Count No Count

NYE

2011-05-13T13:35:00.002-04:00

New song - NYE

Indaba review

2010-03-06T21:41:00.002-05:00

So Indaba Music is a very cool site that I've been on for a while now. I've made some great international contacts and see real value there for musicians.

They contacted me a few weeks ago to ask if they could use me as a featured artist for a few days. I said yes, not knowing what they would do and they wrote a very nice review. How flattering is it for someone who's been at it for as long as I have to get feedback like this. Makes me want to keep pushing.

http://www.indabamusic.com/community

"Count no count's music reminds us why most of us listen to music in the
first place: impeccable composition to draw us in, and penetrating
lyrics to keep us there. Though, it's no surprise that Count No Count's
musical prowess is so defined, he's been at it ...for awhile now.
Throughout the past fifteen years, he's put together hundreds of songs,
which he keeps in his library. Still, he continues to write and refine
his repertoire, and hopes to write for different musical acts. Check
out his tune "Feets", it's a real standout."

Nice. Thanks to everyone who listens.

B

The Stage

2010-01-03T20:55:00.004-05:00

Sometimes, when the end is known, the wait is all you have. You have dreams, you have those feelings, but they are all about the wait. What can I do before it's too late? I'm waiting with my beautiful cousin. With her husband. With her children, trying to live lives. With the clock that doesn't stop.

I had an hour or so with my cousin in the summer. When our initial conversation turned to others on the deck with us, I pulled my finger across her shoulder to remind her that I was there. We made important decisions after that. I gave her sister a cd with Feets on it. I asked her sister to give it to her to listen to. I don't know if she did and it's OK if Pam never gave it to her. Every time I play that song she'll be there.

Patty was the one who gave me my first Bowie record. She was the one going to the show who I envied. A dancer who gracefully lives. Now.

Tell me
Have you found wisdom
In the definition
Of the last few days
Does it
Get any clearer
What we should have done
With ourselves

We can’t see one day we’ll wake up
And find a life we never lived

Can we
Save ourselves
From the same fate
I don’t think you know
‘til then
Hold me close
In your arms

If we don’t one day we’ll wake up
And find a life that we never lived

Will you
Celebrate a little
Rain today
Outside with me
Hit me
Once with feeling
I can take it

If you don’t you’ll wake up one day
And find a life you never lived

Hold this
Moment in my arms
Let it slip into
The next
Sing you
You are the most
Beautiful song

For Patty.

Bukowski

2009-10-03T01:33:00.002-04:00

I found Bukowski again tonight.

In between drinks. I realized again

that his sight is commonly with

Me

He spits.

I chew and swallow

and play a song that he may like.

Can someone tell me.....

2009-06-09T01:26:00.001-04:00

How do I get someone like Peter Buck or Michael Stipe to listen or produce?

It still works.

2009-01-20T09:37:00.003-05:00

So Alex comes in from Chicago to work with Harry, and lets me know that I should bring my guitar to Harry's shop in Glenside to play a bit that evening. Dave McCormick stops by, and we wind up being able to play with Harry's drummer for more than two hours.

It was the best. It was like we hadn't had a ten year layoff. Teddy was in the pocket the whole time and picked up some very difficult timing changes very quickly.

I want more.

Song: Your Resolution

2009-01-07T16:41:00.002-05:00

You’re trying to rename your street
A different road, they’re still your feet
A lighter saddle hides the burr
‘cause changing you ain’t gonna change her

Maybe just a little paint
The cure is in but kills the saint
The sober head can find a slur
And changing you ain’t gonna change her

A hanging curtain hides the cage
The ordered peace just masks the rage
The reservations still intern
And changing you ain’t gonna change her

Catch all

2009-01-07T00:11:00.001-05:00

Somethings up with the access to individual songs on DivShare, so I'm going to post the whole playlist for those who haven't heard new stuff.

Song: Cocoa

2008-12-29T08:59:00.003-05:00

So long
So far
How do you feel
First time you’re
Thinking of today
First time you’re
Thinking
Seeing you’re real
And not just
Bearing and pulled

Did you know I care
Early morning stairs
Slow, slow, slow

If I could
Keep you here
Forever
I’d take one hundred
Of your years
And if I learned
A single
Thing from you
My time will be
Better still

Song: Feets

2008-12-23T09:24:00.005-05:00

With the cold outside
Stay in here with me
For a little longer
With the rain out there
Stay inside with me
For a little while

I don’t want to let you
Walk out that door
Fear of the thought
Of you seeing more
Than one young boy
Could understand
Than one young girl
Should, so take my hand

Hold you in my arms
So your feet
Don’t touch that floor
At the thought
Of you using them
To explore

Song: Tongues

2008-12-22T09:44:00.004-05:00

As you close your eyes
It echoes in your head
That thing you said
That slowly fades
But never quite goes away

Will it save you next time
Or will you add it to the list
Of wishes of wishes of
What you can’t change
And what won’t go away

Speak now and forever lose the peace
Hold your tongue and you can’t sleep
Wondering what it could have been
Or ashamed you said anything at all

As she rolls her eyes
Sorrow creeps up from behind
And her cold embrace reminds
You that you love you
More than her

You can’t save it this time
And you can’t change your mind
You can’t wish this away
You can’t make her stay
As much as you hide

Song: What I Need To Be

2008-12-22T09:34:00.002-05:00

Slow me
Slow me
Rolling down
Stumbling toward desire
Show me
Show me
What you found
Catching in your fire

Know me
Know that
What you see
That’s twisting in ruin
Is only a part
Of what I need
To be
Can’t take that back
Won’t take it back

Wake me
Wake me
With the sun
Shining on your face
Take me
Take me
In your arms
We’ll never leave this place

Song: Later That Day

2008-12-20T00:55:00.007-05:00

I said no
I don’t want it around
I said go
Never again with me found
Have you heard
That it brings you
Down, down, down
Well it’s true

I don’t want you
Looking at me
I don’t want you
Seeing through
I just want to see you
Looking in
At the inside of you

I said look
I’ve got a plan of my own
They said boy
You can’t just go it alone
I said yeah
I don’t want to be
Found, found, found
Well it’s true

The time has come
For us to tear this down
This fear of change
And sick complacency

The Feelies

2008-11-23T21:46:00.000-05:00

The Feelies were the most underrated band of the late 80's and early 90's. They got all kinds of indie cred for their Crazy Rhythms album in the early 80's. They were noted as influences of REM due to that, but The Good Earth, Only Life and the little heard Time For A Witness were gems.

Those recordings were so beautiful. The lineup was perfect.

I saw them a half a dozen times in D.C. (old 9:30 Club) and in Baltimore at bars that I could play today. They were always on. They were always hyper in the groove.

Guilty

2008-11-23T20:48:00.000-05:00

Am I loosing credibility (saying this I am assuming that I have credibility) by admitting that I really like the song "Over my head" by The Fray? I've prided myself on the fact that I've always loved bands that were not in any way corporate, and yet this song gets me. So sad. I love sad songs.

Song: 7 Devils

2008-11-10T23:43:00.005-05:00

I put a few new songs up on Count No Count | Facebook. 7 Devils is a song that I wrote right as Later That Day (the band, not the song) was getting rolling. It's one of those songs about a girl. OK, a few girls who collectively have the qualities of the perfect girl. She's the one because she doesn't need you. She doesn't really need anything material to stay happy. She's smart, beautiful and smells like lilacs. The attention that she does give you, you remember for the rest of your life. Even if you're in love with someone else.

Well she just wanted to
Give you something
New to sing
Followers, now
Follow her
Without noticing
The memories
That hang above her bed
Your 7 devils
Put you in her head

Won’t find her
Wandering
Your treasure map trail
She won’t be the one
You find undone and fail

We’ll she just wanted you to
Think of her
When you heard this song
It’s not you
Nothing you do
But what you want
Means nothing at all
Things to break
Things that fall
What she keeps
She can carry

Todd Snider

2008-10-29T00:22:00.000-04:00

I envy guys like Todd Snider. He's funny as hell and plays and writes well. If you don't know who he is watch this.

Elvis and Al

2008-10-27T21:12:00.000-04:00

My phone rang at 1am last night and I was so out of it that I thought that it was my alarm for work. I pick my phone up to turn it off and see "Al Cell" so I pick it up.

Hey.

Bri. Are you up?

Yeah man.

You'll never believe who I met tonight. I'm outside JC Dobbs with the new manager and he's going to let us in to see what they've done with it. They're opening soon.

Really?

Yeah, he just opened......

Do you have your camera?

Of course.

Take pictures. As many as you can. Email me tomorrow.

Dude..(laughs) The stage....(laughs again) they took the column out. This looks awesome.

Let me talk to the guy, what's his name.

Elvis.

So this guy was recruited away from House of Blues to run the new Dobbs and the third show is going to be Agnostic Front.

More as I find out.

High Hopes

2008-10-24T09:30:00.000-04:00

Should I have expected more from that email to Darrell Scott? The one good thing is that it has kicked my ass toward a complete DIY. I have a page on Facebook. The link is Count No Count | Facebook. My plan? Get a few songs up as samples (I have two up now), get more up through tunecore (iTunes, etc) and use the funds to get in the studio. It's be nice to go to someone like Ethan Johns with decent stats so that I could get him on board in the studio. May as well swing for the fences!

Go to Count No Count | Facebook, become a fan and then download some songs from iTunes.

Darrell Scott

2008-10-15T01:57:00.000-04:00

I sent an email with "The Wedding Dance" attached to Darrell Scott tonight.

-Dear Mr. Scott,

I've been waiting to send this email for about two years. I listened to an interview that you did with Terry Gross on NPR some time ago and knew that when I worked up the nerve to send one of my songs to someone that I thought would be able to steer me in the right direction, it should be to you first. More than your history with writing songs, the sensibility that I heard in your voice that day lead me to this.

I know that you probably get a ton of unsolicited songs sent your way, but I truly hope that you get a chance to listen to The Wedding Dance, which is attached.

I have a good idea that this is not the normal way to get someone to listen, but the chance is taken that you might hear in it and see that I write songs for the same reason that you might. It's just what I do.

I don't want to be a rock star as we have enough of those in this world, and that's not my goal in life. Some kind of guidance as to what I do with all of the songs that I've written over the better part of two decades is what I'm more interested in.

I hope that you enjoy this one.

Very humbly,

Brian Holahan

If you don't know who he is, he's one of the best songwriters I've ever heard and has won all kinds of awards including songwriter of the year at one point. Aside from that he's just an interesting person who has a great view of life. I heard him being interviewed with his father, Wayne Scott, a few years ago and knew that day that I wanted to somehow find a way to meet him.

I hope the email and song get to him.

Gardening at night

2008-10-01T12:36:00.000-04:00

Need a job so that I can START writing around midnight. Drugs might help. Dunno. Going to play at the bar Tues 10/7 with Pete Keenan (Brothers From Another, Fathead) Jeremy (Fathead, etc) so I can get some sea legs. Those guys have a residency there. Been penned up in the basement too long. New songs will be played.

Later That Day had the residency at Beth Ayres Tavern in the late '90s and the guys from Fathead would stop by almost every week and we'd mix it up. Great musicians.

Faulkner

2008-09-25T14:32:00.000-04:00

When William Faulkner returned to Oxford, Miss. after serving in the military, he adopted some of the British mannerisms of his fellow airmen.

Because of this, the good folks of Oxford took to calling him "Count No Count".

He believed that art in any form isn't taught, and that people who believe that art is systematic (the ancient Greeks, Romans and possibly Rivers Cuomo) don't know what the fuck they're talking about.

Failure is the teacher. Failure directly causes change.

The name of the project is now, Count No Count.

Trey Rook

2008-09-21T16:32:00.000-04:00

I just found a video tape of a group of friends that used to get together around Halloween every year. Most of the tape is suspect and incriminating enough that I would like to erase it and forget. Trey left us, much like he did many other times throughout the past 20 years, a few months ago. This year though, there will not be the surprise call that he is in town with an extra Violent Femmes ticket.

It's not romantic.

It is forever.

His laugh is the best part of the tape.

Where art thou Finnegan

2008-08-06T18:33:00.000-04:00

A call 11 or 12 years later and nothings changed. That's meant in the best way imaginable. I need your email so that I can send songs.

Picking Locks

2008-03-27T01:52:00.000-04:00

I learned more about picking locks a week and a half ago at the open mike I played with Dave McCormick than I did anything else. I found out that the muscle memory and strength that you need to play a jumbo Epiphone for twenty minutes is developed, not given.

I thought it was given and it's not.

The list includes:

Cabin
The Wedding Dance
7 Devils

The encore was:

Cocoa

You need to understand that I was tired half way through The Wedding Dance. 7 Devils was the last 9 miles of a marathon that I had not trained for. Dave called Cocoa and we started to play.

They will remember Cocoa, I knew Dave thought. You'll remember Cocoa, I know Dave thought.

And I did.

Half way through Dave's solo (a solo that should be heard by all) I looked at him like a smacked ass pleading with my eyes to stop the pain.

He understood.

All in all it was awesome.

It's Alive!

2008-02-12T20:48:00.000-05:00

Cakewalk Sonar 6 works and I now have songs recorded. Basement tapes. DIY like you know it should be.

New Beginnings

2008-01-13T12:37:00.000-05:00

Been recording with Dave McCormick for a week or so at this point and we've put three songs worth of guitar and vox down. Cabin (old), Feets and Wedding Dance (both new). If I can figure out how to get the mp3s up here I will soon.

I fought the law.

2008-01-03T21:24:00.000-05:00

Killed my baby.

Truly the best video ever.

Accelerate

2008-01-02T22:19:00.000-05:00

The name of the new REM record due out 4.1.08. The word is that it is less like Monster and much more like my favorite Life's Rich Pageant. Take me back!

9 weeks! recording time and produced by Jacknife Lee and judging by his work with Bloc Party, The Hives, Snow Patrol and U2, it should be a very interesting recording.

Reef

2007-12-30T00:59:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure where I first heard the "Glow" disk, but pot had something to do with it. If you can get this disk grab it. The whole thing is great sound. The video below "Place your hands" is one of the OK songs and it is great.

Summer's in bloom, Come back brighter and Higher Vibration are even better.

If you like the Black Crowes because they are a soundtrack, you'll like these guys.

Resolution

2007-12-29T01:41:00.000-05:00

If I don't sell a record I want to be honest.

Look out. Listen but don't assume. I mean what I say but it may not be what you think so don't be surprised if I let you know that you're wrong.

My resolution to myself. My resolution to you.

Mele Kalikimaka

2007-12-29T00:20:00.000-05:00

I was in Hawaii in 1986-89 when Poi Dog Pondering was just wrapping it up and heading to Austin to make their first record there. The tapes that they sold at shows on Oahu would have these paper jackets that were watercolored at their house. They would have a party and have all of the people there make a bunch of art and sell the one of a kind tapes to raise dough.

Our band's manager (Paul) and our bass player (Matt) had the good fortune to pitch in at one of these parties and played the tape for me in '88.

As soon as I saw the first Poi Dog disk at my local record store in State College while I was home at school at Penn State I grabbed it. The eponymous disk and Wishing Like a Mountain.. are two of the best "world" records I've ever heard.

I've seen them at the North Star Bar here in Philadelphia three times since I've been here (thanks Trey) and they are always a really great live show. If you are a fan of any of their stuff, seeing them live is a must.

If Abra Moore plays any of her solo stuff to open or plays with them it's a perfect show.

Mele Kalikimaka

M minus 3.

2007-12-22T18:26:00.000-05:00

I was playing some YouTube Christmas songs and came across this period video with U2 playing John Lennon's "So this is Christmas (War is over)" seated, on a talk show. The first thing that jumped out at me was the fact that Larry Mullen Jr. looks absolutely uncomfortably bored. Like he would really like to contribute in any way to this song, but was told by the producers that because of some obscure blue law he's unable to even tap on the table.

It also reminded me that if there is one job that I would do, if I had the choice of jobs, it would be to play bass for U2. Really, how many bass players do you recognize by face*. Maybe three, and Adam Clayton is one. Think about it. King of jobs.

*Sid Vicious, Geddy Lee and Lemmy don't count.

London Burning

2007-12-21T20:56:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, on December 22nd, 2007, it is the 5th anniversary of the death of Joe Strummer. He wrote and sang with a consciousness that most people don't have the balls to vocalize, but very softly agree with.

I hate your heroes. To the man who got closest to mine. To balls. Cheers, Mr. Strummer.

We need you and Blue Lou

2007-12-19T22:10:00.000-05:00

The Daves

2007-12-19T00:13:00.000-05:00

Mentioned earlier that old band mate Alex came in from Chicago and we hung out a bit. We both talked about seeing the other guys, the Daves, but never ran into anyone who knew of their whereabouts.

On Monday Alex was in the process of helping aforementioned Harry to get ready to go paint a mural for ex Philadelphia Flyer Keith Primeau. Harry was running a bit behind, so Alex ran across to Union Jack's to get a bite to eat. It was about 11:30 in the morning and who was sitting at the bar drinking a pint of Guinness but Dave McCormick's older brother.

One thing led to another and we wound up catching up with both Daves at drummer Dave's apartment.

Both are actively making music, both live and otherwise. Drummer Dave Haviland is currently playing with three bands. This guy can play any style of music on the planet. Flesh shredding metal to ska to the stuff that I write. He's great to the point that it was super tough to keep him in the pocket ten years ago if you needed a deadbeat rock steady guy. He likes to explore the room.

Dave McCormick is a very talented guitarist who now is the proud owner of a proper Strat (yeah Dave). When I met him he was playing in a Phish cover band and I tried my best to get him to come to the original side with us. We had a very good thing going for some time.

I look back and think that in many cases we were all maturing musically and I probably didn't do the directing of what I thought the music should sound like. I just let everyone do what they thought was best and sucked it up. Don't get me wrong, it was good and they probably would have been more receptive than I thought at the time to going in the direction that I wanted to go in. I didn't speak up and resented them for it.

In spite of all of the excuses, reasoning and explaining, Yoko didn't break them up. Bad management did. I know.

Live and learn. Speak your mind. Be a diplomat about it.

Confusion Says

2007-12-17T01:09:00.000-05:00

The unstable girl. The worrier.

I run my hands across yours
Folded
I try to understand
How you can run so
Loaded
And stay up off the ground

(chorus)
I tried to sympathize
For a while
But after the clues were brushed away
By that miracle called confusion
You can't see tomorrow
Too clearly through today

Run between the worry
And the
Shake my head
You know that I can't see
The weight
That you carry
Unnecessarily

(rpt chorus)

copyright 2007 Brian Holahan

Alex and Ian Hunter

2007-12-16T18:51:00.000-05:00

Alex played bass in Later That Day. He was steady, and still is a great friend. He called a few weeks ago from his home in Chicago and said that he had tickets to see one of his heroes, Ian Hunter.It was one of two shows in the States.

Seeing Ian Hunter, I'd imagine, is a lot like seeing someone like Mic Ronson at 70. You cheer that he can still play and sing like a young man. Gives me hope.

I finally got to meet Alex's longtime friend Harry. I had heard about this guy for almost fifteen years and had never met him. Of course he was nothing like I had imagined. Large citizen, long hair and plays blues guitar.

Alex and I had a chance to play for a few hours. One acoustic guitar and him playing a J bass. When we used to sit up until 5 in the morning he would play one of his acoustics and for the most part play his bass lines on that.

He has great ideas and of all of the people that have been involved in my musical life, I respect his opinion the most. He's a really good artist and loves music more that almost anyone I know.

He loves Ian Hunter and people who love Ian Hunter love music.

REM

2007-12-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

Saw REM in 1984 at Bucknell and remember two things.

1 - Make sure that the friends that you go to a show with have had experience with the substances that have accompanied you to the show.

2 - Make sure that others are designated babysitters for those who haven't.

I would have jumped off of a bridge if REM had in '84. I was just starting to write, and they were a writers band that were better than Punk/Hardcore, had melodies that were instantly recognizable and I made friends on the other side of the country because I had REM tapes/disks with me in '85. The Smiths were the only other credible band for the people that I wanted to associate with at that time. "Meat Is Murder" was painted all over San Francisco when I walked the streets in '85.

I got a Powell deck at Skates on Haight. Natural Rat Bones, Indy 169's and Powell 94A Rat Bones. They built it for me. I coveted that deck for years.

I had it in Texas when I read about Lifes Rich Pageant coming out. I think that I read about it in the BOB (a pub that would prove key in steering me toward the bands that would be key in my life). I bugged the local San Angelo record store guy for weeks. Finally I got the tape(!).

I listened to it for weeks. It saved me. It still is the best record that I've ever heard.

Thanks guys.

Anthem

2007-12-14T16:51:00.000-05:00

This is a slow, dark, dirge of an anthem.

Slow me
Slow me
Rolling down
Stumbling toward desire

Show me
Show me
What you found
Catching in your fire

(chorus)
Know me
Know that
What you see
That's twisting in ruin
Is only a part
Of what I need
To be
I can't take that back
Won't take it back

To me, the first verse and chorus are so spot on that regardless of how many seconds I write (and I've written many) nothing measures up to the first.

copyright 2007 Brian Holahan

7 Devils

2007-12-14T14:50:00.000-05:00

About a girl. Rock beat. Pop.

Well she just wanted to give you
Something new to sing
Followers, now follow her
Without noticing
The memories
That hang above her bed
Your 7 Devils
Keep you in her head

(chorus)
Won't find her wandering
Your treasure map trail
She won't be the one
You find undone and fail

Well she just wanted you to think of her
When you heard this song
It's not you, nothing you do
But what you want
Means nothing at all
Things to break
Things that fall
What she keeps
She can carry

(rpt chorus)

copyright 2007 Brian Holahan

Wedding Dance

2007-12-14T08:47:00.000-05:00

This one is exactly what the title states. It's a country waltz that was written for the first wedding dance.

Though roads may turn
Will you walk with me
Will you take my hand
Walk this path with me
Forever more
We can stumble or dance
The greatest gift
Is that we have the chance
(That we have the chance)

(chorus)
Never walk alone
Carve our names in stone
Some will never know
Some will never know

Though rain may fall
Days we'll try so hard
Harbor from storm
I found in your arms
And we'll never know
What tomorrow brings
So take my hand
And this song we'll sing
(Yeah this song we'll sing)

(rpt chorus)

copyright 2007 Brian Holahan

Inspiration

2007-12-14T08:12:00.000-05:00

feh

I just wanna make some noise.

2007-12-13T17:07:00.000-05:00

So I started recording on a Tascam 4 track in 1993. It used cassette tapes, and had about as much headroom as an MG B-GT. I got to record a few songs with a really good drummer who played for an early emo band and probably thought my songs sucked. I played the rest of the instruments and sang. The guitar, bass and drums sounded great. I managed to get a very live sound out of the crappy mics and 1/4" tape. The vocals were horrible. My voice hadn't matured to the point that it was three years later. I had a huge amount of practice/shows/recording that I didn't have when making those 4 tracks.

I decided that getting some recording software and peripherals would be the best way to get new songs recorded, so I got Cakewalk Sonar 6 Home XL, a Line 6 Tone Port, an Edirol PC-50 and some decent mics.

I'm not an engineer. I've managed to get Sonar to play the tutorials through my sound card. I felt like I had scaled Everest when I finally got that far. I'm trying to get Session Drummer to make a sound. I really want to get some drum sounds to come out of my sound card so I can get some fundamental tracks done for the songs.

I suffered through the better part 90's to make my music. Food, money and love were secondary. I get to start again with Cakewalk in '07.

How important are band names?

2007-12-13T09:56:00.000-05:00

I was in a band that played around the metro-Philadelphia area for five years or so called "Later That Day". The name came from the title of a song that I had written a few years previous to my moving here from the State College, Pa. area.

Gut. It was not only mysterious and literary-enough to be a keeper, but it replaced the often mis-pronounced "Upsidaisium" that we had started playing under. Upsidaisium was taken from an episode of Rocky and Bullwinkle and was their equivalent to uranium.

One night at a bar we ran into a few British girls and the conversation inevitably lead into the fact that we were a band.

Girls - What's the name of your band?

Alex - Later That Day.

Girls prune faces and look at each other to reinforce disapproval with the name.

Girls - That name would never go over in the UK.

Pause.

Alex - Not pretentious enough?

So what's in a name? Talking Heads, Kings of Leon, Spoon, Bruce Springsteen?

I wanted to start playing and putting music out under the name "Boo Brown". The songs that I'm writing now have a definite country feel to them and I thought that it might be a good almost-country name.

A hip hop guy on the west coast already has it, or is using "Boo" for short. Don't want to start a pissing contest.

I do own the URL though ;)

The Kings : (embed disabled for unknown reasons)