This is a quick note to let you know what is going with Citizen Bare. Our last show @ the Monkey House was a ton of fun we had the opportunity to play at the holiday party:) Our next show will be at the Monkey House on March 15th @ 8PM, Milton Busker will be rocking the house with us and we are super excited. If you have not had a chance to see Mr Busker than you will be in store for a very special treat.

Also Citizen Bare has joined an online music community ( http://www.reverbnation.com/citizenbare ) , hopefully we will have some of the new tracks in future up on this site and the myspace. Stay tuned I think we should have some news come this summer:)

We are always looking to set up new gigs, We are willing to travel:D

As always we really appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you out in the wild world.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizen-Bare/68354155510?ref=s

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7113938666&ref=ts

http://twitter.com/citizenbare

http://www.reverbnation.com/citizenbare

http://www.myspace.com/citizenbare

Man that’s a lot links, also don’t forget the email citizenbare@gmail.com

ok that’s it, seriously

AndrewJames & John

Thanks to all who came out last night in the snow. Hard to believe that it’s December in Vermont and we are just finally getting snow:)

We had a great time last night & it was nice to have Kevin Sheltra opening for us. It’s always nice to connect with other musicians and hear what they are upto.

Citizen Bare will be playing a holiday show with the Gratton Brothers & friends @ the Winooski Senior Center  on December 19th. I imagine that this will be the last show of the 2009 for CB.

Here is the set list from last night

Set 1
1)Special Kind
2)Da Da Da
3)Behind
4)Melissa
5)On and On
6)Ricochet
7)Apartment Song
8)Dance Dance Dance
9)Enough
10)Rockin’ Me

Set 2
Unwind(spontaneous song)
1)In His Eyes
2)It Won’t Be Long
3)Peaceful Easy Feeling
4)For What It’s Worth
5)Helter Skeltor
6)Drop
7)Imagining Everything
8)Sand Man
9)Oh Boy
10)All Along The Watchtower

ENJOY YOUR DAY!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizen-Bare/68354155510?ref=s

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7113938666&ref=ts

http://twitter.com/citizenbare

http://www.twibes.com/group/CitizenBare?id=984236

http://www.myspace.com/citizenbare

Man that’s a lot links, also don’t forget the email citizenbare@gmail.com

ok that’s it, seriously

AndrewJames & John

Wanted to send out some holiday greetings and well wishes:)

We also wanted to let you know that we have a show coming up on December 7th @ the Monkey House after some time off. Kevin Sheltra will be joining us.

http://www.myspace.com/kevinsheltra

ENJOY YOUR DAY!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizen-Bare/68354155510?ref=s

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7113938666&ref=ts

http://twitter.com/citizenbare

http://www.twibes.com/group/CitizenBare?id=984236

http://www.myspace.com/citizenbare

Man that’s a lot links, also don’t forget the email citizenbare@gmail.com

ok that’s it, seriously

AndrewJames & John

First off and foremost thanks everyone for the support that you have shown us. The summer was a super busy time for Citizen Bare we had and we had a bunch going on. WE made some new friends Barefoot Souls, Mellow Yellow & OhM from Ohio. We had the some great opportunities to play some sweet events like the South End Art Hop & The North end Ramble. We also of course played our regular monthly jam @ the Monkey House as well as playing @ Nectars.

We also want to send out an update to let you know what the next couple of months look like.
10/20 @ Nectars Andrew James plays in a Singer/Songwriter Competition http://www.soundclick.com/andrewjames
12/7 @ Monkey House Citizen Bare w/ Kevin Sheltra http://www.myspace.com/kevinsheltra

We may be looking at adding more dates and there is plenty of room on the calender for more shows to be added so don’t you be worrying about that.

Some different things we will be exploring in the near future is times to record (I know I know we’ve talking about it for 2 years now) & expanding the band. What no more accoustic duo? Maybe yes Maybe no 2010 should be a blasty for CB.

Hope to see you all out tomorrow night and I will make sure I send out an update about how I did in the Singer/Songwriter competition as well.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizen-Bare/68354155510?ref=s

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7113938666&ref=ts

http://twitter.com/citizenbare

http://www.twibes.com/group/CitizenBare?id=984236

http://www.myspace.com/citizenbare

Man that’s a lot links, also don’t forget the email citizenbare@gmail.com

ok that’s it, seriously

AndrewJames & John

I just uploaded a new song to our myspace page. Da Da Da

http://www.myspace.com/citizenbare

What a great busy time for Citizen Bare:) In the past two months we have been super busy picking a few last minute gigs here and there. On September 11th we played the South End Art Hop @ The Rotary Club’s “Toast for Literacy”. That was a terrific time, always nice to get out to different venues and to play an event that has such a positive impact on the community. We played an hour long set and by the end of it John had lost his voice.

On September 17th we played a show @ Nectars with Adam King and Barefoot Shoes. That was a blasty Adam King is a great quirky piano player and Barefoot Shoes is another acoustic duo in the Burlington area.

We are looking forward to playing with Barefoot shoes again this coming Monday @ the Monkey House. Show starts @ 8pm

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125284134519&index=1

take care

Andy

It’s good to finally have some time to write up a few quick reflections about the last couple months for Citizen Bare as well as what’s coming up in the future for us.
First off we would like to thank everyone for their support and to everyone who came out to the shows that we opened up for OhM THANKS!!! http://www.myspace.com/ohmmusic . We had a great time with the band from Youngstown Ohio and hope to see them again in the future. We sure did appreciate them opening up the door for us at Nectars.
John and I had a really good time in Portland, ME. He did great at the guitar competition but did not win. I will let him write more about that. We ended up hanging out with my brother Dave and his band This Way. They are a great rock band in the Portland area!! http://www.myspace.com/thiswayband

We have two upcoming gigs 9/11/09 & 9/28/09

South End Art Hop “A Toast to Literacy”

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158135495785&ref=mf

This is the kind of gig that really excites John and I. We are both very focused on making a positive contribution to our communities. We see literacy as a basic need to be able excel in our society and are pleased to have the opportunity to support this cause.

Citizen Bare will playing a benefit concert for the Burlington Sunrise Rotary Club. The proceeds for the show will benefit the Imagination Library project, with the goal of sending a brand-new book every month to children in Burlington, from birth until their fifth birthdays!

Monkey House w/ Barefoot Shoes

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125284134519&ref=mf

This is just our regular once a month gig at the Monkey House. It offers good drinks, good people and a great atmosphere. The Monkey House usually offers some art from unknown local artists. We are hoping to have another Accoustic Duo open up for us and maybe even get on stage an rock out a bit together. Should be a terrific time.

Passing Thoughts

John and I have been wrestling for the past two years about what to do about recording. A couple of months ago we tried to record on our own but didn’t like the results. A friend suggested that we go to his father for help and we may do this soon if we can come up with the time. At this point time seems to be the biggest hinderance for us.

The other thing John and I have been discussing has been the possibility of adding more pieces.  This is not anything that will happen immediately and just because we add more pieces that does not mean that we will never play another duo gig. Nothing is set in stone as far as this goes for right now it is just something we are toying with.

Thanks again so much for all of your support we look forward to seeing you out @ the gigs:)

AndrewJames

Citizen Bare comin’ at ya’ with some gigs and a competition…all in this coming week! Whatever will you do? Come to the Monkey House on Monday night 8pm SHARP and Club Metronome on Wednesday night @ 9pm. Then for the ambitious or local Portland, Maine fans come see John sling his electric guitar in the King of the Blues competition at Guitar Center in the Side Maine Mall.

Here are the details:

Monday August 24, 2009
8pm
Cover: $5
Playing w/ Breezeway & OhM

Monkey House
30 Main Street, Winooski, VT (at the roundabout)

Wednesday August 26, 2009
9pm
Cover: 18+/$5, 21+/Free
Playing w/ OhM

Club Metronome
Main Street, Burlington, VT (Above Nectars)

Thursday August 27, 2009

King of the Blues Competition
6pm

Guitar Center
198 Maine Mall Rd
Portland, Maine 04106

As always, we appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you at the gig!

Citizen Bare

First off the June 15th Monkey House gig was a ton of fun. Thanks to Darin for opening up for us. We had a ton of fun and also thanks to all those who came out to that show.

The June 17th Higher Ground gig was a ton of fun and we had a terrific showing. You guys were so great coming out in droves on a wednesday night, the guy running sound said that he would definitely be seeing us again. So that is encouraging.

We played our first wedding gig on June 27th and that was an absolute blasty. Seriously the food was terrific, the views were amazing, the people danced and the music was out of this world….ummm I mean we had fun:)

Ok and our last show was the North Street Ramble on July 25th. It was definitely a different crowd than we were used to but it was a ton fun of as well. John and I have a ton fun playing music together I am not sure if you could tell by this post:)

The last couple of months for us have been busy and it looks like we are only going to get busier. Thanks to all of you who support us for that boost in gigs:) we couldn’t do it without you.

Upcoming gigs August 24th @ the Monkey House w/ the Breezeway and OhM. On August 26th we have been invited to open for Ohm @ Metronome but that show is still in the works.

The big news is that John is going to be playing in the King of the Blues competition on August 27th in Portland, ME and if he does well in that first round there could be more rounds to follow. There will be a separate post about that later:)

Lastly and certainly not leastly wanted to let you guys know just how much we appreciate all of the support you have shown us over the past two years. Hopefully we can keep our communication fresh and the music coming. The best way to catch us is at the following links.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Citizen-Bare/68354155510?ref=s

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7113938666&ref=ts

http://twitter.com/citizenbare

http://www.twibes.com/group/CitizenBare?id=984236

http://www.myspace.com/citizenbare

Man that’s a lot links, also don’t forget the email citizenbare@gmail.com

ok that’s it, seriously

Hope to c’ya around

AndrewJames & John

So let me give you the criteria that I have understood need to be
taken order to make my list
first it has to an album for the sake of the album, can not be a
greatest hits album or Elton John and Bob Dylan would have made it
hands down
second all the songs have to congruent, they have to flow has to
follow the theme
third all or the majority of the songs have to be listenable zero to 1
tracks that i would want to skip
fourth consideration on how has affected albums after it
fifth cover art

10. Thriller Michael Jackson
wow what can be said about this album, this is the first album that I
ever listened to from track to track, I know what you are thinking how
can justify keeping it out of the top five? well mostly because there
are a few tracks that I do not enjoy compared to others. But if there
is going to be a standard album i would have think this would be it.
Sure the lyrics were mostly about love and lady’s and did not
institute a need for change, but serioulsy who knew that we would need
to change in the 80’s . Sometimes I find the music to be a bit cheesey
but everybody was experimenting with synths and electronic sound in
the early 80’s. Also the Glam shot of Jackson in the white suit and
the black background is classic.

9. II Led Zepplin
Man to try to pick just one Zepplin album to throw in here was
difficult, these guys were Rock n Roll, they did it better than anyone
else. Specifically the reason I picked this album over Zoso or Houses
of the Holy was because I do not need to skip any song on the album.
It starts out with whole lotta love and ends with bring it on Home and
has the greatest story to song adaptation of all time with Ramble on.
This album also has the coolest looking cover of all the Zepplin
albums which gives it a notch above the other albums and I love the
brown.

8. Cosmos Factory CCR
To me this is the essential CCR album there no songs on this album
which one would even think about skipping, They have amazing covers
and classic originals. This album introduced me to the idea that
country and rock n roll can coexsist. Serioulsy though did you see the
dude in the onepeice orange suit riding a bike indoors? That my
friends is a classic

7. The animal years Josh
OK I suppose if you guys are going to have qualms with any of my picks
it  is going to be this one, but just hear me out. To me this album
speaks to our generation more than any other album out there. If
“smells like teen spirit” is the anthem for our generation, I wonder
aloud if THe animal Year isn’t the album of our generation thoughtful
lyrics speaking about such things as false spirituality, war,
consumerism and our constant need to understand what is happening with
in our psyche. The music is just as good as the Lyrics the whole album
is superb and in a few years might have to move up depending on how it
influences newer artists. Also it has the coolest cover art of all the
albums formentioned

6. Joshua Tree U2
U2 unlike Bob Dylan has the luxury of me being born when there music
was popular, that means I get to hear a wider selection of there
catalog on the radio. It also means that when there records come out,
I am alive to be excited by them. This in my opinon is the best of all
the U2 albums because again no songs I feel a need to skip and I
believe this album more than the others has inspired other musicians
to get back to a more natural rock sound during a time period in which
everyone seemed to be experimenting with synths. Not my favorite of
the covers but what can you do? the POP album just wasn’t as good.

5. Legend Bob Marley
Ok Now we start to get into the top five and now is where the real
justification starts. This album is like a meal for the soul, the
lyrics grab you the music moves you, you know you are not just
listening to music but you are actually experiencing something. Marley
finds a way to connect you to the music in a way that no one else can.
Seriously I am not even oppresed and I feel ready for the revolution
after listening to this. Each song on this album is a classic and
could be argued for the top 5 songs of all time. The cover art is
classic with the portait and chosen font. This album is perfect in
everyway

4. Abbey road Beatles
Ok wow this was a hard decision, which Beatles albums to put in the
top 10? I mean there are so many great Beatles albums I could feel
justified in myself to put atleast 5 in the top 10 and three in the
top five. This album gets the nod above the others quite simply
because A) the medley at the end of this album is better than any
other single song out there hands down. I mean you go from talking
about a hooker together with a Police officer to the summing up of all
human interaction???? Seriously Lyrically it was amazing and musically
seemless, you think is this one song or 4 and then convince yourself
it is one song with four different themes. Just amazing and the cover
art is probably the most recognizable cover of all time, hands down

3. Dark side of the moon Pink FLoyd
Ok if the medley at the end of Abbey Road is the best of all time than
the second best would have to be the way that Floyd merges the the two
songs at the end of Dark Side, Brain Damage and Eclipse are classic
and that doesn’t even begin to mention the other songs on this album.
As far as concept goes this one takes the cake you actually feel liek
you are being taken to a different realm. The cover art is second only
to Abbey Road, but the inserts are better, I have a soft spot for the
pyramids and other wonders that Floyd includes

2. August and everything after Counting Crows
Ok if you have a problem with Josh Ritter in the top 10 then you must
be having a cow with COunting Crows as the number two greatest album
of all time, not that I can blame you obviously influenced by Bob
Dylan and Van Morrison it would seem only fair that I put those guys
ahead of COunting Crows, but alas the only Dylan album I have heard
the whole way through is Desire and I have to skip more than 2 songs
on it, so we go with the Crows. This album lyrically helped my get in
touch with my more melancholy side, Lyrically Duritz is the man, using
perfect metaphors describe deep feelings of angst and joy and
musically it’s spun together so tight that you think these melodies
and words must have been born together like two twins coming from the
birth canal at the same time. There are no songs that one needs to
skip on this album and they all seem to flow together as though it was
meant to be. Counting Crows rescued me from bad pop music and helped
me appreciate the deeper side of music. The cover art is fantastic it
is words burned on paper just like the what the songs do to your soul.
Yeah I said that, I am ok with it.

1. Revolver Beatles
Alright number one album of all time, Revolver by the Beatles. This
album is front to back the most complete listenable Beatles album
there is. It has a general pitching in of all four lads. The song
writting is perfect, great folk lyrics and great melodies and
harmonies. THis album was the Beatles first full fledge attempt at
making music that makes a difference, Rubber Soul was there first
departure from pleasing the masses but it was only done on a song by
song basis, it was the metamorphosis album, Revolver front to back was
the butterfly of the Beatles. It is the best album out there for this
reason, they gave a voice to all musicians to use there medium to
speak out against the injustices of the world. Speak out to the common
person and give them a voice and with Taxman they were forever done
with making music to feed the ears an forget the soul. The Cover art
whilst maybe isn’t the most intriguing of all the art is by far the
most revolutionary because it signifies the end of making things the
same way everyone else was. The starkness of the black and white ink
images ushers in the dawning of a new era in music.

* Let it bleed Rolling Stones
* Are you experienced? Jimi Hendrix
* In Utero Nirvana
* The Chronic Dr Dre

I wanted to get the lyrics out for some of the new songs that Citizen Bare has played out recently.

Drop

On and On

Special Kind (Let’s Change)

So with out and more delays here are the songs

On and On

You speak your mind and you start to believe in

every word you say like you’re a savior

to the lepors in thier scars widows  

and children they’ll be leaving

So that man who spoke to you with conviction

said words that ran right through you you don’t know

if you could make it if you had to break

the promises you believed you could you could be

smiling at the movie screen you project your thoughts

and share your means

crying you break their hearts when you refuse to be

what they want and it goes

nah nah nah nah nah and on

nah nah nah nah don’t stop

nah nah nah you broke it

nah nah nah nah nah and on

Controlling the masses is easy like playdough

easy like windmills but hard like jello

you can not hold them you can not control them

it’s not the way you said it would be at all

the good intentions leave you wanting wishing for

easy things like breaking rocks hearts

promises you said don’t worry about it

The genocide comes in the morning for the demons, dogs

termites and cockroaches that are caught in the kitchen 

taking last night dinner in 

unconditional mourning

over takes you in horrible timing

the children’s pleas become your grave

alive to commerce but your soul begins to fade

Drop

where’s the time where’d we go

I can’t understand it all and I may never know

who to thank for the peace, I don’t think I’ll understand

all the safety I’ve received

When I wake up in the morning sun

i’ve gone about my morning business 

the days will always wear on

When I drive off into the sunset 

weary from my day 

weary from the transactions

hope it lasts I always pray

Mothers send your sons to fight the holy war

against the people who want us dead

every single one

There’s no rhyme or reason

for their killing ways

jehovah does not approve 

when allah sends them to their graves

And sometimes I wish they would just drop the sacred bomb

the one that helps me sleep at night and protects our precious wrongs

won’t this be a better place when we’re all dead and gone

That’s the most I ever care to think about eve and her cursed/blessed fall

Is it time to shake hands place the knife in the right one 

before you show your plan 

whose the snake and whose the fox looking for the lost lamb 

to SSSSSSSSSSS

when i greet for the first time I always watch my back

always keep my knife drawn in case i need to attack

I think you are watching me I’m so scared to know

if you see the color of my heart or the places I want to go

the more I get to know you the easier the attack

the closer we seem to get still the knifes behind my back

every time i open up i’m afraid my heart you will attack

sure I’ll shed a tear 

when they lie you in your grave

because I always pretend it’s me in their

helps me to show the pain.

Jesus if your listening, to this unrighteous voice

I pray they didn’t change too many of your life giving words

I don’t think I could handle it if loving is a lie

your forgiving was a story just to make us shed our minds

it’s like tale of creation i heard from a wise woman

there was nothing about adam, the snake or the garden

something about a turtle a mother and a son

i think that’s it anyways

when are they gonna drop the bomb

i’ll dance in the fall outs rain

it warms me to core

burns away the silly pain

revives the dying soul

it didn’t rob you of your innocence

you freely gave it away

can’t call to mind another time

or tasting a sweeter  rain

I’ll Drop

Special King (Let’s Change)

soon enough now it st not even gonna matter

we’ve fallen so far can get ourselves out with a latter

everybody talking up their special kind of spin

special kind of language special kind of sin

we’ll hear the new sound of a revolution coming 

when people rise up so sick from running

on with out cause except hate for the others

filling up on shit surprised by the wretched borders

even though we came in the middle of the night

like a trojan horse caught blinded by the light

we’ve said our evening prayers believing that we’re right

believing that righteous nothing done out of spite

oh lets change

lets stop this game

waiting for the suns light brought on by the morning

we’ll lead our holy charge on without a warning

kill the greedy bastards in the middle of their play

in the middle of their lying and decay

what’s right is wrong

what’s spoken is sung 

you did it now what’s done is done

you really can’t change really can’t explain

except that it sux

you did what you did

brought on by unrighteousness

that they taught you was

the only way to live

you didn’t have to listen

didn’t have to give in

but now you gotta live with it

oh lets change

lets stop this game

I heard Dr King all the way from heaven

said see my holy purposes railroaded by the devil

you do not have to listen the TV spreading fear

you can live a life of wonder no matter what you see or hear