Music Performance – Brad Carlin

“I am a Man of Constant Sorrow”

One of my favorites from “O Brother Where Art Thou?”, this is a cover of a great folk song by Dick Burnett that I performed with Homeward Bound at an outdoor worship service in the Good Samaritan UMC amphitheater this past summer. With (L-R) Josh Carlin on drums, Nate Carlin on bass, Emma Hutson on percussion and backing vocals, Steve Kumagai on harp and mandolin, and Scott Card on guitar.

“Boys… we’re in a tight spot!…” Hope you enjoy it!

“A Ride Back Home” by John Mellencamp (cover)

I had been looking to perform this lovely but somber song in church for months, but its themes of aging, loss, despair, and even suicide made it difficult to fit in. Fortunately, Christian Nielsen was preaching on his use of music therapy in hospice and other end-of-life settings one Sunday, and I finally had an opportunity to share it.

With Emma Hutson covering the crucial harmony vocal (originally done by Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town), Josh Carlin on drums, and Christian Nielsen on lead guitar. Thank you guys; great job ❤️

Brad Carlin – “Take Two” – Original Composition

New original composition: “Take Two”
Music and Lyrics by Brad Carlin
All parts played or sung by Brad Carlin *except* tenor saxophone, played by Austin Albert

This song is about making the most of second acts in one’s life. Obviously there is a lot of duality in the song. The main theme in the chorus is just two notes, which are then repeated in the backing vocals (which are sung in two-part harmony). The saxophone echos in this section add a new form of duality. Lyrically, all of the lines in the song rhyme with “two”, something I initially resisted, but finally decided to make into a fun exercise with the help of an online rhyming dictionary. I’m kind of proud of the reference to John and Abigail Adams in the second verse, which was inspired by my family’s annual July 4 viewing of the movie musical “1776”. The last verse also pays tribute to the song “Unknown”, written by my fellow Homeward Bound band member, Susan Thompson.

For more on Homeward Bound and its music please see: homewardboundband.com