Elderchats 1:  MaryG (1941)

A raw home recoding of the Bob Dylan classic. Andy Ewen sings and plays guitar.

Girl From the North Country

Madison's Honor Among Thieves band in trio format playing the Elmore James' classic.
Recorded by Bob Appel at a private party hosted by Michael Dorf at the original Knitting Factory on Houston Street in May of 1990. 
Andy Ewen: Vocal and Guitar
Doug DeRosa: Bass
Terry Galloway: Drums

The Sky Is Crying (Knitting Factory, New York City - May 8th, 1990)

A tune Andy Ewen wrote inspired by his friend Mary Reed who was bass player, Doug DeRosa's house mate at the time. Honor Among Thieves would practice in their basement while their bedrooms were on the second floor. Just a little fantasy. Mary was one of Madison, Wisconsin's most beloved bartenders and a joy to all who knew her.  Mary was tragically killed, hit by a car while walking in 2022.  She lives on in our hearts and minds.

The version I've posted, courtesy of audience member, Rob Repenshek,  was a board tape from a live performance at "The East End" a now gone Madison music club. 

Band In the Basement

There’s a band in the basement
Two flights down
She’s up in her room
Starts moving around
It’s taking shape
There’s a band in the basement
Two flights down
And I’m about to lose control…

There’s a band in the basement
Two flights down
Hey turn it up
You know I love the sound
I want to feel the bass
In every place
I want to feel the drum 
And I’m about to…
I’m about to lose control

There’s a band in the basement
Two flights down
It’s taking shape
I’m moving around
I want to feel the bass
In every place
I want to feel the drum 
And I’m about to…
I’m about to lose control

Andy Ewen:Vocal, Guitar and Songwriter
Doug DeRosa: Bass
Randal Harrison: Violin
Pepo Parisi: Drums

Band in the Basement

A song by Junior Wells and Phil Guy (Buddy's brother). Madison, Wisconsin's Honor Among Thieves band has been playing our version of this song for over 40 years.
This rendition was from a night in late 1995 at Madison's Crystal Corner Bar. Kind of wild and crazy. 

Andy Ewen: Guitar and Vocal
Doug DeRosa:Bass
Randal Harrison: Violin
Pepo Parisi: Drums

From a board tape digitized by Ryan Repenshek

Watch Me Move (Crystal Corner, late 1995)

A board tape of Madison, Wisconsin's Honor Among Thieves band performing a cover of a song by Steve Summers and EIEIO in a club in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1993. EIEIO was a popular alt rock band during the late 20th Century. Steve would often do sound for ( and sit in with https://soundcloud.com/andy-ewen/monasteve-summers-with-honor-among-thieves-1991)  Honor Among Thieves. Somehow we wound up performing this song on rare occasions.

Steve Summers: Songwriter
Andy Ewen: Vocal and Guitar
Doug DeRosa: Bass
Randal Harrison: Violin
Pepo Parisi: Drums

Photo by Catherine Onsrud-Ewen

Faithless Lover

Recorded on a boombox, November 17, 1984 at Madison, Wisconsin's O’Cayz Corral, this rarely performed Honor Among Thieves song was written just as Ronald Reagan was elected for a second term. Seems pretty quaint given today's political climate. 

Sergeant Fun

You better clean yourself
Before you seat yourself
At that welcome table 
And you treat yourself

Here in the Land of the Free
Under the Command of Sergeant Fun

You better eat your pie
Before the other guy
Does like you in this Big Sky Lie

Here in the Land of the Free
Under the Command of Sergeant Fun

There’s not much to do
But there’s a lot to buy
Don’t think too much
Hey…just close your eyes

Here in the Land of the Free
Under the Command of Sergeant Fun

Andy Ewen: Vocal, Guitar, Songwriter
Doug DeRosa: Bass
Pepo Parisi: Drums
Pasquale: Saxophone

Digitized by Ryan Repenshek
Photo credit: Keith Wessel

Sergeant Fun

A live recording of Madison, Wisconsin's Honor Among Thieves Band performing at one of our favorite venues, The Crystal Corner Bar. One of the Thieves' longtime drummer, Joey B. Banks' first gigs with the group. The lyrics to the song seem to be a fitting commentary, given the state of things.

Empty Car

It’s an empty car
But he rides like a king
Upon his throne
So many words
Not a one of them takes him home

A flag on every mountain
No matter what the cost
He thinks he the Duke of Desire
He’s just the Prince of Paradise Lost

If your house is cold 
Paint it green and call it spring
So many words
Not a one of them means a thing

Andy Ewen: Lead Vocal, Guitar, Songwriter
Doug DeRosa: Bass, Backing Vocal
Randal Harrison: Violin
Joey B. Banks: Drums


Empty Car (Honor Among Thieves Live at the Crystal Corner, June 1, 1997)

One of Madison, Wisconsin's Honor Among Thieves band's most performed songs. This version was recorded live on Halloween, 1997 at the Harmony Bar and Grill. The whole evening was featured on 105.5 Triple M's Mad City Live. Numerous songs from the show were later released as a live album called "Primordial Soup Du Jour":

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ly-2t1_ITyBEBPktzXKdLDeijTAQNu_FU

Andy Ewen: Vocal, Guitar, Songwriter
Doug DeRosa: Bass
Randal Harrison:Violin
Pepo Parisi: Drums

Recorded by Steve Gotcher




Let it Out (Honor Among Thieves, Halloween Night 1997)

One of Madison, Wisconsin's Honor Among Thieves band's most performed songs. This version was recorded live on Halloween, 1997 at the Harmony Bar and Grill. The whole evening was featured on 105.5 Triple M's Mad City Live. Numerous songs from the show were later released as a live album called "Primordial Soup Du Jour".

Andy Ewen: Vocal, Guitar, Songwriter
Doug DeRosa: Bass
Randal Harrison:Violin
Pepo Parisi: Drums

Recorded by Steve Gotcher

Photo by Joseph Blough

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