Dan Hewins: The Deck » spade http://thedeck.danhewins.com 52 songs in 52 weeks: A Deck of Songs in 2009 by Dan Hewins. A song-per-week project. Wed, 12 Jan 2011 21:54:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 2009 dhh@hewins.org (Dan Hewins) dhh@hewins.org (Dan Hewins) music 1440 http://thedeck.danhewins.com/dhh/img/deck_144.jpg Dan Hewins: The Deck » spade http://thedeck.danhewins.com 144 144 52 songs in 52 weeks: A Deck of Songs in 2009 by Dan Hewins. A song-a-week project. 52 songs in 52 weeks: A Deck of Songs in 2009 by Dan Hewins. A song-a-week project. Daniel, Hewing, songs, deck, cards, spades, hearts, diamonds, clubs, weekly Dan Hewins Dan Hewins dhh@hewins.org no no King of Spades http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/04/06/king-of-spades/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/04/06/king-of-spades/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:46:54 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=78 Wow, I've made it through one suit. This is the King of Spades, another african-influenced song. This I did at the space with the electric guitar and some percussion.

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/04/06/king-of-spades/feed/ 1 5:39 Wow, I've made it through one suit. This is the King of Spades, another african-influenced song. This I did at the space with the electric ... Wow, I've made it through one suit. This is the King of Spades, another african-influenced song. This I did at the space with the electric guitar and some percussion. black cards, spades Dan Hewins no no Queen of Spades: Darn These Walls http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/29/queen-of-spades-darn-these-walls/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/29/queen-of-spades-darn-these-walls/#comments Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:00:55 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=71 Here is another acoustic guitar based instrumental. I like the drone music. I added a few more ambient parts on top of the two acoustic guitar parts with electric guitar and a bunch of effects. One ambient track is a cymbal with the mic real close.

The name is derived from the "soundproof" walls that we have at the space. That premise (promise) is false. It's hard to record an acoustic guitar in a room next to one of the louder bands around. They were covering a Pavement song for some of the time, so I have to give points to that. So, with those points, they are at negative 25. I just gotta live with it. Serendipitously, they ended a song right after I had ended mine so there was a little bow tied on the end of that noise gift.

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/29/queen-of-spades-darn-these-walls/feed/ 0 7:00 Here is another acoustic guitar based instrumental. I like the drone music. I added a few more ambient parts on top of the two acoustic ... Here is another acoustic guitar based instrumental. I like the drone music. I added a few more ambient parts on top of the two acoustic guitar parts with electric guitar and a bunch of effects. One ambient track is a cymbal with the mic real close. The name is derived from the "soundproof" walls that we have at the space. That premise (promise) is false. It's hard to record an acoustic guitar in a room next to one of the louder bands around. They were covering a Pavement song for some of the time, so I have to give points to that. So, with those points, they are at negative 25. I just gotta live with it. Serendipitously, they ended a song right after I had ended mine so there was a little bow tied on the end of that noise gift. black cards, spades Dan Hewins no no Jack of Spades: A Man A Plan A Canal Panama http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/22/jack-of-spades-a-man-a-plan-a-canal-panama/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/22/jack-of-spades-a-man-a-plan-a-canal-panama/#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:11:15 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=69 Face Card! That means I've made it to week eleven.

This song is another instrumental but instead of acoustic guitar, I went with electric. There are three guitar parts on here and some percussion tracks as well. This started with the original riff on the first guitar and I added a couple other parts. This may be one of the ones that could be built upon at another time to make something more out of it. But I do also like it how it is. I did this at the space on Saturday.

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/22/jack-of-spades-a-man-a-plan-a-canal-panama/feed/ 1 4:36 Face Card! That means I've made it to week eleven. This song is another instrumental but instead of acoustic guitar, I went with electric. There are ... Face Card! That means I've made it to week eleven. This song is another instrumental but instead of acoustic guitar, I went with electric. There are three guitar parts on here and some percussion tracks as well. This started with the original riff on the first guitar and I added a couple other parts. This may be one of the ones that could be built upon at another time to make something more out of it. But I do also like it how it is. I did this at the space on Saturday. black cards, spades Dan Hewins no no Ten of Spades: Subway Platform: 2:45 am http://thedeck.danhewins.com/general/03/16/ten-of-spades-subway-platform-245-am/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/general/03/16/ten-of-spades-subway-platform-245-am/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2009 05:29:33 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=63 This week's song is about riding the subway late at night. Very late at night, or maybe very early in the morning. It's basically how I feel now, tired and overworked; but the only difference is that I'm home right now. Which is where I wanted to be in this song.

I did this one this weekend at the space. There are some differences between recording at home and at the space and they each have their advantages and disadvantages. At home, I have reason so I can do fake drums and synths and keyboards. But at the space, I have my better guitar, the ability to play it loudly, and my bass and, basically my better equipment. But the drawback is that the space is home to many bands and it's not the most soundproofed place in the world, as you will be able to hear at the end of this song if you listen carefully. I think it gives it character. But that's because I have to live with it.

Here's a photo of the A Train platform at 34th Street at 2:45 am:

from flickr

from flickr

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/general/03/16/ten-of-spades-subway-platform-245-am/feed/ 1 4:03 This week's song is about riding the subway late at night. Very late at night, or maybe very early in the morning. It's basically how ... This week's song is about riding the subway late at night. Very late at night, or maybe very early in the morning. It's basically how I feel now, tired and overworked; but the only difference is that I'm home right now. Which is where I wanted to be in this song. I did this one this weekend at the space. There are some differences between recording at home and at the space and they each have their advantages and disadvantages. At home, I have reason so I can do fake drums and synths and keyboards. But at the space, I have my better guitar, the ability to play it loudly, and my bass and, basically my better equipment. But the drawback is that the space is home to many bands and it's not the most soundproofed place in the world, as you will be able to hear at the end of this song if you listen carefully. I think it gives it character. But that's because I have to live with it. Here's a photo of the A Train platform at 34th Street at 2:45 am: [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="75" caption="from flickr"][/caption] general Dan Hewins no no Nine of Spades: Road Song in the Key of We http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/08/nine-of-spades-road-song-in-the-key-of-we/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/08/nine-of-spades-road-song-in-the-key-of-we/#comments Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:41:41 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=58 Nine of Spades is a road song. Road trips are awesome and I wish I was able to take more of them. I still haven't done a cross-country drive and I really want to do it someday. There is so much to see and do basically anywhere you go. So, that's what this is about. I did this at home with the acoustic guitar and reason drums. I finished the vocals at the space this weekend.

Now, I'm gonna get in a zip car and go to Long Island.

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/03/08/nine-of-spades-road-song-in-the-key-of-we/feed/ 1 3:15 Nine of Spades is a road song. Road trips are awesome and I wish I was able to take more of them. I still haven't ... Nine of Spades is a road song. Road trips are awesome and I wish I was able to take more of them. I still haven't done a cross-country drive and I really want to do it someday. There is so much to see and do basically anywhere you go. So, that's what this is about. I did this at home with the acoustic guitar and reason drums. I finished the vocals at the space this weekend. Now, I'm gonna get in a zip car and go to Long Island. black cards, spades Dan Hewins no no Eight of Spades: Contemplation of a City: Los Angeles http://thedeck.danhewins.com/general/03/01/eight-of-spades-contemplation-of-a-city-los-angeles/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/general/03/01/eight-of-spades-contemplation-of-a-city-los-angeles/#comments Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:41:48 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=52 A couple of weeks ago I took a trip to Long Beach and Los Angeles, CA. I really love California and I used to live in Walnut Creek a long time ago, when I was youg.

There is an ongoing rivalry between LA and New York, where I live now. People in each city think theirs is better and try to convince their counterparts of those facts.

I won't get into what I think here in this post, but you can find out by listening to this song.

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/general/03/01/eight-of-spades-contemplation-of-a-city-los-angeles/feed/ 1 3:11 A couple of weeks ago I took a trip to Long Beach and Los Angeles, CA. I really love California and I used to live ... A couple of weeks ago I took a trip to Long Beach and Los Angeles, CA. I really love California and I used to live in Walnut Creek a long time ago, when I was youg. There is an ongoing rivalry between LA and New York, where I live now. People in each city think theirs is better and try to convince their counterparts of those facts. I won't get into what I think here in this post, but you can find out by listening to this song. general Dan Hewins no no Seven of Spades: O Captain http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/22/seven-of-spades-o-captain/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/22/seven-of-spades-o-captain/#comments Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:33:08 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=49 The Seven of Spades is a song I wrote to a poem by Walt Whitman. A collection called "Leaves of Grass" contains this poem. It's a bit like what Billy Bragg and Wilco did to Woody Guthrie lyrics except that this poem was published and wasn't intended to be lyrics (as far as I know).

I did this at home with the acoustic guitar.

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/22/seven-of-spades-o-captain/feed/ 0 6:08 The Seven of Spades is a song I wrote to a poem by Walt Whitman. A collection called "Leaves of Grass" contains this poem. It's ... The Seven of Spades is a song I wrote to a poem by Walt Whitman. A collection called "Leaves of Grass" contains this poem. It's a bit like what Billy Bragg and Wilco did to Woody Guthrie lyrics except that this poem was published and wasn't intended to be lyrics (as far as I know). I did this at home with the acoustic guitar. black cards, spades Dan Hewins no no Six of Spades: The Sun Rises, But Shines Not http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/15/six-of-spades-the-sun-rises-but-shines-not/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/15/six-of-spades-the-sun-rises-but-shines-not/#comments Sun, 15 Feb 2009 17:00:16 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=47 "The sun rises, but shines not," is a quote from Walt Whitman about a certain battle early in the Civil War. The Union lost this one and it set everybody in Washington in a pretty bad mood. This was Whitman's assessment of the morning that followed the battle. Because the battle was so close to Washington, civilians, including Congressmen and their families had picnics on a bluff from which they could see the battle in action in the distance. As the Union Army retreated they panicked and the streets back to Washington were clogged with soldiers and the spectators alike.

President Lincoln told General McDowell before the battle that "You are green, it is true, but they are green also; you are all green alike." I used part of this quote in the song as well.

This is the second song that I have used eight tracks of vocals (5 and 3). It's definitely "something."

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/15/six-of-spades-the-sun-rises-but-shines-not/feed/ 0 6:11 "The sun rises, but shines not," is a quote from Walt Whitman about a certain battle early in the Civil War. The Union lost this ... "The sun rises, but shines not," is a quote from Walt Whitman about a certain battle early in the Civil War. The Union lost this one and it set everybody in Washington in a pretty bad mood. This was Whitman's assessment of the morning that followed the battle. Because the battle was so close to Washington, civilians, including Congressmen and their families had picnics on a bluff from which they could see the battle in action in the distance. As the Union Army retreated they panicked and the streets back to Washington were clogged with soldiers and the spectators alike. President Lincoln told General McDowell before the battle that "You are green, it is true, but they are green also; you are all green alike." I used part of this quote in the song as well. This is the second song that I have used eight tracks of vocals (5 and 3). It's definitely "something." black cards, spades Dan Hewins no no Five of Spades http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/08/five-of-spades/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/08/five-of-spades/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:46:40 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=45 The Five of Spades is an instrumental track. It's mostly an acoustic guitar piece but I've added a bunch more acoustic and electric guitar tracks near the end. This is getting closer to being something that I actually would like to listen to myself. If that sounds weird, I understand. I really like droning and repetitive acoustic guitar stuff. And, while I don't have the skills that I love in John Fahey, Elizabeth Cotten and Doug Keith and nor am I playing in that fingerpicking style, I really like where this is going.

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/08/five-of-spades/feed/ 1 7:40 The Five of Spades is an instrumental track. It's mostly an acoustic guitar piece but I've added a bunch more acoustic and electric guitar tracks ... The Five of Spades is an instrumental track. It's mostly an acoustic guitar piece but I've added a bunch more acoustic and electric guitar tracks near the end. This is getting closer to being something that I actually would like to listen to myself. If that sounds weird, I understand. I really like droning and repetitive acoustic guitar stuff. And, while I don't have the skills that I love in John Fahey, Elizabeth Cotten and Doug Keith and nor am I playing in that fingerpicking style, I really like where this is going. black cards, spades Dan Hewins no no Four of Spades: Song Of The Sea http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/01/four-of-spades-song-of-the-sea/ http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/01/four-of-spades-song-of-the-sea/#comments Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:00:34 +0000 hewins http://thedeck.danhewins.com/?p=42 The Four of spades is my first foray into the wetter side of life.

Wouldn't it be nice to be a fish in the sea? To swim around willy-nilly. Join a school and zip around with your friends. It would be fun to explore the depths and see all the pretty things that oceanic life has to offer. Swimming to any point in the wet earth might just be possible. Time wouldn't be an issue. What does a fish have to do all day except for eating smaller marine life and avoiding the jaws of the larger? Have mass amounts of fun, is what!

Or what about a crustacean? The insects of the sea. Swimming backwards might not be so bad and maybe kinda fun. And some have the added bonus of having claws. What I could do with a pair of claws! Nuts would not be a problem anymore; I wouldn't need that ballet-related Christmas ornament if I had claws. How exciting to not have internal bones! Oh, to be a mass of slime contained by a shell. Barnacles can go anywhere a ship takes them and they don't even have to expend the energy to get there. A leisurely life, indeed.

Squids and Octopi? Not too bad either. So many tendrils! The mystery! The ink! Escape under a cloud of darkness and confusion. Cram into that little nook, this cranny. How easy it would be to hide and be safe. And the lucky ones get to grow to immense proportion and have show-downs with the masters of the sea: whales!

Shellfish. I admit that is not as exciting. How to mobilize? Can they even vote? Are there elections in the sea? If not, maybe a clam or scallop could organize the first. That would be a good way to make a name for oneself.

Just listen to the song.

]]> http://thedeck.danhewins.com/black/02/01/four-of-spades-song-of-the-sea/feed/ 1 4:40 The Four of spades is my first foray into the wetter side of life. Wouldn't it be nice to be a fish in the sea? To ... The Four of spades is my first foray into the wetter side of life. Wouldn't it be nice to be a fish in the sea? To swim around willy-nilly. Join a school and zip around with your friends. It would be fun to explore the depths and see all the pretty things that oceanic life has to offer. Swimming to any point in the wet earth might just be possible. Time wouldn't be an issue. What does a fish have to do all day except for eating smaller marine life and avoiding the jaws of the larger? Have mass amounts of fun, is what! Or what about a crustacean? The insects of the sea. Swimming backwards might not be so bad and maybe kinda fun. And some have the added bonus of having claws. What I could do with a pair of claws! Nuts would not be a problem anymore; I wouldn't need that ballet-related Christmas ornament if I had claws. How exciting to not have internal bones! Oh, to be a mass of slime contained by a shell. Barnacles can go anywhere a ship takes them and they don't even have to expend the energy to get there. A leisurely life, indeed. Squids and Octopi? Not too bad either. So many tendrils! The mystery! The ink! Escape under a cloud of darkness and confusion. Cram into that little nook, this cranny. How easy it would be to hide and be safe. And the lucky ones get to grow to immense proportion and have show-downs with the masters of the sea: whales! Shellfish. I admit that is not as exciting. How to mobilize? Can they even vote? Are there elections in the sea? If not, maybe a clam or scallop could organize the first. That would be a good way to make a name for oneself. Just listen to the song. black cards, spades Dan Hewins no no