t.k. potrero on his debut album titled “Half Off on the Holy Grail”

tk. potrero here. There is a directness to these songs. They are raw, reflective, campy, serious, angry, urging a rebellion of the spirit. I do have some things to say about this world. I hope you enjoy how it feels, how it sounds and what it says. And don't forget - it's rock n' roll, have some fun!

My collection starts with "As Fast As I Can", a song about feeling stressed by the fast-paced grind of modern life and its alleged promises. The title of the album "Half Off on the Holy Grail" comes from a line in this song.

"Life's Tough! (1% song)" is this snarky rockin' song where the main character is a cross between Donald Trump Jr. and that guy Travis from Uber. What can be worse than a bunch of rich white guys bitchin' and moanin' over petty annoyances? “What happened to my petunias!" The female vocalists, Athena Wald, Joyce Wald and Sarah Arnold from the Conspiracy of Venus on the chorus add just the right amount of contrast for sarcastic effect.

“The Underlings (99% song)" is one of my very blunt protest songs, which there are several on this album. This is not character-driven, this is my voice. It has always amazed me (and saddens me too) how the 99% can let themselves be used and abused over and over again. "Sometimes it makes me wonder, what kind of spell we're under, where the hell is the rain and thunder, from the Underlings, the Underlings ...". Yes "the system has no clothes!"

"I'm on TV” is about reality TV and the need for fame for self-validation. The character proclaims "I'll marry Kim Kardashian, become a vegetarian, that's all that I'll need, when I'm on TV." By the end of the song his greatest joy is revealed as being able to tell all his friends, "Na-na-na, foo-foo, Na-na-na, foo-foo, You're not on TV, I'm on TV."

"I Don't Think So" is a semi-autobiographical song about a very difficult time for me and my spouse. The feelings around serious illness are really complicated. Sadness and sympathy often come with wallowing in self-pity and self-doubt.

"We Don't Want Your Misery" is another blunt protest song that is my voice. This song is written for my fellow teachers' union sisters and brothers. I have oodles of contempt for the powerful who don't pay enough, don't show respect enough, think they can just have their way in this world. I kinda like the sass in the chorus, "Tell me master, pretty please, when are we allowed to sneeze?" I had little choice at the end but to scream "No more misery” over and over.

“Jump the Fence” is sung by a fence-jumper talking to his friend a rule-follower throughout his life. He is complaining, "Why you tell the teacher that I didn't do my homework, threw my crayons on the floor?", urging him to "jump the fence" because “when it makes no sense you got to jump the fence.”

“Let It Burn (Tennessee 2010)" is based on a true story in Tennessee in 2010. They let a man's house burn down because he hadn't paid his fire fee. Firefighters literally stood by and let it burn - and his dog too! The singer (along with the soulful choir) is telling everybody to "let it burn", cheering it on. The choir sounds sweeter but they are just as mean, as the fire is allegedly consecrated by the Lord above or wherever ever she or he may reside. "Let it burn, he ain't from our town", they sing together.

Ok, "Always Waiting for You" is hella creepy. But that's the point! I wanted to write a stalker song using the character from Springsteen's "State Trooper" as my muse. This is what came out. There is no desperate love or caring obsession gone awry. This guy needs control and he's one sick puppy who reminds his victim in case they might forget, "I'm always there for you and don't you forget it."

"If Only Jesus was a New York Guy" is a cowboy song sung by a morally ambiguous boy from New York City (no one I know, of course). He is worrying about what lots of Jesus types worry about. Will I go to heaven or will I suffer in eternal damnation and burn in flames in hell forever and ever? He is hoping for a little help and if only Jesus was from the lower Eastside, the Bronx, Brooklyn or even Queens, maybe the Lord might understand. It couldn't hurt.

“Never Say Never” is one of my ballads. It is about loss and features my songwriting friend and co-conspirator Genevieve Conaty on vocals. This is the highlight of the song for me.

“Brand New Day” is my sha-la-la song. I just had to write one. This is me channeling my inner 20’s, filled with yearning, bravado, doubt, lust, love! This feels to me like it should be on the soundtrack of an 80’s movie. I guess that ship has sailed.

Enjoy!

t.k potrero