(funky music) (cheering) We had lots of music around us that we certainly took for granted.

Our father was and still is a guitar picker and singer.

♪ Gonna give you the wheel ♪ ♪ Gonna let you drive♪ And was a real serious folk musician back in the late '50s, early '60s.

He used to play around the house.

He'd play around the campfire.

He played at parties when we had parties.

I don't think we at the time realized how much of impression that made.

♪ Shoofly ♪ - Our mom really influenced us too.

She was a published poet and was always writing.

OLIVER: She was the soul of our family.

Her words and the things that she thought were cool she imparted on us, a big influence.

♪ Well it is what it is and it isn't what it ain't ♪ ♪ Doesn't matter what it was ♪ ♪ Cause you know it's gonna keep on ♪ - My dad, he's a drummer.

He played drums for a lot of people.

Leonard Cohen, The Rolling Thunder Review Tour, he played drums for Dylan.

He was Bette Midler's drummer in the '70s.

He made me a little drum set.

My dad would practice for like three hours and then I'd go down there and practice for like three hours and then I'd have my friends come over and we'd jam, you know.

It was this constant mess of noise.

(light music) OLIVER: Chris and I took separate paths as we left the house.

And for the next 12 to 15 years we were completely apart.

And we lived in different parts of the country, we played different music with different people.

And so we had this opportunity where my band was able to open a show for Chris' band and it was the first time in years that we actually played together.

♪ And people say I'm the luckiest man ♪ It turned into a real bonding thing, not just musically, but just like, wow, we both do this.

Let's keep doing this once in awhile.

(funky music) (audience cheering) CHRIS: There's so much to be grateful for.

To me that's the thing that turns it around.

If I'm ever feeling negative or grumpy, or something.

I just start thinking, like, God Oliver's really good.

Jano is incredible, man he's like.

And the best way to be with people and to play music and to actually listen to people is by just feeling gratitude towards them in the moment.

And all of a sudden you can't have a negative thought.

♪ It's a Happiness Jones ♪ (funky music) - It's a beautiful meditation that I'm workin' on.

♪ Happy happy happy happy happy happy happy ♪ (cheering) (upbeat music) How y'all doing?

(cheering) (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ Everything I need is blowing in the breeze ♪ ♪ Everything I want is just down stream ♪ ♪ Everything between my ears is just a dream ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ I never stay still, I'm always movin' ♪ ♪ Flying in a tin can, hangin' by a shoestring ♪ ♪ Sitting on a plastic throne, livin' like a king ♪ ♪ Stuck in a dream ♪ ♪ Stuck in a dream ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ I wanna make peace, but I don't have the skill ♪ ♪ When I feel pain I reach for the pills ♪ ♪ Wish I had a body of steel but I'm over the hill ♪ ♪ Stuck in a dream ♪ ♪ Stuck in a dream ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ ♪ Nothing is wrong, nothing at stake ♪ ♪ I only feel bad when I can't have it all ♪ ♪ I only feel bad when I can't have it all ♪ (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ Stuck in a dream ♪ ♪ ♪ Stuck in a dream ♪ ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ ♪ I only feel bad when I can't have it all ♪ ♪ It's only American heartache ♪ ♪ I only feel bad when I can't have it all ♪ (audience cheering) (light music) ♪ ♪ I know a man and he sings the blues ♪ ♪ Yeah he plays just what he feels ♪ ♪ Keeps a letter in the pocket of his coat ♪ ♪ But he never breaks the seal ♪ ♪ Set up in a barroom corner ♪ ♪ Playing for tips and beer ♪ ♪ People carrying on and drinking ♪ ♪ And you gotta strain to hear ♪ (light music) ♪ ♪ I seen him play on some old cheap guitar ♪ ♪ But he can play on pots and pans ♪ ♪ You never heard a soul so pure and true ♪ ♪ It's flowing right off his hands ♪ ♪ He can sing sweet as a choir girl ♪ ♪ And he can sing your house on fire ♪ ♪ Seen him calling up the angels ♪ ♪ And using breeze for the telephone wire ♪ ♪ And if you ask him how he sings his blues so well ♪ ♪ He said, I got a soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ And I don't read postcards from hell ♪ (cheering) (light music) ♪ ♪ Said he came from down in Texas ♪ ♪ Playing out since he's 15 ♪ ♪ And you can hear a little Chicago ♪ ♪ And a lot of New Orleans ♪ ♪ He can take you on a freight train ♪ ♪ He can take you down the alley ♪ ♪ He can take you to church ♪ ♪ And he can walk you through the valley ♪ ♪ And if you ask him ♪ ♪ How he sings his blues so well ♪ ♪ He said, I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ And I don't read postcards from hell ♪ (funky music) ♪ ♪ Oo ♪ ♪ Oo ♪ (funky music) ♪ ♪ I've seen him sleeping in a doorway ♪ ♪ Maybe living outside ♪ ♪ On his back just like a cockroach ♪ ♪ But he ain't waiting to die ♪ ♪ And if you ask him ♪ ♪ How he sings his blues so well ♪ ♪ He says, I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ I gotta soul that I won't sell ♪ ♪ That's why I sing my blues so well ♪ ♪ And I don't read postcards from hell ♪ (audience cheering) Thank you very much!

(audience cheering) (funky music) ♪ ♪ I heard the faint voice of reason ♪ ♪ And then it faded away ♪ ♪ So I raised my glass to her cheek and ♪ ♪ And I caught the tears she made ♪ ♪ And I thought it was love ♪ ♪ I thought it was love ♪ ♪ But it's only a drug ♪ ♪ That sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ Gets me so high ♪ ♪ Those beautiful tears ♪ ♪ Of sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ I'm a fool she's a flower ♪ ♪ Just can't find the sun ♪ ♪ So I pick up all the pretty pieces ♪ ♪ When she comes undone ♪ ♪ And I thought it was love ♪ ♪ Yeah I thought it was love ♪ ♪ But it's only a drug ♪ ♪ That sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ Gets me so high ♪ ♪ Those beautiful tears ♪ ♪ Of sparklin' wine ♪ (funky music) ♪ (audience cheering) (funky music) ♪ One look at those eyes and my lips get dry ♪ ♪ And I know I gotta stay ♪ ♪ 'Cause the only thing I can think about is ♪ ♪ Kissin' those tears away ♪ ♪ And I thought it was love ♪ ♪ I thought it was love ♪ ♪ But it's only a drug ♪ ♪ Yeah, well I thought it was love ♪ ♪ That sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ Gets me so high ♪ ♪ Those beautiful tears ♪ ♪ Of sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ Of sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ Gets me so high ♪ ♪ Those beautiful tears ♪ ♪ Of sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ Sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ Gets me so high ♪ ♪ Those beautiful, beautiful tears ♪ ♪ Of sparklin' wine ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience cheering) (light music) ♪ ♪ Behind the wheel of a yellow cab ♪ ♪ On the outskirts of Birmingham ♪ ♪ He dreams of a traffic jam in Manhattan ♪ ♪ Below the city in a subway car ♪ ♪ She feels just like a shooting star ♪ ♪ Never thought she could get so far ♪ ♪ From her old man ♪ ♪ The last phonebooth in New York City ♪ ♪ Ringing all day, calling somebody home ♪ ♪ She doesn't answer, she walks faster ♪ ♪ She won't be going back to Alabaster ♪ ♪ She won't be going back ♪ ♪ She won't be going back to Alabaster ♪ ♪ Thousand miles away, she still feels it ♪ ♪ Scrape of his chin, bruise on her spirit ♪ ♪ Home is calling but she won't get near it ♪ ♪ Ever again ♪ ♪ Steps on the gas tries to harness the anger ♪ ♪ Last thing he do is try to understand her ♪ ♪ Stuck in time like a fly in the amber ♪ ♪ Never transcends ♪ ♪ Last phonebooth in New York City ♪ ♪ Ringing all day, calling somebody home ♪ ♪ She doesn't answer, she walks faster ♪ ♪ She won't be going back to Alabaster ♪ ♪ She won't be going back ♪ ♪ She won't be going back to Alabaster ♪ (funky music) ♪ ♪ ♪ Time passes, distance grows wider ♪ ♪ Her dark features brighter and brighter ♪ ♪ She's got a new heart beating inside her ♪ ♪ And she's her own master ♪ ♪ She won't be going back ♪ ♪ She's her own master ♪ ♪ She won't be going back ♪ ♪ She's her own master, yeah ♪ ♪ The last phonebooth in New York City ♪ ♪ Ringing all day, calling somebody home ♪ ♪ She doesn't answer, she walks faster ♪ ♪ The last phonebooth in New York City ♪ ♪ She won't be going back ♪ ♪ Calling somebody home ♪ ♪ She doesn't answer, she walks faster ♪ ♪ She won't be going back ♪ ♪ She won't be going back ♪ ♪ She won't be going back to Alabaster ♪ ♪ She won't be going back, woo ♪ ♪ She won't be going back to Alabaster ♪ ♪ Yeah, she won't be going back ♪ ♪ She won't be going back to Alabaster ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ (somber music) ♪ (audience cheering) (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ It's hard to be fair when you're fighting ♪ ♪ It's hard to be nice when you lose ♪ ♪ And you wish you were thunder and lightnin' ♪ ♪ But all you are ♪ ♪ Is stuck with the blues ♪ ♪ Yeah, you're stuck with the blues ♪ ♪ You gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ Before you know the sun's up it goes down ♪ ♪ You gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ Well it is what it is and it isn't what it ain't ♪ ♪ Doesn't matter what it was ♪ ♪ 'Cause you know it's gonna keep on ♪ (funky music) ♪ ♪ You can't keep me from laughin' ♪ ♪ And I can't keep you from cryin' ♪ ♪ It's hard to say just what's happenin' ♪ ♪ We could be crashin' ♪ ♪ We could be flyin' ♪ ♪ Yeah we be flyin' ♪ ♪ Do you gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ Before you know the sun's up it goes down ♪ ♪ Do you gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ Well it is what is and it isn't what it ain't ♪ ♪ Doesn't matter what it was ♪ ♪ 'Cause you know it's gonna keep on ♪ (funky music) ♪ Keep on changin' ♪ ♪ ♪ (tempo slows) ♪ ♪ Do you gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Do you gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Hard to be fair ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ And it's hard to be nice ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ And you wish you were thunder ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ When all you are is ♪ ♪ Stuck with the blues ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ Do you gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ Do you gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ Do you gotta be lost to be found ♪ ♪ Who the devil spins the world around ♪ ♪ Before you know the sun's up it goes down ♪ ♪ And it is what is and it isn't what it ain't ♪ ♪ Doesn't matter what it was ♪ ♪ 'Cause you know it's gonna keep on ♪ (audience cheering) We experienced the end of the last paradigm of the music industry, you know, where you actually had record budgets and there was a certain assumption about how you made a record.

You were supposed to write, write, write all this material and then you go on in and just play all of the material at once and it's this crazy, overwhelming experience.

The way that we like to make records now is just one song at a time.

Let's just write.

If we come up with something we like then we record it.

So we did it in the reverse order.

Came up with a bunch of neat music and then we started writing songs over that music.

OLIVER: We were very independent and now we're even more independent because we pay the rent on this building but otherwise we're not watching the clock at all.

We can experiment and have fun.

- Good songs give you a feeling, they give you images, but they don't necessarily spell out exactly what the song's about.

There's always a mystery there.

These are songs that I love that, I don't know what the song's about but it makes me feel something that I like, you know.

I can't explain the lyrics, it's like - OLIVER: Yeah, like what's an Eggman?

(chuckling) CHRIS: I used to be envious of other people's careers.

Especially these days with social media.

You look up and you're like, oh my god they have a million followers.

They're getting Grammy's and their house must be incredible.

It's easy to go down that rabbit hole but then I don't wanna play what they're playing.

OLIVER: Yeah, we're getting paid to be us which is pretty awesome.

When we're connected creating, it's awesome and we end up connecting to our audience and that connected feeling is what it's all about.

(light music) (loud whistle from audience) ♪ ♪ As I sit on the edge of this never made bed ♪ ♪ Old guitar in my lap a new tune in my head ♪ ♪ There she stands in the doorway just brushin' her hair ♪ ♪ It's my beautiful muse in her underwear ♪ ♪ And if I was thinkin' I'd be thinkin' thank God ♪ ♪ Whoever you are ♪ ♪ For the muse and this old guitar ♪ ♪ Times like these so sweet and so true ♪ ♪ Thinkin's the last thing that you wanna do ♪ (light music) ♪ ♪ As I sit on the end of this dirty old bar ♪ ♪ Tryin' to work some things out and not getting too far ♪ ♪ As I drown out the voices that are keepin' me down ♪ ♪ There's a muse all alone on the other side of town ♪ ♪ And if I was thinkin' I'd be thinkin' thank God ♪ ♪ Whoever you are ♪ ♪ For all the whiskey in this dirty old bar ♪ ♪ Times like these so sad but so true ♪ ♪ Thinkin's the last thing that you wanna do ♪ ♪ Thinkin's the last thing you wanna do ♪ ♪ ♪ As I sit on the bed in this hospital room ♪ ♪ Shedding a tear for the bride and groom ♪ ♪ The tiniest voice starts to bellow and cry ♪ ♪ It's my finest work yet if today I should die ♪ ♪ And if I was thinkin' I'd be thinkin' thank God ♪ ♪ For the muse and the miracle right here in my arms ♪ ♪ Time's like these are sweet and so true ♪ ♪ Thinkin's the last thing that you wanna do ♪ ♪ But thinkin's the last thing that you wanna do ♪ ♪ Yeah, thinkin's the last thing that you wanna do ♪ ♪ ♪ (audience cheering) (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ Hello I'm Lonely, I sweep up the place ♪ ♪ I go in early and I come home late ♪ ♪ And one thing I never forget is a face ♪ ♪ And you keep me around ♪ ♪ Keep me around ♪ ♪ Hello, I'm Sad, I know I get in the way ♪ ♪ Sit down and wonder ♪ ♪ I always stay ♪ ♪ And you keep me around ♪ ♪ Yeah, keep me around ♪ ♪ Hello, I'm Faith and I might be blind ♪ ♪ But I'm the one that's gonna keep towin' the line ♪ ♪ And you land on your feet almost every time ♪ ♪ And you keep me around ♪ ♪ Won't let you down ♪ ♪ You keep me around ♪ ♪ You keep me around ♪ ♪ Won't let you down ♪ ♪ Yeah, keep me around ♪ (light music) ♪ ♪ Sad and Lonely, they go and come ♪ ♪ You think you don't need 'em but you gotta have some ♪ ♪ Try askin' the Dark where the Light comes from ♪ AUDIENCE: Yea!

♪ Hello, I'm Faith and I might be blind ♪ ♪ But I'm the one that's gonna keep towin' the line ♪ ♪ And you land on your feet almost every time ♪ Who's gonna sing it with us?

♪ Yeah and you keep me around ♪ ♪ Won't let you down ♪ ♪ Keep me around ♪ ♪ Keep me around ♪ ♪ Won't let you down ♪ ♪ Yeah, keep me around ♪ ♪ Well, you keep me around ♪ ♪ Keep me around ♪ ♪ Keep me around ♪ ♪ You keep me around ♪ ♪ (audience cheering) (funky music) (audience rhythmic clapping) ♪ ♪ I'm gonna give you the wheel; I'm gonna let you drive ♪ ♪ But you gotta make me; shoofly pie ♪ (funky music) ♪ ♪ Don't forget the sweet molasses ♪ ♪ And I won't leave a crumb ♪ ♪ Don't you just sit there laughing ♪ ♪ When you know how bad I need some ♪ ♪ You know how bad; I need some of that ♪ ♪ Shoofly pie - shoofly pie - shoofly ♪ ♪ ♪ You can make it for me in the mornin' ♪ ♪ I like it if it's hot or cold ♪ ♪ You can make it for me in the evenin' ♪ ♪ And baby when the sun is low ♪ ♪ You can make it in the evenin' when the sun is low ♪ ♪ You can make it if the house most late ♪ ♪ You can give it to me right on time ♪ ♪ Well I like it in the kitchen, living room, driveway ♪ ♪ I don't mind if the house on fire ♪ ♪ Don't care if the house on fire ♪ ♪ Gimme that shoofly pie - shoofly pie - shoofly pie ♪ ♪ Shoofly ♪ ♪ Pie ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ Well I maybe full of biscuits and wine ♪ ♪ But I always have room ♪ ♪ For that shoofly ♪ ♪ Fly ♪ (funky music) ♪ ♪ Oo ♪ ♪ Well I like it in the middle of the night ♪ ♪ Under the stars and the moon ♪ ♪ And I get so high on your ever-lovin' pie ♪ ♪ I like it from June to June ♪ ♪ I said, I like it from June to June ♪ ♪ Well I must be blessed 'cuz I have the best ♪ ♪ And I've seen the light comin' through your dress ♪ ♪ All my fans they understand why I would kick and cry ♪ ♪ Wouldn't mind dyin' ♪ ♪ For just another piece of that heavenly beautiful ♪ ♪ Shoofly pie ♪ ♪ Shoofly pie ♪ ♪ Yeah, shoofly pie ♪ ♪ Shoofly pie ♪ ♪ Just a little bit of shoofly pie ♪ ♪ Shoofly pie ♪ ♪ One more piece of shoofly pie ♪ ♪ Shoofly ♪ ♪ Pie ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ Well I may be full of biscuits and wine ♪ ♪ But I always have room for that ♪ ♪ Shoofly ♪ ♪ (audience cheering) Lovely dancing out there, thank you.

(audience cheering) (keyboard music) ♪ ♪ My whole saturday and sunday too ♪ ♪ I was thinking about ways not to lose ♪ ♪ Lay down my weapons is what I've done ♪ ♪ Too late to hide, feet too soft to run ♪ ♪ And people say I'm the luckiest man ♪ We'd like everybody to sing on this (audience cheering) ♪ Yeah they say ♪ ♪ That running is useless ♪ ♪ The fighting is foolish ♪ ♪ You're not gonna win but still ♪ ♪ You're the luckiest man you're up against ♪ ♪ Too many horses and mysterious forces ♪ ♪ And what you don't know is you are the luckiest man ♪ ♪ You're the luckiest man ♪ That was very expressive, it was beautiful.

(funky music) ♪ ♪ I done talked to the devil when he calls my name ♪ ♪ But sometimes when I'm losing it all seems the same ♪ ♪ And when I fall I'm back up again ♪ ♪ Just to slip on the same mistake ♪ ♪ And slide right back in ♪ ♪ And people say I'm the luckiest man ♪ ♪ Yeah they say ♪ ♪ That running is useless or fighting is foolish ♪ ♪ You're not gonna win, but still ♪ ♪ You're the luckiest man you're up against ♪ ♪ Too many horses and mysterious forces ♪ ♪ And what you don't know is you are the luckiest man ♪ ♪ You're the luckiest man, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ Jano Rix back there on the drum, on the keyboard ♪ (audience cheering) ♪ ♪ Try to keep my faith and keep my mind ♪ ♪ And I'd hate to lose either one ♪ ♪ When the whip cracks behind ♪ ♪ And I can't help but mourning just a little each night ♪ ♪ People say everything's gonna be alright ♪ ♪ They say I'm the luckiest man ♪ We like to do this part with no microphones.

Just everybody just like a freaky caveman.

(cheering) ♪ Running is useless ♪ ♪ Fighting is foolish ♪ ♪ You're not gonna win but still ♪ ♪ You're the luckiest man you're up against ♪ OLIVER: Louder!

♪ Too many horses ♪ ♪ And mysterious forces ♪ ♪ What you don't know is you are the luckiest man ♪ One, one time ♪ Luckiest man ♪ (audience cheering) (upbeat music) ♪ ♪ All of my wisdom came from all the toughest days ♪ ♪ I never learned a thing being happy ♪ ♪ And all my suffering came I didn't appreciate it ♪ ♪ I never learned a thing being happy ♪ ♪ But to know how it feels now and then ♪ ♪ I've got a Happiness Jones, my friend ♪ ♪ Yeah, it's a Happiness Jones ♪ ♪ ♪ All of my answers came drivin' myself insane ♪ ♪ Yeah, I had a dragon to tame to get happy ♪ ♪ All of my peace and quiet came from puttin' out fire ♪ ♪ Yeah kept a spark alive to get happy ♪ ♪ That old dragon, when he comes back mad ♪ ♪ I gotta Happiness Jones so bad ♪ ♪ Yes, a Happiness Jones ♪ ♪ Whoa ♪ ♪ A happy happy happy Happiness Jones ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Happy happy happy Happiness Jones ♪ ♪ Happy happy happy Happiness Jones ♪ ♪ And I'm not sick ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪ We all got it ♪ ♪ A Happiness Jones, yeah, yeah ♪ Beautiful.

♪ ♪ All of those words I wrote in the storm that rocked my boat ♪ ♪ All of that was stuck in my throat when I was happy ♪ ♪ And all of those songs I was singin' ♪ ♪ Yeah when my boat was sinkin' ♪ ♪ The next thing I'm thinking, I'm happy ♪ ♪ Well, I might as well change my name ♪ ♪ To Happiness Jones, my friend ♪ ♪ Happiness Jones ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Happy happy happy Happiness Jones, yeah ♪ ♪ Happy happy happy Happiness Jones, Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Happy happy happy Happiness Jones ♪ ♪ Well I'm not sick ♪ ♪ I'm not alone ♪ ♪ We all got it ♪ ♪ A Happiness Jones ♪ ♪ Happy happy happy happy ♪ ♪ Happy happy happy♪ (audience cheering) Dang, y'all can dance!

Nice job out there.

ANNOUNCER: Funding for this program was provided by Whelen Engineering Company.

Whelen is a proud sponsor of The Kate and wishes to voice its ongoing support for Connecticut Public Television, the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center, and the Michael J.

Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.