I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)

In the final installment of videos from Thanksgiving 2009, my brother and I took on the classic song by Meatloaf. That's my brother on piano and me on electric guitar and vocals. View the music video HERE.

Happy Holidays to all!

Twelve Bar Blues

Here is the second song from the Thanksgiving jam session with my family, a twelve bar blues. That's my brother on piano and me on electric guitar. View the music video HERE.

Don't Stop Believin'

This Thanksgiving, Rebekka and I hosted my parents, grandmother, and brother at our house. It was great to see everyone. The first night after dinner we had a jam session for hours, and we caught some of it on film. Here is the first song from the session, the Journey tune "Don't Stop Believin' ". That's my brother on piano and me on electric guitar. Rock 'n roll! View the music video HERE.

Rebekka's Song

"Rebekka's Song" is the closing track on the album, "Love Is Not An Open Door." Listen and download HERE.

Rebekka and I started dating in college, when I was a senior and she was a sophomore. Soon after I graduated, I wrote this song and eventually performed it with a band at our wedding 5 years later. We've been dating for 10 years now, and it's been great.

Love Is Not An Open Door

The eighth track on the album "Love Is Not An Open Door" is the title track. Listen and download HERE.

This was one of my first originals. I wrote it in eighth grade, as a lament about the difficulty of finding true love. Though I was just 13 at the time, the lyrics channel the soul of a wise and world-weary traveler accompanied by a latin rhythm.

The image of me jamming outdoors is by Portside.

MJ Tribute

I was sitting at my digital piano recently figuring out how to play the Jackson Five's "I Want You Back." As I thought about the thirteen-year old Michael Jackson singing the song, I thought of the even younger Lee Istrail (six years old), years later, listening to MJ for the first time. Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was the first album that changed my world. When I was six years old, my parents played it all the time. At night they would play the song "Human Nature" on the tape recorder in my room to help me sleep; I can still remember how the tune relaxed me. MJ was larger than life, and I miss him. And now I have a question for you, loyal Istrailtunes reader:

Q: What MJ song(s) should I add to my repertoire?

Mitch Marzec's Band

In an earlier post, I discussed Jeremy Barnes' band and reminisced about the good old high school days when he and I jammed. Well, now I've tracked down another high school buddy who played some tunes with us back then.

High school-era Mitch Marzec was a singer and hard-rockin' guitarist who knew how to put on a great show. In his less intense moments, Mitch would chill out and display unexpected skills. After one all-night party, Mitch made me a very tasty omelette.

Mitch is now in a band called "An American Chinese." (official website HERE). Based in Philadelphia, the band offers up whimsical and catchy tunes. And I have never seen a website designed like theirs; the sliding green dot is awesome. Check them out!

Lights in the Dark

"Lights in the Dark" is the 7th track on "Love Is Not An Open Door." Listen and download HERE.

This waltz is one of the very first songs I wrote. Think of it as a teenager's attempt to counteract naivete by trying to understand the apocalypse.

The image of me concentrating intently while playing guitar is by Portside.

Rock 'n Roll Live

This past Friday, I played some tunes for a friend's going-away party. The core of the set was early rock 'n roll (Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis) and Motown (Wilson Pickett). It was a great way to segue into the weekend, and a reminder that I need to get out and perform more often. The biggest hit was "Great Balls of Fire," which I played a second time as a special request. I feel more energized now, having gone back to the roots of rock 'n roll.

Happy Despair

This week's song is "Happy Despair," the sixth track on "Love Is Not An Open Door." Listen and download HERE.

As a high school student who suddenly had homework coming out of his ears, and who had to behave more "seriously" than before, I longed for simpler times. The theme is akin to the Rolling Stones song "As Tears Go By."

Photo by Portside.

Res Judicata: Reprise

This week, I am directing you to another video of a gig in front of some friends. The music is NOT mine; it is the best tune from the Lion King. I wrote the lyrics in collaboration with my wife Rebekka, concerning the great legal doctrine of res judicata. It means no lawsuits for the rest of your days (on the same grounds). Ah, but the antagonist in this story tries to bring the same case three times.

Watch "Res Judicata" HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0KeHuBecQo

The Cliff Song: Harmonica Version

"The Cliff Song" is the fifth track from the album "Love Is Not An Open Door." Listen and download HERE.

I gave you a different version of this song back in September. This one has the only recorded Lee Istrail harmonica solo. The tale is about a friend who turns foe and tries to settle his argument with a gun. "The Cliff Song" is a flight of fancy which I wrote in high school. While I have never actually been chased by a gun-toting villain, this song captures my apprehension back in high school that my innocence would sometimes be dangerous. As Bob Dylan sang, "I offered up my innocence and got repaid with scorn."

Photo is by Portside.

I Bill My Time - Reprise

This week, I am posting a link to a video of myself playing "I Bill My Time" for some friends. The law is very serious, so you've got to have a sense of humor about it.

My wife and I penned the lyrics, but note that the music is NOT mine. It's Johny Cash's. So even though Istrail Tunes is generally about my original tunes, this week I am flippin' the script.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyp08ykDjaw

Lamb in Wolf's Clothing

"Lamb in Wolf's Clothing" is the fourth track from the album "Love Is Not An Open Door." Listen to the track and the album HERE.

I had a good buddy back in elementary school who, when we got to middle school, suddenly started talking to me with scorn. He had hopes of becoming one of the cool kids, i.e. a "wolf," and he thought that hangin' out with me wasn't where it's at. Surely you know the expression "wolf in sheep's clothing." He was the opposite, a lamb in wolf's clothing, consumed with hunger for popularity. Ah, but the true wolves "feasted off (his) foolishness." I entirely lost touch with this dude, and good riddance!

PS: I cannot say whether I coined the phrase "lamb in wolf's clothing," but when you do a google search for the phrase, the link to my song comes up number 9 out of 285,000 entries. Not bad, eh?

PPS: This photo is by Portside. During the photo shoot, she cautioned me not to break the guitar. I was channeling the tradition of Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townshend, but I did not destroy my trusty first guitar, which I started playing at age 13.

First Concert

Q: What was the first concert you ever attended?
A: Around the start of middle school, my parents took me to see Paula Abdul, with opening act Color Me Badd. It was a great show. This was before I started playing and writing songs. Now, I know what you're thinking. "Cheesy pop." But look, some of Paula's music still holds up. I have a bluesy cover of "Straight Up Now, Tell Me" in my repertoire. Remind me to play it sometime, and you'll see what I mean. But Color Me Badd? You will not see me covering their tunes anytime soon.

British Chick

British Chick is the third song from the album, "Love Is Not An Open Door."  Listen to the song and the album HERE on Amie Street.  British Chick was a college classmate originally from England, replete with a fabulous accent.  I had gotten to know her pretty well, and had a thing for her.  I sent her flowers and told her I thought she was peachy keen, and she then had a nice and straightforward discussion with me: "I just don't feel the same."  And we just put the whole thing behind us and continued as friends.  There was no cloak and dagger uncertainty, and no awkwardness; I found it utterly refreshing.

She was clearly enjoying attention from multiple suitors, but not in a way that says, "Look at me, I've got many guys wrapped around my finger."  British Chick is very classy.  As my line goes, "She's innocent but not naive / Her company is hard to leave."

Photo is by my official photog extraordinaire, Portside.

graduation again

Yesterday, my brother Larry graduated from college. Ten years ago this month, I got my tassel. That was the month that the album Lee Istrail-LIVE was recorded in the lounge of a dorm. How time passes. Larry, back then you were a middle schooler. And now, as Vince Vaughn said, "You're growns up and you're growns up and you're growns up." Congratulations, my man, I'm really proud of you. You've grown up to be a smart guy and a good guy. All the best as you start post-grad life.

Golden Afternoons

Golden Afternoons" is the second track from the album "Love Is Not An Open Door." Listen to the track and the album HERE.

In tenth grade I "went electric," and just like Dylan, I got protests that I was selling out and leaving my folk roots behind. But like Dylan, I persisted because I was being true to myself. This tune is an instrumental designed to accompany a teenager's romantic daydreaming.

Photo is by my trusty official photographer, Portside.

Jeremy Barnes' band

Q: Did you jam with any folks who went on to be pro musicians?
A: A few. I'll give you one example. There was a band in high school playing at the same time as Extreme Delusion. We had an awesome Earth Day concert at school in 10th grade, in which members of the bands mixed and matched. These guys were wicked good. The band featured Jackson Kelly on guitar and voice. Jackson was one of my best friends during 10th grade. He had an intuitive feel for guitar tone and skill, a keen vocal range, and a wry wit. While the other guys in the band gravitated towards punk and harder rock, Jackson had one foot in the acoustic classic rock camp, like me.

Then there was the other guitarist, Mitch Marzec. Mitch was the main punk proponent, real serious about his Johny Rotten impression and acerbic tone. Mitch had me up in arms sometimes with his outspoken harsh words for the Beatles.

Finally, there was Jeremy Barnes, the drummer. Jeremy had a hard-driving Keith Moon style of playing and the crazy sense of mischief to go with it. Jeremy wound up playing with Neutral Milk Hotel from 1996-1998 (indie rock fans will know this band), and now he's in the band "A Hawk and A Hacksaw" with Heather Trost. Jeremy got away from his hard rock roots and now plays an eclectic brand of Eastern European folk music and has incorporated Romanian musicians into the band's lineup. This fascinates me because I am originally Romanian. Over time Jeremy and I switched influences: I got more into the Who and blues-based rock, and he got more into the music of my homeland!

Blue Eyed Doe

And now, introducing a new album, "Love Is Not An Open Door." Listen to it HERE. The first track is "Blue Eyed Doe."

Back in 10th grade (that's right, this was the year of my supergroup Extreme Delusion) I liked a certain girl who rode my bus. I asked her out in the summer but she said she didn't know if that made sense because she would be away for a month at camp. I went off to camp myself and developed affections for somebody else (that's a whole other song called "Amiss"). But nobody can take away those bus rides home after school.

I decided to keep the song light in tone, and add an electric guitar solo.

The album cover art is by my friend Portside.

Lee's Second Band

Q: OK, so what happened after Extreme Delusion dissolved?

A: Well, I went to a new high school starting junior year. In my physics class, I met a guy named Ian who was a blues fan like me, and played saxophone and flute. We planned to jam sometime. But when he said he was in the school marching band, I didn't know what to expect; was he going to want to play John Phillip Sousa marches? Ian turned out to be a cool cat who could play the blues and jazz with great technical skill as well as improvisational flair and emotion. He got me into John Coltrane, and during my junior year we played a few live gigs and recorded several tunes, whose stories you can read in the Istrail Tunes archive: "Blue Rain," "A Picture of You," "Amiss," and "Nostalgia"

Ian eventually went off to rabbinical school, and I hope he's entertaining a congregation somewhere with his musical stylings.

Wake Up in the Morning: Song for Economic Stimulus

I originally wrote "Wake Up in the Morning" as a cheer-up song to a friend. However, I think it can be recast as a song for these tough economic times. So buck up, America, because Lee Istrail is on your side.

Click on the following link and scroll to track 6:
http://amiestreet.com/music/lee-istrail/live/

Lee's First Band

Q from loyal reader: Lee, what's the story of your first band?
A: From eighth grade until 10th I was in solo artist mode, but in 10th grade I was invited to join a rock 'n roll outfit that needed a guitarist. The band frontman insisted on the name "Extreme Delusion." I was not thrilled at the moniker (are we conceding that we have delusions of being a band?), but in the interest of getting down to business I did not lobby for an alternative.

The frontman decided U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday" would be our first song. Now, you might think we'd start off with some Chuck Berry or "Wild Thing," but no; we had to try a song with challenging drum and vocal parts, in the same key that Bono sang it. That song never came together, but we did play a good cover of The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (I have a live performance on tape), an original I wrote about an unrequited crush (taped from the same concert), and an original about Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange," which we performed as an English class assignment (the recording was lost, but I know how the tune goes). At the end of 10th grade, I changed schools and we did not have the momentum to continue. But it was a fun time creating something with others, and we managed to rock out in public a few times.

During college, I saw a new reincarnation of this band, which went by the name, "Urine Sane." The band had gotten much better, but the name had gotten much worse. I shook my head.

Cliff's Return

Yes, Istrailtunes is back, my friends! And in a new format. Every 2 weeks on a Monday morning, I will tell the tale behind a song and provide a link so you can listen and download. Each Monday in between, you'll get my views on some music-related topic, such as stories of high school and college performances. And you are encouraged to post "comments" on this blog.This week's tune is the closer in the hiking trilogy.

First we had "Wrong Way in the Rain," then "Cactus," and now, "Cliff's Return."The first thing you should know about this tune is that part of the music was written by my high school buddy Zach Ireland. Zach played the song to me in draft form, and the lyrics depicted a surreal dream Zach had. The tune stuck in my mind, and during first year of college, I found my own lyrics for it. Zach recently tracked me down on Facebook, so Z, this one's for you!

True story. During a college hiking trip, we had set up in our cabin and found that a guy named Cliff had written in the cabin log. Late that night, he and some friends paid us a visit. To hear what happened, check out Track # 11:
http://amiestreet.com/music/lee-istrail/in-the-studio