Notes (from John Showman) This song started off as an instrumental hook that had stayed in my head for a while before the ideas and words took form. The melody felt, to me, like some uneasy balance between the emotions of confidence and wistfulness, and I started to envision this as a song about lost love and longing. It ended up being a song about my two sons, Arthur and Simon (born in 2011 and 2013, respectively). Now, as I watch them enter high school and junior high, I’m confronted with the knowledge that long before I’m ready for it, they’ll be gone from my house.

Our relationship feels as though it’s comprised of distinct and finite phases. When they were tiny, full of tears and big ideas, they needed me for everything - getting up stairs, getting into car seats, eating food, bedtime stories, getting things from (and putting things on) shelves and on and on. As they started getting into elementary school and group activities, my role became slightly more advisory, helping develop habits for tackling their small but growing responsibilities. Now, if I were to put it into words, my role is mostly to help them focus their interests, become more aware of the outside and adult world, avoid needless distractions, and drive them around to sports and activities. To them, that likely means that I’m often a nuisance that cramps their style and is often best avoided: now they disappear after school to see friends and play sports. Fortunately, we still manage to have most dinners as a family and I’m happy to say that I feel close to them. In a lot of ways, this change is good and I look forward to more and more days when I can interact with them as independent people and young adults…but although I love watching them grow, I am keenly aware that my time with them as an all-important, guiding light is coming to an end. That is what Big Wing is about.

Released August 5, 2025

The title of this tune comes from a lesser-known novel by John Steinbeck by the same name. The Moon is Down was called “John Steinbecks beacon of light in a darkened world”. Published in 1942, it's a powerful work of wartime propaganda thinly veiled as a sleepy literary story. The U.S. government actually commissioned it to inspire resistance in Nazi occupied Germany. Set in a small, unnamed town in Northern Europe (meant to represent occupied Norway), the novel tells the story of a Nazi-like occupying force that invades and takes control of the town. Though the townspeople initially submit peacefully, they eventually find ways to resist—quietly at first, then more actively—as they reclaim their dignity and autonomy. The book was translated and secretly distributed in many occupied countries, becoming an underground beacon of hope and a roadmap for it. Steinbeck was considered a hero by many for his contribution. I was inspired to re-read this book last March in lieu of the sense that the world order was shifting in a less-than-positive direction. I wrote this tune around the same time, which might explain its darkness and sort of clandestine vibe, at least in the A part. The B part attempts to capture the hope that comes with resistance, especially during the darkest times.

Released June 13/2025 “Hurricane Season” is a song by Ohio-based songwriter Darrin Hacquard. Darrin is not an unknown songwriter – those who know, know…and love. But more people should know.

A good place to start is with his album “Signs and Wonders”. It’s also streaming everywhere. If I had to describe it, I’d say it sounds like Townes and Neil merged into one person, got Crazy Horse completely hammered and pressed record.

We’ve changed the vibe and texture of this song quite a bit. This is not just “us being us”, it’s a nod to the fact that Darrin is the kind of artist who, if you are going to cover one of his songs, there’s no point in trying to emulate his performance of it – you won’t do it better. The only road that will take you anywhere meaningful is “different”.

We’ve given this track our patented “Spector-Grass Wall of Banjo and Fiddle”. Charles James joined us for the bed-tracks with his Fender bass. Gavin Gardiner also makes an appearance on the Olde Tyme Melotron.

Here’s what Darrin has to say about this song…

"The song was an avenue for me to process mental health struggles, hurricane season is symbolic of my depression, anxiety and mania, but anyone who’s going through a hard time can relate to that. Inadvertently, I made the melody and all the jamming in the song such that it’s impossible to stay bummed out for too long! I’m proud this one is getting the old-time treatment from some world-class players and friends! "

Released May 9/2025 Carpet Beetle – The Bug The varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci) is a 3 mm-long beetle belonging to the family Dermestidae, positioned in subgenus Nathrenus. They are a common species, often considered a pest of domestic houses and, particularly, natural history museums, where the larvae may damage natural fibers and can damage carpets, furniture, clothing, and insect collections. Carpet Beetle – The Tune Probably the weirdest tune to date, written by the musical partnership of Chris Coole and John Showman (Lucundis Aceus). It is said of the tune that “The A part makes you feel icky, the B part