Released DECEMBER 18 '20
"Landsdowne St"
dave charles - randall creasi - chris harris
Those of us who were lucky enough to experience the Boston rock scene from the mid 80's to the early 90's can recall hundreds of incredible bands at any number of 20+ clubs in a given week, with mind-blowing shows every single night of the week. We all got there early to see the warm-up acts, and stayed until last-call, well after midnight -- even on weekdays. Brothers, sisters, friends, loners, and lovers... we all seemed to be in multiple bands at the same time and when we weren't showing up in rock clubs to experience our friends' latest songs, we were onstage ourselves -- putting it all out there... It seems like all that any of us wanted to do - and we had big dreams -- all of us...
I wrote the lyrics to "Landsdowne St" in late 2019, just before the pandemic changed everything in the world; and now the lyrics to Landsdowne have taken on a whole new unexpected meaning.
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"Now the clubs are all gone
And everybody’s just dancing to their screens
They just want to belong
Making music with the same downloaded beat"
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Whether you were there or not, I hope that "Landsdowne St" paints a picture in your mind of what it was like for many of us back in the 80's and 90's in Boston's rock music scene. I remain hopeful that we will someday see rock clubs thriving again -- and this time around, our lack of having a form of live musical adventure will bring us all out together again in droves, with a surging need to pack clubs like we used to do. I will be there - if not onstage, wriggling my way to the front row.
When we had it all
Street lights burned out as we drove under the city moon
Talking about our dreams
In pinstripes and ripped up jeans we never needed any more
Did your dreams come true?
Or did they shatter as we walked down Landsdowne Street?
You know what I’m gonna do?
I’ve got a Marshall and a stomp-box at my feet
I’m coming to your town
Come around
I hear a new sound on the street
Club lights were dim
With bright hopes for winning over someone to get us in
Black lights and faux brunettes
Pop songs and cigarettes
We never wanted any more
Now the clubs are all gone
And everybody’s just dancing to their screens
They just want to belong
Making music with the same downloaded beat
I’m in the lost and found
Come around
I hear a new sound on the street
I laid a new song down
Come around
With the new sound on the street
Remember where we came from?
Dodging slings and arrows all day long
While smiling for the photographs
Now we’re all alone
And made good on all the things we ever thought we’d do
Pop songs and melodies
Gold rings and memories
They’ll never take away from you
Did your dreams come true?
Or did they shatter as we walked down Landsdowne Street?
You know what I’m gonna do?
I’ve got a Marshall and a stomp-box at my feet
I’m coming to your town
Come around
I hear a new sound on the street
I’m in the lost and found
Come around
I hear a new sound on the street
I laid a new song down
Come around
with the new sound on the street
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Release Date: December 18, 2020
Music and lyrics: Dave Charles
Vocals - Dave Charles
Guitars - Dave Charles
Bass - Randall Creasi
Drums - Chris Harris
Producer - Dave Charles
Co-Engineer - Richard Kaye
Recorded at underdog studio, boston, ma, usa, (all in the same room, just before the pandemic)
This impromptu acoustic version of Landsdowne St was the result of a friendly social song "challenge" in May 2020
