MUSIC

cover of my 2nd album

     My hobby is writing and performing original folk songs.  I have recorded a new album, ALMOST ENDLESS FUN.  Scott Alzheimer produced 14 tracks, Jake Krch three, and Chad Zenisek one.  The tracks are:

  1. Your Original Question
  2. Waiting for the Light Blues (with Jake Krch)
  3. Outside
  4. Theme from the XXVI Olympiad (with Kimberli Maloy)
  5. Everlasting Day (with Dennis Schaefer)
  6. Crayon (with Jane, Robbie and Eli Nesmith)
  7. The Guide (with Kimberli Maloy)
  8. Spring
  9. Summer
  10. Autumn
  11. It's Christmas! Buy Something!! (with Jane, Robbie and Eli Nesmith)
  12. Urban Legend (Chad Zenisek)
  13. Happily Ever After
  14. Southern Baptist
  15. We Are We (with Jane, Robbie and Eli Nesmith)
  16. Cellphone
  17. Visions of Chickens (with Dennis Schaefer)
  18. Interstate

VIDEO: "Faithful in the Rain"


My first album, MOUTH FULL OF MUSTARD (2003), was produced by Alex Dyba.  The tracks include:

  1. Better Grammar Than God
  2. At The Mall
  3. Avenging Angel
  4. Waiting for the Bluegrass Buddha
  5. Orange Rhyme
  6. Gender Studies
  7. Dawn
  8. Chicago
  9. I Like Baseball
  10. Love You, Interplanetarily
  11. Ahead, She Said
  12. Pickles
  13. John Has Tomatoes
  14. Political Science Club Song
  15. Totems
  16. Afternoon
  17. White Bread From The Suburbs
Both discs are available for the everyday, low-low price of $10.  For "Mouth Full of Mustard," half the proceeds goes to the Friends of Music at Coe.  The discs may be purchased by contacting me (bnesmith@coe.edu).

    I wrote my first song in 1984, and performed it at the Wesley Foundation in Urbana, Illinois. Since then I have sung publicly in Atwood, Farmington, and Macomb, Illinois; and Cedar Rapids, Marion, Stone City, and Walker, Iowa.  My favorite place to perform is Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse, 1271 1st Av SE (across from Coe).  Come see me November 6!

    I enjoy listening to folk and singer-songwriter music online at these sites:

   Here's my annual list of Ten Notable Albums of 2008

    My CD acquisitions in 2009:

    My CD acquisitions in 2008:
    My CD acquisitions in 2007:
    My CD acquisitions in 2006:
    My CD acquisitions in 2005:
    My CD acquisitions in 2004: Other musical links:

    Lyrics to folk and pop songs
    The encyclopedic All Music Guide site
    The number one songs on Billboard's pop chart for any date in history
    A handy classical music reference site
    The Blue Strawberry Coffeehouse, 118 2nd St SE, Cedar Rapids, hosts an open mike the third Thursday night of each month from  7-10 p.m.  Local singer-songwriter Kimberli Maloy is MC. 
    Another interesting musical venue: CSPS, 1103 3rd St SE, Cedar Rapids: big name acts in an intimate atmosphere, an art gallery, and local talent performing in an occasional Saturday night Out of Bounds series.
    Local musicians:

Hey, it's good to be back Home again!

Last update 11/5/09