Socially Distant Storytellers Bonus Post!  
Shooting the cover was a blast! We often play a cool little spot called The Place in Ventucopa. We knew we wanted to shoot up that way when we decided on ‘Fences ‘ as the working title of the album. The scenery is gorgeous, it all had the right vibe we were striving for and to top it off, we got to have a delicious burger and a slice of Vicky’s homemade pie for lunch! Thanks for reading along. We hope you enjoy listening to Fences, as much as we did Writing and Recording it!
 

Fences, the album

CLICK TO HEAR IT!
 

Welcome to the sixth post of our Socially Distant Storytellers Series! We recorded the entire record with Earle Mankey at his Psychedelic Shack in T.O. It was an honor and privilege to get to work with him once again! The recording was mastered by Guy Martin at Black Couch Studios, who is always a pro! The sixth track off the record is Song For A Friend. Take a listen and enjoy the story! We’d love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you have in the comments! Stay safe friends and enjoy your Friday evening! 

Quotes and Reviews:
“New tracks are just on repeat for me over and over! ‘Song for a Friend’ so earthy and melodic....I really look forward to seeing this music live for sure.” ~Polly Parsons, Daughter of Gram Parsons

Song For A Friend

CLICK LINK TO PLAY!

Song For A Friend 

I’ll be around 

If you wanna hang out 

I’ll be around 

If you’re down and out 

I’ve done a lot 

So many things 

Things that I forgot 

At least that’s how it seems 

I’ll be around 

If you wanna hang out 

I’ll be around 

If you’re down and out 

I sang this song 

Had nothin better to do 

So I move along 

I still think about you 

When the sun goes down 

Who’s on your side 

When the swell rolls in 

When the tide gets high 

I’ll be around 

If you wanna hang out 

I’ll be around 

If you’re down and out 

I’ll be around 

I’ll be around 

I’ll be around 

I’ll be around

Behind the Music: 

This is a brand new song and was the last one recorded for the session. The basic riff came about as we were rehearsing with the band one night. It sounded really cool and Robert just free-styled some lyrics to help it along. I grabbed my phone to record it so we wouldn’t forget it, as happens so often with a jam session. We knew this one was really good! The verses further developed when Robert was on a week long backpacking trip in the Sierras last summer. They were inspired by the loss of our friend, Neal Casal, and when he returned, we ironed out the verses, wrote the chorus, bridge and spent a few sessions working out ideas for the solos. I had been practicing vocals on the piano when Robert came in and loved the sound of the keys.    Two days later we took it to Earle’s! We hadn’t even performed it live yet, but we knew we had to be include it on this record! Especially poignant during this time when we all need to be there for one another!

Geek Tech Notes: 

Epiphone EJ200 / Rhythm 

Fender Telecaster Thinline > 1953 Tweed Fender Deluxe / Rhythm 

Fender Telecaster Thinline >  1965 Fender Blackface Reverb Deluxe > J. Rocket Designs Archer Overdrive > Keeley Kantana Clean Boost > Keeley MS30 Double Tracker > Strymon Flynt Reverb / Lead 

Guitars, Robert Ramirez 

Bass, Cary Von Gott 

Piano and Tambourine, Michelle Votrian

Welcome to the fifth post of our Socially Distant Storytellers Series! We recorded the entire record with Earle Mankey at his Psychedelic Shack in T.O. It was an honor and privilege to get to work with him once again! The recording was mastered by Guy Martin at Black Couch Studios, who is always a pro! The fifth track off the record is Changes in the Weather. Take a listen and enjoy the story! We’d love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you have in the comments! Stay safe friends and enjoy your Thursday evening!

Quote and Reviews:
“The Newest musical  endeavor from the Ventura duo Medicine Hat has just enough twang, fiddle and great finger picking to qualify as a bonafide Americana album. Robert and Michelle have found their groove with this new record. A favorite is ‘Changes in the Weather’ with vocals that harken back to 60’s Laurel Canyon.” ~Polly Hoganson, Ones To Watch Presents

CHANGES IN THE WEATHER

CLICK LINK TO PLAY !

CHANGES IN THE WEATHER 

Got some things I wanna say to you 

There’s some things that I wanted to do 

I can’t help myself 

I keep falling down 

Got some things I wanna say to you 

There’s some things I’ve been going through 

How can I run to you 

Without my feet on the ground 

How can I run to you 

Without my feet on the ground 

It’s been a long, long time 

Been a long, long time 

It’s been a long, long time 

There’s been changes in the weather 

Change is in the weather 

Yeah, there’s been changes in the weather 

Got some things I wanna say to you 

There’s some things that I wanted to do 

I can’t help myself 

I keep falling down 

Got some things I wanna say to you 

There’s some things I’ve been going through

Behind the music: 

We wrote this song about 3 or so years ago out at the beach (like so many others). We were camping and Robert jumped up like he was on fire and ran to the trailer for his guitar. “I had to strum it before it left my head” he said. He came out playing the beginning of the song. It was one that came quick and the ideas flowed naturally. When we needed a second part I remembered something I’d jumped out of the shower to record before I forgot it, sometime before and had never finished, but loved. The two seemed to fit together beautifully! Two sparks that made a fire! We’ve been playing it out as a duo and a full band for quite awhile now. So it continues to develop both as an acoustic/singer songwriter and electric/full band song. Super fun both ways and one of my all time favorites for sure! 

Guitar Geek Tech Notes: 

All guitars capo’d 1st Fret 

Epiphone EJ200 / Rhythm 

Fender Telecaster Thinline 69 reissue > 1956 Fender Vibrolux / Rhythm and Lead 

Fender Telecaster Thinline 69 reissue > LovePedal Karl Fuzz > 1956 Fender Vibrolux / addition Lead 

Guitars, Robert Ramirez 

Violin, Hekar Rivera 

Bass, Cary Von Gott

Welcome to the fourth post of our Socially Distant Storytellers Series! We recorded the entire record with Earle Mankey at his Psychedelic Shack in T.O. It was an honor and privilege to get to work with him once again! The recording was mastered by Guy Martin at Black Couch Studios, who is always a pro! The fourth track off the record is Fences, the title track. Take a listen and enjoy the story! We’d love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you have in the comments! Stay safe friends and enjoy your Wednesday evening!

Quotes and Reviews:
“The yearning of such standouts as title track ‘Fences’ and ‘Changes in the Weather’ are must listen especially while riding fences or taking long road trips riding solo looking out a window and taking it all in…. “ ~ Annette Zilinskas, Blood on the Saddle, The Bangles

“Fences reminds me of Gram Parsons with beautiful steel guitar that just haunts the soul.” ~ Polly Parsons, Daughter of Gram Parsons

FENCES

Broken down fences 

She lost the the key to her heart 

Silent defenses 

Tear her apart 

The outside wind blows through the crack 

Under the door 

Leaves on the ground 

Creaks from the floor 

Broken down fences 

Kept them apart 

23 Romances 

Never given a start 

The outside wind blows through the crack 

Under the door 

Leaves on the ground 

Creaks from the floor

Behind the Music: 

We took this one to SXSW last year, as a brand new song. It was originally recorded while in Austin and was going to be on a live album. That project was ditched and we decided to return to Earle Mankey’s studio for the project. Erik Kristiansen lent his talent for the beautifully haunting pedal steel on the track. The idea came to Robert while returning from a walk one morning, while looking at the picket fence in his front yard. The house and fences might be metaphoric for a person or they might just be about an old house. Listener decides!

Fences CLICK TO HEAR THE SONG

Guitar Geek Tech Notes: 

Two acoustic guitars panned left/right. Epiphone EJ200 in standard tuning, Takamini dreadnaught in Nashville tuning. 

Gretsch Falcon Acoustic 12 String 

Fender Telecaster 69 Thinline > 1956 Fender Vibrolux 

Guitars, Robert Ramirez 

Pedal Steel, Erik Kristiansen 

Electric Bass, Cary Von Gott

Welcome to the third post of our Socially Distant Storytellers Series! We recorded the entire record with Earle Mankey at his Psychedelic Shack in T.O. It was an honor and privilege to get to work with him once again! The recording was mastered by Guy Martin at Black Couch Studios, who is always a pro! The third track off the record is Two Kinds of Lovers. Take a listen and enjoy the story! We’d love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you have in the comments! Stay safe friends and enjoy your Tuesday evening!

Two Kinds of Lovers 

Well there’s only two kinds of lovers 

But there’s more than one kind of friend 

I looked at you outside my window 

But I didn’t know where you’d been 

East St Louis by way of West Texas 

Thought that’s where you wanted to go 

If I fall down... drunk one more time 

You’re at the top of the stairs, I know 

If I open door will you get in? 

I’ll open up the door just get in. 

East St Louis by way of West Texas 

Thought that’s where you wanted to go 

If I fall down... drunk one more time 

You’re at the top of the stairs, I know 

If I open door will you get in? 

I’ll open up the door just get in. 

Well there’s only two kinds of lovers 

But there’s more than one kind of friend 

I looked at you outside my window 

But I didn’t know where you’d been 

I didn’t know where you’d been 

Didn’t know where you’d been 

Didn’t know where you’d been 

Didn’t know where you’d been

Behind the Music:

This was a fun one! Another story with some fun imagery. My favorite memories in the development of this song come more from the recording sessions. It’s an uptempo, strong rhythm that Rob nailed on both acoustics the first take! Not an easy feat. The scratch for the lead was so good, we ended up using the majority of it for the final mix. And the icing on the cake....getting our friend Hekar Rivera in there to play some violin! The interplay is awesome. He is one fine fiddler!

Two Kinds Of Lovers 

CLICK TO HEAR THE SONG!

Guitar Geek Tech Notes: 

All guitars capo’d 2nd fret 

Gretsch Falcon 12 String / Rhythm 

Epiphone EJ200 / Lead and Color 

Fender 69 Telecaster Thinline > 1956 Fender Vibrolux / Color 

Guitars, Robert Ramirez 

Violin/Fiddle, Hekar Rivera 

Bass, Cary Von Gott

Welcome to the second post of our Socially Distant Storytellers Series! We recorded the entire record with Earle Mankey at his Psychedelic Shack in T.O. It was an honor and privilege to get to work with him once again! The recording was mastered by Guy Martin at Black Couch Studios, who is always a pro! The second track off the record is Sunday Driving. Take a listen and enjoy the story! We’d love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you have in the comments! Stay safe friends and enjoy your Monday evening!

SUNDAY DRIVING 

Left for California on a Monday 

Said she had to head out west 

Never kept to a schedule 

Yeah, but she tried her best 

Yeah, but she tried her best 

They were Sunday driving on a Tuesday afternoon. 

Where tomorrow, always comes too soon. 

Buried it deep between the pages 

Set it high up on the shelf 

Sometimes things all get blown to hell 

you know he told her so himself 

you know he told her so himself 

They were Sunday driving on a Tuesday afternoon. 

Where tomorrow, always comes too soon 

Wednesday found her lying 

Parked her car outside the door 

Curtains fell behind her 

She let it all fall to the floor 

Let it all fall to the floor 

They were Sunday driving on a Tuesday afternoon. 

Where tomorrow, always comes too soon 

They were Sunday driving on a Tuesday afternoon. 

Where tomorrow, always comes too soon 

Where tomorrow always comes to soon

Sunday Driving

CLICK TO HEAR THE SONG

Behind the Music: 

I remember a few different writing sessions working on this one. The first being one of our many backyard writing sessions, where Robert introduced the song to me by playing the signature opening lick on his guitar. Always keeping the wise words of Earle Mankey in our heads....”where’s the hook?”, we knew this was it. Robert had an idea about a woman either running from or to something (we still aren’t sure, you can interpret as you like) and had the first two lines, “left for California on a Monday. She said she had to head out West”. The next couple of sessions we bounced thoughts and lyrics back and forth weaving the rest of the tale and arranging echoing vocals in the style of the Mamas & the Papas (the latest listening obsession). This is a fun one to perform live, channeling our best Michelle, Cass, John and Denny! 

Geek Tech Notes: 

Two acoustic guitars panned left/right. Epiphone EJ200 in standard tuning, Takamini dreadnaught in Nashville tuning. 

Fender Telecaster Thinline 69 Reissue > Strymon Flynt/Tremolo > J. Rockett Designs > Archer > 1965 Fender Blackface Reverb Deluxe 

Guitars, Robert Ramirez 

Bass, Cary Von Gott

Guitar Tracking for Sunday Driving

Welcome to the first post of our Socially Distant Storytellers Series! We recorded the entire record with Earle Mankey at his Psychedelic Shack in T.O. It was an honor and privilege to get to work with him once again! The recording was mastered by Guy Martin at Black Couch Studios, who is always a pro! The first track off the record is Rear View Mirror. Take a listen and enjoy the story! We’d love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you have in the comments!

REAR VIEW MIRROR

He said can you come out to play 
To the part of her that couldn’t walk away 
Spinning round in circles 
Like a child under the stars 
Can’t move in both directions 
So you just stand where you are

And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror 
And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror

He talked about the way it used to be 
The dashboard clock read only half past three 
Silent accusations 
Hanging in the air 
Stared ahead at broken lines 
And pretended not to care

And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror 
And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror

The sky turned shades of orange 
And her heart turned upside down 
The cactus all were blooming 
Something lost and something found

And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror
And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror

 
He had nothing left to share 
She was way to tired to care 
Lost inside the part of you 
That used to hold her hand 
While you’re hanging tight to longing, they’ll be 
nowhere left to land

And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror 
And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror 
And you only see 
Through the rear view mirror 
Why can’t you see me 
Sitting here in the passenger seat

Behind the Music: 

So we had just played a gig in Huntington Beach and Robert randomly sang a line about only seeing through a rear view mirror. It stuck in my head and I knew it had to be a Medicine Hat song. I brought the rough sketch to practice and tried to describe the vibe and style I was feeling, an R.E.M. kind of jangly tune. Of course Robert knew exactly what I meant and we worked out a bridge, fine tuned the lyrics and arrangements and took it into the studio! This is one we really never even had a chance to play live, but maybe a few times. It’s going to be fun when we can finally get the full band out for the performance of this song!

Rear View Mirror 

CLICK TO HEAR THE SONG

Geek Tech Notes : 

Guitars all capo’d at first fret, high E tuned to D. 

Two acoustic guitars panned left/right. Epiphone EJ200 in standard tuning, Takamini dreadnaught in Nashville tuning. 

Electric rhythm guitar - Gretsch G6129 Sparkle Jet > J. Rockett Audio Designs Archer Overdrive > Keeley Kantana Clean Boost > 1965 Fender Blackface Reverb Deluxe. 

Lead guitar - Fender 69 Thinline Telecaster > J. Rockett Audio Designs Archer Overdrive > Keeley Kantana Clean Boost > 1965 Fender Reverb Deluxe. 

Guitars, Robert Ramirez

Bass, Cary Von Gott 

Fences, the New Album, is finished with a release date of March 20, 2020! Here's what people are saying.
 

"Fences, reminds me of Gram Parsons, with beautiful Steel Guitar that just haunts the soul" ~ Polly Parsons/Daughter of Gram Parsons

“Medicine Hat's new release invokes the wide open space of the American West with the High Lonesome Harmonies of Gram Parsons and Emmy Lou Harris, while still retaining their own distinct sound. "~ Annette Zilinskas/Blood On The Saddle, The Bangles, Medicine, The Ringling Sisters 

"The Newest Musical Endeavor from the Ventura Duo Medicine Hat, has just enough twang, fiddle and great finger picking to qualify as a bonafide Americana album. A favorite is Changes In The Weather, with vocals that harken back to 60's Laurel Canyon." ~ Polly Hoganson/Ones To Watch Presents

Medicine Hat is putting the finishing touches on their latest album, due for release, March, 2020. For this 7 song album, they returned to their favorite studio to work with the iconic and legendary producer, Earle Mankey. They hope to have it in tow with them for their trip to Austin for SXSW 2020. Stay tuned for details! 

We’ve  been presented with an opportunity to record six of our original songs at Austin Signal Studios in a Single-Mic Session while in town for SXSW. With some incredibly talented local musicians joining us on the project, this unique session will be recorded live and available on both CD and vinyl. The experience of recording in a high end studio, situated in this music mecca and working with this caliber of talent would mean so much to us as artists.  
We are working hard at raising the funds necessary, but with limited time before we head out in March, any help would be greatly appreciated! Any donor contributing $20 or more will be sent a free cd as a thank you! 
We look forward to sharing this project with you all! 

Click below to contribute to the project!

Single Mic Recording Session

Medicine Hat is back in the studio working on the first in a series of three EPs to be released over the next year, all of which will be recorded at local, independently owned and operated studios. Keeping with their support local business and art, the first EP is in the works at Black Couch Studio, located in Midtown Ventura and scheduled for a late December release.