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What Is American Man About?

Jason — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:52:29 +0000

When we recorded the album, we had a collection of 12 songs, but what order should we put them in? Start with three fast songs, slow down a bit and ramp back up for a climactic finish? Order it like a live set? These are difficult decisions to make. Then it occurred to me that there were three major themes and maybe the album could follow kind of a story arc of sorts. And musically and dynamically I felt it flowed well too.

The three major themes ended up being Love, Work and God, so that’s how I ordered it. It starts off with a cover of one of my favorite Hank Williams songs, Long Gone Lonesome Blues, not because of its lyrical depth or meaning to me personally, but because it’s fast, there’s yodeling and it’s just plain fun to sing. So it starts off that this man has lost this woman.

Then the album get’s very auto-biographical actually, as Goin’ Down is essentially the story of Jeri and I getting together and getting married and Shared Secrets continues that story. Undone (The Sweater Song) is the other cover song on the album (by Weezer). Followed by My Love.

So then we needed a transition between this happy, love relationship to the world of work and I thought The Road To Hell Is Paved With Good Intentions would be just the song. And it works really well.

American Man (the song) starts off the world of work portion and is about how life doesn’t necessarily turn out like you had dreamed it would. But it’s hard to find something better (Hard To Find).

The God portion contains Search Me O God, Don’t Believe ‘Em, and Heaven Is My Retirement Plan (bringing a sort of reconciliation with the world of work). And then as a final statement Make A Difference caps off the album with how we can make a difference in the world, even if it’s a small one. It’s not so hard after all.

FUNNEST VIDEO WE EVER RECORDED

Jason — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:49:29 +0000

Back in April we invited a bunch of people over to our house to record background vocals for the new American Man album and we had a blast. Over forty people were in our living room learning two songs and singing their parts. Here’s the video of that night:

Hard To Find with Piano

Jason — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 11:13:56 +0000

Check this out. My friend, Micah Vauteau, took our song Hard To Find and added some piano to it. It really complements the song and gives a whole new feel, or dimension to it. Thought you might like to hear it. Also, check out Micah’s website. He’s an extremely gifted songwriter and singer. Also, if you have any comments about the song, feel free to post them here.

Here’s the song:

Hard To Find – with piano

Brother Howe Internet Sitings

Jason — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 19:21:32 +0000

Brother Howe has shown up in a couple of corners of the internet world lately and I thought you’d like to know.

First, our song She Don’t Come ‘Round Here No More from our first album, Rock ‘n Roll Country was featured on a podcast called Outlaw Punk Cowboy Show. Pretty cool!

Secondly, our video for Heaven Is My Retirement Plan turned up on a fly-by-night retirement plan information site that is no longer there (it was there on 12/18, but oh well). The video’s been viewed now 511 times. Not bad!

November 6, 2009

admin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:45:54 +0000

NEW SONG PART OF “THE DEATH OF MICHIGAN” – We had our song Hard To Find selected to be part of an art exhibit at Kendall College of Art and Design, which is going from now through next Friday, November 13th. The exhibit is called The Death of Michigan and is based on how local artists have been influenced by the state of the economy in Michigan. Here is a copy of the song for you. Let us know how you like it: Hard To Find. Also, here is a link to the college: THE DEATH OF MICHIGAN

October 19, 2009

admin — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 22:09:29 +0000

PUBLISHING COMPANY NAME FINALISTS – First, I just wanna say that we had a great time playing last night with some really fantastic bands at the Big Noise on the Westside concert in Grand Rapids. Special thanks to those who came out to see us. It was fun to play again. Also, I just want to thank you guys for sending us your list of possible publishing company names. We ended up with a list of 34 names and out of those, we will be submitting the following names to BMI: Holy Howes of Rock Publishing Co. I’m Not Your Brother I’m Brother Howe Publishing Co. Some Howe Publishing Co. Howe Do They Do It? Publishing Co. Howe Publishing Co. And here’s my honorable mention for funniest: Howe Do U Like C.R.A.P. (Country, Rock And Punk) Tom, you crack me up! Anyway, I’ll get the form submitted and we’ll let you know who the winner is.

October 3, 2009

admin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:51:32 +0000

NEWS – SHOW COMING UP We have a show coming up in a couple of weeks in Grand Rapids. It will be the last show we play for awhile so we can work on recording the new album (more to follow on that below). It’s all ages, in the afternoon, there’s a bunch of bands playing and it should be real cool. I believe it is a fund raiser also. It’s SAT OCT 18th starting at 4pm (not sure what time we’ll be playing). See the flyer below or click on the link at the bottom of the page. PUBLISHING CO NAME CONTEST I need your help on something. I am starting a music publishing company for Brother Howe and I need a name. But not just any name. Music publishing company names need to be fairly unique because there can’t be another one with the same (or even similar) name in the whole wide world. If your song gets played on the radio in Timbuktu, the royalties get paid to the publishing company and the songwriter, so if there is another publishing company with a similar name, they could get your money. To give you an idea, one of my favorite music publishing names is the company that publishes Soundgarden’s music, which is You Make Me Sick I Make Music Publishing Co. So I would like to come up with something using Howe. I have to submit five names to BMI and they will pick the one to use. Here’s what I’ve come up with so far: Howe Publishing Co. (real original I know) Howe Ya Doin’ Publishing So I would love your ideas, the more creative the better. If one of the companies chosen is yours, I’ll come up with some sort of cool prize for you, like a free cd or t-shirt, iTunes gift card, backstage passes, free trip to Las Vegas to see us play, I don’t know… NEW ALBUM Just to give you a little more of an update, we are working on recording our next album and I’m really excited about it. Hopefully I’ll be putting some rough mixes together for you guys to listen to in the next month or so and get your feedback. Alrighty then, I hope you have a great day.