Bolly Pop

Cinnamon Opinion 2

Zhazz

Barrow

Tauren Dreams

I've been a musician since I was a teenager in a garage band. Computer software has become a new instrument. My main is electric bass guitar. Second is acoustic guitar.

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