MORE 1964

https://kirstenwenlock.bandcamp.com/

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1964

• Where Did Our Love Go
• First number one hit for the Supremes
• First 1964 song I covered in 2014
• Written by Holland-Dozier-Holland
• More 64′ songs coming very soon

NEW 63′ SONG

https://kirstenwenlock.bandcamp.com/album/1963

It has been a productive year for sure. My band Elk and Boar released something out of nothing, in June, produced by Elijah Thomson (Everest). We’re really proud of the record and thankful to all who participated and continue to support us.

Mom’s know, sometimes after laboring and then delivering something with a heart in it, postpartum blues can ensue. To fight them off I embarked on a 13 year project. This 2013, I recorded songs from the year 1963 and have been posting them on bandcamp. In just a few weeks I’ll start recording songs from 1964.  I plan to keep covering songs popular 50 years ago till I reach my birth year.

I just finished my version of One Fine Day written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It was a hit in the summer of 1963

 for The Chiffons. Had so much fun interpreting it. Super thankful to Eli and Frank for bringing some magic dimension and dynamic to the track. Love them. Have a listen!!

 

sidenote:

Frank Lenz- Water Tiger -YOU NEED IT. Purchase today. I listen to it everyday and it always feels new to me. It’s like water, light and weather change it so it is perpetually interesting. And it’s like tigers, because tigers are great.

Being 70

About a month ago I met a man in line at Goodwill Outlet (my very favorite place) who made a significant impression on me. We were talking about age. He asked me how old I was and I told him 37. He thought I was younger which for some reason made me blush, his manner of speech was so sweetly forthcoming. I’m in the middle of my projected lifespan and it is wonderful and strange. Noticed recently I’ve an aging neck and I saw today some new lines under my right eye and I realize my skin is getting tired. Strands of hair are silvering. My youth is helplessly slipping. There is no preserving it. I am forced to find the romance in maturation.

The handsome fellow in line next to me asks “How old do you think I am?” I shrug. “I’m 70.” he said.

“Really!” I say. “You don’t look 70. But tell me. What is 70 like?”

“It’s awful.” He said. “So lonely. Friends die or move in with family. People forget you. No one cares about you when you’re old. I’ll tell you. I have stories. I have done it all. Drank, chased women, smoked dope, stole (but never from a person), only been in jail once which is pretty good when you grew up in the hood.  Oh I could tell you stories. I will give you my number. Don’t give me yours but this is my number. You could call me anytime. 4 in the morning.  That’s another thing about being old, you don’t sleep.”

I haven’t called him. But when I sat down to the piano after meeting such an honest fellow, this melody came to me and soon after that, some time sensitive lyrics. Here’s a holiday song, inspired by Billy Ray. You can download it for free here.

70

all alone

all alone

all we learn on our own

how to use what we know on a dime

in the house no one calls

phone is tethered to a wall

I will throw a record on for old times

in my heart there’s a place

you have come before

how come you don’t come anymore?

this room gets so cold

and I’m scared sometimes

but I’ll be fine

I hold a thought of you in place

and when the earth turns its face

colors ache across an icy sky

bittersweet my old friend

it’s the holidays again

suits me like an outgrown lullaby

though we fit together

love I do know better

then to call another living thing mine

we’re not long here staying

only truth is we’re changing

we’ll decide to erode or shine

clouds’ll drift away

nothing stays the same

like seeing for first time

a baby’s cry

turns to a grown man’s smile

leaves to lose and find his way

in the end in the end

all our homeless wandering

reveals the grandeur of a heart’s floor plan

now is when it begins to get good if we can

hold each moment like a lovers hand

it’ll slip away nothing stays the same

the grape lets go of the vine

winter snow makes the water fall

the fruit becomes new wine

all alone all alone

all we learn on our own

what is left after a long hard cry

where are you my old friend

it’s the holidays again

suits me like an outgrown lullaby

1963

In April I recorded a cover of the song (Love is Like a) Heat Wave.  A few days later, Uncle Kenny pointed out that Heat Wave was released in 1963 – 50 years ago. Upon this realization, I determined to continue recording songs from 1963 in 2013. In 2014, I’ll begin posting songs popular in 1964; 2015, songs from 65′  and so on until I reach my birth year (1976). It’s an ambitious 13 project and I have been promised a parade if I succeed. Of course I love the idea of a parade being thrown in my honor on my 50th birthday, so you can expect I’ll hold up my end of the bargain.

1963  was a pivotal year in music and history; and is a great stem point for this project. The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Little Stevie Wonder put out first releases in this year; Martin Luther King gave his “I Have A Dream”speech and JFK was assassinated.  I have several 1963 songs up on bandcamp now. You can download them for free or, if you have the means-purchasing is loving : ) .

You’re invited to come with me on this adventure. I will happily consider recording your favorite 50 year old song.

XOXO,

Kirsten

Elk and Boar News

My band, Elk and Boar, released our second CD Something Out of Nothing  this June! It’s now available on itunes, spotify, bandcamp and cdbaby. Produced by my dear friend Elijah Thomson (Father John Misty), this project is one I feel very proud of and excited to share with you.  Help spread the word!

xo

ELK AND BOAR CD RELEASE!

Justin Mayfield introduced Travis and I at the end of 2009… it is perfect that he has offered to host our CD RELEASE PARTY THIS SATURDAY- Elk and Boar is after all- actually his fault.

These past few months have been eventful! We’ve been given the opportunity to play at a fancy unsanctioned SXSW party March 15th- next Tuesday! This trip to Austin inspired us to record more songs and complete our cd with the very brilliant Luke Stevens!

We have been blessed at every turn and we still can’t believe how it’s all come together in such a short amount of time with such limited resources. We are exceedingly thankful for the contributions of family and friends who’ve made it possible to print up cd’s and get to Austin. We hope- with cd sales- to raise enough money to eat while we’re there too! We are so excited to share this collection of songs! Hope you can attend!

JOIN US FOR A NIGHT OF SPECIAL GUESTS, MUSIC MAKING,
CD RELEASING, DANCING AND CELEBRATING!!
NO DOOR CHARGE!!

Saturday, March 12 · 8:00pm – 1:00am
Location	Justin Mayfield’s Warehouse 1120 Court E (use google maps) Look for a big red garage door! Tacoma, WA

 

room to start

Elk and Boar will be completing a full length CD titled room to start just in time for SXSW. We are busy recording with the very brilliant Luke Stevens in the Cottage Studio conveniently located in my backyard. To celebrate I made this video for room to start. Dee gave me gold… hundreds of amazing pictures to work with and Travis contributed lots of creative ideas and then delivered a truly powerful performance. Thanks to Elizabeth Greeleaf and Jenaya Crane for help with wardrobe and Deeds and Petunia for the hair decor. We had so much fun. Hope you enjoy!

new song

It has been awhile since I’ve recorded something in my attic and it’s a good thing for me to do… even if it’s not all I want it to be. This song has been haunting me for some months and I was afraid I wouldn’t finish it… then important words came and the fear left! Here it is, all young and born.

f o g

look at us

we are the family of God

all of us

none of us

in these uncomfortable clothes

are here cause we chose

some of us

black sheep and shepherd-less

wounded and suffering alone

all of us faith in our fingernails

better for love we’ve known

look at us

finally falling apart

keep me out

from May to May

I’m stretched out like linen,

like salt water taffy days

I’m owning up

I won’t forget that the end is a place I can start

you’re playing dead

well I’ll make amends

with your pretend ghost in my heart

look at us

we the family of God

broken up, saving face

you don’t come to dinner

I know that I scare you away

it isn’t right

as it is in heaven

there’s room for us all in the choir

there you are

well I’ll be around

weighing down the wires

look at us

we are the family of God

Elk and Boar

Elk and Boar has a new blog site and lots of cool things upcoming up.  Click the link and come visit!

http://elkandboar.wordpress.com/