(Jaeden) ♪ Do you think this is a joke ♪ ♪ Do you think that I'm laughing to the point of my tears ♪ ♪ Do you think this is a joke ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be cut down it's one of my fears ♪ ♪ Don't shoot the messenger ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota, and by the members of Prairie Public.

[electric guitar plays rock] ♪ ♪ ♪ I think it's time to say goodbye to my American Dreams ♪ ♪ You know they say I'm much too young to even know what it means ♪ ♪ My motivation it seems to run out with my cup ♪ ♪ If you want me to stay don't look the other way ♪ ♪ Come on fill me up ♪ ♪ Oo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ Oo-oo oo-oo oo-oo oo ♪ ♪ Oo oo oo ♪ ♪ Oo-oo oo-oo oo-oo oo ♪ ♪ I think it's time to hit the road ♪ ♪ Tell me where you wanna go ♪ ♪ Oh well I say anywhere but here ♪ ♪ Yeah that's all I really know ♪ ♪ My situation is that I'm worn out ♪ ♪ And a little screwed up ♪ ♪ Shots out in the dark trying to light a spark ♪ ♪ But I think I blew it up ♪ ♪ Oh so when you tell me that I'm whining whining ♪ ♪ Can't you see that I am trying trying ♪ ♪ Don't you know that it's a long way back ♪ ♪ From where I'm trying to be ♪ ♪ I think we've gotta run away ♪ ♪ Tell me where you wanna stay ♪ ♪ Oh because this place is all messed up ♪ ♪ And it's never gonna change ♪ ♪ My inspiration it seems to run out ♪ ♪ When the skies aren't blue ♪ ♪ The clouds are rolling in let's take off like the wind ♪ ♪ Before it makes a mess of you oo oo ♪ ♪ So when you tell me that I'm whining whining ♪ ♪ Can't you see that I am trying trying ♪ ♪ Don't you know that it's a long way back ♪ ♪ From where I'm trying to be ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ When you tell me that I'm whining whining ♪ ♪ Can't you see that I am trying trying ♪ ♪ Don't you know that I bleed oh oh oh ♪ ♪ When you tell me that I'm whining whining ♪ ♪ Can't you see that I am trying trying ♪ ♪ Don't you know that I bleed ♪ ♪ Oh oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ So when you tell me that I'm whining whining ♪ ♪ Can't you see that I am trying trying ♪ ♪ Don't you know that it's a long way back ♪ ♪ From where I'm trying to be ♪ ♪ Oh so when you tell me that I'm whining whining ♪ ♪ Can't you see that I am trying trying ♪ ♪ Don't you know that it's a long way back ♪ ♪ From where I'm trying to be ♪ Hey, my name is Jaeden Alverson, I'm the lead vocalist & rhythm guitar player for Walking Phoenix.

In our band we've got Dan Schuster on drums, Evan Wood lead guitar, and Tor Kjartansson on Bass.

Walking Phoenix came together after several years in the making.

Evan and I became friends in high school, we decided to form a band.

We had played with Dan Schuster before.

We just all got together, didn't have a bassist, ended up talking to one of our friends who knew Tor because he played fiddle.

He said, yeah I think he plays a little bit of bass.

So we invited him over to play on a song of ours.

He was absolutely phenomenal.

So we found the missing puzzle piece, as to say.

[bass intro] ♪ [guitar joins in] ♪ ♪ ♪ Put it in drive ♪ ♪ Only two fingers on the steering wheel ♪ ♪ Take a little time ♪ ♪ I'll waste yours maybe you You can waste mine oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Shaggy haired boys ♪ ♪ Screaming at the top of our lungs ♪ ♪ Sit down don't play coy ♪ ♪ I wanna be the one you place above ♪ ♪ I just wanna take you out ♪ ♪ I just wanna make you proud ♪ ♪ Cruising in my purple car ♪ ♪ We don't gotta go real far ♪ ♪ Put me on that pedestal ♪ ♪ Want you to think I'm kinda cool ♪ ♪ Don't need to be a superstar ♪ ♪ We don't have to go that far ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Take it all in ♪ ♪ Take it like an arrow to the heart ♪ ♪ Do you remember when ♪ ♪ This was just a dream of ours ♪ ♪ I just wanna take you out ♪ ♪ I just wanna make you proud ♪ ♪ Cruising in my purple car ♪ ♪ We don't have to go that far ♪ ♪ Put me on that pedestal ♪ ♪ Want you to think that I'm kinda cool ♪ ♪ Don't need to be a superstar ♪ ♪ We don't have to go that far ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I wanna be the one wanna be the one ♪ ♪ The one that you place above ♪ ♪ I wanna be the one wanna be the one ♪ ♪ That keeps you looking up ♪ ♪ I wanna be the one wanna be the one ♪ ♪ The one that you place above ♪ ♪ I wanna be the one wanna be the one ♪ ♪ That keeps you looking up ♪ ♪ I just wanna take you out ♪ ♪ I just wanna make you proud ♪ ♪ Cruising in my purple car ♪ ♪ We don't have to go that far ♪ ♪ Put me on that pedestal ♪ ♪ Want you to think I'm kinda cool ♪ ♪ Don't need to be a superstar ♪ ♪ We don't have to get that far ♪ ♪ I just wanna take you out ♪ ♪ I just wanna make you proud ♪ ♪ Cruising in my purple car ♪ ♪ We don't have to go that far ♪ ♪ Put me on that pedestal ♪ ♪ Want you to think that I'm kinda cool ♪ ♪ Don't need to be a superstar ♪ ♪ We don't have to go that far ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ [drum intro] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing slow tempo rock] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Fallin' ♪ ♪ I've got this pretty lady callin' ♪ ♪ Maybe it's time for me to let go ♪ ♪ I can feel it like an echo in my mind ♪ ♪ Tonight ♪ ♪ Yeah I guess I'm feeling alright ♪ ♪ Should I give this one a chance ♪ ♪ Take her to the floor to dance the night away ♪ ♪ Did you slip something in my drink ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm wrapped around your finger ♪ ♪ And all these words that you whisper in my ear ♪ ♪ I wanna let it linger ♪ ♪ And I can tell you anything you want to hear ♪ ♪ That you haven't heard ♪ ♪ I think I love you that's absurd ♪ ♪ Got me hanging on every word ♪ ♪ Am I sentimental ♪ ♪ Or am I just lonely ♪ ♪ Can you hold me anyways ♪ ♪ Hold me anyways ♪ ♪ Are you feeling feisty ♪ ♪ Or are you trying to get back at me ♪ ♪ Could you hold me anyways ♪ ♪ Hold me anyways ♪ ♪ Even if just for the night ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ Call back ♪ ♪ I need for you to cut me some slack ♪ ♪ Sometimes I get a little wild ♪ ♪ I get confused just like a child at times ♪ ♪ Today oh ♪ ♪ Can you meet me in the same place ♪ ♪ So can we do it all again ♪ ♪ Maybe we can be more than friends ♪ ♪ Did you slip something in my drink ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm wrapped around your finger ♪ ♪ And all these words that you whisper in my ear ♪ ♪ I wanna let it linger ♪ ♪ And I can tell you anything you want to hear ♪ ♪ That you haven't heard ♪ ♪ I think I love you that's absurd ♪ ♪ Got me hanging on every word ♪ ♪ Am I sentimental ♪ ♪ Or am I just lonely ♪ ♪ Can you hold me anyways ♪ ♪ Hold me anyways ♪ ♪ Are you feeling feisty ♪ ♪ Are you going to be hard to get ♪ ♪ Could you hold me anyways ♪ ♪ Hold me anyways ♪ ♪ Oh even if just for the night ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh even if just for the night ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh even if just for the night ♪ ♪ Oh oh-oh-oh oh oh oh ♪ ♪ ♪ We write a lot of music in general.

It really started as me bringing ideas and developed more into the entire band comes together and we all have these cool ideas that we somehow mix and menagerie their way in.

We write pretty deeply.

A lot of our songs that sound happy aren't necessarily happy and vice versa.

Birthday which sounds super happy and whatnot, but it's really about the trials and tribulations of the music and art industry in general, be it modeling or music or whatnot.

That song is definitely a lot deeper that what it sounds, but it's definitely a part of your song on stage.

[guitar intro] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I never chose this life ♪ ♪ Maybe I would have at another time ♪ ♪ Take me back to the '80s ♪ ♪ Where the dudes all look like ladies ♪ ♪ I'm not trying to make you proud ♪ ♪ Trying to keep my head above the water ♪ ♪ I'm soaking up the sun I'm trying to get hotter ♪ ♪ For the big time ♪ ♪ ♪ Almost forgot it's my birthday ♪ ♪ Maybe I should whip out my birthday suit ♪ ♪ Yeah we can call it my naked cameo ♪ ♪ Ca-ca-cameo oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Looks like this party's over ♪ ♪ I'm leaving this one sober ♪ ♪ I've been trying so hard to hear my voice up on the radio ♪ ♪ Looks like this party's over ♪ ♪ Don't leave me dead in the water ♪ ♪ I've been trying so hard to hear my voice up on the radio ♪ ♪ Oo-oo-oo-oo oo-oo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm not trying to call you out ♪ ♪ It's just a difference of opinion ♪ ♪ We can blame it on my fear of commitment ♪ ♪ In the meantime ♪ ♪ Why do you gotta talk so loud ♪ ♪ I'm standing here in front of you honey ♪ ♪ I don't like what you said I don't find it funny in the slightest ♪ ♪ ♪ Almost forgot it's my birthday ♪ ♪ Maybe I should whip out my birthday suit ♪ ♪ Yeah we can call it my naked cameo ♪ ♪ Ca-ca-cameo oh-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Looks like this party's over ♪ ♪ I'm leaving this one sober ♪ ♪ I've been trying so hard to hear ♪ ♪ My voice up on the radio ♪ ♪ Looks like this party's over ♪ ♪ Don't leave me dead in the water ♪ ♪ I've been trying so hard to hear my voice up on the radio ♪ ♪ Ooo ♪ ♪ Oo-oo oo-oo oo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah yeah ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Almost forgot it's my birthday ♪ ♪ Maybe I should whip out my birthday suit ♪ ♪ I bet you'd like that honey ♪ ♪ But give me something if I could do ♪ ♪ Doesn't have to be my naked cameo ♪ ♪ Naked cameo oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ Looks like this party's over ♪ ♪ I'm leaving this one sober ♪ ♪ I've been trying so hard to hear ♪ ♪ My voice up on the radio ♪ ♪ Oh looks like this party's over ♪ ♪ Don't leave me dead in the water ♪ ♪ I've been trying so hard to hear ♪ ♪ My voice up on the radio ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Hi, I'm Evan Wood, and I'm the lead guitarist of Walking Phoenix.

Don't shoot the Messenger is our newest song.

It's definitely a bit more of an alternative sound than some of our other songs.

This really leans into the rock, really leans into the modern rock sound.

We really played around with the arrangement to make this song really exciting and stand out.

[guitar intro] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We call this the masquerade ♪ ♪ It's just another room full of pretty faces ♪ ♪ Where the wolves come out to play ♪ ♪ I'll show my ace of spades watch them run around ♪ ♪ Like a game of tag ♪ ♪ Two left feet from a drink in a paper bag ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ Watching wars on a TV screen ♪ ♪ Yelling at the ref to show a card ♪ ♪ A couple dollars he'll make it a red ♪ ♪ This could just be the start of something bigger ♪ ♪ Don't call me a quitter ♪ ♪ Do you think this is a joke ♪ ♪ Do you think that I'm laughing to the point of my tears ♪ ♪ Do you think this is a joke ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be cut down it's one of my fears ♪ ♪ Don't shoot the messenger ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ Drag me out to the firing line ♪ ♪ Must be the blind leading the blind ♪ ♪ They don't even know what to say ♪ ♪ I wanna see you one last time ♪ ♪ Before these days begin to end ♪ ♪ I promise that we'll meet again ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ Do you think this is a joke ♪ ♪ Do you think that I'm laughing to the point of my tears ♪ ♪ Do you think this is a joke ♪ ♪ I don't wanna be cut down it's one of my fears ♪ ♪ Don't shoot the messenger ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Do you think this is a joke ♪ ♪ Do you think that I'm laughing to the point of my tears ♪ ♪ Do you think this is a joke ♪ ♪ No I don't wanna be cut down it's one of my fears ♪ ♪ Don't shoot the messenger ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [playing in bright rock rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ Okay.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm drifting into view ♪ ♪ You tell me who needs who ♪ ♪ ♪ You're uptight ♪ ♪ And I'm so loose ♪ ♪ Try and walk In my shoes ♪ ♪ I'm holding out for a moment of truth ♪ ♪ You say my name like I'm falling into ♪ ♪ The tide ♪ ♪ The water's rising so high ♪ ♪ Just leave me where I lie ♪ ♪ Oh I'm not finished quite yet ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You're in space and I'm down here ♪ ♪ How's your view is it clear ♪ ♪ You're holding on to something that I said ♪ ♪ Waxing and waning these thoughts in my head ♪ ♪ Like the tide ♪ ♪ The water's rising so high ♪ ♪ Just leave me where I lie ♪ ♪ Oh I'm not finished quite yet ♪ ♪ No no the tide ♪ ♪ The water's rising so high ♪ ♪ No I don't want to die ♪ ♪ Oh no not quite yet ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Whoo!

♪ ♪ You're holding on to something that I said ♪ ♪ Waxing and waning these thoughts in my head ♪ ♪ Like the tide ♪ ♪ The water's rising so high ♪ ♪ Just leave me where I lie ♪ ♪ Oh I'm not finished quite yet ♪ ♪ No no the tide ♪ ♪ The water's rising so high ♪ ♪ No I don't want to die ♪ ♪ Oh no not quite yet ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm drifting into view ♪ ♪ You tell me who needs who oo-oo-oo oo-oo ♪ ♪ ♪ No I'm not finished quite yet ♪ ♪ ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and the citizens of Minnesota, and by the members of Prairie Public.