In the late '90s when I played with the DMV-based alt-rock band Right Foot Yellow, I found a postcard with a photo from the Pamplona Running of the Bulls showing a man getting tossed up in the air. That gave me an idea for a song about how vain people can be that they think they can get away with the stupidest things, like running down a street in front of a herd of charging bulls.

Just this week while straightening up some music gear, I found that postcard again.

Pamplona Vanities

"Woke up this Thanksgiving morning...and my car was towed." That's exactly what my friend's facebook post said. Which sounded like a line from a country song. So between sips of beer and watching football (boooo Cowboys), I wrote and recorded a song in about two and a half hours. Funny how a single line can so quickly morph into a whole song. It's not going to knock Alice's Restaurant off of the all-time best Thanksgiving songs playlist but it was fun to do.

By the way, my friend's holiday went straight uphill from that point getting to spend it with his mother, kids and granddaughter.

Thanksgiving Blues

Joe Reiman has been playing rock, folk, blues, country and roots music in the Northern Virginia area for over thirty years. Having first picked up a guitar in the eighth grade, he has performed in full bands, small groups and as a solo act. Most recently, Joe has been working as a solo artist with a repertoire that goes from well known songs to more eclectic gems to originals. 

Using both acoustic and electric guitars, his set list on a given night can range from The Carter Family, John Prine and Johnny Cash to Marvin Gaye, Green Day and even Anna Kendrick. With a philosophy that a good song is a good song regardless of who first wrote or performed it, he enjoys to putting songs in context by listing out who has recorded a tune or pointing out that a recent pop song has its origins in 1920's Appalachian music. 

Joe has played the main stage at the National Cherry Blossom Festival, performed with Brian Vander Ark of the band The Verve Pipe, joined showcase shows with the Songwriters Association of Washington and was a semi-finalist in the 2018 Vienna Idol competition.

Pamplona Vanities

Joe Reiman Music

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