Grayson the Hack, Out of the Midst, Jeju Island, 2009-2024!!

By the recent request of a late, great friend - one final look in the rearview before the new year.....

I have a HOT MESS of saucy new material for 2024 - looking forward to it - but for now, here's something to amuse:

Once upon a time, flying by the seat of my pants, back when I was a wild crazy jetset international cosmopolitan rock star English teacher, I decided to try my hand at multitrack recording and get some of my original songs and compositions recorded for posterity - or at least for me to critique and improve upon by active listening and reflection.  These ''sessions'' took place in my apartment at the Jeju Foreign Language High School, where I was living while teaching at Namnyeong and Daykey High Schools on the fair, misty, mystical shores of lovely Jeju Island!!  I was then teaching an average of 20 classes a week to over 800 high school students, riding bikes all over the island, and camping and spearfishing weekends when not playing in the bars with bands ''Bat Country'', ''Midnight Run", ''Soul Lily Loki'', and ''Ninja Scum''!!  These were MOST excellent times, and it's a wonder I didn't just marry a local and settle down.  I don't believe in harboring regrets, but man, this was a close, close thing.  My Canadian roots were calling, and I left the island for good soon after these recordings were finished.  I still miss the place sometimes and had some of the best times of my life there for SURE!!  As it was my first experience with multitrack recording and I was learning how to use a DAW (digital audio workstation) while playing all the instruments and experimenting with electronic sine wave tech and just PLAYING in general, these tracks are fairly RAW - and there were only a few of the songs I'd written at the time committed to digital memory.  I've omitted one of my faves, the ZOMBIE SONG because the recorded version does no justice to the version we played in the clubs and at parties.  It was written in Alynn Shanks house with her cousin Greg when we were 16 year old high school students!!  Maybe I'll re-record it someday, 'coz it's a beauty with a real Roky Erickson ''Burn the Flames'' vibe.

A few track details:

ARCADIA (0-1:48): Written in Victoria, Canada in 1999 when I was playing with band STIRR (formerly Erickson/Browne) - an homage of sorts to the writing of the English poets I was studying at the time at UVIC blended with the Hendrix tunes I was SOOOO into.  I'm still into the merging of literature and music, and stoked to be doing some stuff in that direction in 2024.

Intuition and Soma Seeds (1:55-2:50): Inspired by the psychadelic musings of Aldous Huxley, whose works transcend all time and space - and my GENRE BENDING psycho blender of electronic noises, guitar, and vocals.

Camel Toe SKA (2:50-6:37):  This one was a favorite at the bar - inspired by a brief and spooky relationship with a Russian ex-hotel owner and dancer who drove a red sports car and turned out to be the devil incarnate. 

Think tight bright pink SWEAT PANTS on a hot sultry subtropical Asian afternoon.....YYYYEEAAARRRHHH!!

Naked Quad Rider (6:38-13:48): Based on a true story - the one that made me a nefarious legend on Jeju.  Give a man of my blood and spirit a case of soju for Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) and see what happens......  I avoided jail time, kept my teaching gig, and had one hell of an adventure - became a legend that faded into myth as the years went on - survived!! - a story for the ages - to remember with awe the near-tragedy, sorrow, excitement, and relief(!!), always. 

Shimmayshimmay (13:48-14:25): Title based on one of my favorite expressions/mumblings to rave on whilst smiling madly and feeling the rush of being FULLY ALIVE when moving like a lizard/snake/water spirit through a throng of pressed bodies packed onto a dance/party/barroom floor.  Song is another genre bender of electronica, distorted guitar, and vocals.  Lyrics inspired by my last trip to Australia and the sense of wonder that overcomes me every time I land and go exploring in that fair country!!

Snowcrash Mediation (14:27-20:50): This is an instrumental meditation drawing upon Neal Stephenson's dystopian cyberpunk novel ''Snowcrash''.  Along with Gibson's ''Neuromancer'', one of the most inspiring futuristic novels I ever read.  Subtle sounds of hope and peace for the new days ahead.  

All the best to all of you in 2024.  

Cheers!!!