Tom Cole and Steve Esthimer took the liberty of conflating two Bob Dylan songs from the movie "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid."  Steve sings the first verses about Pat Garrett;  Tom sings the verses from "Knockin' on Heaven's Door;"  we both sing the refrains and last verse.  Tom plays harmonica;  Steve plays guitar and tambourine (by foot).  A live recording.

KnockinonHeavensDoor - Billy (demo)

An original song by Steve Esthimer, inspired by a line heard from an audiobook his wife Nora was listening to in the car.  Don't know the book or context for the expression, "his dog won't stay on the porch," but this song takes it in several directions.  Tom Cole sings harmony and plays tobacco tin (percussion) and harmonica.  He does a little barking, too.  Steve plays guitar and sings lead.  A live recording.  Warning:  one naughty word ("a-ho") in the lyrics.  Copyright (c) 2020 by Steven Esthimer

His Dog Won't Stay On The Porch (demo)

Based on a 1933 murder in NYC, this song channels the spirit of the dead man, Mike Malloy.  Written by Steve Esthimer.  Spence Foscue, drums and backup vocals;  Jimmy Dickerson, bass;  Tom Cole, harmonica;  Steve Esthimer, vocals, guitar, mandolin, fiddle.  Recorded on ZOOM H4n in the writer's basement.

The Murder Trust Steve Mix 4 Complete Stereo 1

A cover of one of our favorite Beatles' songs, performed by Tom Cole (trombone) and Steve Esthimer (guitar and cowbell foot pedal).  Posted here as a demo for our efforts to get gigs as a duo.

Maxwell's Silver Hammer (Demo)

Written and sung by Charles "Badfinger" Blackburn, with When Cousins Marry.  Charles plays the lead guitar;  Spence Foscue, drums;  Tom Cole, keyboard;  Jimmy Dickerson, bass;  Steve Esthimer, rhythm guitar.  Spence, Tom, and Steve sing the background vocals.  The song fades out, leaving the listener to wonder, "Does this ever end?"  From the Cousins' second CD, Midnight Golf.  Copyright (c) 2011 When Cousins Marry

Nightbird

A song for our times, written and sung by Tom Cole (trombone, too).  With Steve Esthimer (guitar and back up vocals).  This is a demo posted in our effort to get gigs as a duo, but this song appears in its full glory on the When Cousins Marry album "Midnight Golf."  This could be the theme song for most US politicians' campaigns.  Copyright (c) 2011 by When Cousins Marry

Not My Fault (demo)

Written and sung by Steve Esthimer, with Tom Cole.  Based on a story from my wife's family, just outside Rome, GA.  Seems about 80 years ago two of her uncles set out on a horse cart for a family funeral in Alabama, but returned unexpectedly the same day because they'd "drunk the comin' home likker" on the way and not saved it for the trip back after the service.  Copyright (c) 2016 by Steve Esthimer

Comin Home Likker (demo)

Another demo from Esthimer and Cole, live, with a Junior Wells cover.  Tom rips the bass line on the trombone.  Steve struggles to play guitar, sing, and work high hat cymbal w/ tambourine all at the same time.  Still, it seems to hold together and moves right along.  See if you can identify the musical quotation in the beginning of the guitar lead.  Note:  We took the liberty of rewriting the verse that makes the song about a woman who let Junior down to make it either neutral (my friend) or a male buddy who's pissed him off.  The tone of the whole song just seems to add up better that way to us.

Messin' With The Kid (demo)

A song for our times by, of course, Bob Dylan.  Tom Cole sings and plays harmonica, Steve Esthimer plays guitar and sings backup vocals.

The Times They Are A'changin' (demo)

A Raleigh news station reported that because of flooding on the Tar River, it was difficult to get to Nashville, NC.  An hour later, I came up with this song about trying to get back to Nashville.  Performed with Tom Cole (harmonica and backup vocals).  Steve Esthimer plays guitar and sings.  Which Nashville would you choose?  Copyright (c) 2020 by Steven Esthimer

Get Back To Nashville (demo)

Tom Cole and Steve Esthimer, covering a sweet song by The Left Banke.  Guitar and lead vocals, Esthimer;  back up vocals and trombone, Cole.

Steven Esthimer

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