This is V.E.'s most popular song (so far)! Thank you for listening!

If you'd prefer to spread the love on Spotify, here it is:
https://open.spotify.com/track/1CLITvKV9NyzJVRWi6Gs5e

If you'd prefer to download it (for free), here is the BandCamp link for Mending Wall Records:
https://mendingwallrecords.bandcamp.com/track/i-wish-the-best-for-you-single

I wish the best for you

V.E. are an art-rock band based in Richmond, Virginia.  This cover of The Bee-Gees’ “I Started A Joke” is their first release since 2018.

Songwriters: Barry Alan Gibb and Maurice Ernest Gibb
Bass, guitar, vocals: Lawrence Joseph
Drums: Tricia Kupec
Mixed by Allen Bergendahl at Viking Recording
Mastered by Mark Trewella at Full Circle Mastering
Cover photo by Laura Manchester

I Started A Joke

"Angelene" (PJ Harvey cover) live on WRIR on February 22, 2014

"Kelly Clarkson" live on WRIR on February 22, 2014

Given time, you could learn to love me.
And I wouldn’t mind should you sit near me.

Given time, you might think I’m pretty.
And I wouldn’t mind should you want to touch me.

I scratch at you like a bird outside my window.
But, I’ll wait. It’s almost your birthday.

Happy almost birthday.
credits
from Five Four Girls, released November 3, 2023
Lawrence Joseph: Vocals.
Allen Bergendahl: Additional Mixing.

Five Four Girls

To Jenny

Oh, I want to care and I want you to make me care, if you can.
But, we won’t get anywhere if you claim to know the hearts of men better than I do.

Show us what was there and now we have to know that there’s nothing there.
Let us see a house and a yard. It doesn’t feel that far from here, it’s a place that we’ve been to.

Tell me something to make it real.
But, don’t admonish me.

Paint a picture: he was lying in a field content if we let him be.

But don’t say I drone bomb you.
And then you drone bomb me.

I’ve now no choice, I drone bomb you
And you must answer drone bomb me.

Sometime later I drone bomb you.
Because you drone bomb me.

It starts anew, drone bomb you.
And then you drone bomb me.
credits
from Five Four Girls, released November 3, 2023
Tricia: Drums.
Lawrence Joseph: Piano, Bass, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals.
Kyle Lewis: Lead Guitar.
Additional mixing: Allen Bergendahl.

Drone Bomb You

What’s with these girls hovering around me?
All of these girls laughing at something I can’t see.
Tell all these girls I won’t take care of them if all these girls don’t smile when I approach.

They’ll never warm up to me.
Not this time around.
Maybe next time I’ll be so handsome they’ll be fighting about…

They’ll never warm up to me.
Not this time around.
Maybe next time I’ll have so much talent, there’ll be little doubt how much these girls really really need me and which of these girls will draw me a bath.

Tell all these girls, “stop acting like children,” or I’ll cover my ears and act like one too.

They’ll never warm up to me.
Not this time around.
Maybe next time I’ll be so handsome they’ll be fighting about…

They’ll never warm up to me.
Not this time around.
Maybe next time I’ll have so much talent, there’ll be little doubt how much these girls really really love me. Without me, these girls, they won’t be complete.

Hey, make sure these girls, they know that they’re wanted.
But, hey you, you girls, we need not have spoke.
credits

from Five Four Girls, released November 3, 2023

Tricia: Drums.
Lawrence Joseph: Guitar, Bass, Vocals.
Mixing: Allen Bergendahl.
Drums recorded at Rabid Ears Studios by Allen Bergendahl.

Lyrics:

I’ve been jonesing for you.
Cupcake don’t say you haven’t been warned.
Where were you Sunday? 
I called. I called again. I knocked on your door.
At this point, I should be able to reach you without pulling teeth.
Instead, who is that red-painted monster caught up in irrational need?

Don’t try to say something nice for my sake. Kick out the legs on which I slump.
I’ve learned to be incisive and save face.  That thrill ride has dulled its punch.
Don’t call me honey. 
Don’t talk down to me.
You used to have manners; where did they go?
When you call me honey, you’re talking down to me.  That well-honed tact, where did that go?

Hey, nobody’s drowning.  No want of a savior; stay the incident crew.
What were you thinking? A clean shirt, poof, I’m somebody new?
I’m all things bright. A smile. A wink. Come on, count me in.
Well, I’m sorry pudd'n, it’s love: ruthless, exciting and used.

 (c) 2014 

The song was produced and recorded by L.J. Rafalko and Tricia Kupec at the Birdhouse.  L.J. on guitar, bass and vocals. Tricia on drums.  Mixed by L.J. and Viking Recording/Allen Bergendahl at Scott’s Addition Sound. Mastered by Allen Bergendahl.  Artwork features a detail from “Athena Introducing the Blank Canvas” by John Murdock.

Link to download the song:
https://variouseggs.bandcamp.com/track/dont-call-me-honey-radio-edit

Links to Various Eggs:
http://www.variouseggs.com/
https://www.facebook.com/VariousEggs


Don't Call Me Honey (Radio Edit)

“Gold” was recorded by V.E. for Mash Notes Vol. 1, a compilation album of Richmond bands covering other Richmond bands.

We made a video for this song! It's on YouTube, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d_wCUNlZ3I



Words and music by Dorthia Cottrell.

Drums, acoustic guitar, vocals: LJ / Bass: Todd / Feedback: Ben.

Produced by LJ.

Mixed by Allen Bergendahl of Viking Recordings.
Recorded at The Bird House, Richmond, Virginia.
Mastered by Bryan Walthall of Stereo Image Productions.

Digital Collage by John Murdock.
Photo by Zachary Hodges.
Mending Wall Records 
Something there is that doesn't love a wall.

P.O. Box 7372 
Richmond, Virginia 23221


©2018

Gold

from I Only Have Eyes For You, released March 30, 2018 
“Your Face Is On My Wall (Instrumental Version)” (L. Rafalko) 
Guitar: Todd / Bass: Ben / Drums: Tricia / Clarinets: L.J. 

Recorded at The Bird House. 
Mixed by Allen Bergendahl of Viking Recordings at Rabid Ear Studio. 
Mastered by Mark Trewella of Full Circle Mastering, Philadelphia. 

Mending Wall Records 
Something there is that doesn't love a wall. 
P.O. Box 7372 Richmond, Virginia 23221 

©2018

Your Face Is on My Wall (Instrumental Version) V.E.

Your Face Is On My Wall (Instrumental Version)

from I Only Have Eyes For You, released March 30, 2018 

Thank you for listening!

If you'd prefer to spread the love on Spotify, here it is:
https://open.spotify.com/track/4DIunNjj1XsEZzeI8TcnKs

If you'd prefer to download it (for free), here is the BandCamp link for Mending Wall Records:
https://mendingwallrecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-only-have-eyes-for-you

"I Only Have Eyes for You" is a romantic love song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, written for the 1934 film "Dames." V.E. are a Richmond, Virginia based art-rock band. Their cover of the song has been described as Velvet Underground-like.

“I Only Have Eyes For You” (H. Warren, A. Dubin) 
Bass: Todd / Lead Guitar: Ben / Drums: Tricia / Vocals, guitar: L.J. 

Recorded at The Bird House. 
Mixed by Allen Bergendahl of Viking Recordings. 
Mastered by Mark Trewella of Full Circle Mastering, Philadelphia. 


Mending Wall Records 
Something there is that doesn't love a wall. 
P.O. Box 7372 Richmond, Virginia 23221 

©2018

I Only Have Eyes For You

“I Only Have Eyes For You”

01 Kelly Clarkson
02 Thomas Wolfe
03 You can be a Republican in the morning
04 Dance Impostor

You can be a Republican in the morning

The cat’s out of the bag… Our new 3 track E.P. is coming out on November 3rd! It’s also up and live on Bandcamp already because, well, I messed up.  Anyway, I’m thrilled to finally have released Five Four Girls. 

We started working on these songs at Rabid Ears Recording back in 2019 with the intention of releasing them as this E.P. From those recording sessions, only the drum tracking for the title track has made it to this release. Tricia and I recorded (or re-recorded) everything else at our own homegrown studio that we refer to as Mushroomtopia. The reason for that nickname is obvious if you’ve ever seen my moss-covered yard after a rainstorm.

"Five Four Girls" and "To Jenny" are songs written as a character.  They aren't me.  They aren't Tricia. But, it was fun to go to such unsavory places for some pretty creepy songs.

"Drone Bomb You" is an attempt to write something of a geo-political song.  And, boy, that is a difficult thing to write.  The song ended up a critique of another songwriter's attempt to write an urgent song about the state of politics. Kyle from Book of Wyrms guests on lead guitar on this song!

I thank Tricia for continuing to work with me and for enthusiastically jumping into the role of production partner. I thank Allen Bergendahl for his ongoing support, friendship, expertise and advice. I thank Kyle Lewis for many hours of shredding. I thank Laura Manchester for embracing my visual ideas and running with them to fantastic results. And thank you to Todd, Ben and Jake; “Five Four Girls” wouldn’t be what is without you.

-Lawrence Joseph

V.E.

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