How to become a musical genius in ten easy steps 

Way back in time, I was in a rock and roll band called the Bushwackers.  We gained a fair amount of notoriety in the Chicago area, and were also quite big in Belgium, Wisconsin.  Whether playing for 20 people, or 20,000, we were usually a good rockin' band.

We were blessed to have a great group of fans.  We were also blessed to have fans in the Chicago radio industry.  Our long-time pal Phil Jacobs had us in the studio at WABT, and he was constantly playing our tunes and getting us some exposure.  Kevin Matthews (and Jimmy Shorts) were very instrumental in exposing us, and I mean that literally.  Jonathan Brandmeier and Buzz Kilman thought we ruled!  Richard Milne of WXRT was kind of enough to give us raves on his "Local Anesthetic" show.    And Danny Bonaduce offered to dismember himself, all because he loved the Bushwackers.  

At some point the band members were too busy getting married, un-married, drunk, etc., to keep the band going.  We had run our course.  But most of those four years were great.  When we were "on", we were "on".  When we were "off", we were "drunk".

Although the original version of the Bushwackers died a swift death you can still catch the music with the newly reformed (and slightly different) Bushwackers, with Rodney, Jimmy and Sasage now playing with Mark Sendra on guitar and Pete Gonzalez handling the bassing chores.  You can view their site at www.bushwackersrule.com.

The Bushwackers had evolved from another local band called Red Alert.  Red Alert included myself, Rodney Golembeck, Louie Ceja, Paul Smerz, Jim Bubeck and the late great Tommy Minas.  You can also download most of the Red Alert catalog here as well.

The classic Bushwackers line-up (if it can be called that, I think it can) was:

Rodney Golembeck - Vocals, Guitar

Jimmy Harris - Lead Guitar

Michael Sendra - Drums, Backing Vocals

Michael Horan - Bass

Other former Bushwackers include Paul Marolda, Louie Ceja, Royce Golembeck, and occasional guest appearances by Mark and Matt Sendra.  Let's not forget Big Jay with his bottles of Watermelon shots.  He was onstage feeding us drinks enough to qualify as an official member.

Andy Athy of Rabid Elk Entertainment was our spiritual guide, and I mean that in a "spirits" sort of way.  He was also, in his spare time, the Mayor of Andyland, which is a place where people drink, smoke cigarettes and always have fun.  We were also backed by Andy and Brian Mahoney doing sound, Ray LaBonte doing the bookings and the prank phone calls, and Sherry Pope (now Horan) doing the advertising.  Let's not forget Sean Colyer, who designed a few different Bushwackers logotypes through the years.

Cesspool Party 

Cesspool Party was the name of the lone Bushwackers CD.  It was an amalgam of songs that were mostly written by the band.  The lone cover is "Unforgettable Urge", which is a rockin' fun Devo song off of their first album.  

As for the Bushwackers songs, I wrote most of the lyrics, and then the band would get together and put the words to music.  It's a decent representation of what we were.  Looking back, it could have been so much better.  Songs such as "I'm Still Waiting For Mine", "Where Do We Go From Here?", "Martyr" and "Grrls, Grrls, Grrls are Grreat" would have truly provided a better picture of what we were all about.

Lest we forget, our pal Pete Krajci helped us out by playing mandolin on "Green Fields", and it was one hell of job he did! 

Downloads 

Right-Click the "Download" button to get MP3 versions of the songs.  Pretty easy, eh?

Bushwackers - Studio Stuff 
 

Strummer-Jones

The most common question about this song was always "What the hell is a Strummer-Jones?"  Joe Strummer and Mick Jones were the songwriting team behind my favorite band of all time, The Clash, so they will always hold a special place in my musical heart.  This song is a thank you.

Green Fields

This song was a little ditty about the death of nature, and how we are all holding the trigger.  Like a good traditional Irish song, the music is happy and perky while the lyrics are a big drag.

In Needle Park

A song about a girl who had everything, including a major substance abuse problem.  Very hip nineties kind of song.

Uncontrollable Urge

I brought this Devo song to the guys to listen to, not necessarily to cover.  It turned out to be one of our show stoppers, and it is oh so fun to play.

Out Of My Way

Candles In The Light Of The Sun

I'm not good at writing typical "love song" type ballads.  So this is a very loud love song.  It was written for my girlfriend at the time as a way to tell her that those that had come before her couldn't compare to her.  It must have worked, she married me.

Hitler's Little Sister

This song was written for a psychotic, spiteful, hateful ex-girlfriend.  It is spiteful in its own right.  I'm not very happy with this song, and I wish it never made it to the CD.

Ghosts

I grew up in a old-world town, with a tavern on every corner.  It was very blue-collar, so after the factories let out the locals would head to their favorite watering hole.  As we got older we joined our elders in those bars.  I was starting to take a good look at my life (and those long-time bar flies) and started to realize that I didn't want to become one of them.  They are the "ghosts" of the title.

Is That Enough?

This is a song about all of the self-doubt that comes with the beauty of a new relationship.  This is all about the "am I good enough, am I worthy?" feelings we have.

I'm Still Waiting For Mine

This one was written as the end of the Red Alert era, and was originally recorded at Short Order Recorder in Zion.  We can't seem to find that recording.  This recording was made at our pal John's studio, Hate Works.  It is a rough version of it, but still pretty decent.  After looking back at all of my band years I would have to say that this is my favorite song that I've written.

A Little Lipstick

This is a song about a bad girl,  and that's all I've got to say on that one.  Well, except that it too was recorded at Hate Works.

In Studio at WABT

Just what it says, the Bushwackers visiting our pal Phil Jacobs at the WABT radio studios, playing a couple songs, having a few laughs, eating some sandwiches.

Bushwackers - Live at Toto's (4/9/94) 

Time

Great song by the band Blue Rodeo.  Rod brought this one to the band and we all dug it, so that's why we opened the show with it.  Also, great intro by our pal Phil Jacobs of WABT radio.

Majesty of You

This grungy love song was big in Door County!

A Little Lipstick

Nice live version of this tune.  Jimmy gets a little lost at the beginning, but hey, he made up quite admirably.

Martyr

This song was written for the type of girl who dates an idiot, figuring that she'll be able to change him.  I won't name names.

Green Fields

I'm pretty sure this was the first time we played this one live.  It's a little more spare than the studio version, but still sounds sweet.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Written about the 1992 riots in Los Angeles.  Rodney's guitar was not plugged in for half the song, but it's the only version we've got.

Nearly Lost You

This Screaming Trees song was a big live favorite.  Fun to play and fun to dance to.

Ring of Fire

A Johnny Cash classic at hyper-speed!

Rockin' in the Free World

Neil Young's ode to America.  Sad, but quite a rocker.

Smells Like Teen Spirit

This show was the day after Kurt Cobain killed himself.  So we decided to do a little tribute.  It's a bit fast, but we got our point across.

Is That Enough?

A nice little show ender,  with some extra bits of Zeppelin to boot!

Red Alert Songs

What Can't Money Buy

Our very first recording experience.  This and the next seven songs were recorded at Hair Bear Studios.  This one and All I Need, South Side Girl and The Proof were recorded in one session, and the other four songs were recorded about a year later.  This was written by Tommy, and is a straight up rocker.

All I Need

Another Tommy tune, straight up.

South Side Girl

My first attempt at writing a song for the sole purpose of getting a girl.  Being in a band was cool.

The Proof

Can't even remember what this one was about.  It became some weird little jazzy tune, but it's still fun for me to listen to.

America

We were all listening to quite a bit of John Mellencamp at that time, and it kind of shows.  Rodney wrote this one, and it has some great lines in it, my favorite being "the neon cross is flashing Jesus Saves".  Very cool.

Heaven In Our Hands

Okay, here's the concept.  What if Jesus came back.  Born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.  And what if he had a twelve-man motorcycle gang that did good deeds and played "meaningful" songs.  And what if he was misunderstood and got killed because of it?  Whew, I was stretching the concepts for a four minute song!

The Long Ride

My naive vision of what it must be like for a band to work so hard, to almost make it big, and to then die on the vine.  Hmmm, sounds familiar.

Promised Land

My favorite Tommy song, about the search for the almighty dollar and what it does to the soul.  Great song.