Been practicing so that I can record a proper banjo track for the Red Eyed Johnny fellahs.

Last week, my buddy Grant Thomas dropped his annual album of b-sides, demos, and alternative takes - The Return of the June Bug. It includes 3 tracks from our collaboration, redeyedjohnny, a few tracks he recorded during the RPMChallenge last February, and assorted music he featured on his blog over the year.



I think my favorite part of this collection is the revelry and humanity sitting in contrast right next to the hymnals and more humble traditional tunes. There's conviction in his vocals.

My only critique is that he opens it up with Cotton Eyed Joe, our first Red Eyed Johnny collaboration. Oh I get a kick out the final mix - his tuba bellowing against my banjo, his inner-drunken-hillbilly harmonizing with my cracking out-of-tune vocals. He mixed that song as well as anyone could, but there's only so much you can do to polish the turd that is my voice. But it does let you know he doesn't take himself so seriously as a musician that it gets stiff. Maybe that's what he was going for - get past that then you'll be ready for an album full of honest fun - for free!

Go download it here!

Then buy some of his other records!