six shooter

By jon steinmeier

six shooter” (mp3)

i watched 3:10 to Yuma recently. and immediately began writing this song. i liked the movie, but was more generally inspired by the genre. i hadn’t seen a western in a while, and just love ‘em. love love love ‘em.

so, “six shooter” is my music for some version of the “final showdown” and/or “walk to the grave bravely” music.

i went for stringy stuff, guitars, etc. an effected piano that sounds a little tinny and scratchy, and a slow minor key progression, and some dirty-ass drums and other percussion. and bass. and whistles. and organ. and a church bell. those are all things that are in there.

well, i hope you enjoy this one. imagine it with me as a tall skinny dirty cowboy determined to do the right thing even though it may cost me my life. and everything is brown.

love,

brown and dirty

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10 Responses to “six shooter”

  1. Mama Steiny Says:

    I can see it!!! If I had know Jonathan, I would have given you a cowboy outfit for Christmas. I still may. This is terrific and has a very “fresh” western sound. How about graduate school???

    hugs
    mom

  2. jon steinmeier Says:

    thanks ma!

    graduate school?

    i thought school was all over?

  3. Jim Says:

    This one’s pretty sweet. In reading the description for Napoleon Tex, before hearing it (visit http://www.detholz.wordpress.com for reference everybody!), and although I really like Tex as well, I imagined the music would sound more like this.
    I honestly usually dislike cowboy related themes and westerns, but this song makes me want to be a gun-slingin’ badass. It really transports you into the old west. Ba da ba ba ba – I’m lovin’ it!

  4. jon steinmeier Says:

    thanks jim!

    glad you get the urge to sling a little. that badass feeling is key.

    at McDonalds

  5. Mama Steiny Says:

    Oh Jonathan!!! You know full well school is never over. Learning is a life long endeavor. For you, school is just a more structured way to enhance your natural talents. Remember, you have always thrived in a structured setting, especially when it had to do with music. I would think you would find it exciting and encouraging to be around and learn from other musicians. Am I wrong?

    hugs
    mom

  6. Jim Says:

    The touch of digital noise set real low in the beginning (possibly throughout) brings a cool, different feel to this otherwise low-fi kind of music. And the raspy, shotgun snare hits on the 2s and 4s: Was that a sampled sound, or did you record an acoustic kit? It sounds so good.

  7. jon steinmeier Says:

    no ma, you’re not wrong. i’m kidding around.

    it’s still something i think about…for sometime later. for now. :)

  8. jon steinmeier Says:

    thanks jim.

    that snare is a sample, but i pitch shifted down a bit (if i remember correctly) and definately distorted the poop out of it. :)

  9. jim Says:

    Beautiful, man. Beautiful. Manipulated perfectly. Bravo. And I DO mean that, regardless of how much rum I’ve had today. No sarcasm here. Seriously. For what it’s worth. Sorry.

    Good job.

  10. jon steinmeier Says:

    ha! i appreciate it regardless of yer current state. :)

    thanks jim.

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