I didn’t know you played guitar! Do you still play?

The short answer to your question, Mike, is no.

A more complete answer is yes, I still have a guitar, and occasionally I pick it up and play a few of my songs, but I don’t really know what I’m doing, and probably never will.

I got an electric guitar for Christmas in my senior year of high school, the one you can see in this photo of Simon’s Function, our pathetic punk band.

Is that a real Stratocaster?

No, it’s a Squire, or perhaps a Squire knockoff, I don’t remember for sure. Whatever mom could afford. But I was thrilled with it. So that was the guitar I used to teach myself Green Day and Nirvana songs. I did buy a real Strat one summer in college, but I eventually sold it and replaced it with a cheap Fender acoustic.

I took a semester guitar class at the University, but I learned very little, and for my final exam all I had to do was play “Frosty the Snowman.” I wish I were kidding.

A few years ago, I added an electric Epiphone Alleykat to my collection. I’ve since tried to sell it, but Guitar World won’t give me much more than a pat on the back for it. I originally bought it thinking I would be playing and recording quite a bit with some guys I met in 2001 and jammed with occasionally until 2004 or 2005. We recorded a couple dozen tracks under the name Spaceface. We even played two live shows, both for HopeWorks charity talent shows held at my church.

Members of Spaceface included:
Caleb — recording, mixing, production, guitars, vocals, keyboard, etc
Doyne — guitar, bass, drums, vocals
Mark — guitar, vocals
Mick — guitar, vocals

If it hadn’t been for my reticence and profound lack of skill, we probably would have played some real concerts. The other guys were good enough, and experienced enough, to have done it. But, as I saw it, there were three main problems:

1. I was forced into the lead vocal role, being the least skilled with every other instrument, though I can’t sing, either.

2. I couldn’t really play guitar, aside from punk riffs and sloppy rhythm. And last but not least,

3. The songs I wrote typically included only one verse and had a measly little one-line chorus, if that.

Between 1996 and 2005 I wrote more than 50 songs, song-poems, song fragments and riffs, with the majority of them created in 2002 and 2003 when Spaceface was recording together. Around 2005 or so, Doyne moved to another state and I fell out of touch with Mark. Then Caleb moved to Nashville. So I’m thankful to have the recordings we made together; listening to them always brings back good memories.

I know you’re just dying to hear some examples, so I picked out some fairly representative recordings to satisfy your curiosity, 15 in total. All of these tracks are courtesy of, and made possible by, Caleb’s Orange Room Studio.

NoOneElse (1997) “Since you lost your mind, you’ve been someone else.” This song is loosely about my confusion and grief following the suicide of my art teacher in high school. I’m still pretty happy with the way the recording turned out, even though it gets off beat and we were forced to drop the drum track near the end. Caleb added echo effects to the vocals that make it somewhat haunting. LINK

Leaving (1997) “I’m just trying to do what’s right.” One of my favorite things about Spaceface was how we recorded each other’s songs, added vocals and guitar parts, etc. Caleb made some pretty outstanding solo covers of songs written by Mark, but this is one of mine that he recorded. It’s about a girl I was absolutely crazy about in high school, but when Caleb recorded it, he was actually going through something much worse and (unfortunately) more appropriate. LINK

Send Me High (1997) “Whisper nonsense in my ear.” The first part of this song was written by Stacy (far right), but I never learned the whole song, so I added some suicidal lyrics to fill it out a little. Then Caleb added the funky beat. No cowbell, though. LINK

Repent (1998) “See you again when the leaves have fallen.” Doyne covers one of mine, though he didn’t know all of the lyrics. It’s ok, though, because this one’s not about anything in particular. That last, slightly-ironic guitar note is just signature Doyne; you can actually hear him smirking. LINK

Lips (1999) “As they survey the globe…” I wrote Lips during my last Summer spent in Des Moines, before my senior year in college. This was the first song of mine that Caleb heard me play, and what initially sparked his interest in recording with me. I think it was also the first song we really did anything with, filling it out and adding the drum track, etc. At the time I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, but listening back now, my vocals are so horrible that I can hardly stand to listen to it. LINK

Drown (2001) “I try to calm you down — you won’t go.” Originally known as “New Riff 1,” we recorded a very raw version of this song along with a string of other demos with me on vocals and guitar. But then Doyne and Caleb went back and made this rocking version; it still puts a huge smile on my face. LINK

Vacant (2002) “Got a dollar, we’ll take it off.” This recording is actually one of Mark’s riffs, with me ad libbing some vocals and adding a guitar track. The story is told from the point of view of a prostitute. LINK

27 (2002) “Don’t it feel good to be alive?” I wasn’t yet 27 at the time, but I was having a quarter-life crisis, and I was afraid my life would be basically over once I got there. This one also has some little political references, which I always enjoy. LINK

Constant Dream (2002) “Find my way into the office, hide behind my seat.” I’m fascinated with dreams, I almost always remember them, and I write them down. So this song has me daydreaming about dreams, daydreaming and death. LINK

They Will Follow You (2002) “Eyes that look on empty land.” I was listening to Beck’s Sea Change album nonstop when I wrote this. For whatever reason I generally write songs and poetry that totally contradict my beliefs and values. I guess it’s more fun that way. But this one is more straight-forward. LINK

Abby (2002) “It’s everything we feared.” This song is about a little girl who is diagnosed with a rare, terminal disease. I wrote it about three years before my niece Abby was born, so now I don’t like to play it anymore. LINK

Faith On The Water (2002) “Face’n the tempest…” My vocals on this song were atrocious, so Caleb was kind enough to record this one for me. It’s about Simon Peter, and all of us who doubt God, written from Jesus’ point of view. LINK

Summer Couldn’t Come Too Soon (2003) “Children roaming the floor…” I write down some words and e-mail them to Mark, and just a few hours later, to my total astonishment, Mark sends me this completed, fully produced mp3. Yes, some of the words don’t fit, but it’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever heard. Maybe you had to be there. LINK

I’ve Been Told (2004) “Life will take its toll on everyone.” I wrote this in my head while driving to the bookstore one evening, which may or may not explain anything. LINK

Peace Corps (2005) “I’ve been working at the drug store that sits on every corner.” Who says a song needs more than a single, two-line verse and a one-line chorus?!! Not me. If this were a real song, it would be about the desperation I felt while being unemployed after college and then making slightly more than minimum wage at Walgreens. LINK