July Friends

Recorded in Modesto, Ca. Featuring Gibson 335 Electric Guitar solo. Alto Saxophone solo. Steinway Brothers Acoustic Piano Rhythm. Gibson L5 Electric Guitar Rhythm. Fender Electric Bass. Roland Synthesizer Bass. Drums full kit. Percussion, Cow Bell, Ago go Bells, Tambourine, 22" Zildjan Ride & Crash Cymbal. Congas, Bongos.

Cannery Row

Dashing Out

Dedicated to 29 years old police officer Rouven Laur who lost his life today in Mannheim being stabbed down by an islamistic attacker while trying to save the life of another victim of this terror attack. Rest in peace, may you be never forgotten.
written in 1994

Pulseless (2024)

Cast of characters:
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ—piano, synth, lead vocals, lyrics, seed idea 
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen–electric and acoustic guitar, slide guitar intro 
mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – backing vocals, organ, vst sax, mix, and production
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 – four-string fretless bass
Composition--The Eclectic Collective

  This song began as an idea JJ came up with during one of his Saturday night creative sessions, fleshed out on the piano, drums, and bass. I was first on this by coming up with a new bass line to go with it, but Ken was also an integral part of that process, as always, too, adding his perfectly suited drums to it. Once we had the rhythm section down, Stephen added his electric guitar, which adds a great howling at the moon esthetic to it, and his acoustic guitar as a foundational element. He also added the cool slide guitar you hear in the intro. 
  At this point, JJ decided it needed some vocals, too. So, he wrote up some lyrics and sang them, giving his typically light, gentle voice some rough swagger. Mark then came along and added the rich backing vocals you hear in there. He also added the sax solo and the organ, too He also was able to correct some timing issues we were having, by using his able hand in the DAW. Then, of course as every good song needs a good mix, Mark did the honors for us with this one, too.
  This is a true Eclectic Collective song, and we hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it.   Also, in case you were wondering where Josh and Tez have been, they've both just returned from vacations in North Carolina and Ireland, but are excited to be back making music with the team.
Original lyrics by JJ Terrell:
That fog around the mountain

is getting set to rise

pulling these wheels on down the road lord

is pulling my heart right out


If you really love someone now

wouldn't you want it to be a hundred to none?

instead of traveling around with a scorecard by your side


ooooh oh yeah

gonna set you free


ooooh, oh yeah

gonna leave you be
that fog around the mountain
it's like a dream
my heart, it has soon forgotten
a rolling stone like me

saxophone
looking down that dusty road
sun's beatin' down

pulling these wheels on down the road lord
has got me down
until I see you again. 




That Dusty Road (The Eclectic Collective)

Cast of characters: 

Quanah Stewart --vocals, lyrics
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen–electric guitar, synths, arrangement, composition, mix, and production 
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 – four-string fretless bass
 
This song began with Stephen and his friend and bandmate, Quanah Stewart who also sings this version, and who wrote the lyrics. They were in a band together for about 7 years in the early 2000s. When the band broke up, they went many years without playing together. Until, in 2018 Stephen started his TexMex shaman project and this was one of the first songs he wrote.  Quanah had moved to Austin in the meantime but on a visit back to Dallas, Stephen asked him to come over and add the vocal track you hear on the song.  
 
Fast forward to 2024 and Stephen wanted to remix this along with a few other older tunes. He asked his good friends and teammates Ken and me if we'd like to help, and of course, we were super enthusiastic.  This is what Stephen had to say about the finished product. "Their parts blew me away.  Beyond what I expected and it made it a whole new song.  Very grateful to them both for their time and talent." As are Ken and I very grateful to Stephen for sharing his awesome rocker with us.  
  The title comes from trying to think of the stupidest song title Stephen could come up with, on a bet. And it’s close. 
  Of course, Stephen did the honors of mixing and producing it. Ken and Josh had a lot of fun brining this song back to life with him, whose creativity and skill are unparalleled. We all hope you (and Quanah) enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it. 
Original Lyrics by Quanah Stewart:
1212 still like to dance still like to sing deep cover elevator parking lot bring yeah THEY don't know about IT THEY aint seen we squeakin tweakin but were bufferin th stream yeah favorite stories favorite songs hey check th timeline might be gettin mighty long now my mind expanded my mind IS blown my head exploded but I dont know what it shown yeah (unknowable silence) NOW ITS some bullshit we went through who knew th
CHASMS came & got you 2 still sayin fuck you still stayin high still makin me believe that Bon Scott never died rye whens the punchline when
IS IT near nobody laughin said that no one shed o tear NOW so whats th story what th eff we gonna have to make IT with what little we got left yeah yeah

Tallywhacker OMG! (with Stephen and Ken of The Eclectic Collective, and sung by Qhanah Stewart)

Album Summer Of The Seasonal Optimist 2024 
...with a little help from my friends...

Summer Of The Seasonal Optimist

¡Esta conga no es una anguila! 

Believe me; I should know. We've been sharing a room for weeks!

This Conga Ain't No Eel

Singer, arranger, producer and composer.

When younger, I played guitar and sang but now I hope I can do much more. My main interest today is in producing melodic (maybe electronically-enhanced) instrumental tracks. But I do still sing, whenever necessary.  

My roots are in English & Irish folk songs. In 2024, I'm regularly singing sea shanties in public venues.

Regarding life experience|: I've played in bars ("Sing something we know!"), on the street ("Look at that funny man, Mummy!") and in village halls ("When are they serving the food?") but now I embrace the peace that is only found in the studio.

This Conga Ain't No Eel

Briny iByrn