SingerSongwriter

276 Articles 0 Followers


Song of the Gringo

14 Jan 2023 3 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

Today was ridiculous.  I copped a ride from a kid wearing a life preserver, and we went back in time to the 1930s.  All the Mexicans were having a wedding, at which my great-grandfather was scheduled to perform.  I bought a serape and a large hat and...

My Nico Year

12 Jan 2023 7 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

"The darkness is my birthright."Nico   I might as well warn you up front, you may very well have no business here.  Not reading this blog, not listening to my music, never stopping to wonder how the world never seems to improve in spite of a compulsi...

The Star Fish

3 Jan 2023 1 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

"The streets are full of admirable craftsmen, but so few practical dreamers." Man Ray   I propose that we start the new year with a dream.  A surreal foray into the beautiful world of the broken heart.  Not in real life, of course.  No way.  I'm not...

Riding on the Dotted Line

22 Dec 2022 6 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

Tonight, while picking limes from the tree out back so I could prepare my nightly bowl of boots & cream, I decided against watching the news, the amateur battle of the bands that is a proxy war between the heated elite and most of humanity, held in a...

Circus of Losers (Redacted)

13 Dec 2022 12 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

One of the greatest regrets of my life is missing the Iggy Pop show at the Vic Theater in Chicago in 1999 or 2000.  I was strung-out on a chick at the time, and spent the night with her, instead of going to see Iggy Pop with my rockabilly friend.  Th...

What Is Psychedelic Gospel?

10 Dec 2022 7 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

"It is not sufficientto be innocent—Jesus rhymes with cross"Los Espíritus   How does a band or songwriter traverse the minefield of contradictory, dogmatic absolutes without being torn to shreds by an artistic booby-trap?  How does a soldier, or a si...

An Album of Musical Nudes

1 Dec 2022 7 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

Stupid Old Heart is my attempt at an album of nudes.  Visual artists have life drawing sessions with nude models in an attempt to capture the human form in whatever medium they happen to be working in.  So, why not music?  Is it possible to capture t...

Saying "No" To The Gateway Arts

28 Nov 2022 6 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

“What I do is between me and the Lord, to examine and possibly alter the state of grace in which I live, and thereby the state of grace of anybody who listens.”  Townes Van Zandt "There's hardly anything fun to do, since they made music illegal."  Fr...

Ignoring the Warning of "La Bruja"

16 Nov 2022 13 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

"'La Bruja' (The Witch) is a popular traditional song from the state of Veracruz, Mexico.  There's various tales and legends in Mexico and one of those is of La Bruja, which can perhaps be compared to the legend of the vampire 'Dracula' (made popular...

John the Baptist in the Rain

2 Nov 2022 3 minute read 0 comments Nathan Payne

Wow the U.S.is a madhouse on ice Ghostsrun like micethrough the streets of Jerome Phoenix is gone,smothered in drug-clouds My buddy is twisted, sleepingin buckets Driving is easy,like navigating a birthday Cake when you're 8 The highway is ringing; m...