Gethsemani (Unabridged) by Joel David Weir
Gethsemani was written and recorded over 7 months on two continents, across four American states and three countries in the British Isles. In December 2022 I had reached a place that, I suppose they call burnout, but I didn't realize it until I was sitting in a cafe in Glasgow, and took a breath that felt different - not constricted or forced - but a breath. That was a month after the accident in Kentucky, where six of the songs on this records were written and three recorded, on the back porch of a cabin I spent a week at... before the accident.
When I finally had it in me to go back and listen to those recordings I decided to keep a few of them as is - so you could hear the immediacy - the rawness of what was happening right then - plus those birds on "Gethsemani" just provided such a beautiful backdrop.
I loved and was enchanted by Scotland, Ireland, England.. and was pleasantly surprised by our accidental long stay in Iceland. So - the songs got developed in those spaces - sometimes, as in the case of "Mull Interlude" recorded there. But I got back to the states and looked forward to making up for the lost time at the Monastery Studio - time I lost from the timing of my accident.
I kinda fell in love with the Peoples Republic of Walnut Hills in the short time I got to spend there while recording at The Monastery Studio. I'm profoundly grateful to Ric Hordinski for his generosity of spirit, beautiful soul and for really caring for my songs. So glad to have brought in Josh Seurkamp on percussion - what a talent and a vibrant soul. Adalia! Thank you for singing on "The Defense"! It was such a lovely addition and, I think, really made the song special. I love your work and will always cheer for you and the mighty KNOTTS!
Grateful to the CRG and Lilly Endowment for the Renewal Grant that made this possible. Grateful to Fr. Seraphim Aldea and the Monastery of All Celtic Saints for prayers, presence, and hospitality this summer.
Thanks to Tom Hilton at Aldora Britain Records for your undying support of independent music (including mine!). Cheers, mate!
All love always to Maria Reynolds Weir - my love for life, my punk rock girl, my muse always - thank you for believing in this thing I have to do to stay sane and alive. Love to my kids, Layla and Liam, and grandkids Emeric and Esmae.
Memory Eternal to John Prine. God we miss you.
This album is dedicated to Jeff Weir, my big brother, 'the wise one', the guy who introduced me to most cool things in my life, who reminded me I can always join the peace corps and told me long ago to listen to John Prine. You are loved more than you can imagine or know. Imma keep playing these songs and doing the best I can.
All the best to each and every one of you who have listened.
Tracklist
| 1. | Ebb | 2:52 |
| 2. | Shattered | 4:46 |
| 3. | Gethsemani | 4:46 |
| 4. | The Contorionist | 1:52 |
| 5. | The Defense | 3:19 |
| 6. | Emerald | 3:55 |
| 7. | The Missing Years? | 2:54 |
| 8. | Tower of Hurt | 4:33 |
| 9. | Mull Interlude | 3:07 |
| 10. | Creation v. Madmen | 3:29 |
| 11. | Says Loretta | 3:46 |
| 12. | Don't Forget | 3:19 |
Credits
All songs by Joel David Weir.
Copyright 2022 St. Patrick Songs (ASCAP)
Lyrics by Joel David Weir except "Emerald" by Maria Reynolds Weir and Joel David Weir.
Tracks 1,4,7,10 Recorded and mixed at St. Squirrel Studions, Crawfordsville, IN.
Tracks 2, 5,8,11Recorded and mixed by Ric Hordinski at Monastery Studios, The Peoples Republic of Walnut Hills, OH.
Tracks 3, 6, 12 Recorded at a cabin outside of Gethsemani, KY. Mixed at St. Squirrel Studios, Crawfordsville, IN.
Track 9 Recorded at Oran Na Mara, Mull Monastery, Mull Scotland. Mixed at St Squirrel Studios, Crawfordsville, IN.
Joel David Weir - acoustic guitar, vocals, narration on all tracks.
Ric Hordinski - acoustic, electric, lead guitars, shakers on tracks 2, 5, 8, 11.
Joshua Seurkamp - percussion on tracks 2, 11.
Adalia Powell-Boehne - vocals on track 5.
Mastered by Joe Procopio, 2Track Mastering, Cheltenham, PA.
