s came from John Buck and we happen to be working on the film set. When you are doing film there is a ton of prep work and waiting and working with the sun and more waiting. I was always talking to this guy who I didn’t know and we would always chat. Some of my buddies there said, “Don’t you know who that is?”, I said, I have no idea.
“He is one of the producers”, this guy said, Dean Devlin. So my wheels went around and I went to my friend John Buck who got me in the film and said, “Let’s try to write a song for the film” or something like that. So the next day, we were as always, waiting for a shot and I asked Dean could I pitch a song, he called this girl over and he gave me Peter Aftermen’s contact (at the time the music producer). I will always thank Dean in doing that because I was one step above being an extra and he didn’t have to do that.
But back to the story, I asked Peter if I could send something and he said, “Sure send it” At the time I had a gig at Asbury Park and I booked at a studio there, which the name I can’t remember. But I had this idea of getting my sea chanting Clearwater friends in the studio and create an old tavern sound, which was a ball and funny as hell.
Now a back story to this, while I was camping out with 100’s of extras out in the woods, sometimes I would hear these guys singing that line, down with the bloody, bloody British. But as nuts as this sound, there was no one there, old spirits maybe? But a line had to somehow fit into the song.
The tavern sound could have fit in right before Mel Gibson and Tcheky Karyo.
Jump in the door and we all throwing bread at them (which was taking most of the night). So we had fun throwing bread at them all night, take 23 .
The rest of the song could have been on the credits end of the film being sung like maybe The Poges and an Irish accent.
But music producers changed and there went that, but Peter Afterman and Dean Devil I will always thank!
Reply
I had a gig that I use to do in C-Ville, Va called The Coup De Ville. You played outside in the back about 10’ from the railroad tracks.
Sometime, while you were playing, sometimes a train would come by. It didn’t happen a lot but when it did it as trains go but it always very loud. And there was no way in hell you can compete with a train going by you at 10’. There was no way you could do your thing standing there playing your heart out but no one could hear the music. All the audience could hear is a slow moving train.
So, what I use to do was stop on a note…completely, ignore the audience, have a break, right in the middle of a song. Once the train was gone I would pick up on the other note of the same song I was singing before the train was coming by and continue the song. It’s almost like the audience forgot the train was even there. Music can be magic, or I think so, yea.
Still Pickin’
Bill
Reply
It looks like I will be playing this years festival and this will be the first time for this festival.
Located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia
I look forward to making some new friends!
Reply
I think the thing I dig about music, live performances, festivals is the way it breaks down walls, not builds them. We live in an internet world yes, but we want REAL connects. Maybe it’s in our DNA but humans as a whole have a need to be tribal and as far as music goes it can be downright life changing for some. For the listeners with hungry ears or the performer who gives out all they have, it’s a dance. That for many, they go back time and time again. But getting back to humans….
People now days are on their phone listening to music and that’s one thing, but live music is another and as I have said many times I think people are searching. A funny example I did Liberty Street live and this guy comes up to me and he ask me if he could buy that CD. I didn’t have one at the time so I showed him on my phone where to get it online. He gets on his phone, finds it and buys it right there….that’s new, and the world we are living in. But people want to find out and find like minded souls in whatever kind of music they are into. Bluegrass folks are theirs, folk people have their, jazz have theirs and to the kinds of music, well there’s a boat load out there, really! And somewhere you will find people camping out and hearing “Live Music”.
When Al Coffey and I would walk the street of New Orleans we would go where the sound of music would lead us. Let’s go down that street because I hear something good, Al would say. Here is hoping you folks are finding some good music in your hometown.
Hope everyone is enjoying the weather while it last.
Spring is coming!
Still Pickin’
Bill
Reply
At some time this month we will be putting out in the world our brand site web site, it will be a one stop place to hear about what’s going on with my music and where I will be playing this coming spring & summer. You will see links of programs I have worked on and lord only know what else, we are still building it with thanks to my friend Scott who is a IT guy and knows about this. So hang on and you will see some very cool things coming down internet pipe.
Sense my fire I had 7 years ago where I lost so much, it made me like a bolt of lightning to do only two things, write and recording and that’s it. Keeping daily updates with one site or another at the time did not matter, it’s about the music dummy, so, now 7 years latter we now have 13 tracks on the new CD, Toshi’s Garden and we are trying to put as much music as we can fit.
Here is hoping everyone out there is doing ok and hang on folks spring is coming!
Still Pickin’
Bill
Reply
Now more than ever we need live music for many hungry souls that are searching for something REAL. Something human, like the blues, because brother, we are living in some strange, dark times. And in these kinds of times comes the best music. I used to think if I could go back in time I would be sitting on a log with Woody sharing a bottle of wine and here comes a cop. Why in the world would I put myself in the 1930’s, the worst of times? On the other side of that coin, the best music came out back then. So, here we are….sing your heart out because there are hungry ears out there!
I listen to WKZE (in New York) sometimes in the morning doing dishes. At the end of Rick’s show he says, be kind, don’t hurt anyone, I relate to that. As hard as it can be, show some light in the dark and do small good things, it helps.
Hope everyone out there is warm and be safe.
Still Pickin’
Bill
Reply
Prison Gigs
Yesterday I was listening to Fresh Air on NPR and they were talking about how the mentally ill is now in prisons instead of hospitals. In my own area I know they shut down the State Hospital in Stauton, VA.
All this reminds me of the way I do concerts in jails. When I live in Key West I went to the jail there and asked if I could play to the prisoners there. It was a very direct meeting I had with the warden. I told him I am going to help the prisoners blow a little steam off with some music, that’s it. But I also told the warden I want to meet with the prisoners and ask them if they wanted me to come and play. In the Fresh Air story they talked about the prisoners not being able to have any freedom to decide for themselves. So, in this circumstance I wanted to give them a chance to see if they want me to play. The warden set up with a few of the prisoners and we meet in this small room. They wanted to know what kind of music I played. And we talked about the kinds of music we dug. So at the end of the meeting they decided they wanted me to play for them. I met with the Warden once more and we set a date.
Where they had me play, right off the bat I did not like much because they had the prisoners in an outside pit and I would be on a roof looking down at them, which I did not like much. I set up all the mikes and all and this very young guard who had a shot gun said, “Let me show’m where I’m at”. I look at him like, what the hell. And he put his shotgun near the mike and put a round in the chamber and said, “Go ahead and play.” I didn’t know what else to do and went into the song, All Along the Watchtower. The prisoners got the joke of course and on we went.
After doing a few gigs there they let me in the pit and play which I think was so much better. I don’t remember much about except at the end of the one gigs, we were loading out and a big black dude came up to me and said, “I know what you could be doing on a Sunday afternoon in Key West and I wanted to thank you. Would you sign the back of my T-shirt?” I said sure and we talked a little.
So when someone asks me to do a prison gig. I ask if I can talk to the prisoners first.
Hope everyone is having a safe winter.
Still Pickin’
Bill
Reply
Our thanks to radio station WMNR in Haines, AK for playing our track American Dream,
Support cool radio, they're real people that dig what's not on your TV.
Reply
Our thanks to Jo Bourdow and to WMPT in North Redington Beach , Fla. for adding our thank, Cookin' in the Kitchen!
Reply
Our thanks to Dick Hageman and 88.1 in Haines, AK for adding our track, American Dream!
Support cool radio
Reply
Bill Hudson / Blog
How I wrote the Patriot Song
s came from John Buck and we happen to be working on the film set. When you are doing film there is a ton of prep work and waiting and working with the sun and more waiting. I was always talking to this guy who I didn’t know and we would always chat. Some of my buddies there said, “Don’t you know who that is?”, I said, I have no idea. “He is one of the producers”, this guy said, Dean Devlin. So my wheels went around and I went to my friend John Buck who got me in the film and said, “Let’s try to write a song for the film” or something like that. So the next day, we were as always, waiting for a shot and I asked Dean could I pitch a song, he called this girl over and he gave me Peter Aftermen’s contact (at the time the music producer). I will always thank Dean in doing that because I was one step above being an extra and he didn’t have to do that. But back to the story, I asked Peter if I could send something and he said, “Sure send it” At the time I had a gig at Asbury Park and I booked at a studio there, which the name I can’t remember. But I had this idea of getting my sea chanting Clearwater friends in the studio and create an old tavern sound, which was a ball and funny as hell. Now a back story to this, while I was camping out with 100’s of extras out in the woods, sometimes I would hear these guys singing that line, down with the bloody, bloody British. But as nuts as this sound, there was no one there, old spirits maybe? But a line had to somehow fit into the song. The tavern sound could have fit in right before Mel Gibson and Tcheky Karyo. Jump in the door and we all throwing bread at them (which was taking most of the night). So we had fun throwing bread at them all night, take 23 . The rest of the song could have been on the credits end of the film being sung like maybe The Poges and an Irish accent. But music producers changed and there went that, but Peter Afterman and Dean Devil I will always thank!
Reply
The train that was'nt there
I had a gig that I use to do in C-Ville, Va called The Coup De Ville. You played outside in the back about 10’ from the railroad tracks. Sometime, while you were playing, sometimes a train would come by. It didn’t happen a lot but when it did it as trains go but it always very loud. And there was no way in hell you can compete with a train going by you at 10’. There was no way you could do your thing standing there playing your heart out but no one could hear the music. All the audience could hear is a slow moving train. So, what I use to do was stop on a note…completely, ignore the audience, have a break, right in the middle of a song. Once the train was gone I would pick up on the other note of the same song I was singing before the train was coming by and continue the song. It’s almost like the audience forgot the train was even there. Music can be magic, or I think so, yea. Still Pickin’ Bill
Reply
June 17th- High Knob Music Festival
It looks like I will be playing this years festival and this will be the first time for this festival. Located in Big Stone Gap, Virginia I look forward to making some new friends!
Reply
Humans want to connect
I think the thing I dig about music, live performances, festivals is the way it breaks down walls, not builds them. We live in an internet world yes, but we want REAL connects. Maybe it’s in our DNA but humans as a whole have a need to be tribal and as far as music goes it can be downright life changing for some. For the listeners with hungry ears or the performer who gives out all they have, it’s a dance. That for many, they go back time and time again. But getting back to humans…. People now days are on their phone listening to music and that’s one thing, but live music is another and as I have said many times I think people are searching. A funny example I did Liberty Street live and this guy comes up to me and he ask me if he could buy that CD. I didn’t have one at the time so I showed him on my phone where to get it online. He gets on his phone, finds it and buys it right there….that’s new, and the world we are living in. But people want to find out and find like minded souls in whatever kind of music they are into. Bluegrass folks are theirs, folk people have their, jazz have theirs and to the kinds of music, well there’s a boat load out there, really! And somewhere you will find people camping out and hearing “Live Music”. When Al Coffey and I would walk the street of New Orleans we would go where the sound of music would lead us. Let’s go down that street because I hear something good, Al would say. Here is hoping you folks are finding some good music in your hometown. Hope everyone is enjoying the weather while it last. Spring is coming! Still Pickin’ Bill
Reply
Brand New Web Site
At some time this month we will be putting out in the world our brand site web site, it will be a one stop place to hear about what’s going on with my music and where I will be playing this coming spring & summer. You will see links of programs I have worked on and lord only know what else, we are still building it with thanks to my friend Scott who is a IT guy and knows about this. So hang on and you will see some very cool things coming down internet pipe. Sense my fire I had 7 years ago where I lost so much, it made me like a bolt of lightning to do only two things, write and recording and that’s it. Keeping daily updates with one site or another at the time did not matter, it’s about the music dummy, so, now 7 years latter we now have 13 tracks on the new CD, Toshi’s Garden and we are trying to put as much music as we can fit. Here is hoping everyone out there is doing ok and hang on folks spring is coming! Still Pickin’ Bill
Reply
In these Times
Now more than ever we need live music for many hungry souls that are searching for something REAL. Something human, like the blues, because brother, we are living in some strange, dark times. And in these kinds of times comes the best music. I used to think if I could go back in time I would be sitting on a log with Woody sharing a bottle of wine and here comes a cop. Why in the world would I put myself in the 1930’s, the worst of times? On the other side of that coin, the best music came out back then. So, here we are….sing your heart out because there are hungry ears out there! I listen to WKZE (in New York) sometimes in the morning doing dishes. At the end of Rick’s show he says, be kind, don’t hurt anyone, I relate to that. As hard as it can be, show some light in the dark and do small good things, it helps. Hope everyone out there is warm and be safe. Still Pickin’ Bill
Reply
Prison gigs
Prison Gigs Yesterday I was listening to Fresh Air on NPR and they were talking about how the mentally ill is now in prisons instead of hospitals. In my own area I know they shut down the State Hospital in Stauton, VA. All this reminds me of the way I do concerts in jails. When I live in Key West I went to the jail there and asked if I could play to the prisoners there. It was a very direct meeting I had with the warden. I told him I am going to help the prisoners blow a little steam off with some music, that’s it. But I also told the warden I want to meet with the prisoners and ask them if they wanted me to come and play. In the Fresh Air story they talked about the prisoners not being able to have any freedom to decide for themselves. So, in this circumstance I wanted to give them a chance to see if they want me to play. The warden set up with a few of the prisoners and we meet in this small room. They wanted to know what kind of music I played. And we talked about the kinds of music we dug. So at the end of the meeting they decided they wanted me to play for them. I met with the Warden once more and we set a date. Where they had me play, right off the bat I did not like much because they had the prisoners in an outside pit and I would be on a roof looking down at them, which I did not like much. I set up all the mikes and all and this very young guard who had a shot gun said, “Let me show’m where I’m at”. I look at him like, what the hell. And he put his shotgun near the mike and put a round in the chamber and said, “Go ahead and play.” I didn’t know what else to do and went into the song, All Along the Watchtower. The prisoners got the joke of course and on we went. After doing a few gigs there they let me in the pit and play which I think was so much better. I don’t remember much about except at the end of the one gigs, we were loading out and a big black dude came up to me and said, “I know what you could be doing on a Sunday afternoon in Key West and I wanted to thank you. Would you sign the back of my T-shirt?” I said sure and we talked a little. So when someone asks me to do a prison gig. I ask if I can talk to the prisoners first. Hope everyone is having a safe winter. Still Pickin’ Bill
Reply
Thanks to radio station WMNR 88.1
Our thanks to radio station WMNR in Haines, AK for playing our track American Dream, Support cool radio, they're real people that dig what's not on your TV.
Reply
Thanks to Radio St. Pete WMPT-LP
Our thanks to Jo Bourdow and to WMPT in North Redington Beach , Fla. for adding our thank, Cookin' in the Kitchen!
Reply
Thanks to Radio WMNR- 88.1
Our thanks to Dick Hageman and 88.1 in Haines, AK for adding our track, American Dream! Support cool radio
Reply