Bad Hard Town - SINGLE

by Son Roberts

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about

The Song that Took Two Fords to Get It on the Road!

Toronto the Good, this vibrant, welcoming and extraordinarily diverse and tolerant city, is getting rougher and tougher. Poverty and wealth, police and politics are all mixing in toxic measures. It’s not pretty in a lot of places. Sure, the economy bangs along – but at what cost to those of us who love living here. Can’t run to the 905 to hideout, either. Trouble be everywhere. So, it’s all hands on deck!

This track began during Rob Ford’s blisteringly pungent term as mayor. I put it away after he passed on and we moved on. But a lot of people didn’t. So now he’s back! At Queen’s Park of all places! And his name is Doug.

This track is the child of many parents. A mix of young players, with little pedigree in the Blues or New Orleans’ 2nd line grooves, who came to the song along with season vets Omar Tunnoch (bass) and Duncan “GO Train” McBain (drums).

Producer Brett Macmillan (on guitar, too) was up to the challenge when I tossed the demo at him. He wrangled the sweet and sassy sounds of Kate Roberts and Gail Roberts, the rough and ready Hogtown Horns (Scott Bannister, Zack Taylor and Donny Hopper) along with the percussive persuasion of Sergio Faluotico into a daring and fancy-dancy tune! Party on Toronto! The reckoning can wait a little longer.

lyrics

BAD HARD TOWN

Son Roberts, John Crosbie, Brett MacMillan
© 2018 Gate Productions Inc. SOCAN

VERSE
I hear that rocket,
just rumblin’ by
Grinding and groaning along
Down the line
The boys are the chase
Someone’s crazy
They gonna use a gun

CHORUS
Cuz we livin in a bad hard town
Yeah, hay … we’re livin in a bad hard town
The boys are on the loose and
The people get a bruisin’
We livin’ in a bad hard town

VERSE
Streets are locked
Can’t find no key
Seeeems that’s the story bein’ told
I hear people’s voices all breaking
Fists up and all shakin
Sound like that lie is getting old

CHORUS

BRIDGE
If you think I could be wrong
You could be right
But I think we like to dance
Takin our chance
We hope the music don’t end tonight

Ha! Wooooooooh!

VERSE
So I got out
To the places I know
I keep seein what I’m seein
I see the people know the deal,
they know the fake from the real;
Streets where we walking
getting mean, yeah!

CHORUS

REPEAT TO END

credits

released February 1, 2019
Son Roberts, John Crosbie, Brett MacMillan
© 2018 Gate Productions Inc. SOCAN

Son Roberts - Vocals
Brett MacMillan - Guitar
Bob “Omar” Tunnoch - Bass
Duncan McBain - Drums
Zachary Forbes - Sax
Scott Bannister - Trumpet
Donny Hopper - Bone
Sergio Faluotico - Assorted Percussion and Whistles
Gail Roberts and Kate Roberts - BG Singers


Recorded at the Meatlocker
Toronto CANADA

Producer/Engineer Brett McMillan

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Son Roberts Toronto, Ontario

Award-winning Toronto based singer-songwriter offering blues infused grooves inspired by the modern epoch.

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