Volume 14, Summer 2021
Buenos Dias, buckaroos and buckarettes!
Is there light at the end of the tunnel?
I'm Bob - welcome to the bunker! You may know me from the band Big Medicine Head or daytime television. This monthly missive from the land of tumbleweeds and the lonesome six string guitar features news from the frontier, music and prose. Each issue will have a downloadable track and lyrics, along with the backstory of the song. For the duration of the pandemic we'll also feature live songs from the bunker. Call me crazy, but I'm giving all this away for free.
If you'd like to revisit past issues of Tales of the Western Hemisphere you can find them at bobgemmell.com.
S O N G o f t h e M O N T H
Sit back and relax as we explore the Bob Gemmell and Big Medicine Head song catalog. The download instructions are at the bottom of this newsletter.
If I dig you enough, you get your own song. That's it. You don't have any choice, you don't have to like it, and you will have no role in its construction.
Among the people I dig are my daughter Isabella and my god-daughter Nediva.
In Tales of the Western Hemisphere #8 we featured Darling One, which was written for Nediva (also check our full band version). Later, Isabella's song will be featured. For this issue, however, I'll share a song that I wrote for both of them.
Twilight Barking Chain is a raucous prayer from the Queen of the Western Hemisphere album that I penned to help send Isabella and Nediva out into the world as they approached the end of their teenage years - a set of advices, if you will.
You may be asking yourself, "Why did Bob choose such an odd title for this song? It certainly doesn't sound very sentimental". Here's the story:
There is a scene in 101 Dalmations where Perdita and Pongo lose all their
puppies. To find them they go to the river's edge and send their woeful plea for return down the Twilight Barking Chain, for other dogs to hear. Eventually sympathetic dogs respond and lead them to their puppies. How can one be presented with something as cool as that and not write a song about it? It's a gift, I tell you.
Bonus: I will send the Queen of the Western Hemisphere CD to the first person who can name all of the puppies. I think there are 15 of them.
Listen here, or follow the download instructions below.
I hope you dig it.
Twillight Barking Chain
There is a place
where all things are known
who knows the way?
I don’t but here are all my best advices…
Don’t worry about the past and the future
it’s alright now
or lose sleep over the past and the future
it’s all right now
and if you need me
send my name
down the Twilight Barking Chain
There is a place
where all things are seen
who knows the way?
I don’t but here are all my best advices…
Don’t worry about the past and the future
it’s alright now
or lose sleep over the past and the future
it’s all right now
and if you need me
send my name
down the Twilight Barking Chain
The road is long
hold your sister’s hand
who sees the end?
I can’t
but here are all my best advices…
Don’t worry about the past and the future
it’s alright now
or lose sleep over the past and the future
it’s all right now
and if you need me
send my name
down the Twilight Barking Chain
Travelogue
Recently I traveled to Nevada to see what was going on out there.
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Travelogue #1: Somewhere in Nevada. Be thankful you aren’t in the car with me. I’m singing Gordon Lightfoot at the top of my lungs all the way to Vegas, baby.
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Travelogue #2: Rules of Travel If you travel the freeways of America you'll notice that we're getting a bit homogeneous. There is a Starbucks or a McDonalds at every offramp. This is not true if you travel the blue highways; if you’re driving through the interior of Nevada and find a truck stop, do not ask if they serve soy lattes. This will not happen for you. |
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Travelogue #3: Somewhere in Nevada Has anyone seen a 1970’s movie called “Vanishing Point”, about a guy who goes on a high-speed chase across the American west in a big block Dodge Challenger V8? I’m living it, baby. Except I’m driving a Subaru Outback. |
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Travelogue #4: Somewhere in Tonopah
There is a motel here where every room is named after a clown, with clown art everywhere. Other than that, words have failed me. |
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Travelogue #5: In Nevada there are wild open range burros, just walking around. This is my new friend. I named him William S. Burro.   |
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Travelogue #6: Somewhere in Las Vegas I’m in Las Vegas with my $6 bottle of water. I will guard it with my life. |
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Travelogue #7: Sticks The reason I traveled to Nevada was to meet Isabella, Nediva and Penelope and to attend the grand opening of the restaurant Sticks, opened by my sister and nephew (Robin and Jordan). I'm proud to say it has been voted #1 in Las Vegas!  |
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B U L L E T I N
America, After the War is blowing up the internet - the highest views and likes we've ever received on YouTube and Instagram - check it out here.
S O N G f r o m t h e B U N K E R
Each month we spin up a new song from the foxhole we find ourselves in.
America, After the War
So, this song is getting a lot of exposure here in the Tales of the Western Hemisphere. In the November 2020 issue the America, After the War video release was featured. An earlier issue of this monthly missive featured a more intimate version. Now, we have the version recorded for the NPR Tiny Desk program. Listen here, or click on the photo of me and Rex.
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Me and Rex 
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