From the Vault Cover of One Day, by Sharon Van Etten

“Pretend We’re That”

Recorded in The Maltshop sometime ago.
Caitlin Brutger Vocal
Mike Opitz Guitar, Mix
Tom Daddesio Bass

Tom has talked about all the songs we have recorded, worked on, planned to finish and forgot about. Some of these draft songs are terrible, but some find relevance a few years later. He suggested we look through our music files and start publishing songs From the Vault. I found this track. On one of those music days of yesteryear, Caitlin suggested we play Sharon Van Etten’s song “One Day.” I don’t think I would have known of Sharon Van Etten without Caitlin’s influence. But because of her influence, I discov-ered and explored the gritty and intimate confessionalism of Van Etten’s work.

On the other hand, Caitlin remembers things differently. She notes: “I think it is YOU who introduced me to Sharon Van Etten! I remember watching this video in the Malt Shop with you.

Then I went to see her at First Ave, and when I asked her to sign my vinyl, I said I was embarrassed to be asking her and she said she was embarrassed to be asked. Then she signed it “‘let’s be embarrassed
together.'” 

I guess that’s how memory works. Memory may be the guiding principle of our “From the Vault” songs. I think I remember that Caitlin wanted to sing. I’m pretty sure I played along. I remember that I think Tom added a bass line later. We made a song and promptly put it on the back burner. Looking back at how we made the song, I may remember we came from different backgrounds, places, times and fantasies—hauling around different memories. For a while, we could “pretend we’re that.” That is the song.

This website moved on to continue the exploration of Emily Dickinson’s work. Like the time she met Lee “Scratch” Perry in a Maltshop. The same Maltshop where we also recorded versions of songs by Joni Mitchell and Carole King. Looking back, these artists and their works start to
emerge in relationship—like songs in a set list or poems in a collection. Or in Montage Thought. The relationships now include Sharon Van Etten—through the “lens” of Caitlin’s vocal and the sands of time.

Here is a 4 song set by Sharon Van Etten concluding with a great version of “Every time the Sun Comes Up.”