Woody (Dick Things)

This is probably my favorite Ashtray Prophets tune of all time. Woody (Dick Things) was written sometime before their Junior year, because this recording was dated as having been recorded in MH's dorm room sometime in that year. Toward the end of the recording, you can hear a girl from MH's floor (it was a co-ed floor) barge in and say, "I wondered who the hell was singing." Ever the perfectionists, the guys left the recording as-is.

This song was written in a genius stroke after the opening phrase ("With puke on my shirt, I went to bed last night. Woke up this morning something just wasn't right.") came up in conversation one weekend. Or something like that. This was yet another song that was written so quickly that it seemed that it was divinely inspired. I have no other explanation -- sometimes certain words and music are handed to us from the Great Unknown.

For example, pay attention to how MH is strumming his guitar and how it relates to the theme of this song. He starts out lightly, almost teasing, then his strokes become a little fuller, broader, then a little quicker as they go into the first chorus. The second verse goes down to some picking, as if getting tired, then he finishes the song with such vigorous strumming that the end of the song is left with a kind of collapse.

It is subtle strokes such as these that reveal the Ashtray Prophets' true genius.

Click here to download Woody (Dick Things).

Those Goddamn Miskitas

Yes, I know -- it's spelled wrong. But this whole song is wrong. It's the song that should have never been recorded; it's the song that should have never been played anywhere but the old camping trips.

They guys were playing Acoustic Night at The Small Planet in East Lansing. Acoustic Night was a Tuesday and not the busiest day of the week. With the crowd being thin, the guys thought it would be okay to play some of their more colorful material.

After hearing the line about nuns in this song, waitstaff and backroom staff started coming out to the stage area to see if they heard what they really heard. Then, the bar owner came out too. He made a gesture with his hands toward the stage that made it quite clear that they were done for the night.

They were never asked to play The Small Planet again.

Click here to download Those Goddamn Miskitas.