Another first for us was an original song written just for the Whiting 41, Break Free by David Stocker. Even traditional songs are originals when you get right down to it, but this one is more recent than the others and even better, you can shake the songwriter's hand. Here are his lyrics and chords if you want to sing it yourself.
David Stocker: rabble-rouser, good-doer, songwriter
The other two songs in our set were Up Above My Head by Sister Rosetta Tharpe and the traditional song We Shall Not Be Moved. The songs come from 2016's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Peace Sing at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago. (Here is the complete packet of songs from that day.)
We had a full house on rehearsal night...
...and an even fuller one at Paul Henry's open mic the following evening!
The world has gone crazy but I refuse to play along. I'm going to stay sane playing with friends and singing songs. Our next Band 101 is Wednesday, February 8th at 7 p.m. in Paul Henry's Art Gallery, 416 Sibley Street in downtown Hammond. $5 admission to keep the lights on, and you get your very own packet of lyrics and chords to take home. If you're feeling particularly brave, you can play them at the open mic the following night, free of charge.
