Kind of live from the Charrette underground by Ed Macy Lies

Mike had written scores of songs with acoustic guitar and harmonica, and had played solo at countless open mics, as well as with various other musicians in Minnesota and New Mexico. Rich, after playing drums and singing in bands in college (most notably Jasmine Groove), had gravitated more towards acoustic guitar and composing songs. He recorded two solo albums (Something from nothing (1995) and Fluid (1998)), and two albums with compadre Hayden Mattingly under the band name Raincrow (Between blue moons (1999) and A part of it (2001) (see www.richpagen.com/raincrow)), getting into playing various instruments (including bass and drums) on multi-track recordings. He also played out at coffee shops, bars, farmers markets and even a sushi bar/comedy club, some solo, some with Raincrow.

Rich continued to teach on Catalina Island, but was frequently back in Minneapolis for various amounts of time. Finally, between two shipboard seabird biologist jobs, Rich moved to Minneapolis in late winter of 2004, and it was at that time that Ed Macy Lies truly came alive. Mike and Rich each dug out countless songs from their respective vaults, and after considerable time and musical exploration, decided on the songs that best complemented one another. Soon, a studio was squeezed into Mike and his brother Pete's new office space for their business (OK, it actually took up the vast majority of the back room), and later moved into the basement of a large house on Girard Avenue. Shows were set up at coffee shops (including the one that was recorded for the live CD) and Ed Macy Lies was on fire until Rich had to leave for his seabird job on the East Coast, that started in late June of 2004.

Rich still returns to Minneapolis between biologist jobs, and Ed Macy Lies continues........

***Where does the name Ed Macy Lies come from?***

So glad you asked. Like any band, Mike and Rich had a grand old time sitting around spewing out potential band names, each idea usually as bad as the last. This one stuck. Here's the story........

"After returning to San Diego from a research cruise in December 2003, Rich met up with his friend Matt (who he had grown up with back in New York). They drove out to Anza-Borrego state park to disappear for a few days in the desert. Upon arriving at the Visitor Center there, they asked the volunteer working the desk (whose name was, by the way, Ed Macy) for advice on where to go, the only stipulation being that they wanted to get out in the sticks, and not see many people. Ed Macy went on to recommend a "rarely traveled" road going out into a desert wash, and so off to the wash they went. And sure enough - two days into the camping trip and not a soul in sight. On the third day, however, while hiking up on a ridge above the wash, several cars, one after the other, started to appear flying up the wash, clouds of dust rising behind them. Soon Rich and Matt's slap-happy conversation turned to how the seemingly kind retired man behind the desk at the Visitor Center was actually a liar spinning a web of deceit and distrust. Rich and Matt went on and on with this theme as they hiked, laughing their heads off, coming up with ideas for overly long and ridiculous band names that dealt with Ed Macy. Four months later, in a living room in Minneapolis, Mike and Rich decided that band names like 'Ed Macy and his spawn of lies, pain and neglect' would be easier to remember if shortened to 'Ed Macy Lies'."

***Anything else to say?***

Enjoy the music and spread the word...........

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