Album cover for Turf Wars by the Joedai Warriors which includes the song “Grass Ain’t Always Greener” featuring Lafayette, Indiana rock band June IND.
Cover painting and graphic design by Dan Annarino
“Grass Ain’t Always Greener” by Joedai Warriors featuring June IND available now on Bandcamp
Today’s the day! “Grass Ain’t Always Greener,” track #7 on Turf Wars, is available on the Joedai Warriors Bandcamp page.
The song features vocalists Chris and Emily from Lafayette, Indiana rock band June IND.
Check it out:
Credits: Grass Ain’t Always Greener (Words by Frederick Michaels, music by Joe Peters) Michael Kelsey: guitars, bass, percussion Chris & Emily (June IND): vocals
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Michael Kelsey, Kelsey’s Playground, Indianapolis, Indiana Chris’ and Emily’s vocals recorded at home in Lafayette, Indiana Cover painting and graphic design by Dan Annarino
Chris and Emily from Lafayette, Indiana rock band June IND record vocals for the Joedai Warriors’ Turf Wars song “Grass Ain’t Always Greener”
New Joedai Warriors album available Jan. 6 includes track featuring June IND
This story starts in September 2019 when singer-songwriter Joe Peters backed Lafayette, Indiana rock band June IND’s Kickstarter campaign for First Annual Meeting of Optimists Vol. 2. That particular Kickstarter reward was for the band to open for him at a tba show in 2020.
Due to the pandemic, that show never happened.
In September 2020, Peters came calling with a request for the duo to provide vocals for “Only Ones and Zeroes,” a song for the Joedai Warriors’ Collaboration album. June IND began working it up and started to identify good times to track vocals for the song at REC Room Recording.
Due to the pandemic, that recording session never happened.
In June 2021, Peters came calling again with a request for the duo to provide vocals for “Grass Ain’t Always Greener,” a song for the Joedai Warriors’ upcoming Turf Wars album. June IND began working it up and started to identify good times to track vocals for the song at REC Room Recording.
Again, due to the pandemic, that recording session never happened.
“We had Dec. 16, 2021 booked to join Neil McTavish (engineer for “Come to Hand”) at REC Room to knock out the vocals,” says Chris June, vocalist and guitarist for the band. “That date was picked because 1. It was available and 2. It gave us enough time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so we didn’t upset any holiday plans.”
Due to the pandemic and an increase in positive cases in Lafayette, the recording session was canceled.
Determined to repay Peters, June IND asked for a couple more favors to record in their homes instead. Singer-songwriter Scott Greeson provided additional gear and McTavish lended his eyes and ears via FaceTime to review settings and scratch tracks.
“From there, Chris recorded his vocals in his basement, packed up, set up again in my garage and tossed a mic line into my basement to record mine,” adds Emily Larimer, vocalist and percussionist for the band. “
Chris and Emily were able to complete final edits for their tracks over their holiday break and Peters facilitated the file transfer to Michael Kelsey at Kelsey’s Playground in Indianapolis for the final mix.
“Grass Ain’t Always Greener” is track #7 on Turf Wars and will be released Thursday, Jan. 6 on the Joedai Warriors Bandcamp page.
Joe Peters is an American singer-songwriter who has released more than a dozen CDs of original music since 1998. Joe grew up in the Midwest during the late 60s and early 70s, and his songs hearken back to a time when young people sought the experience of peace, love and adventure and expressed this search in their music. Joe has moved to the Bay Area of California, where he continues to write and record. For more information visit https://joedaiwarriors.wixsite.com/musician.
About June IND
Two shots of optimism are most welcome today, especially from Lafayette, Indiana rock duo June IND. The band consisting of decades-long friends and collaborators Chris June and Emily Larimer recently released “First Annual Meeting of Optimists Vols. 1 and 2,” two EPs recorded at a time when you could do that without trepidation, and single “Come to Hand” in times of concern. Under the guidance of Dan Precision (Rise Against, 88 Fingers Louie, The Mound Builders) at The Bomb Shelter Recording Studio in Chicago, June IND’s anthemic tunes explode with captivating hooks and tightly harmonized vocals. More at JuneIND.com.
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In addition to a couple of months of planning, it took 44 days from recording to release of June IND’s unplugged version of “Come to Hand,” a popular song from bandmates Chris June and Emily Larimer’s former group Chemcoma.
Recorded in “about three takes each” according to vocalist, guitarist Chris June, the Lafayette, Indiana rock band (including vocalist, percussionist Emily Larimer and special guest vocalist, violinist Justice Fuller) was joined by photographer Dave Mason (ISPhotographic) and engineer Neil McTavish at REC Room Recording. Mason and McTavish captured the recording session in picture and sound, respectively.
June IND’s lyric sheet for “Come to Hand” by Chemcoma (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND vocalist and percussionist Emily Larimer prepares to film music video for “Come to Hand” (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND’s Chris June and Emily Larimer preparing to record acoustic guitar tracks and video (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND’s Chris June and Emily Larimer recording acoustic guitar tracks and video (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND vocalist and guitarist Chris June records acoustic guitar tracks for “Come to Hand” by Chemcoma (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND’s Chris June records acoustic guitar tracks for “Come to Hand” with engineer Neil McTavish (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Justice Fuller prepares to record violin for June IND’s “Come to Hand” (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND vocalist and percussionist Emily Larimer records djembe tracks for “Come to Hand” by Chemcoma (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND vocalist and percussionist Emily Larimer records djembe tracks for “Come to Hand” by Chemcoma (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND’s Emily Larimer records djembe tracks for “Come to Hand” with engineer Neil McTavish at REC Room (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND vocalist and percussionist Emily Larimer records djembe tracks for “Come to Hand” by Chemcoma (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Justice Fuller prepares to record violin for June IND’s “Come to Hand” (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND vocalist, guitarist Chris June and vocalist, violinist Justice Fuller rehearse “Come to Hand” (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
June IND vocalist, guitarist Chris June and vocalist, violinist Justice Fuller rehearse “Come to Hand” (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
Vocalist, violinist Justice Fuller records “Come to Hand,” June IND’s Chris June and Emily Larimer cheerlead (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Justice Fuller records violin for June IND’s “Come to Hand” (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
Neil McTavish records Justice Fuller’s violin on June IND’s “Come to Hand.” Chris June, Emily Larimer cheerlead (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Justice Fuller records violin for June IND’s “Come to Hand” (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
Vocalist, violinist Justice Fuller records “Come to Hand,” June IND’s Chris June and Emily Larimer cheerlead (Photo by Dave Mason, ISPhotographic)
Ten years ago, our pre-June IND band Chemcoma rang out its last note at the Mosey Down Main Street in Downtown Lafayette, Indiana. No one has heard us play any of those songs since… until today.
With the blessing of our old pal Cody, we re-recorded an unplugged version of the Chemcoma fave, “Come to Hand” featuring our friend Justice Fuller on violin and vocals.
Check it out:
June IND featuring Justice Fuller – Come to Hand (Official Video)
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If you’re still with us down here… we’re also using the “Come to Hand” recording experience as a dry run for pumping out more new music during this pandemic mess. There are still seven unreleased First Annual Meeting of Optimists tracks that we need to put inside your ears. Stay tuned.
-Chris and Emily
P.S. We offered to plug Cody’s cool, new band, but he didn’t think it was necessary. Anyway, if you want to look them up, it rhymes with Fight Likes In. 😘😘
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