* written, sung by Ted; ** written, sung by David;
*** written and sung by Paul; **** traditional, arranged
by Alex and Ted.
Find The Art Punk Band on the Creative Commons
(Jamendo.com), Youtube, Facebook, and Reverbnation Cc 2019.
Gravel Notes:
A mysterious stranger saunters in the night. The moonlight is mythic. His shoes slap the pavement almost musically. Mr. Blue is on a night out.
Suddenly, a noise from behind him – a thump in the night. He whips around, an irritated look on his face. It’s rare to get the drop on Mr. Blue.
“Howdy,” says a familiar voice. Nothing to worry about then – it was his intended companions for the evening.
“Salutations,” he greets his friends. Drifter & Daisy match his pace on the sidewalk.
“Did we scare you?” asks Daisy.
“You’re fired!” retorts Blue, joking.
“Hey,” Drifter chides, “No one wants to be like Donald.” They laugh and continue on their way.
“Got the tickets?”
Blue pats his breast pocket before answering, “Yup.”
The trio are bound to see The Art Punk Band tonight at the Big Rock Candy Mountain, one of the hottest underground venues in town. “It’s been ages since we been to an Art Punk show,” says Drifter.
“Or danced,” adds Daisy, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
“Yeah,” agrees Blue. “If the Crab can’t walk the crab’ll get fat.”
They are still laughing as they arrive at the venue. The good cheer emanating from within tells them that the show has already started. As they enter the raucous, dimly-lit tavern, the Art Punk Band is playing Whole Hog in a Deep Freeze, one of Blue’s favorites.
The venue is intimate, with a small stage, and a well-worn dancefloor.
“I need a drink,” snarls Mr. Blue, “my throat is Bone Diamond doggy smoke dry!”
The signature drink at the bar is aptly named One Kiss is Never Enough. After a few of those Blue, Drifter, and Daisy join the dance floor. As always, APB does not disappoint.
Suddenly, a curveball – the lights go down, the amp cuts off – the power is out. There are murmurs of disapproval throughout the largely inebriated audience. The owner stands on the corner of the rosewood bar. “Sorry folks!” he yells. “Looks like The System is Down. That’ll be it for tonight!”
Dr. T is the first to react. “Don’t Tell Me What to Do!” he shouts.
The rest of the band quickly follow suit, fists in the air. The audience, seeing the wisdom of the band's freewheeling good-timing ways, start to cheer. The show will go on!
The Band, accustomed to backyard and basement jams, has no trouble going acoustic. The crowd is re-invigorated with a beautiful version of Love is the Thing.
Hours later, power still out, Mr. Blue, Drifter and Daisy stumble out into the dark streets.
“Those guys sure can rock,” says Drifter.
“Yeah,” says Daisy, then asks, “Well… what’s next?”
Mr. Blue tips his hat forward and spits on the pavement. “Not much,” he says stoically, “just Gravel and Grace” and heads off the way he came, disappearing in the night.
