Day 1
WELCOME to THE VOICE OF TREASON
Rock onward!
GREETINGS! It is OUTSTANDING to have you along on this exclusive journey through our forthcoming album, THE VOICE OF TREASON. (Feel free to take a “woo hoo!” out of petty cash!)
Over the next several days, we’ll be sneak previewing all ten tracks from what will be our fourth full-length album. You’ll be able to listen to and download all the music (if you’re so inclined) absolutely free! (Seriously). Plus, you’ll be accessing lots of exclusive content, such as interviews, behind-the-scenes stuff, stories and more!
We are dying to share this record with you. This will be a ton of fun! Maybe a ton-and-a-half.
So, listen loud…. and let’s go commit an act of treason together….
THE STARTING GATE – A TIP OF THE HAT
So, before we launch into your VOICE OF TREASON excursion, we thought you’d really dig this. We are regularly asked, “Who were the music makers who made the boys of Elm Treason want to play?” This short little video lays it down. Enjoy!
THE MUSIC (SONG 1) – “GRINS OF NOTHING”
“On and on we play. Here we go again… “
Written by Andrew Roman and Robert Steel
Produced by Elm Treason
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Realm Tones Music
The first tune from “THE VOICE OF TREASON” we want to hook you up with is called “GRINS OF NOTHING.” It’s upbeat, rich in guitar (as is our wont), built around a slightly funky groove, has an ear-worm-candy kind of riff ,and comments on the superficiality of relationships that never get beyond the surface noise of life. What’s not to love? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look:
“GRINS OF NOTHING”
(the official video)
“GRINS OF NOTHING” is one of the songs we decided to turn into a music video. Here, we are paying tribute to a by-gone era – and we are definitely having fun with it. If you are familiar (either first hand or through You Tube) with some 1970s era TV perfromances, bands were often captured playing in front of (by today’s standards) some pretty archaic backgrounds. And if the backgrounds weren’t themselves “weird looking,” then the “effects” were. Indeed, the technology was very much “of its time.” Still, we just adore some of those vintage performances. In fact, we pay homage to that delicious era with this video.
“GRINS OF NOTHING “
(Play Loud!)
LYRICS
I never want to knock you down with lots and lots to say. Here we go, again, you know, on and on we play.
To keep the peace alive is worth your storm of empty words. So I nod and smile for a while, as if I’ve really heard.
And then we go on our merry ways. Yes, we go on our merry ways.
Never kid ourselves. We play it very well.
By and by, noble guy, promises like wine. Lure the empty with your hanging low fruit on the vine.
On the cuff, we eat it up, then pepper him with words. He nods and smiles for a while as if he’s really heard.
And then we go our merry ways. Yes, we go on our merry ways.
Everyone’s aware. We carry everywhere….
…Our grins of nothing. Our grins of nothing. These grins of nothing. We keep ’em nice and safe here.
(Do-do-do-do)
Our grins of nothing. Our grins of nothing. These grins of nothing. We keep “em nice and safe here.
(Do-do-do-do)
Perfect place to play all day, busking for a taste. Sounding like a dime-for-twelve, red meat for the brain.
Not a penny droppin’ in, just lots of talking on, so I nod and smile as if I care never lettin’ on.
that I pray they go their merry ways. Yes, please go on your merry way.
I hate I’m sounding cold, but naked truth be told…
These are grins of nothing. We got grins of nothing. Take our grins of nothing. And keep them nice and safe here.
(Do-do-do-do)
Our grins of nothing. Our grins of nothing. These grins of nothing. We keep ’em nice and safe here.
(Do-do-do-do)
EXTRA EXTRA BONUS CONTENT
Copyright 2021 Realm Tones Music, LLC
OUT BLOODY STANDING!
Wow. You floor us, Rick! Thank you, man. Thank you so much. We LOVE hearing that, brother. Sometimes, some VHS style goodness hits the spot. 🙂
awesome AGAIN !!!
Hi Bill! How goes it? SO VERY COOL of you to jump on DAY 1. THANK YOU for the killer feedback on this new tune. We were a bit anxious (in a good way), but here in the very early going, feedback seems to be pretty good. We are pumped! Rock on, brother.
Love it! Well done! So much packed into this! More excited than ever to hear the rest!
Thank you, Paul! Awesome of you to hop on the Treason train. We are grateful beyond words. We thought this would be a great way to kick off the journey. A little bangin’ piano at the outset, we thought, would be an ear-tickler – something we hadn’t done before – plus a nice blend of intensity across the song. And we each take a solo! We LOVE that!
Absolutely love it. It’s got great rhythm and a great feel. An incredible way to kick off the album
Thank you so much, Jared. It is amazingly anacouraging to get that kind of feedback on Day 1 of the journey. THANK YOU for giving it a ride. Hope you’re digging all the “extra” stuff, too.
It was blast collaborating with my musical brother Andy on this album. This video was a ton of fun to do. So many precious memories. I hope everyone enjoys our new album!
E PLURIBUS ULMUS!
The making of this whole album was just exquisite, wasn’t it? And that video shoot day… what a GREAT time it was.
I love that opening riff so much. I had to pick up my guitar on the second listen to join in on American Jam Stand. I love everything about this song. The song, the vintage video style, the Beatle bass (is that a real Hofner?)
Alan, let’s jam, brother! 🙂 That opening riff…. When he heard it, Bobby said, “We are either using that riff in an Elm Treason song, or I am doing a solo record! LOLOL… Yes, indeed, man. That is a TRUE Hofner. That bottom end makes it all worthwhile.
Once again NOT disappointed by Elm Treason, love it!!!🤘
Hi Sam! Excellent of you to take the journey with us. Your words are so uplifting! You truly put a smile on these mugs. SO GLAD you’re liking the first tune!
I can feel the fun!
You’re right Bobby.Makes me do the chicken head!
Good groove! Catchy melody!
Too cool!👍🏼👍🏼
Mark, we were definitely waiting to see what you’d think of this new jam.
You and Bobby and correct…. There IS a kind of “funky chicken” vibe fused into the groove, no question. Glad you dig this one. Those VHS artifacts are delicious, aren’t they?
Thank you, brother.
Hell yeah!!
Loved the video!!
Fresh and new and different.
Was that you (Andy) in a wig?
Hi Mark!
You peaked!! 😉 Yes, that’s me in the white blue jeans, the beaded necklace and wig…pumping it out on that Hofner Macca bass!
Loving the start of this musical journey fellas
Ellen! How goes it? Thank you MUCH for embarking on our TREASON tour through the new album! VERY PLEASED you dig Day 1. Hoping you liked the video as well as all the extra goodies! 🙂 SO appreciate your support.
While you spoon that dollop I will show you grins of nothing. A great start on day one.
Yes, indeed! You got it! LOVE IT! We’ll spoon them dollops, them tasty nuggets… and you flash that grin of nothing… and we’ll do it because it’s all too sweet. 🙂 OUTSTANDING suggestion, Ruth. So pleased you dug DAY ONE! Thank you for setting off on the journey!
Ok, MIND BLOWN! Not just the song, which is amazing in it’s own right, but the whole concept of this one-song-a-day promo. As a fan, I’ve always wanted the behind the scenes, nuts and bolts story of the making of each song an artist releases. I applaud the creativity and Hard Work you guys must have put into this whole deal. As for the song, classic ET, the main lick is great, love the little Farfisa organ stabs and the doot-doot little harmonies. Can’t wait for Day Two!
Hi Craig!
Coming from a fellow music maker, there IS no higher praise. Wow. You humble us, brother.
Truly appreciate you commenting on this whole day by day journey we’ve come up with. We were hoping people would find it interesting enough to sign up for day after day. And in order for it to work, we HAD to come up with content that people would want to pay attention to. After all, just posting something that says, “New song! Please share!” means nothing to most people… but if we can get “human” about it, then more people might acrtually care. That was our thinking, anyway…
Thanks for the KILLER words about the song. Yeah, those little organ stabs and the harmonies and the percussive waa-waa rhythms were all just kisses of texture to give the song some attitude, some personality. Those transitions, and even the fact that we each take a solo, all lended itself to the finished animal.
Craig, we cannot thank you enough.
Most Terrific!!! Blown away!!!
Ted, our brother!
How you be, man?
Thank you so much for the killer feedback. We were hoping you’d grab a Grin of SOMETHING after hearing this one. LOL. Very pleased you’re digging this jam. Thank you, thank you, man. You give us that natural high.
If day one is any indication of what follows, I’m hooked, on that hook. And, doesn’t this little gem describe much of so many of our lives at this very minute? The guitars in the middle? Possibly my favorite part. Hard to say though, because I loved it all, start to finish. I am a lover of that vintage 70’s (old school music video’s) anyhow, and, y’all nailed it, Andy! Clever writing!;) I think I already have the riff, and most of the words swirling round in my cerebral. Fantastic job boys. Thanks so much for bringing me with you, on this journey. Already downloading this one. 10/10
✌❤🤘
Sonya, you are one of our favorite people out there in the Elm Treason world. You truly are. Always a joy. Always a great conversation. Always straight up with us. To have you say all of this about GRINS OF NOTHING is as good as it can get for us. I mean that most sincerely. We were hoping – even, praying, if the truth be told – that we’d get this kind of feedback. You have literally made those wishes a reality. Thank you… and perhaps, most important of all is not hoe we feel, but how YOU feel. The fact that you enjoyed the first day this much does our hearts a ton of good. THANK YOU.
As always, Andy,
Loud
Love.
✌❤🤘
Outstanding gentlemen
You guys are the greatest
Bravo 👏🏻
Thank you and God bless🙏🏻
Good morning, Vincent!
You humble us, brother. Nothing but gratitude to you for the excellent feedback. We were both excited and nervous about releasing the new album. We were VERY excited to get the music out there, obviously, but we were hoping people wouldn’t be comparing them to our older work. We’re proud of all of it, of course, but it can be anxious as feedback starts to come in. Thank you tremedously for the show of confidence.
This is amazing! Very well done! The Song Grooves (The kind you have in your head all day long), The video is AWESOME (The concept, the way it was put together, and…er…(*cough*) the way it was shot.), and I am going to take the 193-1 odds Cher takes the title (Sorry Godzilla).
Well, the way it was shot MADE the entire video. It was a glorious day with a spectacular videographer. 🙂 Can’t thank you enough, brother. And yes, CHER takes the trophy….. Godzilla versus Sonny would have been a better battle.
awesome!!!
Hi RD!
A million thanks. Glad you dug this little chunky, funky jam! Right on! Play on!
Love it!!!
Rock on, Joe! We LOVE hearing that – especially coming from someone with a GENUINE rock and roll soul!
Very awesome.great vibe and tune.getting to know you guys is ricking..
Thanks, brother! Glad you are able to check out the bonus material and get to know us a bit. I think it makes the experience more personable, more REAL. GLAD you dig the tune! Very much. 🙂
I love it! It’s such a “been there, done that” too! So relatable! It speaks to the superficialities of our modern life (and sadly, some past relationships LoL).
I’m so happy to have found you guys! Your music makes me feel, think, dance, and sing along!
That may be one of the nicest, coolest comments we’ve received so far. WOW. Just fantastic of you to say all this, Nancy. Honestly, the pleasure is all on this side. We are pleased beyond words to have you in our corner. VERY GLAD this first song caught your ear. Yeah, unfortunately, this is almost a pre-requisite for existing these days… we keep the peace, we share our grins of nothing.
Rock on! And thank you.
Love it…only listened to it once but so far reminds me of an early Beatles tune white washed in some funk and groove!!! Awesome
Hey Travis! LOVE LOVE your description. Man, that is VERY COOL. Early Beatles washed in funk. THAT is sensational! LOVE THAT. Thank you for taking the time, man.
Cool! The music is way out man. Makes you smile just listening. Thank you for the honor to listen. It is so way cool guys. Loved the video entirely. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Hi Alice! Good morning to ya! Thank you for the seriously awesome feedback on the first song. I gotta say, reading a comment like yours is EXACTLY what was needed today, Alice. We are pleased beyond adjectives that you like the first offering! The honor is all ours! Enjoy the journey!! And PLEASE feel free to contact us anytime.
Love it! Very catchy, I enjoyed every minute of it :)!!! Now it will be stuck in my head all day :p
Aww, THANK YOU, Gabby! That emans the world to us. Honestly. So happy the song stuck with you!
Rock on guys this track is so good
GREAT to hear from you, Shirley! You make a couple of guitar pickers from The Big Apple mighty happy! Glad this chunky, funky jib could do it for ya! 🙂
Sooooooo good! Really creative and fresh. Love the vid too, funny and entertaining but the music is well thought through and well played.
FANTASTIC feedback, man. TRULY. Cannot thank you enough fopr the GREAT comment. Yeah, the video was sort of a lasy minute idea we had about how to capture the underlying vibe and not take ourselves too seriously. 🙂 HUGE THANKS, Jack!
I hate I’m sounding cold, but naked truth be told. Actually the naked truth is I love this tune!
You guys are great I love a buffet of music myself always have
Hi Odessa! A little from here…. a little from there….Different flavors, textures, spices….. it’s what makes the musical world go round…and what makes it REAL interesting. 🙂 Thank you, Odessa. So pleased you liked DAY ONE! Nine more to go. 🙂 Enjoy!
Hey guys. I’m a couple of days behind on getting started. Due to the fact we have been dealing with an ice storm. 2 days of having to stay home, cause us people way down here are not used to dealing with it. 3 days of temps below freezing. Just listened to first song. Me likey. Nice G-tar work. And love the video with the multiple personalities. Lol kinda like me.
Thank you so much, David! It is great to have you out there checking out the new material. Yeah, the video was just pure fun. No deep message. No taking ourselves seriously…. Just multiple personalities jammin. 🙂
Whoooaaa! If the Magical Mystery Tour was missing anything, it was this song! Just amazing guys, YES!
Joshua! FANTASTIC, brother. WOW! Love that enthusaism. So glad you decided to take this trip with us, man. As the Fabs sang, “Roll up!”
ELM TREASON IN…. THE… HOUSE….
what a great way to start my day.. love love your intro how you started out. … great tunes.
And yes you make me laugh too.cant wait for the next.
Peace out have a great day
Karen! AWESOME AS HELL to have you aboard our journey thru the new record! We are PUMPED to be IN. THE. HOUSE! Sounds like you’re digging the behind the scenes stuff as well as the music! JUST WHAT WE WERE HOPING FOR! We wanted to make all this fun. Glad you’re digging GRINS OF NOTHING! Thank you so much. See ya at the next stop!
That’s cool😎
Hi Corey! So good of you to take this album journey, brother. Glad you dug Day 1. Rock on. Contact me here or via email anytime. We love to hear from ya. Rock onward!
Nailed it!!!
Hi Jane! It is SO VERY COOL to hear from you. WE are STOKED that you’ve decided to take the album journey with us! GLAD we were able to grab ya with the first tune! THANK YOU so much for the support. Hope you have fun on thie ride.
I totally relate to the influence video!! My playlist is like the weirdest mix of all music!!
I LOVE the day one page! Lots of great content. Looking forward to day ✌🏻
Wow! Thanks, Belle! The smorgas bord of music on all of our playlists is what makes it all so grand. Why pigeonhole ourselves into one specific bag. There’s too much goodness out there to not dig in! That doesn’t mean we have to like everything. (We DEFINITELY DON’T).. but it doesn’t mean you exclude things just because it doesn’t fit into a preconceived notion. THANK YOU, Doctor!!! 9 more to go. You’ll LOVE the lyrics video on Day 2.
I love the song it is awesome black background in the sound effects five of us was watching it and everybody loved it beautiful job
Hi Odessa! So GOOD to have you along for this album journey!! Thank you for “signing up.” It makes us so happy to know you all dig the first one out of the gate! We had fun with the throwback video vibe. Hope you also enjoyed the bonus material. We like to think it brings the music maker and the listener together. 🙂 Hope you enjoy the rest of the journey. Feel free to comment on it…and contact us any way that works for you. rock on, Odessa!
Interesting and very cool. Thx! Peace y’all
Well, it is VERY COOL to hear from you, Rancine. THANK YOu for deciding to take a tour through our soon to be released album. Sounds like you liked the first song. That makes us so very happy! I (Andy) hope you had a chance to check out all the bonus material we included as well. Be well. Rock on! Please feel free to comment on any of the other stops along the music trail!
Absolutely wonderful! You guys just BRING IT, every time! Thank you for sharing your gifts with us!
Hi Kimberly! We LOVE that you’ve decided to take this journey with us. You cannot know how happy that makes us. Sounds like you liked Day 1! That requires a loud WOOHOO! Hope you enjoyed the extra material as well. Rock on!
Kickass start! Great riff, awesome vocals, some parts reminded me of a Lennon thing I’ve heard, maybe an outtake… Great drums too by the way…
Hey Lionel! So PLEASED you dig the kickoff to the journey. Hopefully, you dug all the extra goodies we threw in to make the journey a little more fun. The video was definitely an homage to the “golden age” of TV appearances. THANKS A TON for the killer feedback!
You guys rock!! I will be singing this all day!! So glad to be a part of this!! Love you guys!!
Aww, we LOVE hearing that, Teresa! That does our music-making hearts a ton of good to hear that. So PLEASED you dig this tune.
Sounds amazing I love it so much, great melodies and key changes!
Hi Damien! You ABSOLUTELY make our day, brother. Such a joy hearing from you. Bobby and I so appreciate having you out there. This song is one that we kind of knew would be our first video from this new album. It has that funky vibe that harkens a bit to the golden age of rock and roll…but with a bit of a modern twist. Rock on, man! GREAT to have you along on this journey.
Love the funkiness
Chunky funky, Mark! Thank you so much for takin’ the tune for a spin!! Appreciate your positive feedback!
Grins Of Nothing,love it !!! Loving the riffs !!! Exceptionally amazing Andy and Bobby 😁👊🏼
Hi Jodi! Cannot even begin to thank you enough for the very positive feedback for GRINS OF NOTHING. GLAD you’re digging it! That riff HAUNTED us…so we had to do something about it!
I am so stoked to get this 10 day journey! I feel like a kid again that can’t wait to read every bit of fine print, every lyric, every picture and every “special thanks to”, from the inside of a brand new cassette tape!
This is just AMAZING to hear, Chris!! Wow. You have no idea how awesome it is to hear that kind of enthusiasm. TRULY TRULY hope you enjoy what we’ve got for you. And please, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS feel free to comment and contact us.
Another outstanding song! I really dig the explanation behind it Andy. Great video too, I loved that “vintage” 70s feel. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album.
Hey Jake! Yes, that 70s style video is something we’ve wanted to do for a long time. We ADORE watching those old clips on YouTube of bands performing with those backgrounds and antiquated effects. Of course, they weren’t old fashioned back then. They were state of the art. 🙂 WE had such a great time making this. SO PLEASED you dig it, Jake! Thank you, man.
This is an outstanding way to promote yourselves, really impressive guys! That’s for the invite!
Shawn, the pleasure truly is all ours. The honor is all on this side of the thread. THANK YOu for taking the journey. Please let us know what you think along the way!
Great song and love that cbgb t-shirt. Went there many times! Memories with great music
I (Andy) just ADORE that t-shirt. Really. People think I have several as often as I wear it……. Oh, wait…. I do….
I thought “oh, they picked up a third member!” before realizing Andy donned a wig with a Howard Stern demeanor! Love you guys.
Hey Bob! Awesome to hear from you. That’s the alter-ego… the moody dude who INSISTS on wearing white pants! LOL.
We so appreciate your support, brother. Love ya right back!
Really very much enjoyed the song as well as the video. The video very much reminded me of things you would see from Jefferson Airplane and Steppenwolf back in the day. (And, yes, I am old enough to remember them!) I love the fusion of all of the elements that went into this song from the lyrics, the melody as well as the video. I am so looking forward to hearing the other tracks!
Hi Sandra! What a MAGNIFICENT comment! Thank you so much. Yes, you kind of nailed what we were going for here – a kind of retro TV SHOW look from back in the day. We just LOVE watching those clips on YouTube!
Hope you enjoyed the bonus material as well.
Thank you for taking this journey with us!
Rock on.
You guys are so cool. I have been following you for a year. I am so excited with you through your Journey. I dig the tunes man. It rocks!! It’s great you are so personal sharing your music. Thank you… Enjoy every bit. May peace ✌ be with you always my friends. ☺ P.s. can I post this Song on my page? Love it!!!
Hi Alice! So good to hear from you.
Your fantastic feedback is very encouraging! You make doing this all worthwhile. Bobby and I are so glad you’re enjoying the music.
Please feel free to share the song itself, but NOT the page with all the bonus stuff on it. We like to keep that special for those who sign up for the journey… But please go ahead and share the song, if you like.
This “journey” is all encompassing and kinda goofy but a blast nonetheless! Infectious…y’all are infecting my musical brain in a great way! Thank you!
Hey Jack! Andy here.
REALLY REALLY appreciate that very much. yes, there’s a little goofy here and there… but every once in a while, we can all use something like that.
The journey would be a bit too clinical and antiseptic without some of our personalities showing through now and again. 🙂
yet, we wanted it to be informative and fun WITHOUT putting people to sleep. Thanks so much, Jack. SINCERELY!