The Green Pages

Working, Writing, and Gigging

by Mark Greenawalt

It was a very busy January.  The band (Dawna Bradford band) played some really cool shows at the Boardwalk Cafe and Gibsons Cafe.  My work flew me to Council Bluffs, Iowa to attend a meeting on a new soybean factory.  And I've written about eight new songs in January.  Six of the songs were written on the airplane on the way to and from Iowa.  I've found that when your cooped up in a coach class seat, there are very few distractions from writing lyrics.

My band also had the opportunity to go into a twenty-four track recording studio to record a song that I co-wrote with Dawna Bradford called "Time For Me."  All of the tracks are recorded, but we still have to go back in to do a final mix of the song.  I think it came out pretty good.  The studio is owned by our guitarist, Jerry, so I would like to say thanks for the studio time to him (although I'm not sure if he will ever read this.)  The song is a rockin' country song about realizing that the world's been passing you by, and changing your attitude to make something of yourself.  Dawna wrote the coolest line in the song:

I'll try to get a mix of the song and post it to the Future-Class X web page and to Dawna's page so you can check it out.  I'll also try to post the lyrics.
 

My Solo Gig

by Mark Greenawalt

It's been a long time since I've played my own show, but that's all about to change.  My wife got me a christmas present that will allow me to play my original songs and be accompanied by a laptop computer.  The computer will play the bass, drums, and keyboards, while I sing and play guitar.  I've got the songs ... I've got the equipment ... I've got the nerve ... the only thing I don't have yet are the gigs.  I plan to make a few phone calls and see if I can change that.

I have played a lot of solo gigs with just my guitar, mostly songwriter's nights around town, but using a computer for a back-up band  is kind of a new concept for the Nashville area.  I doubt I'll actually be the first, but you don't see it too often.  I tried something similar to this about three years ago in Phoenix, Arizona and it went O.K.  I was opening for Ivan Neville (Aaron's son) at the Mason Jar.  I also tried it here in Nashville one night at The Music City Cafe.  For both of these shows I actually had a DAT tape player with the music recorded on tapes, but I think having the computer actually playing the song instead of a tape will be taken a little bit more legitimately.

Maybe soon I'll ditch the computer and get a "live" band together, but for now this will have to do.
 

Other Tidbits

by Mark Greenawalt

My little boy, Sage, learned to ride a bike on January 31st.  He loves it.  He's now four years old.

My debut at the Bluebird Cafe Sunday Writers Night is coming up on May 17th.

C-ya!
 

Click here below and Listen to Dawna Bradford singing a sample of a song I have recently written called "Company Time".  The full song lyrics follow below.
company.wav  (2.52MB, A 60sec. sample)
Company Time (Mark Greenawalt) Copyright 1997

Song Lyrics - "COMPANY TIME"

by Mark Greenawalt

He called to say he's sorry, he's headed for St. Paul
Lonely Hearts Incorporated won't give us any time at all
He said it wouldn't be to long till he could leave this job behind
But now's the time I need him most and he can't find the time

This should be my time to hold him
    I shouldn't be in second place
This should be my time to touch him
    But I'm loosing in the race
Work just says they need him and he turns on a dime
And I'm left crying all alone on company time
I'm left crying all alone on company time

Well ever since the big promotion, you know the money's been real good
But it can't buy the happiness I know his open arms would
Now I've been understanding, but soon it's got to end
Let them find another woman with a husband to lend

This should be my time to hold him
    I shouldn't be in second place
This should be my time to touch him
    But I'm loosing in the race
Work just says they need him and he turns on a dime
And I'm left crying all alone on company time
Yeah, I'm still crying all alone on company time

copyright 1997, Mark Greenawalt
THIS PAGE WAS LAST UPDATED ON 1/31/98