Nikos Brisco - Greek/Texan

We started this album around October of 00' worked it up in a mud storm on a night in Texas…an electrical night surrounded by nature, love and pagan/vice…on the Johnson's land right on the edge of Austin a dream was awakened. Ruth and I had given thanks and had been fertile with Judges…so at the close of a Judges 19 recording session we recorded four songs on the fly at Nick Dotin's studio all in one take…a perfect and great moment…. Then an electrical storm wiped out the whole session quicker than we had put it down…so being mortal and methodical we repeated ourselves the next day newly humbled in the face of fate and nature…we got the four songs down again. I lived with it until February of 02'. I wanted to speak through the poetic soul of my native Texan spirit…..the part of me that had roots from my father and grandfathers roughneck days… and the part of me that is here in Astoria, Queens seeking the spirit of my Greek blood….New York has offered me solace in the belly of the beast…and simplicity is a complex condition here….as is life, love & music.
There is an Indian ghost that lives in the woods outside of Dotins'studio….his back yard opens itself into the Greenbelt….Kevin said the ghost was probably a Indian that tracked the woods when he was alive and both he and Nick had encountered it…said it was peaceful….one of the great things about Texas is that you can piss outside…just out in nature…So I would go out back there when I needed to go and it could have always just been the woods….but I felt something out there that was like that lightning storm…formidable…something so strong that it could just miss us in it's wake and not even bat an eye…while we would just tremble and be thankful for another day…So I took the bouzouki in my brave and naive hands with more spirit than talent…Kevin ended up coming from songwriter to producer and also became the drummer by default…Hell…we knew Nick could play the bass and he did…Ivan came in and gave me his bravery, heart of a lion and I was able to cut some harp parts…Carol's accordion and vocal gave the Balkan soul and Texas range that was needed in watercolor…Ruth's soul touches this album with fire and wing….sword and rod…and cups of royal order…lyrically she has contributed and inspired the best in me….I want to thank all these people who have added their spirit and being to my life and progress as a human and for collaborating with me, allowing me create and communicate on a greater level than myself…
With Love…
Nikos
Astoria, N.Y.
January 28, 2003

Greek/Texan Featuring:
Nikos Brisco: Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Bouzouki, Harmonica & Darbek
Nicholas Dotin: Electric & Upright Bass
Kevin Johnson: Ashiko Drum
Ruth Margraff: Vocal on "Knoxville Girl"
Carol Turner: Vocal on "Lilacs In The Wind" & Accordion

Produced By: Kevin Johnson, Nikos Brisco & Farmer Nick Dotin.
Engineered By: Farmer Nick Dotin & Kevin Johnson
Recorded @ Farmers Production House in Austin, Texas 2002
Mastered By Jim King "Sonic Dropper" in Dallas, Texas
Photography By: J.R. Delia NYC