Songs recorded on November 10-12, 2006 and mixed at SAIC Mix Suite.
Thanks to Ryan for lending us the guitar and mandolin.
Thanks to Shanna Linn and SAIC.

Like many Southerners in the mid-20th century, Roger Brown traveled north to Chicago in search of new opportunities. He left behind his ambition to become a preacher and brought with him a love of the folk art he had seen in Alabama growing up. He found his inspiration studying painting at the School of the Art Institute and searching through Maxwell Street Market and Chicago's antique and thrift shops for junk and eccentric objects to collect and use in his artwork. So began a 30 year career which made him an internationally renowned artist, known particularly for his wit and acumen in responding to the fabric of 20th century life.

In the 1970's Roger Brown began a close relationship with architect George Veranda. Together they began planning a residence and studio in New Buffalo, Michigan. The house would serve as a home not just for Roger and George, but Roger's growing collection of art and objects. The plan also included a guesthouse and painting studio. George designed the house using contemporary materials, huge glass panes, modular metal support beams and wall sections. The house expresses a fascination with the relationship between architecture and landscape, the dichotomy of nature and culture.

Upon his death in 1997 Roger Brown bequeathed his New Buffalo home and all its belongings to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The School administrates an artist's residency program for it's faculty and staff, allowing artists two weeks to escape Chicago and work in Roger's studio. It was during a 3-day weekend of one such residency in the Fall of 2006 that Palliard recorded this music.

With microphones placed in between wooden decoy ducks, a chord organ on the floor next to a six foot tall painted skyscraper, an ostrich and an army of carved masks as an audience, Palliard captured these performances live in Roger's living room. We would like to thank him for leaving behind this place for us to come together and make our music.