Our new CD "On The Up Side" has received some rave reviews. Use the links below to check them out. Thanks, THE HUMBUGS

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=184273520&blogId=484425849

http://www.lmnop.com/2009-April-LMNOP-Reviews.html#anchor14639

http://absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Humbugs

http://www.popbang.com/

Here for your listening pleasure is "The Bleak End", track 3 from our 2002 LP Stereo Types. Probably one of the more successful songs from Stereo Types. The song still finds it's place in our set lists today. Kristin and I co-wrote this one. She came up with a very nice melody and contributed the better lyrics in the song. Very nice production from Brad Cassetto and Dave Russ. Also featured is one time humbug Walter Croll on lead guitar. See if you can hear the backwards xylophone! On a separate note we are nearing the completion of our new record. Check back for sneak peaks coming soon. Thanks for listening. Adam - THE HUMBUGS

This recording of "Calico Eyes" comes from our most recent trip to Chicago. Before playing at The Abbey Pub we stopped by Loyola University's WLUW to do an interview and perform a few tunes. It was the third time we did the show Full On Friday with our beloved DJ Melissa. Melissa tends to request on air improvisational songs from us. Last year we did a theme song for her show and this year we wrote an ode to Melissa, being that she was graduating and this was her last year on the air. It can be a bit nerve-wracking knowing that if it doesn't go well it's out on the airwaves for anyone who's listening to hear. I mean it could have been a total disaster. Fortunately the improv tunes went well. Anyway, that has very little to do with this tune. This live in studio version of "Calico Eyes" featured all the band members playing or singing. I played guitar and sang, Mike played guitar and sang, Kristin sang, Tim sang and Matt played the shaker. Right now we are recording this tune for our next CD. It's definitely a favorite of mine. I think we're better when we write and rehearse the songs as opposed to making them up on the spot, but I suppose that's open for debate. I hope you enjoy it. Adam - THE HUMBUGS

"One More Day" is a newer song for The Humbugs. This version here is a demo we recorded in our rehearsal space. This was the second time we recorded a demo of "One More Day." The first one was pretty awful so we decided to try again. We were definitely more in a groove when we did this version. This was my attempt to write a song with several changes in time signature. I though it would be interesting and I thought it would keep our drummer from getting totally bored. I actually think I pulled it off quite well. Most likely we'll record yet another version for our next record. Hope you like it. Adam - THE HUMBUGS

Here is the demo for "Guilty As Sin." Nowadays, we consciously try NOT to make our demos sound this good. If you make them sound really good you run the risk of not getting a better recording when you’re making your record. I don’t think the version on "Twist The Truth" was quite as good as this one. We recorded this demo in our rehearsal space and then had Brad Casseto mix it. Maybe Brad thought he was mixing our next record and not a demo because he went to town on this tune. He did such an incredible job on it. He gave it that very spooky, cool vibe. It’s also faster than the version on "Twist The Truth." I think I sang it better as well. The song features Mike Austin on lead guitar. He was lead guitar player number three and was in the band for a very short time. Less than a year. He made some nice contributions to some of our songs though. "Guilty As Sin" was a minor key, jazz tune. Very dramatic. Could have been in a musical. Hope you like it. Adam - THE HUMBUGS

"Original Girl" was written for the 2002 CD "Stereo Types." I liked the song quite a bit but Brad Cassetto, the producer for "Stereo Types" was not in favor of it. I eventually agreed to keep it off the CD. This demo was recorded by Dave Russ in 2001, at his "It's A Secret" studio. We recorded seven songs with Dave so more may appear on this site in the future. The song features our second guitarist, Walter Croll on lead guitar. Walter was guitar player number two of five for The Humbugs. He was the oldest member of The Humbugs but often acted like the youngest. This was either fun or frustrating. It was Walter's idea to go into the studio to record these demos. He had a theory that we should always be recording. We should practice recording just like we practice playing live. This idea has stuck with us since then. It was probably his greatest contribution to the group. He does a great job on this tune. I still like his Steely Dan-esque guitar solo at the end of the song. Thanks for reading and listening. Adam - THE HUMBUGS

"Tearing Me Up" was another song we recorded for "Twist The Truth" that didn't make the cut. I'm a big fan of this song and specifically this recording. Our producer, Jacques Wait, called this our "Andy Gibb Song." He meant it as a compliment. I think it's more Supertramp meets Steely Dan meets 10cc. It is definitely the most seventies-licious song we've ever recorded. You can see this one being featured on some late night infomercial for one of those hits of the 70's CD box sets. You can hear Barry Williams saying "I bet you remember this classic from The Humbugs." There's me lip syncing poorly on a dimly lit sound stage with the fog machine on full blast. My shirt unbuttoned too low, way too low. There's Mike, sporting a monstrous afro with his Gibson Les Paul that's not plugged into anything, tearing it up on the guitar solo. Speaking of Mike's guitar solo, it was supposed to be a fade out, but I think it's nice to hear the whole unedited version. It gets a little sloppy by the end but it's nice to hear the band let loose a bit. We recorded the solo at Joe Letness' studio. And yes, Mike did play a Gibson Les Paul. I think this was part of the inspiration for Mike to eventually buy one. Hope you enjoy. Adam - THE HUMBUGS

Every year The Humbugs venture out of their native Minneapolis to entertain people in other towns. One of these towns is Chicago. In addition to playing on of the Windy City's many fantastic music venues, we'll do an on air interview at WLUW, Loyola University's radio station. This past year we played a few acoustic numbers on the air. Melissa, our beloved DJ was kind enough to press "record" while we were there. We always have a great time with Melissa. She conducts her on air interviews like a twenty year veteran. She always makes us feel relaxed and comfortable on the air. We've included a little bit of on air chatter at the end of the song. The "Theme Song" that Melissa mentions was an impromptu composition that we created for Melissa's show just prior to this performance. So here's "Employee Of The Month", a recent favorite tune of ours recorded live on WLUW. Hope you enjoy it. Happy Holidays and thanks for a great year. THE HUMBUGS

Here's another song from our 2002 release Stereo Types. "She Says She Loves Him" was co-written with Kristin. I can't quite remember who wrote what in this one. Kristin's probably responsible for most of the lyrics or at least the good lyrics. The idea for a song about someone who falls in love at the drop of a hat was definitely Kristin's idea. "She Says..." has grown on me considerably over the years. I think it's one of the stronger cuts from Stereo Types. Great drumming from Matt and the best guitar solo Walter ever did with our band. Recently, the good people of "This Is Rock'n'Roll Radio" have been playing "She Says..." on their weekly radio show. Check them out at www.westcottradio.org. Tell Dana and Carl The Humbugs say hello.

On a separate note, it seems that our last Stack-o-Tracks entry "One Eye Closed" was quite popular so we are leaving it up for your enjoyment. Thanks, Adam - THE HUMBUGS