Dan Bern

Dan Bern has been my friend for decades. As a songwriter he enlightened me. There’s no other way to put it.

Dan’s been a guest on Radio8Ball many, many times and I don’t think he’s ever enjoyed it very much, but I appreciate him trying.

Dan performed the most impressive feet of songwriting I’ve ever experienced in the realm of The Pop Oracle.

He pulled into Olympia on September 20th, 2005 and booked a room at The Golden Gavel. Not a classy joint but perfectly befitting his traveling grunge at the time. We hung out during the afternoons. Tossing a baseball around. Talking songwriting and girl problems. He started writing a song called “Suicide Room” that week, about an apartment I was living in at the time, only later asking my permission, as if my consent mattered. Of course I gave it and the song showed up on his next record.

And then he descended upon Radio8Ball with a list of 8 songs, most of them written since he got to town.

Past Belief
Clouds
Rain
When Will I Be Content
Breathe
Tounge Tied
New Orleans
Lake

He got through all of them in one hour.

I’ve never experienced anything like it.