http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_jE6JtVoYo

Greetings!

A lot has happened since my last newsletter, so I guess first I'll catch y'all up on what's new with BLUESQUEEZEBOX.

After our one-year anniversary at Flipnotics last Oct. 9, Jules, John and I decided to pursue our own separate interests.  We remain great friends, and I fully expect to work with them both again at some point in the future.  Actually, John is currently producing my next CD, which will reflect more of my current solo sound.  I''ll still be playing around at the usual places, and calling my act BLUESQUEEZEBOX. I'll occasionally have people sitting in with me, but for now I'll be keeping it solo.   I look forward to your continued support.

This month I'll be appearing:

December 20 and 31 (New Year's Eve!)  @ Flipnotics (1600 Barton Springs Road)  9 PM (one set)

December 30 @ The Carousel Lounge (1101 E. 52nd) ) 9 PM (one set)


While researching my family history recently on the internet I came across a book of stories about my Texas pioneer ancestors written by my second cousin.  I'm not sure how many of these stories are actually true, but they've proven to be great fodder for songs. You can hear my first effort in what I expect will be the focus of my next album, "Ballad of the Dog People" at the myspace page.

While you're there, check out some live recordings I made recently with my friend Raphael Bas.  For those of you who don't know him, he's a awesome guitarist from New Orleans (by way of France and Austin) whom I'm proud to call one of my dearest friends.  His absolute mastery of and devotion to his craft is inspiring, and without his encouragement and patience I honestly think I would've never learned to sing or play the accordion.  Download these rare tracks while you can, they're going to be replaced at the end of the month by some of my newer solo recordings.

For those of you that twitter, I'll now be sending out reminders and alerts for any last-minute gigs...

I hope you all have a great holiday season!
Come see me!

Peace,

--
Clifton Tipton
bluesqueezebox

While researching my family history recently, I came across a book written by my second cousin, I.C. Eason. It's a collection of stories about my ancestors who settled the Neches River bottom of East Texas in the late 18th century.  I have no idea if these stories are completely factual, but they ring true, and sure are great fodder for songs... Here's my first effort, from the story "Grandma and the Well".  It's written from the perspective of the child who would become my great-great grandfather.

Ballad of the Dog People

We've hunted this land since the Spanish was king
Dog people they call us, it don't mean a thing
We don't talk to strangers but say what we mean
You'd better just leave us alone.

We don't cotton to fences, don't cotton to war
We're livin' hard country but don't call us poor
We don't hold no grudges just even the score
You'd better just leave us alone.

One day the war found us, ten men wearing gray
"All able men must report right away!"
"Conscription," they said, "it's the law of the day!"
"You'd better just come on along.

We ran for our rifles as quick as could be
My pa and my uncles, my brothers and me
We hid in a place where the Rebs couldn't see
They'll probably leave us alone.

We watched from the ridge as they kicked in the door
Grabbed all the women and brought 'em before
The captain we knew by the colors he wore
Crimson cross over gray.

Kicking and biting and spitting as well
Grandma screamed they should all go to hell
They grabbed her ankles and opened the well
The daylight was just about gone.

Pa beaded down on the captain and said
"Pick you one boys, I've got the red."
We opened up on 'em 'til they was dead
They never got off a shot.

We've hunted this land since the Spanish was king
Dog people they call us, it don't mean a thing
We don't talk to strangers but say what we mean
You'd better just leave us alone.