This project literally stemmed from a dream,
so you can assure your kids that dreams really do come true.
After years of working at the Brass Rail in Fort Wayne, Indiana, surrounded nightly by truly talented and articulate musicians, I woke up one morning reeling from a dream. All these people I had come to admire were, in this dream, recording kid’s music.
In my dream, when I asked them why, they all said the same thing: “We’re buying heaters with the music, for the kids with cold feet. Their parents need a little help.” They said it to me like music was currency, and like they were just paying for the person behind them in line, a kind motion for a stranger.
There’s a lot of different ways you can go with that if you bust out a dream dictionary, but upon waking, it was so visceral and plain to me then that I didn’t even get out of bed before I messaged three of the artists that were in my dream, and also my neighbor, Jason Davis, who teaches music to kids AND has an astounding recording studio in his home.
I was still not out of bed yet when a big fat “YES” had emanated from all parties I contacted. It was then, already, that the train had left the station. The little engine that could. And it became the little engine that ROCKED.
What followed was a barrage of musicians sacrificing their weekends to all day sessions, a lot of home-cooked meals run across the street, participants’ children volunteering lyrics, vocals, and hand-claps, revolving doors of sorts with the ins and outs of interpretations and instruments, and, endearingly, a few contributors with child.
There was magic. It was fun. And it stuck. It was HAPPENING.
What came next was actualization. This is always the most tedious thing when all you want to do is go forth with a good act to help others. And yet, it occurred to me that with so many kids involved, and watching, and participating, and depending, that it was vital that an exceptional example was set. It had to be done right. And it had to be resounding.
Two years later, we’ve finished the music. We’ve finished mixing it. It’s polished and shiny and, well… resounding. But just because the actual music was completed didn’t mean that the community stopped jumping in. They contributed artwork for the album. They contributed film time. They contributed press time. Sponsorships for production. They donated their venues for a release party, and they all dumped the entire contents of their hearts into anything they had to offer to this cause.
The only thing left to do is to get these heaters to cold little feet. All of what I’ve transcribed about the past two years and all the selflessness that everyone has contributed is just a giant THANK YOU and some incredible and diverse music in return for a donation to help us warm up some toes in the city of Fort Wayne. From all of us at the most motley of grassroots charity, we hope it brings you and your children all of the joy that it brought us.
the Dreamcatchers of Fort Wayne
HEAT IS WHERE THE HEART IS
credits
released November 4, 2017
EVERY SINGLE DAY - Vocals and guitar: Seth Stimson. Backing Vocals: Lexi Pifer. Drums: Jason Davis. Guitar: George Gardner. Bass: Scotty Knepple. Acoustic guitar: Lexi Pifer. Piano: Cassandra Haines. Hand claps and nuances: Seth Stimson, Lexi Pifer, George Gardner, Cash Martin, Zoe Martin, James Dean Martin.
Written by Seth Stimson
THE INCREDIBLE EDIBLE EGG - Vocals, Piano, Accordion, Bells, Chicken Clucking: Hope Arthur. Drums, Bass, Banjo, Acoustic Guitar: Jason Davis. Trumpet: Zoe Martin.
Written by Hope and Phillip Arthur.
HOT DOGS AND HOT SAUCE - Vocals by Pete Dio, Lilah Paige Thompson Backing Vocals: Tony Gillespie, Cash Martin, James Dean Martin. Bass: Dan Kinnaley Slap Bass: Scotty Knepple. Beats: Pete Dio. Moog: Jason Davis. Wah Guitar: Bart Helms. Viola: Felix Moxter. Sick flow by Sankofa.
Written by Lilah Paige Thompson and Pete Dio
BIG ROCK CANDY MOUNTAIN - Vocals: Lyndsy Rae Porter and Bart Helms. Viola: Felix Moxter. Acoustic Guitar, Banjo: Bart Helms. Guitar: Ben Larson. Drums: Jason Davis. Bass: Tom McSod. Piano: Hope Arthur.
Written by Harry McClintock.
ANIMALS - Vocals: Bart Helms, Kendra Johnson, Atticus Sorrell. Guitar, 12 String, Bass, Synth: Bart Helms. Drums: Jason Davis.
Written by Bart Helms.
3 SQUARE MEALS - Vocals, guitar: Joe Evans. Bass: Bart Helms. Drums, Organ, backing vocal: Jason Davis
Written by Joe and Nicole Evans.
LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE - Vocals: Jason Davis. Backing Vocals: Kendra Johnson, Jimmy Martin, Cash Martin. Guitar, Drums, Moog: Jason Davis. Organ: Cassandra Haines Guitar:Bart Helms.
Written by Jason Davis.
CHARLEMAGNE Vocals: C. Ray Harvey. Backing Vocals: George Gardner, Jess Thrower, John Pitak. Guitar and Bells: C. Ray Harvey. Guitar: Bart Helms. Acoustic Guitar: John Pitak. Bass: George Gardner. Drums: Eric Frank. Harmonica: Tom McSod.
Written by C. Ray Harvey
THAT’S WHAT WE LEARNED AT THE SCHOOL - vocals: George Gardner, Jess Thrower, C.Ray Harvey, Cash Martin. Drums, Congas, Shaker: Jason Davis. Guitar, Moog, Egg Shaker: C. Ray Harvey. Acoustic Guitar: John Ptak. Bass: George Gardner. Accordion:Bart Helms.
Adapted from an old German Folk song.
THERE’S A MONSTER UNDER MY BED (The Beast with 3 Heads) - vocals: Lord Viadimir Von Ghoul. Drums: Friar Frightengale. Guitar, Bass: Cousin Eerie. Guest Vocals: Cassandra Haines.
Written by The Lurking Corpses.
Dreamt by Zoe Martin.
Produced by Jason Davis.
Recorded/Mixed by Jason Davis at Off the Cuff Sound, Fort Wayne, IN.
Mastered by Collin Jordan at the Boiler Room, Chicago, IL.
Artwork by Jay Hackbush.
Graphic Design by Matt Kelley
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