New Year's Eve

The Dresden Cowboy

I will be singing a set with Marty and Elayne tonight, tomorrow, as well as Saturday, around midnight @ the Dresden in Hollywood. Happy New Year.

Over You

Think I got the last shot off on the Over You video

Wow.  Who would have thought that three little shots could've taken so damn long???!  I think I finally wrapped shooting on the Over You video today.  Hopefully I got a cool night shot with me and "my guitar and a beer" at the station, and, an interesting shot in the rain at the same location.  I will be adding these final shots to the video the very next chance I get.  And I will post the final video of this beautiful song ASAP! 

Three more shots left on the Over You video...  Should wrap on production next Tues.

At the station...

Still shot from the Over You music video.

Several shoot dates left OVER YOU...

Still shot pulled from current video OVER YOU written by Cody Melvill

I have several shoot dates left on my current video, OVER YOU, a beautiful, lyrical, song by Cody Melville.  Should have video to post by later next week.

- John

Over You

https://codymelville.bandcamp.com/

This week... I'll begin production on the video for my version of the Cody Melville song OVER YOU.  Cody hails from my hometown in Michigan - we haven't seen each other for a good many years, however, we bumped into each other last December, and, that encounter led to his involvement with this musical catalogue.  Cody is an amazing musical talent.  He has written and performed music for years.  I remember him being one of the only local Detroit bands to manage airplay on the major radio stations back in the day.   OVER YOU is a beautiful song with an enchanting lyrical symmetry.  Mr. Melville performed and produced this song.  Stephanie Barone added some wonderful background vocals.  I very much look forward to posting this video soon.  Thank you everyone, for your support.

- John

Goodbye Dear Leon

Money, the Motown Classic!

"The best things in life are free..."

Still shot from Money video.  Expect to post video early next week.

Money, that's what I want.  This video is very close to completion and should post early next week!  (this version of the song produced by Michael Madill and Edward Donnelly).

laryngitis got the best of me today... I was all set to put down my lead vocals on the Jason Peirce song Brand New Way to Cry, only, my throat did not co-operate.  Any given verse or chorus lyric was a busted note.  Wow.  It happens to me twice a year out here in California. In fact I most likely will not be able to sing with Marty and Elayne @ the Dresden this week due to my tentative throat condition.  Perhaps the spores and funky air borne sh---- stuff attacks my Detroit born larynx in an unfair manner.  Regardless, I got some wonderful mixes back from Cody Melville on our version of his amazing song titled Over You.  The mix is sounding great, and I expect to have a video with this song up in the next couple weeks.  First you'll have to deal with my Money video, which is mostly done and will post next week.

Thanks for tuning in! 

- John

Stephanie Barone came by the studio today and put down some lovely vocals for my version of a Cody Melville song titled Over You.  The session went well, I've sent the tracks over to Cody so he can begin to finalize the song.  Then, I'll place it to a video and expect to post in late October.

I will keep you up to date.

- John

Money - that's what I want...

Michael Madill / Madsound

This time Mike and Ed have produced a lively version of the Barret Strong song Money (that's what I want) for me.  Today I begin putting the video together for this version of the classic Motown song recorded by so many others - perhaps most notably the Beatles, however the Stones did a version, the Animals did a version, even Mr. Jim Morrison and the Doors did a version of this song.  I look forward to posting the video for public consumption here in a couple weeks.  And, thank you to these two masterful producers for making me sound like I almost know what I'm doing with the microphone.

Edward Donnelly / WayOutSound

Meanwhile, I will place some scratch tracks onto my next Jason Peirce song titled A BETTER WAY TO CRY.  And, Stephanie Barone will return to the studio with me to add vocals for several of the tracks that I am currently working on.  Including Cody Melville's lyrical delight titled OVER YOU.

Also, we will be moving everything over to DresdenCowboy.com later in October, that will make it easy for fans to keep up with everything we have going on.  Thank you to everyone for listening to this song catalogue as we build it.  I hope to keep the cool Americana vibe coming your way, one tune at a time.

My best

- John

Over You, written by Mr. Cody Melville

I'm very excited to announce musician/producer Cody Melville has joined the ranks of the Dresden Cowboy.  Cody has granted permission for me to cover his lovely song titled Over You, he also will be providing his musical and production abilities to make my version of this song happen.  Cody Melville has been performing and producing music for many years and his work can be found on iTunes as well as most other contemporary online music outlets (Cody Melville's Music).  His song, Over you, is from his album titled Saints and Sneakers on a Wire.  Over You has a compelling lyrical symmetry along with an elegant, alluring charm -  I certainly look forward to performing this gem of a song.  I will post a completed version with video soon.  Thanks Cody!

Tumbleweed

September 19th will be the official post date for the Tumbleweed video.

Headed towards the sun...

Another Llano California location shot from Tumbleweed video.

Sycamore Cove...

Still from Tumbleweed Video. 

The day was overcast, which helped give my scenes with Kat Noland a compelling loneliness for our goodbyes, as she represents the girl from Cowboy's past, the one he left behind and now laments in this haunting song written by Jason Peirce.

The edit and post of this song should happen by the end of the week.  Thanks for checking in...

Llano location...

Llano location for the Tumbleweed video.

On location with Kat Noland

Katherine Noland w/ John Reneaud on location for Tumbleweed

Shot through several video sequences with Katherine Noland last week for my Tumbleweed video.  The song is a lyrical jaunt through time spent as lovers full knowing it would/could never work out.  We have several more days of shooting scheduled for this week, then, it's a final mix on the vocals via Mike and Ed, on this beautiful song written by Jason Peirce.  I look forward to posting this video soon.

Keeping you posted... My neighbor's apartment caught on fire last week.  Aside from how it most certainly will change his life, it has created a delay in the completion of the Tumbleweed video.  Regardless, I have a great video base of two cowboys sitting next to a fire singing the song, and will shoot out the rest of the video next week.  I expect to publish this video by the 10th,

Tumbleweed

Xander Bailey working it with me on the set of our Tumbleweed video.

Tumbleweed video...

Actors Xander Bailey and Katherine Noland have signed onto the Tumbleweed video.  Shooting begins early next week.  I look forward to seeing what we come up with for this amazing song about the cost of not settling down by songwriter Jason Peirce.

Tumbleweed, written by Mr. Jason Peirce

Songwriter/Actor Jason Peirce

The next song that will be added to The Dresden Cowboy catalogue is titled Tumbleweed.  The video for this lyrical song will begin production later in the month.   The song was written by a friend of mine, Mr. Jason Peirce. It is being produced by Michael Madill and Edward Donnelly, featuring Mr. Donnelly on guitar.

I requested a bio from Mr. Peirce so any fan of the Dresden Cowboy catalogue can know him just a little bit better, and, it was with his usual humility he suggested that I use the following. "Jason Peirce is a singer-songwriter currently living in Indialantic, Florida."  I, however, would add at the end of that "- he is a good guy."  You will get to know him via his music and lyrics...  And I hope that once this project goes live by performing the catalogue of Dresden Cowboy songs, that, at some point, Jason will join the show on tour. 

On location for Route 66...

John Reneaud on location for music video Route 66 / Dresden Cowboy.

Route 66

Route 66 continued...

John Reneaud, shooting Route 66 video,  Ludlow, CA July 23 2016.

It has dawned on me that I have not added the lyrics I wrote for my version of Route 66 to the cosmos...  So, the the following includes Mr. Troop's words in the order I sing them, along with my additional lyrics.

"If you want plan to motor west.  Take my way Jack the highway that's the best.  It wanders from Chicago to L.A.,.  That's two-thousand miles each and every way. You travel through St. Louis,  Joplin Missouri, Oklahoma City's, oh, so pretty, you see Amarillo and Gallup New Mexico.  Flagstaff Arizona, don't forget Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino. 

Get your kicks on Route 66.  Get your kicks on Route 66.

Well, like a million cars drive by each and every day.  Turn the autopilot on let the radio have its way.  The sun shine down 'till the stars do fall above.  Hit the pedal to the metal baby, yea, I think I fall in love.  You travel through St. Louis,  Joplin Missouri, Oklahoma City's, oh, so pretty, you see Amarillo and Gallup New Mexico.  Flagstaff Arizona, don't forget Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino. 

Get your kicks...  Get your kicks, on Route 66.  Get your kicks...  Get your kicks, on Route 66.

 If you ever need a tip.  When you take that mighty California trip.  Well it wanders from Chicago to L.A.,.  That's two thousand miles each and every way.  Get your kicks.  On route 66.

 

Dresden Cowboy visits Oatman AZ

This week's special... Along the American Highway.

John Reneaud AKA the Dresden Cowboy shooting Route 66 video

Still shooting video for Route 66.  I love getting out to the desert to shoot these random shots and all, but, I hate when things go wrong roadside (see video).

The Iron Hog honors Hopper...

photo taken from John Reneaud Route 66 video

Another still shot via the Route 66 video. 

The Mother Road...

photo by Julien Reneaud

Spent time with my son shooting more pic up shots for the Route 66 video...  Get your kicks!

Cool truck on Route 66...

photo by John Reneaud

Had to take a photo of this cool flaming truck while shooting video for the song Route 66... (oh, and happy birthday Rene'e).

Working on the video for Route 66

My version of Route 66 is complete and I have begun working on the video elements of this song.  Expect to post a completed music video by early July.  Thank you Ed and Mike for making this one happen!

- the Dresden Cowboy

Life On Mars

Info: Life On Mars

After recently seeing/hearing Mr. Bowie's performance of this song on a Fashion Rocks Youtube video, I was inspired to attempt a simple, yet, hopefully, elegant version of the tune. Life On Mars has been described as Broadway meets Salvador Dali, due to its well stated musical structure blended with a jumble of lyrical images. This version features piano by Los Angeles musician Peter Adams. I am mostly satisfied with the vocal tracks... Upon playback I merely struggle with the fact that, yes, it's not Bowie singing the song (For those who my not get it - My use of the word "Merely" is intended as a sarcastic underplay of how immense Mr. Bowie's talent truly was). Regardless, it is my homage to the guy who presented me with my first real vocal/music lesson in life. And, I would add, he was a dear friend, though, I never personally met him. I dedicate this song to Tracey and Karen for all those times we called Detroit radio stations requesting Bowie from the end of street on Barilane Drive.

All video used was pulled from the Internet Archive and was indicated to be in the Public Domain. I make no claim to the publishing rights to this song, nor do I claim any rights of the video clips presented within - some of which are presented for satirical purpose. Also, I have no intention to commercially profit by presenting Mr. Bowie's music in this manner, I simply did it because I thought I would enjoy the process. It was such a splendid delight.

Money Live w/ Marty & Elayne

A bootleg video via the Dresden, Hollywood, CA.

With Marty & Elayne on their 35th

This photo is from last Friday night's 35th anniversary of Marty and Elayne performing at Hollywood landmark, the Dresden.  Over the past several years I have been afforded the privilege of singing blues with this dynamic musical duo, and, I cannot thank the Dresden staff enough for supporting this epic event. Those who managed beyond the velvet ropes - we all enjoyed being pressed to the wall in an over capacity crowd. It was a magnificent night. Thank you to Heidi Cuda and Susan von Seggern, your work provided and inspired amazing media support for this event. And mostly, thank you Marty & Elayne for allowing all of us to be a part of your mythical Dresden adventure. I’m pretty sure everyone was listening.

(video: a snippet of the cake's arrival for Marty & Elayne.)

Route 66 w/ the Dresden Cowboys

Michael Madill of L.A. based MadSound music.

Looking forward to this - Ed laid down some great musical vibe, now, Mike is currently working on the music mix of Route 66.  We put together a rather contemporary arrangement of this classic song.  I expect to lay down the vocals for this song in early April.  Maybe a video later in the month.

(thank to Edward Donnelly and Michael Madill for advancing this project.  It is a sincere act of faith.)

Vocal Files

Sent my vocal tracks to Ed and Mike for them to create an arrangement of the background vocals through the chorus of Route 66.  This brings me very close to setting my lead vocal track. Interesting creating music in a virtual setting. More power to these two for working with me on this project - and lucky me.

the producers stopped by...

Marty & Elayne perform Tues-Sat @ the Dresden.

Michael and Ed came by the Dresden tonight to discuss the project....  Crap, I should have had someone snap a photo.  One day I'll get the hang of what it is to be a star.  Or not.

Route 66

Got a rough mix/arrangement of my version of the classic song Route 66 over to Michael so that he can begin the production aspect of the song.  I expect to be in session by mid March.  Yes, so it seems my slice of the cosmic Americana adventure is starting up.

Music Meeting...

Met with Michael to discuss recording the Dresden Cowboy project.  He ordered the Tuna Melt with fries, as did I - apparently, great minds eat alike!

Painted Birds (Ode to My Father)

Painted Birds by John Reneaud
(A song about loss... )
© 2015 John Reneaud All Rights Reserved

Painted Birds up above in blue
I miss you yes I do
And I sing this song to you
For you are no longer

And I curse the clock
That ticks until it stops
Of it’s own volition

Thank you so
I hope that things are well
The time we spent
Was lovely

And I know that
That my words can never tell

The complete story

So like a prayer
I talk to you
Somewhere in the distant nowhere blue
I miss you

And the funeral pyre
Burns it all away
On this dark black day
You’ve gone away

Like painted birds above in Blue.

the Dresden Cowboy

John's Album Cover.