June 27
W A R N I N G !!!
Somewhere in the rolling green hills of central Pennsylvania, The Sweetbriars are cooking up a rock and roll masterpiece. We’ll be done recording in a few days, and then it’s off to the mix factory for our 10-song guitar rock opus, PLEASE PASS THE REVOLUTION!
We’ll be filming the first video for the new album in the next few weeks, here in Lewisburg. Want to be in it? Shoot me an email at earl@earlpickens.com and tell me as much.
August 5th is the official PLEASE PASS THE REVOLUTION! release date. Planet, you have been warned.
June 19
I’ve Been On TV Everywhere in Pennsylvania On TV
If ever there was a song parody that could be used to promote a public television series on Pennsylvania travel, surely this is it. Click on “watch a preview of Explore PA’s new season” to, duh, watch a preview of Explore PA’s new season. Hey — That’s me and the Band Named Thunder singing!
June 9
New Sweetbriars Album in the works
The Sweetbriars have been in the studio for a few days working on our new album, PLEASE PASS THE REVOLUTION!, and it’s a mother. Can’t hardly WAIT to get this record out there. 10 great songs, 10 great recordings with only one mission: to rock. The guitar solos ALONE on this album are worth the price of admission. The ingredients for PLEASE PASS THE REVOLUTION! are somewhat antiquated: guitars, drums and human voices. I think they used to make records with this stuff, back in the day. Remember the day? No? Well don’t worry: it’s coming soon. Look for a July release. Oh yeah.
June 3
I’m hosting a songwriters open mic of sorts tomorrow night, Wednesday, June 4th, at Page After Page Bookstore in Lewisburg, PA. It’s called The Earl Pickens Brand New Song Slimmy Slam Jam and it starts at 7 PM. This is the first installment of what will hopefully be a monthly event. Come on down with at least one new original song (written during the last month or so, finished or unifinished), a set of typed lyrics (to pass around the room) a set of lungs (for breathing/singing) and a stringed instrument (just for effect). We’ll sit around, play new songs, listen to new songs, discuss new songs and be all artistic and whatnot.
May 27
CD release party
Hey. My boy Bruce W. Derr will be celebrating the release of his new album Mr. Personality (Midnite Birds Records) tomorrow night, Wednesday May 28th at Buffalo Bills on rt 15 in Lewisburg, PA. from 7-9 PM. No cover.
Bruce’s new cd is a crazy mix of cool songs and musical contributions from lots of players on the local Lewisburg music scene. I kicked in several harmony parts and at least one banjo track. Jessie Yamas dropped in some great harmonies. Buzzzzzzzz Meachum, from The Earl Pickens Trio laid down a bass track or two and some killer background vocals. Jeff Kline of Cletus Mergitroid chipped in a bass line as well, Jake Kline of The Sweetbriars is on there somewhere, playing something. Paul Curcuruto of The Band Named Thunder shreds a guitar lead or two. It’s a veritable rock and roll jamboree.
Bruce has got a GREAT record on his hands. Come on out and grab a copy for yourself, and maybe a few copies for your coolest friends. Oh, and wear a party hat.
Check out some tracks from Mr. Personality here.
April 28
Here’s a cool NPR piece on Mark Olson & his new album. Check it. See you in Philadelphyeehaw on Thursday.
April 24
Just found out I’ll be opening for Mark Olson at the Tin Angel in Philadelphia next week. Man, I’m EXCITED about this one. More info on the shows page. Can’t elaborate right now, because I need to go make a “Mark Olson Everywhere, Man” video.
Before I go, I want to give a shout out to my boy Bruce W. Derr, who will be rocking the Lucky Lucky Gift Shop (328 Market St, Lewisburg PA) all afternoon this Saturday, starting at 1 PM. As I’ve said many times, Bruce is a future rockstar and you should go see him in concert as much as you can before he gets too famous. We’re talking months here, people. You have been warned. Check out Bruce’s myspace page.
April 21
OBAMA ENDORSES PICKENS!!!
Senator Barack Obama is wrapping up his Pennsylvania primary campaign with with a video montage of his travels and misadventures (bowling, anyone?) set to the smooth sounds of yours truly singing “Obama Everywhere in Pennsylvania”.
I’ve never been flabbergasted before, so I’m not entirely sure about this, but I believe I was certifiably flabbergasted to see and hear myself in this video posted on the homepage at barackobama.com. Dang, dang and double dang.
Pennsylvania is a great state — er commonwealth — and Senator Obama is a great candidate. I’m very glad to be a part of it all. Thank you, Senator. I wholeheartedly accept your ringing endorsement of my ringing endorsement!
April 19
Whattaday!
Man, me and the Band Named Thunder had us some fun today. We drove to Lancaster to get up in front of 8,000 (or so) beautiful people to get them all worked up for Senator Barack Obama’s impending campaign stop. Probably one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever played for. Okay, easily the biggest by a factor of at least 12. Do the math.
When we first got to Lancaster we met some nice secret service agents who waved metal detectors over us while dogs sniffed our instrument cases. Normal pre-show stuff. After that we were ushered the SECURE back stage area and told to relax. (But not too much, since there were no bathrooms in the SECURE area.) We hung out there for a few hours, until we were escorted up to the stage to do our thing for the Lancasterians. Lancasterites? Lancasters?
We did a 9-song set, which was very well received. Two renditions of “Obama Everywhere in Pennsylvania” seemed appropriate, so that’s what we gave ‘em. The Band Named Thunder played & sang exceedingly well and it was my distinct honor to share the stage with them, as always.
After our set we ran back to the SECURE area, under sniper fire as I recall.
Senator Obama materialized shortly thereafter and delivered one of his trademark “Great Speeches”, despite the repeated entreaties from the audience to “Bring that Pickens guy back up so he can sing about you again!” My tight schedule prevented Barack and I from dueting on “The Wind Beneath My Wings” as originally planned, but I’d call the gig a success anyway. Always leave them wanting more. Or less. One of those.
In short, a great, great day and a whole lotta fun. I was very proud to be a part of it all, and I don’t care who knows it. YEEEEEEE HAW!!!!!! If you have any good photos of our band onstage at the Lancaster Obama rally, we’d love to get our hands on them. Send ‘em to me via email at earl@earlpickens.com. THANKS!
Very special thanks to all the people who came out on April 6th to help out with the video. We done good, people.
Here’s a tip for you: if you ever find yourself performing at a campaign rally for the aforementioned Senator from Illinois, try to work the word “Obama” into your act as much as possible. For some reason the crowd goes nuts every time.
April 18
Guess who’s opening for Barack Obama in Lancaster, PA tomorrow? If you guessed Earl “Obama Everywhere” Pickens then you were right. I’ve been invited to perform my “Obama Everywhere in Pennsylvania” song at Senator Obama’s Lancaster whistle stop campaign rally, which will be attended by the esteemed Senator from Illinois himself. YEEEEE HAW!!!!!!!
April 16
Obama, Where Art Thou?
Hey. I’ll be on the radio at 8:00 tomorrow morning (Thursday 4.17) talking about my current bout of Obama Fever with WQKX morning crew deejays Dre and Ali . Tune in on land or online at www.wqkx.com
I’ll be the one that sounds like me.
April 14
Ourspace
Songs from The Sweetbriars live on-air performance on WMFO, Medford are posted on our myspace page. Checkemout!!!
April 13
Off the Road Again
The Sweetbriars just rolled back into Lewisburg after a very successful run through New England. Photos, music and tales from the road will be posted here shortly. For now I just want to let you know we made it home safe, because I know how you worry. I also want to send a virtual shout-out to all the new friends we made on our trip: YEE HAW!!!
April 10
Ain’t Than Tufts Enough?
Hey. Catch The Sweetbriars live on the radio Thursday night (4/10). We’ll be coming atcha from Boston, Massachusetts on WMFO 91.5 FM at 10:00 PM.
I’ll be updating my blog every minute and a half from the road as we roar triumphantly through New England. Check back here every 90 seconds from now until Sunday afternoon to experience the tour as it happens.
April 9
10,000 Obamaniacs
10,000 plays of the new Obama Everywhere in Pennsylvania video yesterday. Thanks, 10,000 people!
April 7
EPATBNT/OEIP
The above headline stands for “Earl Pickens and the Band Named Thunder” / “Obama Everywhere In Pennsylvania”. I didn’t want to type that whole thing out because it takes up so much room, so I abbreviated it. Check out the full band version of “OEIP” (again, that stands for “Obama Everywhere In Pennsylvania”), starring EPATBNT (as I indicated earlier, this stands for “Earl Pickens and the Band Named Thunder”) on my youtube channel. It’s a lot of fun, or the initials standing for my name aren’t EP (Earl Pickens)!
This was filmed yesterday in Lewisburg with the help of a few dozen local Obama supporters, and at least one local celebrity: Paul Smith of The Badlees filmed & directed the video, and presided over last night’s marathon editing session. Paul is the goods and Barack Obama is lucky to have him filming, directing and editing random videos by pseudo-cowboy, small-time raconteurs such as myself. Thanks to Paul et al!!!!
Watch the video, leave a comment and forward the link to anyone you know who might love/like/not-have-an-opinion-about/tolerate/despise it!
Also, there’s a free download of the song on my myspace page. Run to it.
April 3
The Sweetbriars are SUCH a Tees!
Sweetbriars tee shirts are now on sale at the Lucky Lucky Gift Shop here in Lewisburg, PA. They’ve got ‘em in a few different sizes and a few different colors. In short, there is more than one way to show your Sweetbriar love, people.
We sure could stand to sell a few of these babies/puppies before we shove off for our (mini) New England tour next week. Swing by the Lucky Lucky and get yours today!
Seriously, stop reading now and go buy a shirt.
April 1
Killed Buffalo
This just in: Earl Pickens and Kill Buffalo Records have decided to part ways.
KBR and I had a good run over the past few years, but we have decided to part ways. You may recall reading that in the paragraph immediately preceding this one.
Don’t worry: all 3 of my fine Kill Buffalo releases (Country Music Jukebox, When Earl Was 17 It Was a Very Good year & Turn On the Radio) are still available from all the usual places — Amazon, iTunes, Rhapsody, etc.
All you big record labels that have been waiting in the wings to swoop in and snatch up this rocket to hitsville: now is your chance.
Yep. Now.
Riiiiight about now.
...
Hello?
March 31
Et Two, PA?
You heard me right: I have two new versions of I’ve Been Everywhere In Pennsylvania posted online for your listening/viewing pleasure. First there’s EP and the Band Named Thunder’s studio version, which is posted on my myspace page Myspace.com/earlpickensmusic. We recorded the song last week at Kimbo’s Studio in Lewisburg, PA. Thanks, Kimbo! Special thanks to Paul Smith of The Badlees for producing & mixing this track.
Viva La Band Named Thunder!!!
There’s also a political video version of the song, for all you lefties out there, on my youtube channel: youtube.com/earlyeehawpickens. I wrote, filmed and posted this one Saturday and we’re appoaching 4,000 plays already. Dang. Check. It. Out.
A motorcycle club out of Lancaster is going to try to ride this year to all 93 of the towns and places mentioned in I’ve Been Everywhere In Pennsylvania. More info on The Dutch County Riders / BMW Earl Pickens Everywhere in PA Ride will be posted here in a day or two. Shoot me an email at earl@earlpickens.com if you want to join the ride.
Yrs.,
EP
February 27
No Way Home From Here
Fellow Sweetbriar Bruce W. Derr and I wrote a song last week called “No Way Home From Here”. We enlisted other fellow Sweetbriar Paul Curcuruto to add some electric guitar to the equation and shot this video last night in my living room.
Rock!
Once last remaining fellow Sweetbriar Jake Kline gets a hold of this song on the drums the world will never be the same.
February 28
Tomorrow night is the big Sweetbriars debut in Lewisburg, PA. If at all possible, you should be at this show, if only so you can tell your future grandchildren about it. And hey, if you already HAVE grandchildren then you should come out too. And if your grandchildren are over 21 then you should bring them with you. It’s all good, baby.
And for all you anxious Earl Pickens and the Band Named Thunder fans out there; fear not! EPATBNT will shortly be announcing a whole slew of cool gigs! (How much is a slew anyway? Hopefully not more than 5).
See you soon!
February 26
Garfield Minus Garfield
This is pure genius.
February 21
Bob Dylan singing “Yesterday”. Never knew this existed until a few minutes ago. Has everyone been keeping this from me? Check it out
While you’re at it, here’s The Beatles returning the favor, by playing Mama You’ve been On My Mind.
February 20
Earl on WXPN (.com) FM
My song True Too is the My Morning Download song of the day on the WXPN, Philadelphia music blog today. Yee haw! Check it out here.
February 18
Presidents’ Day, Happy
Here’s hoping that this is your best President’s Day ever!
February 12
The Sweetbriars
NEW BAND ALERT! NEW BAND ALERT! DANGER! DANGER!
Band Named Thunder guitarist Paul Curcuruto, drummer Jake Kline and myself have joined forces with fellow Lewisburg native Bruce W. Derr to form a new band called The Sweetbriars. We’ll be making our PA debut on February 29th in Lewisburg. Details on that show to come shortly. Our myspace page will be up and running with some song samples in a few days.
We’ve gotten in a few practices already and this band seems poised for total world domination, possibly as early as mid 2009.
Cool songs, loud guitars, funky beats, sweet harmonies and even more cool songs. Pennsylvania, you have been warned: The Sweetbriars are coming to git ya. Oh yeah.
February 2nd
Happy Groundhog’s Day. Nice groundhog.
A live performance of my song The Devil’s Convoy is posted on my youtube channel: youtube.com/earlyeehawpickens. This is from my Acoustic Long Island gig too.
The Devil’s Convoy is my contribution to two genres I have always personally enjoyed: truckin’ songs and songs about satan. The song presupposes that the Devil drives a Kenworth, and that he uses it to haul lost souls back to Hell. (Capitalized for effect). It also suggests that he brings 36 other big rigs along with him, in order to get the total wheel count up to 666. (Do the math: 37×18).
The Devil’s Convoy is a cautionary tale: lay off the whiskey, cocaine, loose women, gambling, carousing and smoking or you’ll end up you-know-where with you-know-who. Yes, this song suggests that smoking cigarettes will damn your soul for eternity. My thoughts on the lesser vices (nail biting, yodeling off-key) are not tendered herein.
Enjoy.
See you in Hell.
HEEEE YA!!!
January 28th
I played a new song called “True Too” at my Acoustic Long Island performance on Jan. 16th. The song was inspired by a breakup a friend of mine went through, and by some of the things he said to me over a few cups of coffee one day. Totally unrelated: Man, I love coffee. Anyway, “True Too” was one of those songs that seemed to jump out of the air and onto the page; like I happened to pick up my guitar at just the right cosmic moment. Note to self: name future album of space-age romantic ballads This Cosmic Moment. It didn’t take much longer to write than it does to listen to it. Is 14 hours too long for a song? Surely I jest. The crowd seemed to dig the song at Acoustic LI, so swing over to my myspace page to give it a listen if you have 3 1/2 minutes to spare.
On another note, I gots me a gig up at that thar fancy Community Arts Center they got up in Williamsport, PA. I’ll be doing some songs in the Capitol Lounge in between sets by The Oak Ridge Boys, who will be supporting me on the main stage. Thursday, February 7th. Tickets are $34.75, and yes that includes access to the Oak Ridge Boys show.
Here’s what the Capitol Lounge show will look like if only you show up and I karate chop you as you walk into the room:
January 25th
This is my favorite.
January 10
BRUUUUUUUUCE!!!!
You know how every once in a while you find out that there’s a rockstar living down the road from you? Well there’s a rockstar living down the road from me. Do yourself a favor and check out Bruce W. Derr. He writes and records these great songs in his home studio, and apparently just recorded a whole album in 24 hours. Crazy cool stuff. He’s got a few songs on his myspace page. We’ve been exchanging emails on myspace, and we’re doing a show together in Lewisburg next Friday, January 18th. Don’t miss it. Don’t.
December 17
Ho ho ho. A little bird told me that you haven’t finished your holiday shopping yet. Here’s a little gift idea for that discerning alt-country fan on your “Nice” list: A copy of Turn On The Radio never goes out of style. Buy yours soon from Amazon.com and you’ll have it under the tree by Christmas eve.
December 12
Yo yo yo. I posted a new music video on my youtube channel youtube.com/earlyeehawpickens. Yrs truly doing an acoustic arrangement of All You Need Is Love. Please: enjoy.
December 10th
YEE-HAW!!!
Did my thing on WFUV up in New York City this past weekend. Paul Curcuruto packed up his doubleneck Dan Electro and headed up to the Big Apple to join me joining John Platt on his show Cityfolk Sunday Breakfast. We logged about 35 minutes of air time with Mr. Platt. Talked a bit, played a few songs, laughed, cried, hugged and left that studio richer for the experience.
A clip of me and Paul performing When I Leave That Woman I’m Going Riding On a Train live at WFUV is posted on my myspace page. For those who don’t do myspace for whatever reason, these photos will have to suffice:
Rockin and rollin on WFUV. How cool is that studio? (Hint: very cool.)
Me and John Platt, posing in front of the WFUV logo, which blends in nicely with the large antennae protruding from my skull. Note radio waves beaming out for the benefit of those tuning in on terrestrial radio.
Quite a thrill for this songwriting cowboy to visit John Platt & WFUV. I’ve been a fan of the station, and of his show for a long time. If you happen to be Mr. Platt or WFUV itself: thanks.
December 9th
Headwound. Pop Headwound.
Got a nice little shout out from Brooklyn music blog Pop Headwound today. They asked a bunch of NYC-area performers for their year-end “Top 10” lists. Lo and behold, Earl Pickens’s Top 10 Favorite Days, Colors, and Songs of 2007 made the cut. Check it out here
There’s also a nice photo of my underarm sweat at The Earl Pickens Band Group’s debut performance at Rodeo Bar last month. The photographer’s last words, before he blacked out, were “Yee-huh?”
December 8th
Hey. Guess who’s going to be on the radio in New York City tomorrow? If you guessed me, then you’re right. If you guessed someone else, you may still be right, but I can’t verify that unless you tell me who that person is. Even then I’d have to check it against radio schedules in NYC this weekend. Too much trouble: you win.
Me and Band Named Thunder lead guitarist Paul “RAWK” Curcuruto will be on WFUV (90.7 FM) for some interviewin’ and some live performin’. We’ll be on John Platt’s show Cityfolk Sunday Breakfast some time around 10 AM. Tune in on the radio if you happen to have one, or listen online at wfuv.org. John Platt has played Can I Turn On the Radio a few times on his show already. Thanks, Johnny! (Remind me not to call him “Johnny” on Sunday.) Please tune in if you can: me and Paul need all the good cosmic vibes we can get. Plus you can count how many times I involuntarily laugh like a little girl whilst on the air.
Speaking of interviewin’, I just did a wee little interview out here in Lewisburg, PA for a local (if you live in Lewisburg) youtube program called Life In Lewisburg With Cat & Sheri. Check it out!
Nice people, the folks over there at Life In Lewisburg. Thanks for putting me on! Wait. That didn’t come out right.
ROCK!
November 16
My friend & fellow crusader in song, Tim Robinson, (myspace.com/timrobinsonsongs) worked up the little sketch of yours-truly shown below. This portrait was commissioned by The United States Postal Service for a stamp which will be issued in 2107, on the 100 year anniversary of my death. Nice work, Tim!
November 13
Hey. Thanks for stopping by the blog. I was wondering where you were, since I heard you recently stopped by the homepage.
I’m going to be on the radio tomorrow morning (11/8) at 8:15-ish to talk to Drew & The Crew about the new video and Saturday’s Blue Butterfly Fund show. Tune the heck on in!
The new video for I Know What You Want is done and posted online at www.youtube.com/earlyeehawpickens. Check it out!
If you enjoy the new song & video, and if you liked the video for Can I Turn On the Radio?, now would be a great time to show your support and pick up a copy of Turn On The Radio at Amazon.com. (Heads up: the “new and used” copies listed on the amazon page are not legally offered for sale. Kill Buffalo sends free copies of my cds out to reviewers, at magazines, blogs, etc. Many of those “people” take the cds and offer them for sale, usually unopened, online. If you want to buy Turn On The Radio from amazon, please buy a legit copy.)
Both songs featured in the videos are from Turn On the Radio, my new 4-song cd out on Kill Buffalo Records. Drop five bucks and pick up a copy today! Your ears will thank you.
November 5
*Earl Pickens and the Band Named Thunder
THIS THURSDAY NIGHT / Lewisburg PA
See the SHOWS page for details.
October 24
More Star Wars youtube humor. Pretty funny.
October 19
EP&TBNT
Played a great show with The Band Named Thunder this past weekend here in Lewisburg, PA. Packed the ol’ Town Tavern to the door and had the place jumping all night long. RAWK! Our drummer, Jake Kline, recorded the show and gave me a copy on cd (okay, on 3 cds — it was a long show) last night. Thanks, Jake. I’ll post a song or two here shortly. EP&TBNT is heading down to Selinsgrove this week to record our brand new theme song, which I have titled “Love Theme From Earl Pickens & The Band Named Thunder”. That will also be posted here soon. Yee haw. Off to Doylestown tonight for a show at The Moose. Come on out!
September 26
Hey. Happy September 26th.
Thanks to all who came out to the show in NYC on Saturday. The Earl Pickens Band Group was on fire. Chief Dave, Joe Horseman, and Tink Travers all of EPATBMM fame did their thing and new guy Peter Santilli (who has yet to adopt a silly stage name) sat in on keyboards. The band took it to the proverbial H.N.L. Ho nubba lebba. Another show in NYC is in the works for this band. yee haw.
I returned from NYC on Sunday morning to discover that my daughters are budding mathematicians. In my absence they had invented a new number called kazziple. It’s a big number. According to their calculations, a google-one plus infinity-two equals a kazziple. It then follows suit that a kazziple plus a kazziple equals a kizzipley doople.
Now you know.
September 14
Great show last night w/ EPATBNT. You should have been there. Maybe you were. The band is going back into our secret rehearsal cave somewhere on the Pakistan/Afghanistan border to work on more songs. Next show will be in Lewisburg in October. Yee haw.
September 12
Earl Pickens and The Band Named Thunder performs for the first time tomorrow night in Lewisburg, PA. The Band Named Thunder features Paul “Local Guitar Hero” Curcuruto on lead axe, Jessie “The Queen of all Harmonizing” Yamas on accompanying vocals, Buzz “I Play Bass” Meachum on the bass, and Jake “1-2-3-4” Kline on drums. These guys and girl are all top-notch musicians and beautiful cats to boot. Not that I go around booting beautiful cats, mind you. We’ve been woodshedding in Paul’s basement (as opposed to basementing in Paul’s woodshed) for a few weeks and we feel that we are now ready to release the full brunt of our fury upon an unsuspecting world. Hope you can make it.
August 28
August 27
Oh Say Can You SESAC?
Here’s a picture from my SESAC Writer’s on the Storm showcase gig at Rockwood Music Hall last month.
The other writers on the storm (Rebecca Hart, Michael Lynche and Susan Cagle) are pictured with me. I’m the one in the pink dress. The storm is not in the picture because me and the other writers are, as the showcase series name suggests, standing on it. Also in the photo is SESAC VP of Writer/Publisher relations, Linda Lorence Critelli, the brains behind the event. Thanks Linda, for having me, and kudos to my fellow SESAC’ers for putting the rock in Rockwood, and for putting the music in Music Hall.
August 3
Earl Pickens, singer/wrong righter, needs your help!!!
Armed only with a catchy song, a unicycle and a dream, Earl Pickens made a little music video that has been spreading warm, fuzzy feelings across the land. Now he wants to see if he can actually Turn On the Radio after all. If you’ve seen & enjoyed Earl’s video and his new song, please spread the word by calling up one of the fine radio stations listed below and asking them to play Can I Turn On the Radio? by Earl Pickens on the air for you:
94KX, Sunbury PA: 1-800-326-94KX
94.1 FM
WFUV, New York, NYC: 718 817-4550
90.7 FM
WXPN, Philadelphia, PA: 215-573-WXPN
88.5 FM
WVIA, N.E. PA/Susquehanna Valley: 1-877-700-9842
89.9 FM Scranton/ 89.7 FM Williamsport
These are just a few of the stations that have played Earl’s music, and/or had Earl in for an on-air visit in the past. They’re cool stations, and even if you don’t get around to making a request for Can I Turn On the Radio?, Earl recommends giving the stations a listen anyway. No hard feelings.
Very big THANKS to any and all who call in once/twice/many times to one/some/all of the stations listed above to make a request for Can I Turn On the Radio? by Earl Pickens� — the workingman’s unicyclist!!!
July 27
I see than Nicole Richie has been sentenced to 4 days in jail. I don’t even know what she did, but this doesn’t sound like nearly enough jail time to me. Someone get on this right away. And let’s see if we can throw Beyonce in the clink while we’re at it for falling down that flight of stairs.
July 14
Happy Bastille Day. I didn’t even know it was your bastille! “Bastille” is French for birthday, right?
I wrote a parody of the classic country song, I’ve Been Everywhere. Everybody knows the 1996 Johnny Cash version, but this song has been around since the 50’s. My version, I’ve Been Everywhere In Pennsylvania features town names from, you guessed it, Pennsylvania. Watch, listen (and hopefully enjoy) on youtube
I’ve Been Everywhere was written by a great Australian singer/comedian/songwriter named Geoff Mack. There are apparently several parodies of the song by other artists, but the Hank Snow version of the song, from the early 1960’s is the definitive version. Johnny Cash’s version is pretty damn cool too. I’m currently trying to get permission from the copyright holders to record & release my version of the song. Watch this space for details.
EP
PS. For those who question the inclusion of a picture of the Statue of Liberty in a video about Pennsylvania, read ‘em and weep.
June 26
Turn On the Radio is now available for purchase from the good folks at antifolk.net.
The antifolk scene in New York City’s East Village is where I got my start as a performer, back in the 1830’s. Now Can I Turn On the Radio? is playing in the antifolk jukebox and the record is yours for the buying.
Thanks, antifolkers!
June 23
Thanks to all who have been calling WQKX, WFUV, WXPN & WVIA to request Can I Turn On The Radio? I was back on WQKX this week for another live turn with Drew & The Crew. They gave Can I Turn On the Radio? another on-air spin while I was there, and told me that they’ve been getting requests for my song.
QKX dee jays Drew Kelly and Ali Stevens took me with them to the Lewisburg Area Joint Sewer Authority to deliver some food to the winners of the QKX weekly lunch giveaway. I provided some mealtime music for the good folks at the LAJSA. Here’s a picture:
I will refrain from making any jokes about playing at the local sewer treatment plant. They do important work over there, and it is nothing to turn your nose up at.
June 19
My friend Steve Lambert sent me this photo of my performance at the Beaver Springs Fair. A tree limb fell on some wires nearby and cut off power to the fairgrounds. I did my set standing in the grass in front of the stage. I’m filing this under “dues, paying, my”.
June 18
Played at the Mountain Stage Newsong regional round finals in NYC last night. Didn’t manage to win the thing, but I had a great time, met some cool people and heard some great music. It was sort of like summer camp, but all in one night and without the marshmallows. And indoors. At Joe’s Pub.
Big thanks to all who came out to support me at the show. Folks drove in from as far away as Central PA to cheer me on, and having some real supporters in the house really made me feel good. There was a burst of conspicuously loud applause when the M.C. introduced me, and it warmed my long-frozen heart almost to the point where I could actually feel real human emotion once again. THANKS!!!
Mad props as always to Jessie Yamas for joining me onstage and making my songs sound so nice. U ROK!
June 12
I’ve been selected as a finalist in the Northeast regional round of the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest. A yee haw seems in order: YEE HAW! I’ll be going up to New York City to compete and perform “Can I Turn On the Radio?” (+ 1 other song) at Joe’s Pub this Sunday, June 17th. Buy a ticket on the Joe’s Pub web site and come out to cheer this unicycle-riding cowboy to victory!
June 6
Earl Pickens, singer/wrong righter, needs your help!!!
Armed only with a catchy song, a unicycle and a dream, Earl Pickens made a little music video that has been spreading warm, fuzzy feelings across the land. Now he wants to see if he can actually Turn On the Radio after all. If you’ve seen & enjoyed Earl’s video and his new song, please spread the word by calling up one of the fine radio stations listed below and asking them to play Can I Turn On the Radio? by Earl Pickens on the air for you:
94KX, Sunbury PA: 1-800-326-94KX
94.1 FM
WFUV, New York, NYC: 718 817-4550
90.7 FM
WXPN, Philadelphia, PA: 215-573-WXPN
88.5 FM
WVIA, N.E. PA/Susquehanna Valley: 1-877-700-9842
89.9 FM Scranton/ 89.7 FM Williamsport
Very big THANKS to any and all who call in once/twice/many times to one/some/all of the stations listed above to make a request for Can I Turn On the Radio? by Earl Pickens!!!
June 5
I was on the radio this morning at 94KX in Central PA from 8-9. I talked with morning-crew deejays Drew Kelly & Ali Stevens about my new video. It was a lot of fun, and definitely worth waking up at 6:45 AM for. Drew & Ali are both very cool, funny & friendly, and they made me feel right at home in the studio. (This was not hard to do because, between you and me, I actually do live in that studio.)
I played a radio-friendly version of New York Woman and, although I put them on the spot, Drew & Ali were kind enough to lend their delicate falsetto voices to the song, providing several rousing choruses of “He loves the ladies, Earl loves the ladies”. They in turn put me on the spot and had me do some live Muppets-sing-Johnny-Cash impersonations. How they knew I had the ability to deliver the goods for this bit is anyone’s guess. I suppose the word got out: I do a mean version of Folsom Prison as sung by Gonzo.
Here’s an mp3 the good folks at 94KX sent me of some of this morning’s hi jinx. High jinks? Hi jincks? You know what I mean. Click here to listen in.
Big thanks, mad props, & loud shout-outs to Drew, Ali, 94KX and the Sunbury Broadcasting Corporation for inviting an independent artist such as myself onto their big, fancy commercial radio station. Now we must repay this kindness by bombarding the station with requests for Can I Turn On the Radio? by Earl Pickens. Call 800-326-94KX for requests or email them to equest@wqkx.com. Let’s move, people!
Rock.
June 4
We finished 3rd out of 7 in our run last week on FUSE’s new-music-video show Oven Fresh! Like the old Meatloaf song says, “3 out of 7 ain’t bad.” Got enough votes to keep the video on the air there at FUSE for a few more showings. Thanks to all who chipped in, logged on, and registered a “thumbs up” vote on my behalf. Yee haw.
June 1
I’m going to be on the radio on Tuesday morning (6/5) to talk to Drew & The Crew about music, unicycling, Pennsylvania, music videos and such. Tune in to 94KX around 8AM to share the magic.
I want to note here that I will also be waking up to the sounds of Drew & The Crew on my radio alarm clock, then driving to the studio while listening to Drew & The Crew in the car. To share the full experience, set your radio to 94KX and your alarm to 6:45. That’s when I’ll be getting up. I’ll need 15 minutes for a shower, plus some time for breakfast. I’ll be in the car at 7:15. Join me, won’t you?
In other “Turning on the Radio” news, I was on the air in Williamsport, PA yesterday afternoon for an interview with WVYA’s Fiona Powell. Talked about stuff, sang a song. Good clean fun. Thanks Fiona!!!
May 28
Hey. My video has been picked up by the cable music-video channel FUSE! (Big YEEEEEEEE haws all around.) The video is being shown nationally this week on FUSE’s show Oven Fresh, where they feature new videos. People can vote on whether or not to keep my unicycle odyssey in rotation. Needless to say, I need your vote, and how! Be a pal and head over to the Oven Fresh web site, log in and cast a thumbs-up vote for your old pal Earl.
Considering the fact that I only started filming the video a month ago today, and that my budget was roughly $600, I am pleasantly surprised to see how far this thing has gone. (All on one wheel, no less.) I’m up against some great looking, big-budget videos there on FUSE, so I really need all the help I can get. “I’m Earl Pickens, and I am asking for your vote.”
Thanks, rock, etc.
May 16
The cool folks at antifolk.net in NYC’s East Village are currently featuring the video for Can I Turn On the Radio? on their homepage. Thanks antifolksters! While checking out the link this afternoon, I discovered my new favorite song, Anyone Can Tell (in the Rain) by Jason Trachtenburg. Don’t know who he is, but you can hear this song (which is from the new, cleverly titled, antifolk music scene compilation cd; Anticomp Folkilation) by going to antifolk.net, and playing track #14 on the jukebox. Don’t know what it is about this song that I love so much, but I’ve been playing it nonstop for over an hour. It might be the way he sings the word “rain”, or the line “pardon me, while I still got the feeling that I got.” Great stuff. Guess I gotta pick up that there anticomp folkilation.
I also just discovered the song Sly by The Cat Empire. Very cool song. The video is floating around youtube. Go to it.
Rock.
May 11
There’s Still a Place...
A couple of folks have emailed me with questions about the small town featured in the new video.
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania is a wonderful place, and I am proud to call it my (adoptive) hometown. I don’t advise trying to get out here on a unicycle (ow), but I heartily recommend travelling here by bus or car. Lewisburgpa.com has lots of information about our little hamlet on the Susquehanna river in North Central PA — home to Bucknell University, Jessie Yamas’s Cherry Alley Cafe and Earl USA Pickens Total World Domination Enterprises, Inc. Tell ‘em Earl sent ya!
May 10
My local paper, The Daily Item is running a cool story about the video today. Front page, no less. Thanks Daily Item!
May 9th
One day and over 1,000 plays later, my new video is up and running! I’ve been getting lots of positive feedback, and I want to thank everyone who’s taken the time to watch the video and/or drop me a line or post a comment on the youtube.com page.
A few people have asked me how it was made, who shot it, how it was put together and stuff like that. All will now be revealed: elves. Elves made that video. There. Now you know.
Actually, the whole thing was shot on a Sony Handycam over a two week period (shots were timed to catch certain flowers and trees in full bloom). I came up with the concept a few months ago and waited until springtime to shoot it. We shot several hours of footage, and I edited it myself in iMovie on a Mac.
A few people really helped me a lot with this, and I want to thank them:
My lovely wife Jackie USA Pickens agreed to be in the video after a few weeks of pestering by yours truly. I wrote the song for her, and though I’ve never pedaled a unicycle from New York City to Central Pennsylvania in real life, I would if she asked. (Just don’t ask me to cut the grass, dear.) Jackie filmed a couple of the daytime scenes for me, and tolerated my obsession with this project. What I really want to thank her for though is lighting up the screen with her million-watt smile! THANKS, MRS. PICKENS!!!
Steve Lambert is my neighbor, my close friend, a fellow songwriter, a brilliant photographer, and an early riser. For these reasons, I originally conscripted him to shoot the sunrise scenes. That gorgeous yellow sky scene pictured on the left was his doing. Can’t thank him enough for coming up with that shot. We had such fun filming at dawn that Steve kindly jumped on board for several subsequent shoots. He filmed the night scenes and filmed/directed the flower delivery sequence, and the closing shot. Visit Steve’s myspace page to check out his beautiful songs and his photographs. THANKS STEVE!!!!!
Eric Hoffman is my longtime best friend (excluding his alter ego, Joe Horseman, of course) and the man responsible for filming all the NYC, George Washington Bridge, and New Jersey shots for me — on a single day!!! Eric’s a great photographer, and if he gets it together anytime soon, I’ll post a link to his forthcoming photography blog. Eric and I both suffered near full-scale panic attacks filming on the George Washington Bridge. Notice how low the guard rail is in those shots. Truly terrifying. But funny. THANKS HOFF!!!
Helen Smith, or Aunt Helen as I call her, drove out to meet me, on a few hour’s notice, at the Delaware Water Gap last Thursday evening to film some sunset shots for me. I thought we were done and she inspired me to drive up one more hill to try to get one last shot before the sun disappeared for good. The shot we got is the last one before the night scene, and it’s a doozy. Look at that sun, sinkin’ like a ship, as Dylan says. THANKS AUNT HELEN!!
Lots of neighbors and friends helped out too. Big thanks to all!!! Special thanks to Jessie Yamas for coming along on the night shoot, and for lending her beautiful voice to the track!!!
That’s all for now. Go buy my album already:
May 8
NEW VIDEO!!!
The video for Can I Turn On the Radio? is done and posted on youtube and on myspace!
I’ll soon be posting some mad props on the blog to all the people who helped get this video made, but for now I just want to get the video out there. Check it out if you have a few minutes, and please pass it along to friends/family/total strangers if you dig it. Buying a copy of Turn On the Radio wouldn’t hurt any either.
Hope you like it!
April 25
So Wild
I’ve posted another song from my new cd, Turn On the Radio on my myspace page for your listening pleasure. The track is called So Wild and it was inspired by a dream I once had about John the Baptist. In my dream, J.T.B., as I call him, had come back to life in the 21st century and wanted to preach the gospel to the masses through the medium of rock ‘n roll music. Think late Jim Morrison meets early Billy Graham. Okay, just think Bono with a beard. Anyway, he was staging this big outdoor concert on the bank of some river, and there was a “Springsteen-is-going-to-show-up” style rumor going around the tailgate parties in the parking lots that “Johnny”, as he was known to his fans, was going to have his head cut off as part of the show’s big finale.
I don’t recall making it to the end of the dream to see if he went through with it or not, but it hardly mattered because I knew it would have been TOTALLY AWESOME, albeit a tough act to follow. I do recall waking up to a very clear vision of martyred saints as the rockstars of the bible, and dead rockstars as the martyred saints of American popular culture. I quickly put this midnight vision down into a song. Trust me, it all made perfect sense at the time. Check it out at myspace.com/earlpickensmusic
April 19
A video about Medieval tech support. Pretty funny.
April 17
Earlgazines
It has long been my dream to launch my own magazine. Here are some ideas I’ve been kicking around. Send me a check for $42 to subscribe to any of these for 1 (one) lifetime. I’ll let you know when they publish.
March 30
NEW MUSIC ALERT! NEW MUSIC ALERT! NEW MUSI…
I posted a little promo spot for my new record on my myspace page. Give it a listen!
Write this down: my new 4 song ep Turn On The Radio will hit record stores on April 24th. That’s right; it’s actually going to hit them. I can’t go into details, but I can say that a moving car and a slingshot will be involved. Kill Buffalo has spared no expense for this release.
Surely I jest. Kill Buffalo has actually entered into a distribution partnership with Young American Recordings so the new ep will be “hitting” stores only in the colloquial sense.
The NYC cd release party info will be available shortly. But, for all you central Pennsylvanians out there, the ep will drop in L-burg on Saturday night, April 28th at the Cherry Alley Cafe. Hope to see you there. More info can be found on the gigs page.
March 29
SESAC
I am very pleased to announce that I am now affiliated —as a writer and publisher — with SESAC, Inc. in Nashville, TN, USA, Earth, etc. My publishing company, Pickensongs, is up and running. Okay — it’s just up, not really running yet. Next stop: total world domination!
What the heck is SESAC, Inc.? Click here to find out, or just make something up if you’re too busy. Or, just take my word for it that this is good news and that there should be much rejoicing.
On another note (pun not intended), Kill Buffalo has teamed up with Songlines Ltd to promote Turn On The Radio to Americana radio stations this spring. Also very good news. Next stop: total Americana radio station domination!
March 27
Graves, Roadside, The
Kill Buffalo has expanded their roster, using nothing more than a good, old-fashioned roster expander and plenty of elbow grease. The Roadside Graves, an alt-country band from New Jersey signed with KBR a few months ago and they have a new record out now. They’re really good. You can check my label-mates out on myspace. Go to them.
March 21
BOING!
It’s official, people: spring has sprang, as they say. (And by “they” I mean the people who say sprang instead of sprung.) I’m spreading a little springtime cheer in my blog today with some shots of my garden from last year. If you put your nose up real close to the monitor, you can almost hear the flowers growing, which is odd because you can’t hear with your nose. I can’t anyway. Maybe you can.
I built my garden out of bricks, so it would not fall over. 3 years later, it is still standing. Here’s the layout, in case you want to build a replica:
Yes, I drew this on my computer; and yes, I am obsessive-compulsive.
I put every last one of those bricks in place by hand. It was difficult work, but much better than placing them by mouth as I had originally planned. Anyway, I hope you have a good Vernal Equinox, and that you get outside for some fresh air, and that you remember to balance an egg this year. Speaking of balancing eggs, this person is hardcore OCD. Happy Spring!
Feb 26
This is the greatest thing I have seen in a long time.
Jan 23
Hey. Here’s a cool music blog, for all you people that like cool music blogs. It’s called Pop Headwound. Aside from this, I just can’t find anything that seems blogworthy to me lately. I saw a Carolina Wren at my bird feeder today, but you don’t care about that and we both know it.
Jan 8
Happy New Year. Congratulations on being named Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year”. You deserve it. Maybe next year will be my year.
2007 is shaping up to be a great year. So far it’s a lot like 2006, but with a seven instead of a six in it. I have a new record coming out this spring, so get ready. New songs, full band. Good stuff. I hope you like it, or at least that you buy it before you figure out that you don’t.
See you sooooooooooooon.
EP
Dec 18
Christmas is upon us. Let’s all try and remember what this holiday is all about: stealing Christmas music.
While I don’t really endorse this sort of thing, I know people like you are into it. A friend of mine runs this site falalalala.com where he gleefully distributes vintage, copyright-controlled X-Mas tunes to naughty web surfers everywhere. Remember, Santa will know that you’ve downloaded this music. Santa will probably know even if you just WANT to download it, and he may hold that against you anyway, so why not go for it and have something nice to listen to when you unwrap that new lump of coal.
If you’re into paying for music, go to itunes and buy Dean Martin’s “Making Spirits Bright”. It’s a favorite in the Pickens household, and I recommend it whole-hic-heartedly. It’s a marshmallow world, people. Buy “Country Music Jukebox” while you’re at it.
Dec 14
“This looks like a job for … [cue dramatic music] The Wooooorrrrrrrrlllllllldddddddds Taaaaaallllllllllllllllllest Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!”
“Gee, thanks World’s Tallest Man.”
“You’re welcome, Timmy.”
Dec 13
Darth Vader Being a Jackass
This video is so funny it made me cry.
Dec 6
Actual conversation with my 3 year-old:
She: Daddy, I don’t like this kind of yogurt.
Me: Really? What kind of yogurt is it?
She: Oh, it’s just the kind I’m eating right now.
Sorry I’ve been slacking on the blog lately. My report on the situation in Iraq is due to the White House next Tuesday, and I have been SWAMPED. Seriously, it’s like I’m in a quagmire or something.
Nov 13
Ever wondered what fire is? I have. I’ve asked a bunch of smart people and looked in a bunch of smart books, but none of them were able to tell me anything. So, I turned to my old friend the internet to find out. My old friend the internet directed me to my other old friend, Cecil Adams for the answer. Click here to find out what fire is. Click here for a link that doesn’t go anywhere.
I emailed Mr. Adams to find out if fire can be frozen. I’ll let you know what he says.
Okay. He wrote back. Fire can’t be frozen. There you go.
Nov 5
Cartoonsalot
Sometimes I draw cartoons. See?
Oct 31
Spamalot
A conversation with an email spam message, by Earl Pickens:
How many times did you get unhappy after noticing you keep ordering pizza after pizza?
Zero times.
0besity does not only affect the way you look and feel about yourself. It is also dangerous for your health, bringing plenty of health problems in a variety of spheres.
Oh, I get it: spheres. Round things. Like obese people.
And of course feeling shy to take off your clothes
on a beach or in bed with your special one is so saddening.
Ah, my special one. My sweet, special one. Let’s go to the beach or to bed so I can take off my clothes, special one!
You don’t have to spend the rest of your life exercising yourself to death.
Something about this sentence is not right. But I like it.
You also don’t have to experiment with suspicious pound-fighting products.
I did a bit of experimenting with suspicious pound-fighting products when I was in college. Crazy times.
The only option you need is Anatrim! Its completely naturaI blend of ingredients attacks obesity like nothing else and suppresses your appetite, putting your mind in control of your eating. It also easily integrates into existing diets and has no side effects.
Except for the effects on my actual sides, which no doubt will get less spherical if I take this, right?
You have to try it to believe the results are real!
This is a problem, as I do not intend to try it, and I do not believe the results are real. Where do we go from here?
Getting rid of extra pounds now is safe and enjoyable. Anatrim boosts not only your confidence but helps your body produce tons of natural energy!
Ironic that a weight-loss product should produces tons of anything.
Check out the testimonials of happy customers, at our site.
No thanks.
Oct 8
A friend of mine sent me this link to The Nietzsche Family Circus This site “pairs a randomized Family Circus cartoon with a randomized Friedrich Nietzsche quote.” And to think my grandfather told me this couldn’t be done. Here’s an example…
The strange thing about this is that after refreshing the screen a few times, you realize that you are essentially just reading “Peanuts”.
Oct 3
My Good Will
The following heart-wrenching message came to me via email this morning. I post it here that we all may share in its heart-wrenchingness:
Good day and God bless, Greetings to you in the name of God Almighty. I am former Mrs. Memunat Farouk Hasan, now I am Mrs. Rebecca Farouk Hasan a widow to Late Farouk Hasan Muhammad. I am an old woman; suffering from cancer. From all indications, my condition is really deteriorating and is quite obvious that I may not live long, because the cancer stage has gotten to a very severe stage. My late husband died in an air crash on the 31st October 1999 in an Egyptian airline Boeing 990 with other passengers on board. You can confirm this fact from the website which was aired by the BBC WORLD NEWS and my only daughter died in BOMB ATTACK LONDON. My late husband was very wealthy and after his death, I inherited all his business and wealth. My personal physician told me that I may not live for so long and I am so scared about this. So, I now decided to divide part of this wealth, by contributing to the well being of less privileged people and handicapped in the society of world America, Canada, Africa, Europe and Asian Countries. This mission, who will no doubt be tasking had made me to recently relocate to Africa where I live presently. I selected you for this Purpose and prayed over it, I am willing to donate the sum of $7,300,000.00 Million US Dollars to you for the development of the well being of handicapped in the society and also as aids for the less privileged around your country, and i have map out $1,700.000.00 for your own personal use to help me for this work. Please note that, this fund is lying in a Security Bank. Therefore immediate application for the transfer of the money in your name or your home. Please, do not reply me if you have the intention of using this fund for personal use, than enhancement of the comfort of the Handicapped. Lastly, I want you/your home to be praying for me as regards my entire life and my health because I have come to find out since my spiritual birth lately that wealth acquisition without God one’s life is vanity upon vanity. I await your reply.
MRS REBECCA HASAN
Powerful stuff. With everything that’s going wrong in the world today, it’s refreshing to find a person who is so decidedly unwilling to seek profit from other people’s loss. I will help you, Mrs. Hasan. I WILL.
Sept 20
The Missing Links
Here’s some entertaining sites to check out:
Beatles tribute bands always crack me up, especially when they dress like the Fab Four and end up looking more like the Rutles, as these guys do:
Here’s their site. Enjoy. Don’t tell ‘em Earl sent ya.
Now, a Rutles tribute band, THAT’S a good idea! Someone get on that right away.
That reminds me of my long standing goal, as yet un-achieved, to start a They Might Be Giants cover band and call it “They Might Be They Might Be Giants”. I’ll get around to it someday, when all this Earlpickensmania settles down.
This is pretty useful information, and you would do well to avail yourself of it.
Found these links during a recent, and brief, obsession with the origin and nature of the universe.
This fact is along the same lines. I found it as fascinating as it is depressing for some reason. Plus it makes me thirsty.
Have fun looking at these links at work.
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