2011: A Drunken Odyssey

Hey Folks.

Thanks everyone for a great year! We put out our first record this year, recorded the next one and did a small tour and played to a lot of new people. Thanks everyone.

In case you missed anything:
-Download Songs For Lonesome Weekends here. Or pick up a copy at Buy The Book in Regina.
-Download the single from the record here.
-Download a free EP of demos from record here.

Our next Regina show will be soon, it'll be something a little different so stay tuned for details - it'll be worthwhile.

Now, for something a little different...

Hat's top 10 musical purchases from 2011 (new, reissue, or new to me)

1. lee 'scratch' perry - the return of sound system scratch

2. earth - earth 2

3. creation rebel - starship africa

4. tom waits - bad as me

5. andrew bird - useless creatures

6. the raincoats - the raincoats

7. paul mccartney - mccartney

8. paul mccartney - mccartney 2

9. the cramps - bad music for bad people

10. primal scream - echo dek

Chris S' top 6 albums of 2011:
1. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Wolfroy Goes To Town
2. Tom Waits - Bad As Me
3. Bry Webb - Provider
4. Real Estate - Days
5. Atlas Sound - Parallax
6. Neil Young International Harvesters - A Treasure (Live 1984)
(You gotta hear 'Grey Riders')

Yours truly,
The (ugly) Lonesome Weekends

Show At The King's Head Tavern, December 21

Hey Folks,

We just wanted to let you know that we're playing a show Wednesday, December 21st at the King's Head Tavern. We'll be starting around 9, and will be playing all night long. No cover and cheap drinks too.

Here is a little article from Saskatoon Star Phoenix.

In other news, have you ever heard the saddest song in the world? Well here it is. Hope to see you all down the road.

-The Lonesome Weekends

Free Download for YOU!

Dear friends,

As a kind of thank you to everyone we would like to give some music of ours for free. “Home Recordings, Vol. 1: Lonesome Beginnings: Songs For Lonesome Weekends Demos EP” is a collection of lo-fi, intimate recordings from the three songwriters (Devon Floyd, Christopher Sleightholm and Marshall Burns) before the band had fully formed in early 2010. By listening to these recordings you can hear how the songs were re-imagined and reformatted from these lonesome beginnings into something else entirely when the rhythm section (Tyler Hammer, Chris Prpich and Steve “The Hat” Jeske) got their hands on them. Songs are amorphous beings and that can exist in many dimensions and these songs now will have a dual life, as their counterparts on the record are from nothing like them. These demos are not like the Weekends rowdy live show (or “Songs For Lonesome Weekends” for that matter), but have the vibe of a bleak winter morning, possibly after a night of hard drinking. The cover was painted by Kevin Gustafson.

Thanks to everyone who purchased our first record, came out to shows and supported us over the past year and a half. Hope you enjoy these songs, share them freely. Listen and free download from our bandcamp page from link above.

Love,
The Weekends

CJTR 10th Anniv. Show, etc.

Howdy folks,

A few things:

1. We're playing the CJTR 10th Anniversary Showcase Finale Nov 19 at The Exchange. It is sure to be a fun night. We're supporters of CJTR and we are thrilled to play this show with a ton of fantastic local talent. Also some of us will be appearing live on the air on the show Unnatural Selections Nov. 3 between 8 & 10 pm. Listen here, or on a real radio at 91.3 FM.

2. We have a new record that we're going to have out in March of 2012. It is going to be called "Songs From A Barstool" & we will be doing a show for that around that time in Regina, we'll keep you posted, & we'll also be posting some of those tunes ASAP.

Hopefully see you at The Exchange,
The Lonely Weekends

Ain't Got No T-Bone!

Hey folks.

Thanks for coming out to the show at The German Club a couple weeks back. It was a blast. We'll be doing another show there sometime soon, with some surprises.... Stay tuned.

Sincerely,
The Lonesome-est Weekends

Here is a nice little review from Rage Regina:

On Thursday night RAGE drank with the Lonesome Weekends. AKA Marshall Burns (Vocals & Guitar), Chris Sleightholm (Vocals & Guitar), Steve 'the hat' Jeske (Keyboards), Tyler Hammer (Drums & Vocals), Chris Prpich (Bass), and Devon Floyd (Vocals, Guitar and Banjo). However, we were not the only ones. Throughout the night the crowd at the German Club seemed to keep growing. People wanted to stop in to get a better listen to this groups’ fine country swagger.

The Lonesome Weekends played an entertaining show for the crowd. Their rhythms and harmonies blended well and their style tapped into a sort of vintage country with a modern flare. They certainly got the crowd moving.

What was refreshing about this show was that the band played a set with a few songs and then took about half an hour break. This occurred a few times throughout the night. Those attending the show were able to chat with the band and others in the crowd. People were truly “Drinkin’ with The Lonesome Weekends”. RAGE gives this process of performing two thumbs up. This technique engaged the audience and when the next set was on, the floor seemed to fill up even more.

Song Lyrics For Songs For Lonesome Weekends

Howdy folks,
Here are the lyrics to the record.

Also hope to see you at The German Club in Regina on June 30th.

Sincerely,
The Lonesome Weekender Boys

1. Buckskins (M. Burns)
These days I wish I was a trapper
Though it's not the fur I'm after
It's an island to myself
In them woods with those books
Carved in all the pine trees
And with the stormy sky behind
The gun it's the pen
And I know 'neath those pines
I will wear my buckskins and
You will wear your moccasins
And we'll sleep 'neath the Earth again

Now over my shoulder I've watched you grow older
I mean I've watched those eyes get colder
With no traps set
Still I know Lady I been cruel to you lately
I mean I been a real fool lately
Still I can't repent
And I know 'neath those pines
I will wear my buckskins and
You will wear your moccasins
And we'll sleep 'neath the Earth again

Now this city it can get pretty shitty
I mean it would look pretty shitty
If it was sitting on your shelf
I mean this city it can get pretty shitty
I mean it can get pretty shitty
Until you drink enough
And still I know 'neath those pines
I will wear my buckskins and
You will wear your moccasins
And we'll sleep 'neath the Earth again


2. Rain Is Better (Than Sunshine) (C. Sleightholm)
I stood at the top of a mountain
And looked back down at all the people still climbing
They weren't as high as me
But that's just how I see
They probably don't give two shits about me

Rain is better than sunshine
If you want your pain to turn gold
But the songs that you sing
They don't mean anything
You're just beating on the ground
Where your horse once laid

I stood at the back of the bar room
And I listened to everything you had to say
I wondered why you even try
And how you don’t see your life pass you by
I'd really like to see these tears that you say you cry

I'm tired of trying...
I'm tired of trying to make this last
Rain is better than sunshine


3. Friend Running West (D. Floyd)
I always thought that love could save almost anyone
But I thought wrong, yeah I thought wrong
I hear them say the dark night is before the day
But the winter winds are here to stay till spring

I had a friend who said “I’m heading out west, I won’t be back again”
Today I picked him up down at the greyhound station
Cuz all our dreams fall flat on their face, slip away downstream
Just autumn leaves into the ocean floor

The ocean floor is the hardest fall
I took a plane to Montreal
Drove my car to Winnipeg
When I got home there was nothing left
For me to think or do or say
I headed south, I took the train
Till your ghosts all caught up with me
And now I’m stranded here


4. Dorothy (C. Sleightholm)
I know what you're saying
You're leaving here tonight
Well I'd hold you dear lady
And say that it'll be alright
But I know what you're saying
And I wish I said in before
So I'll wait around till the springtime
Then I'll be alright

Dorothy, let the moon rise
And I'll find someone to be with for tonight
And I'll put to the wind this heart of mine
And I'll wait here till springtime
Then I'll be alright

Liquor seems to help me
Forget your face
I'll see you all over town
And I'll try not to say
That you could have been someone to me
So I'll lie here till springtime
Then I'll be alright

Dorothy, let the moon rise
And I'll find someone to be with for tonight
And I'll put to the wind this heart of mine
And I'll wait here till springtime
Then I'll be alright


5. Crashin' (D. Floyd)
Your memories are fading walking through this old town
My heartbeat is slowing, my mind’s coming down
Breathing’s just like the ocean,
Let it pull and then slip away

But I’ll ride on this wave till I crash on the shore
When my time has come I will choose to be no more
When I’m fast asleep in my poor man’s grave
I hope that there’s nothing that I would’ve changed

Now I’m so much older than I used to be
My steps getting slower, I don’t feel so free
Some days I feel so low,
Some days I just lose control

But I’ll ride on this wave till I crash on the shore
When my time has come I will choose to be no more
When I’m fast asleep in my poor man’s grave
I hope that there’s nothing that I would’ve changed


6. Drink When I Cry (M. Burns)
I only drink when I cry but I cry every day
Not 'mount of truth no 'mount of lies could take this hurt away
My baby's gone to them hills
She said they're greener on the other side
So I'll just drink when I cry and I'll cry all the time

I only drink when I cry so I'm drinking every day
Just trying to forget that haunting memory
It's in the bottle it's in this song
It's in all the things I've done wrong
So I'll just drink when I cry and I'll cry right or wrong

I only drink when I cry but I cry every day
No 'mount of truth no 'mount of lies could take this hurt away
My baby's gone to them hills
She said they're greener on the other side
So I'll just drink when I cry and I'll cry all the time


7. Meet You By The Riverside (C. Sleightholm)
Hold my tongue, but I ain’t seeing
The Holy Ghost in this land
So hold my hand underneath the water
‘Till the black-eyed devils go outside of me

All this time I must’ve had no vision
That would carry me through
So hold my head underneath the river
And I’ll come up speaking in no tongues of man

So I’ll meet you down by the riverside
And I’ll grow my hair real long
I’ll grow my beard just to be your disciple
And I’ll try to go along

Now when I see people I used to know
They say, “There was a man who knew His Word!”
Now I’m sleeping ‘neath the full moon’s light
I guess you can’t see the sun from the ocean floor

So I’ll meet you down by the riverside
And I’ll grow my hair real long
I’ll grow my beard just to be your disciple
And I’ll try to go along
I’ll meet you down by the riverside
And I’ll grow my hair real long
I’ll grow my beard just to be your disciple
And I’ll try to go along
Yeah, I’ll try to go along
I’ll try to go along


8. Broken Fences (M. Burns)
People they change
I went away
You we're never the same
I went away
And I was never the same
I remember the face
I recognize the name
But you yourself have changed
Your smile is wider
Your glow is brighter
But your eyes look tired
Close them now
I'll kiss your brow
And you'll feel lighter
Now I have been selfish
I have hurt others
With automatic defenses
Broken hearts
Broken fences
Still I don't regret it
They say everything happens
For a reason
Well I ain't that convenient
Besides we can't light
The match that's already burnt out
Can't retread old paths
And change which one we walked down
I can't look into your eyes anymore
And feel that love fill me up
I can't look into your eyes anymore
And feel that love fill me up
I can't look into your eyes anymore
And feel that love fill me up
When I'm down when I'm alone
and giving up


9. Towers (M. Burns)
I did not love her
She did not love me
At least in that way that she thought she did
Cause I've seen those picture
Of how it use to be
You we're happy before me

These filthy towers
Amassing power
For all the pagans hour by hour
Bloody dowries
And smokey flowers
For the pagans to devour

I've layed on the beach
And I've watched that water
Deliberately and slowly move in
I won't let that happen again


10. Baby, Can You Hear Me? (D. Floyd)
Chilled to the bone
Living in the backwoods,
A thousand miles from my home
Can’t turn back, it’s too late,
I’m living like a rolling stone
And I hear my baby calling from a flatland town,
I wish I could hold her tight
But we’re miles apart and the sun’s going down
So I’m sleeping alone tonight

Cuz baby, can you hear me?
I am lost without you
Baby, can you hear me?
I am so lost

Well everyday I get up at dawn
And I work till the sun’s getting low
And every train that keeps rolling on by
Tells me to just jump on and go

Cuz baby, can you hear me?
I am lost without you
Baby, can you hear me?
I am so lost

Thanks Earthlings!

Thanks everyone for coming out to our album release show last week. Ya'll made it a very special night! If you didn't pick up the new album, you can grab one at Buy The Book on 13th Avenue in Regina, or purchase it online from our Bandcamp page.

Here a few vids from the show, there may or may not be more to come:

Album Release Show Tomorrow!

There are still a few tickets left at Buy The Book on 13th Ave for the show tomorrow night, April 8. Doors at 7:30, Rusty Augers will open up the show at 8. Hope to see ya'll there!

Here is a link to a preview from The Leader Post.

11 Days Until The Release Show!

Hope you all got your calenders marked for April 8, it's coming up pretty quick. We are looking forward to putting out the album, it's been burning a hole in our pockets for a few months now. We will also be selling a sweet new T-shirt designed by Caribou Creative. There are many more surprises that you will just have to wait and see...

Here's an interview we did with buzzcity.ca the other day, please check it out. Also be sure to check out their website.

The Lonesome Weekends Present: A Debut Album Release Extrazaganza With Special Guests

Come & celebrate the release of 'Songs For Lonesome Weekends'! April 8, 2011 at The Artesian on 13th Ave in Regina, SK.

- Dress in your best lonesome western wear. Participants will be judged. The winner will receive a prize package box set which includes 'Songs For Lonesome Weekends' along with a slew of related releases (The Lazy MK's, Rah Rah, Zerben, Thee Hoolies & Living In The Boom Times)

- Free food!

- Beer specials!

- $10 advance tickets ($15 at the door). Tickets go on sale on March 8. Available at Buy The Book, Mysteria Gallery & Eat Healthy Foods. Advance ticket holders will receive a coupon for a discount on the new album

- Doors at 7:30. Show starts at 8:00 sharp


http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=168176246568321

Watch this video because it is rad: