matthewgruman.com

Photo Credit: Liepaper.

Barre Chords

The proper way to play this is with barre chords. I’ve tabbed it out for a capo on the fourth fret.

The Chords

Okkervil River
Unless It's Kicks

I've arranged this to be capo'd on the fourth fret because that's how I play it on
guitar. It sounds more like the record if it's done with barre chords.

This is the “riff” that's used throughout the song for the C and G chords:

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     x2
C                   C6  C

1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &     x2
G                   G6  G

C6: x3x210
G6: 3x2003

Capo IV

Intro:
C G x 2

     C
What gives this mess some grace unless it's
G
kicks, man - unless it's
Am
fiction, unless it's
G
sweat or it's songs? What

     C
hits against this chest unless it's a
G
sick man's hand, from some
Am
mid-level band? He's been
G
driving too long on a

C
dark windless night, with the
G
stereo on, with the
Am
towns flying by and the
F              G
ground getting soft. And a

C
sound in the sky, coming
G
down from above, it sur-
Am
rounds you and sighs and is
F          G
whispering of what

C
pulls your body down, and that is
G
quicksand. So climb out
Am
quick, hand over hand, before your
G
mouth's all filled up. What

C
picks you up from down unless it's
G
tricks, man? When I've been
Am
fixed I am convinced that I will
G
not get so broke up again. And on a

C
seven day high, that
G
heavenly song punches
Am
right through my mind and just
F               G
hums through my blood. And I

C
know it's a lie, but I'll
G
still give my love. Hey, my
Am
heart's on the line for your
F              G
hands to pluck off. Oh...

C G Am G

     C
What gives this mess some grace unless it's
G
fictions - unless it's
Am
licks, man, unless it's
G
lies or it's love? What

C
breaks this heart the most is the ghost of some
G
rock and roll fan, just floating
Am
up from the stands with her
F            G
heart opened up. And I want to tell her, "Your

C
love isn't lost," say "my
G
heart is still crossed!" Scream, "you're
Am
so wonderful! What a
F            G
dream in the dark - about

C
working so hard, about
G
growing so stoned, trying
Am
not to turn off, trying
F                      G
not to believe in that lie all on your

C
own."
G
         La la la
Am
la       Oh oh oh
F
Oh
G

C G Am F G x2

End on C/G ( x32013 )

Tabbed by Matthew Gruman
matthewgruman.com

Lyrics from: http://lyricwiki.org/Okkervil_River:Unless_It's_Kicks

Music Video

Photo Credit: CBC.

Capo or No Capo

I worked this one out with a capo on the second fret. After posting it on Ultimate Guitar, a commenter showed me a much more accurate version. I prefer playing it with a capo, but the non-capo’d version sounds much more like the record.

The Chords

Weighty Ghost (Radio Mix)
Wintersleep

The rhythm is a bit tricky on this one - you have to play the G before finishing every
line. You can use these patterns to count along:

Verse:
1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
G
1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
C                       G

Chorus:
1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
G               C/G     G
1   &   2   &   3   &   4   &
C                       G

Capo II

C: x32013
G: 320003
G/C: 3x2013

***OR***

Use these chords without a capo (*Thank you Concentric for the comment). It sounds much
like the record with these:

e 0   0   0   0
B 5   5   7   5
G 6   7   7   6
D 7   7   0   0
A 0   0   0   0
E 0   0   0   0
  C   C/G C   G*

Intro (play chorus pattern):
G G/C G
C

Verse:
G
I got out of bed today,
C
Swear to God I couldn't see my face
G
I got out of bed today
C
staring at a ghost

Verse:
G
Who forgot to float away,
C
didn't have all that much to say
G
Wouldn't even tell me his own name
C
And where'd my body go?

Chorus:
G                   G/C  G
Where oh where'd my body go?
C
Africa or Mexico?
G             G/C  G
Oh where'd my body go?
C
And where did my body go?

Chorus:
G                 G/C     G
Woah oh, have you seen my ghost?
C
Seen my ghost, seen my ghost?
G                 G/C     G
Woah oh, have you seen my ghost?
C
Staring at the ground?

Chorus:
G                 G/C     G
Woah oh, have you seen my ghost?
C
See my ghost, see my ghost
G                 G/C     G
Woah oh, have you seen my ghost?
C
Sick of those goddamn clouds

Bridge (play chorus pattern):
G G/C G
C

Verse:
G
Are you some kind of medicine man?
C
Cut the demons out of my head
G
You can't kill something that's already dead
C
So leave my soul alone

Verse:
G
I don't need no surgery
C
Take those knives away from me
G
Just wanna die in my own body
C
A ghost just needs a home

Chorus:
G                 G/C     G
Woah oh, have you seen my ghost?
C
See my ghost, see my ghost
G                 G/C     G
Woah oh, have you seen my ghost?
C
Staring at the ground?

Chorus:
G                 G/C     G
Woah oh, have you seen my ghost?
C
See my ghost, see my ghost
G                 G/C     G
Woah oh, have you seen my ghost?
C
Sick of those goddamn clouds

Repeat chorus with “nah nah”s, speed up, then fade

Tabbed by Matthew Gruman

http://matthewgruman.com

Music Video

Photo credit: Chart.

Acoustic

This is a really great song by Montreal band, The Snitches. It’s an electric guitar song on record, but I tabbed it out a few years ago to play on my acoustic.

The Chords

The Snitches
Swallow

*NOTE* This is NOT the way they play it.  This is a version i made for acoustic guitar.  The chords are all correct, so if you want, just take off the capo, add a step per chord (eg. E=F#).

CAPO II

E
Oh baby listen
Don't you worry
A
I getting better
Clean up in a hurry

E
I learn to swallow
Oh swallow
A
All the things
Put off to tommorrow

E
I'll deal with Frankie
I'll go with Johnny
A
You stay here cause
I won't be gone long

E
Frankie's worth millions
Know it for sure yeah
A
Just get a little
By keep working hard babe

E
Singled out buckshot, waiting for the man
                                          A
He was cold he was still he was wide-open mouth
E
Everybody thought he was money in the making
                                                     A
He was gold, he was steel, heading west with his hands on the wheel

              E
Call him what you will
            A
He calls it plan
E
Same it's always
                A
Let's see if it stands

G              D           E
Don't rely on thinking it over
            G          D              E
We're gonna fly but we gotta leave now
G
What's your name?
      D
Think about
         A
What you want
         E
Write it down
       G
One by one
      D
I was old
        A
You were young
         E
So carry on
         A
So carry on

E
Things are a bit out there
Don't need nothing but
A
Babe you look angel
And I know I seem scary

E
Out on the South Shore
They got a house now
A
They're getting organized
Think we should head out

E
Oh baby listen
Don't you worry
A
I getting better
Clean up in a hurry

E
I learn to swallow
Oh swallow
A
All the things
Put off to tommorrow

E A

Tabbed by Matthew Gruman

http://matthewgruman.com

Lyrics

These are the correct lyrics. I posted this on the ‘net a few years ago and the lead singer/songwriter, Mike Webber, found it and sent me the correct lyrics.

Playing Notes

From Mike Webber:

The other thing is when you go from the E to the A throw in a quick D and same when going back from the A to the E. The D would be, for example, between “worry & I getting better…” in the first couple of lines, then again going back between Hurry & I learn. It fills out the melody.
I played it in F# but in fact it works better the way you do it!

Taxi

I left early on a Sunday. The cab driver got out of the car looking like a 90 pound, grey-haired member of ZZ Top.

“Medication in this one?” he asks as he’s helping me load my luggage into the trunk.

“Yes”, I reply. “How did you know?”

“It’s shaking; just like me.”

“Haha, don’t tell me that as I’m getting into your car!”

Within the first two minutes, he tells me a joke about squeezing his “sister-in-law’s tit”. We end up chatting and telling jokes for the entire 20 minute drive, I teach him some French, and we pull into the airport. He stops the metre at $25.05, tells me it’s $25.00, and hands me the receipt.

“You filled in the total; what, you’re not going to let me tip?” I ask.

“Nope”, he says back, smiling.

What a nice guy.

Airport

I was a bit nervous to go through security since it’s the first time I’ve done it with my insulin pump. Everyone was very helpful, and I get through without trouble. I used the Vancouver airport’s free wireless at the gate, and got on the plane: empty middle seat YES! Got to Toronto, found my new gate, and found out that the Toronto airport charges for wireless: $11.95 a month or $9.95 for a single day. I read.

No empty middle seat this time, but a friendly 37 year old lady (her: “When you get to MY age…” me: “What age? You can’t be past your early 30s!” her: “Oh you’re sweet; I’m just about to turn 37″) and a young guy who works in the Alberta oil fields. He’s planning to move to Dubai in a few years with his girlfriend. The friendly lady was convinced that Ashton Kutcher was on the plane (it was actually a junior hockey player who REALLY looked like him). She refused to believe it wasn’t, so I lied and told her that I’d met him and “that is NOT him.” It worked.

Montreal

I know this makes me incredibly un-hip, but I don’t like Montreal. I lived there for eight years, and once you get past all the fun, it’s a very negative place with an unwarranted sense of entitlement. So this time, like most times I’m in Montreal, I spent time with friends and family instead of dealing with my old haunts. My best friend and his wife are still the cutest couple I know, and now they have an equally cute dog. He spent about 95% of the time we were in the same room together on my lap.

Sweeney Todd

I saw Sweeney Todd; it was AWESOME. Johnny Depp, with the exception of one very intentional slip, keeps the same expression on his face throughout the entire movie. Helena Bonham Carter was equally impressive, allowing Depp to steal the show, but still refusing to fade into the background. The entire movie was deliciously funny and dark.

As I was walking into the theatre, I was bombarded by about 40 women (one man) and their babies coming out of PS I Love You. Apparently, there’s a “take your baby to the movies” program at Famous Players. They keep the volume low, raise the lights a bit, and accommodate changings so you can bring your newborn to the movies. Such a lovely idea.

Juno

I also saw Juno; it was AWESOME. Laugh out loud funny, but incredibly sweet at the same time. The music was very twee, but everything was so sincere that I couldn’t see any other genre being more appropriate. Michael Cera’s only in the film for about 5-10 minutes, but Ellen Page is so fantastic that it doesn’t matter.

Wii

I played Nintendo Wii for the first time. Maybe it was because I only really played those Wii Play style games, but I’m not sure what I think about it yet. It seems about halfway done (i.e. Tennis is cool, but you can’t control your movement. Boxing is cool, but it’s not real-time responsive. Golf is cool, but doesn’t work when you try to use real golfing techniques). It was still fun to beat the Wii-owner in Tennis even though he was cheating (“he ALWAYS cheats” says his wife).

Arrested Development

My Mom and I watched the entire first season of Arrested Development. I was never a big fan of the show, but Travis convinced me to watch a few episodes and now I’m a total convert. Looking forward to seasons two and three.

Girls in Montreal

The longer I’m away from Montreal, the more I realize how few looks there are. There’s the heavy make-up, blingy accessories, and ugly boots look; the “my mother is my best friend and I wear clothes she thinks are cool, but there’s something a little off” look; the standard LOOK AT ME AND HOW CRAZY MY HAIR AND CLOTHES ARE! look; and then there are a few girls who actually know how to dress and take advantage of their natural features.

Breakfast

Went to Cosmo’s (on St. Jean in Pierrefonds near Cheers. There’s also a location downtown) and had the best eggs Benedict I’ve ever tasted (portobello and brie). The fruit salad had mango! If these guys ever start expanding, Chez Cora will be out of business within a month.

Airport Again

Back to the Montreal airport; no cab this time. I was still nervous about security, but again got through with no problem. Got to the gate and found out that they don’t offer free wireless either. I can’t imagine the revolt if Vancouver started doing things like that (I hear the Starbucks Cafés in Toronto charge, too. Why?!) Anyway, good flight to Toronto (middle seat empty!!!), and more waiting at the gate. I hadn’t been feeling too well all day, and it started to kick in as I got on the plane to Vancouver. The middle seat was empty again (someone up there loves me), but it was still pretty uncomfortable. My back was hurting pretty bad, so I took some Tylenol and spent the rest of the flight a bit glassy eyed.

The guy sitting kitty corner to me had homemade tattoos on his hands, two crazy cell phones, and was reading a porn magazine. The girl in my row seemed to realize I wasn’t up for conversation and politely kept to her copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. I couldn’t sleep and ended up watching Hot Fuzz on my MacBook. Got home around 3am Montreal time, couldn’t sleep until about 1am Vancouver time, and spent the next couple of days jet lagged.

At the luggage pick-up, I saw a 30 year old guy wearing pin stripe pants, a pink popped-collar polo, and a black baseball hat that said SECURITY in white. He was about five and a half feet tall and about 180 pounds of solid muscle. AMAZING.

WestJet

I love WestJet; I’ve never seen a company with such happy employees.

I’m back in town; jet lagged and sick. Thanks to BD for this guest post (his Mom is pretty cool, too). While I was away, this lady discussed Travis and I, and the guys at the Something Awful forums had nice things to say about my ukulele tab; a Dutch Belgian website (Hi Dr. Incognito!) also mentioned one. That kind of thing is still exciting for me.

Time to play catch-up and get myself back on schedule.

PS: I won’t explain “And there was only enough semen to fill one nostril”, but listen all the way to the end of this birthday song I made for BD a few years ago and it might make more sense:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Hello, world. Before I begin, let me just take the time to say hello to my mother, who actually reads this blog over my own. Hi, mom!So- My name is Brown Dany, and I am your guest author for this brief period of time we find ourselves without dear ThewGru. ThewGru is the name I have given Matthew by taking the last four letters of his first name, and the first three letters of his last name.Now, do you see? Do you see how we roll? Not like shit down a hill, but more like two pieces of shit because we’re good, good friends. Even better- like diarrhea. We don’t roll clumsily, but we flow smoothly maybe we a little bit of corn or nuts for texture.Oh man, I hope I didn’t alienate you, the reader, by implying that I am better friends with ThewGru than yourself. That wasn’t my intent. I just wanted to demonstrate, fecally, the tight-knit friendship I have with Matthew as being the reason I am the guest author. Still not convinced? Well, then, why would Matthew ever message me the following:

“And there was only enough semen to fill one nostril.”

Before you panic, it’s alright- Matthew was only talking about dead prostitutes.Well, at least I think so, it was hard to make out the context as he was snorting coke off my naked back. Wait, what’s happening? 

I’m going out of town for about a week. I gave Brown Dany an author account here (note to Dany: you’d better be entertaining!) so we’ll see what happens with that.

Chatelaine Magazine did a survey of Canadian women’s sexuality. It’s all standards findings except this:

Five per cent had phone sex with a stranger.

Nothing about that makes sense to me.

Leo’s Song from impactist on Vimeo.

The online content for Canadian Literature‘s latest issue is online. You can read the Book Reviews and Poetry, and see the Table of Contents.