Scorpion Jack: news

For those of you who would like to see what on earth David sings about here are the lyrics from the first album

 

Constantly Burning
The kegs are loaded in the basement,
the fuse is ready to be lit,
lets set the world on fire without a care.
Burn it all away from the Arctic to the South,
I see flames dancing and comin' from your mouth.
You felt the heat between us soar.
I lit the fire once more.
Set the logs on yeah set it up,
Let the coals burn until red hot,
I will not stop until I see the fire
constantly burning.
Constantly protecting all it is I see,
Constantly presuming one and one is three, three.
Constantly burning,
Constantly yearning through it all,
Constantly burning,
Constantly, constantly, constantly
I left my parents house when I was 18,
I burnt some of my room they were not very pleased.
Constantly playing with fire and matches,
I was the one who was going to catch it,
As I stood watching the fire dancing,
I could not let it go out.
G20 crowd, London
Constantly burning, constantly yearning through it all.
Constantly burning, constantly yearning through it all,
Constantly burning, constantly, constantly, constantly.
Feel it constantly protruding
I fell onto a different word,
My understanding catches the double edge of a sword,
Constantly burning, constantly, constantly, constantly.

Error 404
Such a lovely feeling,
Such a lovely thought,
Such a lovely moment,
Can never be enough.
Such a fast connection,
Such a quick upload,
Open up your browsers, and,
Watch it overload
Just watch it overload.
What's that there knocking at the door,
Could it be an Error 404.
Security update, now this is war,
I know this trend its happened before.
Digital gold to pay off the score,
Transaction cancelled 404.
This weathers starting to get torn,
CO2 parts per million 404.
I checked the leads USB and more,
But still an Error 404.
Some gremlin's got my system floored,
Mouse jams!
What is an Error 404.
Such a lovely feeling,
Such a lovely thought,
Such a lovely moment,
Can never be enough.
Such a fast connection,
Such a quick upload,
Open up your browsers, and
Watch it overload.

I packed up all my bags
I packed up all my bags and headed for the road
I knew not where I'd been nor, where I would go.
But I could honestly say that I should head somewhere else
Cause where I was staying was grating my mental health.
But every night we went out singing, playing and a dancing all the time, and
Every night we had a nice meal and at least 1 bottle of wine.
I always liked it but it was never gonna last,
For I fell for a girl, I never fell for anyone so fast.
I knew that I could not lie to myself anymore.
I got into the car, loaded to the hilt.
And put the pedal down, make up for time I'd spilt,
Turn the ignition, the tank full to the brim
I need the music playing, loud, till I get my fill.
And every turn, and every gear change feels smoother than the last,
I might not know where I'm going but I know I'm going to get their fast.
Time is passing as my tyres roll over each mile
I feel my frown turning upside down and the first start of a smile.
It was the start of a new chapter in this book no-one wrote.
And you feel it and you've gotta let it go.
From the bottom of your heart to your soul
I knew that I should have chose
the choice of my gut and the smells in my nose.
I want it more and more,
Keep it going four on the floor,
and that's the choice in your heart
I keep it there and that's the art.
I'm quite good company that's why I like to be my myself,
Plus I don't like people, so I consider its time well spent.
Not to say that I don't like good company
I just like to choose whether its ten people or just me.
And every night I want a song, a film, night out or just sleep,
and every night I must remember to give teeth a good clean.
I always mean to but sometimes I just forget,
Diamonds in my head, trouble in my soul, don't be alarmed this is only a test.

Tonight
Tonight, when the lamps are dimmed down,
Tonight, when the sun goes down.
Tonight, when the sky is broken,
Dancing games will all begin.
Last night, as if was some magic and
tonight it will come again
despite, what you have heard
All will join and dance it out
It was the best night of my life,
I wish that I could pause time.
It was the best night of my life,
I wish that I could pause time.
Tonight, when little eyes are sleeping,
I will try to keep a rhythm strong.
I might change direction, quickly,
Just to see you move along.
Don't fight! Least not till three in the morning.
Then strike, if you still have the urge,
Or take flight, flee from the battle ground.
No-one needs a broken face tonight.
It was the best night of my life,
I wish that I could pause time.
It was the best night of my life,
I wish that I could pause time.
And if all the sky should freeze over
and we can't dance any more.
then I refuse to accept such notions,
get yourself on the dance floor tonight.
Chorus
Stoic notions, cosmic potions, toxic emotions,
Flow right through the air.
Boystrous fellows, breakbeats and cellos, the sky turns yellow,
The sun wants to join in.
This lack of lustre, these fools can't muster,
you know you should trust her,
why don't you just let go.
Its heating up and the temperature is rising.
I'm not a dancer but I'm dancing now.
Let the sweat drip down freely,
I lose myself, look around and get absorbed once again.
I can do it if you really want me to,
I could dance until I drop.
Ah don't get the chance as much as I used to,
cause my life is so non-stop.
I will not stop, I will not pause for a second,
I could not stop even if I wanted it,
A little glint in my eye that I mighta caught,
Lets loose a little animal inside of you.
Like a dream except its reality,
I turn the corner and remind myself again.
This is just a moment, just a feeling
not made by women, nor by man.
Polar bears and polarised politics,
Perfect PR and memorised rhetoric.
Jump ship, set flip then watch it go,
slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Chorus

Apple Bomb
The leaves are falling the autumn's here,
I'll pick the apples fore the frost comes near.
Now I'm going to make my apple bomb,
Just as soon as I finish this song.
Then I'm going to leave, off to a different shore.
Many stops to make, can I fit in one more.
Breathing, movement too, head down chin up says you
360 till your soul turns blue,
1040 and then back to school.
Rough sea to cross,
I hate flying so its no loss.
The boat rocks and sways,
Like a cradle.
As I dose, sprawled on the seat, feat bare, head-sploring
I dream and it must be good
cause when I wake,
a girl looks at me so sweet.
I change over to a bus or train,
Curl up to snooze again, but
This time I'm wide awake,
Just in case I make the same mistake.
sometimes I sleep walk
and I won't stop if you reply
I did it once on a bus
but no-one told me what I said.
As I dose sprawled on the seat, feet bare, head-sploring.
I dream, and it must be good, cause when I wake,
A girl looks at me so sweet.
The leaves are falling the autumn's here,
I'll pick the apples fore the frost comes near.
Now its time to make my apple bomb.
Its so tasty so it won't last long,
Chin up, keep me big and strong,
Head down, moving on and on
Applebomb is full of love.
Then I need to leave
to get where I'm going to
plenty more time to spend
but I need some place to sleep
As I dose, sprawled in a bed
Feet bare, head-sploring
I dream, and I know its good.
Cause when I wake, I am smiling.
I get up and I look about,
Something’s there that hasn't been found,
The sun is blazing calling us outside.
Wake up it says, look at the time.
The leaves are falling and the sun's sublime.
Everything at once, let it all burst forth.
Applebomb for now, always a good choice.
As I dream, I open my eyes and
set down, to new pastures.
I feel, and I know its good,
Cause it is ripe, for adventures.

Run
Run, as fast as you can
Till you can run no more
Then when you finally get caught
Pick yourself off the floor.
The temperature's rising and I can see in your eyes,
That the moment of truth it is near.
Open and let it bewilder your heart's desire
Only the moment will keep up your inner fire.
Try, as hard as you can.
Till, you can try no more.
Then, when you finally make something,
Pimp it out to all.
Push, as much as you can,
Till you can push no more.
Then when you finally push enough,
Stand before open door.
The temperatures rise and I can see in your eyes,
That the moment of truth it is near.
Pressure and time are the answers to problems,
Movement and rest can probably solve them.
The temperatures rise and I can see in your eyes
That the moment of truth it is near.
Open and let it and try it your heart's desire
Only the moment will keep it for all time
Over and over again,
I can see we're more than friends.
Give as much as you can
Till you can give no more
Then when you finally give it all
Give it up for more.
Live, as much as you can.
Till, you can live no more.
Then when you've finally had enough,
Drop dead on the floor.
The temperatures rise and I can see in your eyes
That the moment of truth it is near.
Open and let it and try it your heart's desire
Only the moment will keep it for all time
Over and over again,
I can see we're more than friends.
Run as fast, as you can, till you can run no more
Know that it was just a test.
Run, as fast as you can, till you can run no more
The answer to the question's yes.

Ulster Cycle
The Ulster cycle, it keeps turning,
South Down to Louth, all have the feeling.
From years before painted head to toe.
They chose to battle, no choice in foes.
Open your heart, living it free,
Taking the moment, as it can receive.
I've got the empathy, to feel the energy,
They've got the timing and the balance,
To fight all supreme.
The Ulster cycle has been turning,
Has been flowing, for oh so long.
Its driven the wind on, its from the hills,
Its kept the sun shine, and still it builds.
Must have been near three thousand years ago.
They fought not just with their minds and without clothes.
Red cycle, bred and born,
Defend their families, they did not warn.
Open your heart, living it true.
Feeling the moment, as it feels the heart of you.
There fight was to the death, to live in peaceful bliss.
Lop off the limbs of those that choose to challenge this.
I've got it in my heart,
I've got it in my soul and
Still it grows.
They battled painted red, to protect themselves,
Without their clothes.
But in your heart of hearts,
You can't tell, tooth and claw.
Life on edge, future bright, present raw.
Open your heart, keeping it true.
Letting the truth, as it honours the future.
I've got the moment true.
Flow back inside of you,
What sort of place is this,
Red and dead just to exist.
Axes ready, they stood to face,
The loss of life, twas a disgrace.
Tooth and claw and axe and shield.
They take their stand to charge, they will not yield.
Axes now for hire, they would not stop,
Till they had left field a bloody battle crop.
A price that must be paid, on pain of death,
The cost of clearance land by shortened breath.
Open their heart, your soul rest to keep.
Stride past the danger, axe plunges deep.
A time of simple taste, a time of crucial moves,
Let the wretches see what it is that you can prove.
Then on the horizon a ship is seen,
Its sails are crisp and sharp, its wake is clean.
Laden with fighting men with long fine hair,
The smell of trouble spreads throughout the air.
Open your heart, living it free.
Living the moment, blissfully.
I've got the moment true,
They've come to attack you,
Flow back inside yourself,
Its red or dead just to exist.
I've got it in my hand,
I've got in my fist and I must act.
I've got to battle hard, to protect clan and kin,
Protect the pack.
Open your heart, search within deep.
Stride to the other side,
Your soul we will seek.
I've got the moment true,
To flow right back to you,
The fires are burning bright,
Its red or dead until the end.

Excess
I drink too much, I've always done,
Since my very first taste when I was young.
I eat too much, I've always done,
Metabolism helped me out but now that's gone.
I smoke too much, I've always done,
Since I was lit by the rays of the sun.
I buck too much, I've always done,
Sometimes with two, but mostly with one.
Excess, is gonna get the best of me.
Success, was just in front of me.
I procrastinate a lot I always do,
One day I'm going to jump over the moon.
I masturbate a lot I've always done
but that's cause its such damn good fun.
I flirt too much, I've always done
I'll flirt with your mother and then with your son.
I fart too much, I've always done,
I'm like Miles Davies, 'cept I play with my bum.
Excess, is gonna get the best of me.
Success, could be just in front of me.
I weigh too much, I seem to do
but there's so many types of delicious food.
I watch porn too much, I've always done,
but that's cause you're guaranteed to cum.
I don't wash enough, I've never done,
but there's something nice about a layer of scum.
I drive too fast I've always done,
but life's a race to be number one.
Excess, is gonna get the best of me.
Success could be just in front of me.
I want too much I've always done
A kilo would do, but I want the ton.
I spend too much, I've always done
Oh, paying off debt is like killing off fun.
I pick my nose a lot, I've always done
That's cause fresh snot is yummy yum yum.
I lie to much, I've always done,
Its hard to believe I'm my father's son.
Excess, is gonna get the best of me.
Success, could be just in front of me.

 

No lyrics in Reasess.

 

Fin

No Thanks, Yes Please! has been released and is off for its second pressing, soon to be released digitally, we took a little longer on the art work there, something a bit more catchy since there is less space to do it.

We were in the studio on Saturday laying down are new sounds and getting the new sound organised.

With a few new leads it is quite a bit simpler than the last one so we are hoping to have it out in late June, updates to follow of course.

Looking at playing in different places throughout Europe this summer, any suggestions please give us a shout.

Lots of SJ love

 

SJ

Exciting times for Rohan and I as we get ourselves ready for our first album launch this Friday.  Everything is in place and it is going to be a special evening, we are really looking forward to it and hope you  acn make it down.

 

 

See you there delicious people.

Its 2011 and Scorpinn Jack are going strong.  Really looking forward to releasing our debut album, "No Thanks, Yes Please!" and then using the system that we have spent the last year learning and building around us to make lots of music this year.  We have big plans for releases but we'll keep them under our hat until just before they are released.

Big thank you to everyone that supported, enjoyed and helped us out in 2010.

Lots of love

D & R

Scorpion Jack

 

ps.  Going to have a fan section to the site entitled "Scorponocks" (apparently its the name of transformer character too).

So here we are over in West Virginia.  Its been a rollercoaster ride so far with hardly a second to stop and take it all in, I say that but I got up at 10 today and have just been sitting in the sun playing my guitar and writing little songs about whatever is going on around.  Mostly thats been the pack of dogs and 14 cats that are on the farm that we are staying at.  The food has been incredible, last night we had a slow cook chicken that had no less than 4 bulbs of garlic inside it, delicious stuff.

We've been playing at bars, colleges, private parties, social groups of all sorts and we've been getting a real taste of the local culture and life.  Having gone to one of the big college football games and attended the tailgate, ie bring your truck, take the back part down so you can eat and drink lots before going to the game, sometimes for a couple of days before the game even starts, then take that tradition and let it run wild over ten years and you have some serious organising for a massive event, beer, food, people by the tens of thousands for a football game where each team has a mass of players that play through four quarters.  It starts at 9 in the morning, we had our first beer at 9:30 and then that evening a gig in a local bar called, McClaffertys which was great, 13 hours later after our first beer it was a test of stamina and Kieran and I stood the test of time well with a quick power nap in between to make sure we were able to set up and keep time :-)

White water rafting is big here too and we made it through the day without falling out of the raft, some of the Americans actually fell out on some of the rapids but they got back in and we were all as good as new and ready for a good sleep after we finished the day.

Meeting students, challenging there ideas, giving them and idea about whats its like, how it has been and what we feel as individuals from different communities, topping and tailing with some music has been our staple and busy schedule.  I love it and everyone has been so welcoming and friendly.  Pot luck means everyone brings lots and lots of food and we all eat it and get very full,  its all about quanities.

Performances a plenty and we're writing lots of songs and learning a lot as we go along.  The music here is great and we'll get a chance to meet more muisicians along the way and play with them.  This afternoon we're away to a soup kitchen to meet some kids for an after school club then some older ones later who have been through the wars and are going to play some music with us, then Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances in different places with lots of varied groups that we get the chance to entertain.

Having been here a week I feel quite at home and am looking forward to the rest of our journey.

Still miss everyone at home too and send them a big hug and if appropriate a big kiss too x-)

Lots of love to everyone.

So far this month Scorpion Jack got a painting completed by Steven McGeown, his interpretation of Dreamy the Squirrel Monkey and Com Se the Irish Wolfhound.  Whilst the original idea might have been a little tongue in cheek the artwork is stupendous and the painting incredible.  Looks like we will be using this as the back cover of the album since it really is something extra special.

Another artist also has an interpretation of our work, Ben Allen, currently showing in the Waterfront, it is an interesting take on a picture of us playing at one of the many random gigs that we find ourselves at, this time at an art gallery off Lisburn road sitting on an ancient bit of wood that many musicians have sat upon before.  The work captures are live performance quite well also.

We now have ourselves an agent / manager for East Coast US now and are looking forward to working with Willem, his energy and honesty are inspiring.  Good things are bound to follow with a good heart and plenty of hard work.

Recording is coming along.  The sounds are good though David is looking for a new guitar to record with because his trusty beast has been taking punishment from him for many years and so its not unrealistic for it to want to retire.  Fear not, there are other guitars on the horizon and he now knows that you wait for the last 30 seconds on Ebay auctions to gazump someone just like he was earlier this week.

Scorpion Jack are very glad to be making friends and fans all over the place.  We'd like to create a place for you all to say hello, slag each other / us off, find a few freebies in exchange for some help with our music and gather any live pictures, recordings or stories.  Probably be called the Scorpion Jack Apprecation Society or something like that, keep an eye out and add your email address and you'll get first notification of anything happening.

Lots of new songs being written at the moment including one entitled, "Lame Duck Syndrome", another oldie that is getting used called "The Rats of 1522", and one that is new and tickling our live sets "I packed up all my bags", and another entitled "Headroom".

Improvisation is ever present in a lot of our sets, it allows us to experiment with new sounds, find new grooves and more than anything makes the music as real as we can have it.  Of course when recording songs we want them to sound as well as they can, give them a good start in the world before they head off into the horizon so finding a happy medium is interesting.  A studio album with character is the idea, something to be proud of and enjoy hearing and letting other people hear.  Something quick and thrown together, No thanks.  Something with plenty of heart and drenched in excellent grooves, lyrics and beats, Yes Please!

The new album is going to be called "No thanks, Yes please!"  exact punctuation and font still being decided.  We're currently deciding upon the songs that will be entitled and of course the songs that will be included.  Launch date is the 7 March with the first single being released on the 14 February.  Its unlikely to be a romantic one and so we may even have a non romantic evening in the Oh Yeah centre but we'll see.

2009 has been pretty hectic for Rohan and I.  Lots of gigs, lots of writing, lots of teaching and lots of adventures.  I wonder what 2010 has in store...... excellent adventures and more european mini tours.

Our trusty mode of transport is starting to make tired noises and we've been eyeing up vans like horny trainspotters, or the van equivalent, vanworrier's or something like that.

Tracks on the album are looking like it will be Ulster Cycle, Headroom, Excess, Run, I packed up all my bags and some maybes depending on how the new versions come out our Tonight, Constantly Burning and Wild and Dangerous.

We are really excited to be getting this album out there for people to listen to and our looking forward to circulating it all over the world to all sorts of people cause we think it will be the dogs testes no less.

The website will also have some new additions with a much larger education part to the site with links to were you can get tuition from us, book us for workshops and that sort of thing as well as a Scorpion Jack Appreciation Society for anyone that wants to get involved with the running of our band which we love.

Hope you are all well and if you are big christmas turkey then hopefully you are digesting along at the moment.

Laters with lots of love.

 

D & R

Rohan and I have been recording this week and won a battle of the bands competition which will pay for 100 hours of recording and also there was a cash prize too.  Most excellent as it will spur us on to greater things.

This week we will be heading off to London with our instruments, some new trousers and some CDS to make our mark upon the world.  Should be great fun and out of the 4 nights we're going for we have one nights accommodation sorted out.

Great odds I think.

Recorded on Friday with Titany who was there when Rohan and I met, she's 16 and is a great singer and came up with some wonderful lyrics as well, romantic and spell binding, the track is quite dream like and we got the guts of it finished in 2.5 hours which was good cause the lurgey / flu / man swine flu hit me quite hard and I was out for the count for a little bit.

I'll be right as rain in no time however and am looking forward muchos to getting the next couple of weeks under our belt.  From Belfast to London to Glasgow to Braemar, this should be an excellent adventure for the SJ boys.  2010, a lot of exciting things coming our way, watch this space I'd say.

SJ

 

x

 

 

Monday morning comes around again and its off to the recording studio but before that, some rainy music videos to be made.  We'll start putting some up regularly and give some updates about where it is we'll be going.

We have a twitter now and so far we have not a person following us, not saddened by this, since its only new and how on earth do you use twitter anyway, but its http://twitter.com/scorplingmusic and  we'll use it to keep peoples updated with the old whats going on malarky.

Played lots last week, in Ma Nelsons were we won the battle of the bands, in Ned's up in Holywood for a charity night and then were recording down in the lib lab where excess is starting to sound pretty swish, its such a nasty word that.

getting ourselves ready for our next trips, need to get the wee car sorted out so that it makes it to all the places we're heading to.  A breakdown simply just wouldn't do.

See ye later alligators

 

:D

November is a whole new month.  Its Movember as well which is about growing mustaches  for testes.  Rohan and I both have beards which incorporate mustaches so that covers us and our support is annual.  Back to the point.

So far Scorpion Jack have purchased themselves some new instruments, two new guitars, one of which has been called Jessica cause its a girl and it quite suits the tiny little guitar.  Also to remind me that I'm to be gentle with her cause the poor 'Beast' has been getting tortured for years now (my main acoustic) and on Sunday at our post-halloween gig at Ma Nelsons she got battered to the extent of four strings.  It might be a combination of technique and my super strength hand sweat which can corrde guitar strings faster than the speed of Bodhran sound.  Rusticor, that could be my new name, but David suits for now.

We've also put in for a lovely PA and we're starting to get quite excited about getting it and practicing all over the place with it.

Dates in Scotland and London are coming up pretty soon which is mighty exciting.  Lots to organise and plenty to think about before then.  If there's anyone out there who'd like to give us a hand with some organisation, promo, websites and that sort of thing then drop us a line and we'll chat.

Some new songs poking their heads through, some have been written outright and some have been evolving as we gig about the place.

On Saturday we played to a sugar fuelled bunch of mad children who's dancing was hard-core and who had us in a spin.  Neither the dancers nor musicians were going to give in to the fatigue and the dancers had a few years on the musicians.  Thankfully, a respectable adult stepped in to say that the madness would end.  Ninja's dancing, pumpkins and two dead Johny Cashes were out and about getting their Halloween song on the go,.

Some new Youtube videos will be coming your way ever so soon.

Lots of love

 

David and Rohan

Scorpion Jack have been down in the LIB LAB recording their new album with Gerry Gallagher doing some production. So far there has been a battle with triplets and click tracks. Ulster says NO! to click tracks. They might well make it easier to mix an that but it certainly doesn't give the music soul. The debate continues.

New songs are getting written left right and centre. The song Ulster Cycle is coming along lovely and the classics are getting laid down. Initial release of 1 October is a no no it would seem what with R and D needing some more R and D time (ie Rohan and David needing some more research and development time).

The SJ mobile is looking a little worse for wear today as the fan belt went and we need to give it some love and care especially for our trip to Scotland.

All is well in SJ camp and we are still eating quite a lot of Thai food.

Culture Night in Belfast kicked off around lunch time and already the Cathedral Quarter was buzzing. With Giant puppets, drummers, street entertainers, live music floating about everywhere and a very continental feel to the place the night was a roaring success. David and Rohan set themselves up inside the Duke of York (they wanted to play outside for everyone but logistics got in the way) and played like champions. The palce was filled to the rafters and it was hot, sweaty and intimate.

Other than stopping to wipe sweat from their eyes Scorpion Jack were on fine form.

After playing there was a slight panic as to where keys to vehicles had been placed but upon checking the vehicle they had been carefully stored in the door of the car. Pleasantly surprised to find them it can surely only be a sign of how interesting culture night was to a car with it the keys left in the door for 5 hours!

Tired after there big day of playing an assembly at St. Malachy's for European Language Day and building Shamonic drums, accompanying massive puppets with drums and security Scorpion Jack went off into the sunset to ready themselves for the next days recording session.

This new album is going to be mighty, we can smell it in the air.

Over and out.

Jill Scorpion

Rohan and David have been recording their new and debut album. They're still deciding on what is going to make the grade and what isn't. They spent all last night in the studio and September has a few more weeks left yet but the plan is to have the guts of if finished before October rears its merry head.

Different recording techniques and styles have been tried and there are still many more to go.

tick tock tick

Rohan and David have been involved with the build of a recording studio in the centre of Belfast.  Its nearly finished and will be open for the end of August when the general public can come along and use it, not only that but they can both go and record their debut album which will be mighty exciting.