A blues shuffle acoustic guitar, just a rambler looking to hitch up with a girl for the night.

Produced by Krister Axel, mixed by Angel Roche.

The only recorded version of this song, taken from a rehearsal at my place on 6th street.

Krister Axel - acoustic guitar, vocals
Joel Eckels - electric guitar, vocals
Sally Jaye - piano, vocals

This is an early rocker of mine. I still love this song.

Krister Axel - Rhodes, electric guitar, vocals, drum programming

My old Silverlake anthem
Recorded on a Boss BR-8 in my apartment on Cherokee in Hollywood (right down the street from Boardner's).

Krister Axel - guitar, keys, vocals
Dave Lichens - drum programming

I remember driving to Santa Monica on New Year's day just to play this at the beach. There was no one around. It was perfect.

Recorded in my early days in Los Angeles playing keys for Revolver. Medium tempo acoustic rock.

Krister Axel - Rhodes, vocals, acoustic guitar
Angel Roche Jr - drums

Recorded in my early days in Los Angeles playing keys for Revolver. Original recorded version of this Axel classic.

Krister Axel - piano, vocals, electric guitar w/ slide
Angel Roche Jr - drums

Recorded in my early days in Los Angeles playing keys for Revolver. Medium tempo, piano-driven rock. A sweet, clever song about getting over the ex-.

Krister Axel - piano, vocals, electric guitar w/ slide
Angel Roche Jr - drums

I must have been born in the wake
of some misunderstanding
it must have been that kind of day
where no one makes a landing
and zero stands for something

By Krister Axel. Produced by Chris Fuhrman and Paper Sun.

Krister Axel - piano, B3, vocals
Joel Eckels - guitar, vocals
Sally Jaye - vocals
Carson Cohen - bass, vocals
Adam Marcello - drums

this emotion
this combination of colors
this congregation of lovers
I believe I've been confused
by the tragic
the melody of black magic
and all my bad habits
I believe I've been confused

Another venerable Axel classic. Mixed by Angel Roch Jr.

Krister Axel - vocals, electric guitar, piano, bass
Angel Roche Jr - drums

The only Paper Sun release with some of my songs on it.

Krister Axel - electric guitar, vocals
Sally Jaye - vocals
Joel Eckels - electric guitar, vocals
Adam Marcello - drums
Carson Cohen - bass

Produced by Paper Sun and Chris Fuhrman.

Working version. This song was never produced. I did play it a few times live. This is a late-night, so-I-don't-forget-it version. You probably shouldn't listen to this.

The only live recording I have of this song. From a live performance at Genghis Cohen.

Krister Axel - piano, vocals
Joel Eckels - acoustic guitar
Stephanie Davis - vocals
Carson Cohen - bass
Adam Marcello - drums

This is fast, driving song about hot lazy women and the human condition.

mixed by Brandon Krueger
produced by Krister Axel and Brandon Krueger

Krister Axel - piano, vocals
Adam Marcello - drums
Brandon Krueger - bass, guitar

from the cd release party at the Hotel Cafe for Arms Around the River.

Karen Teperberg - drums
Mike Freas - guitar
Matt Delvecchio - bass
Judy Ruden - harmonica

from the cd release party at the Hotel Cafe for Arms Around the River.

Karen Teperberg - drums
Mike Freas - guitar
Matt Delvecchio - bass
Judy Ruden - harmonica

from the cd release party at the Hotel Cafe for Arms Around the River.

Karen Teperberg - drums
Mike Freas - guitar
Matt Delvecchio - bass
Sally Jaye - vocals
Judy Ruden - harmonica

from the cd release party at the Hotel Cafe for Arms Around the River.

Karen Teperberg - drums
Mike Freas - guitar
Matt Delvecchio - bass
Judy Ruden - harmonica

from the cd release party at the Hotel Cafe for Arms Around the River.

Karen Teperberg - drums
Mike Freas - guitar
Matt Delvecchio - bass
Judy Ruden - harmonica

from the cd release party at the Hotel Cafe for Arms Around the River.

Karen Teperberg - drums
Mike Freas - guitar
Matt Delvecchio - bass
Chet Dixon - harmonica
Judy Ruden - harmonica

A song about starting over.

Sparse, greasy straight feel. Hints of Tom Petty. A strong southern rock element.

krister axel - electric guitar, vocals, wurlitzer, B3
Adam Marcello - drums
Carson Cohen - drums

I set out in the morning
And she’s watching over me
This angel on my shoulder
Crying into the sea

Georgia rain in my walking shoes
I’ve got nothing to lose

Original working version on Wurlitzer. Do not listen.

I love this song. A live rendition of the song from Permanent Friday Night.

Krister Axel - Wurlitzer, vocals
Curtis Byrd - drums
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
Jeramy Gritter - electric guitar
Mike Forrester - cajone

A sold-out show at the Hotel Cafe featuring guest guitar player Jeramy Gritter (Whitestarr, Run Run Run)

Krister Axel - Wurlitzer, vocals
Curtis Byrd - drums
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
Jeramy Gritter - electric guitar
Mike Forrester - cajone

I really liked this lineup. A classic version of this bittersweet song.

Krister Axel - Wurlitzer, vocals
Curtis Byrd - drums
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
Jeramy Gritter - electric guitar
Mike Forrester - cajone

A sold-out show at the Hotel Cafe featuring guest guitar player Jeramy Gritter (Whitestarr, Run Run Run)

We had a residency at Kulak's back in the day when I was 1/3rd of Paper Sun's writing team. Good times.

Krister Axel - electric guitar, vocals
Joel Eckels - electric guitar, vocals
Adam Marcello - drums
Carson Cohen - bass

Featuring Sally Jaye and Joel Eckels on backup vocals.
Written by Krister Axel.

We had a residency at Kulak's back in the day when I was 1/3rd of Paper Sun's writing team. Good times.

Krister Axel - electric guitar, vocals
Joel Eckels - electric guitar, vocals
Adam Marcello - drums
Carson Cohen - bass

Featuring Sally Jaye and Joel Eckels on backup vocals.
Written by Krister Axel.

Krister Axel - Wurlitzer, vocals
Mark Corben (Babyhead) - bass
Chris Lovejoy - drums

An alternate recording of this crowd favorite.
Lush and modern. Big vocal effects.

The original Axel anthem. Written for a girl from Brooklyn.

Acoustic strum-fest. Faster to medium tempo. Steely Dan elements, with horn arrangement by Bill Dowling.

krister axel - electric guitar, vocals, wurlitzer, B3
Adam Marcello - drums
Carson Cohen - drums

She said show me all the ways that you would hold me
The way that you feel empty to know I’m not around

Adam Marcello - drums
Brandon Krueger - bass, guitar
Krister Axel - piano, Wurlitzer, vocals

from the album Arms Around the River (2007)

Stay, if you want to stay
take what you want to take
love who you want to love
break what you're tired of
but don't worry
that the world wants to self-destruct
don't worry
just stay until you've had enough
don't leave before you've had enough

recording and drum programming by Mark Corben (aka Babyhead).

Aside from having a soft spot for anything clave, I really like the lyrics here:

put on your favorite faith
and do what want you want
first one to be satisfied
and the last one to drop
we get lucky sometimes
I've never been so high
I've got nothing to give you
but a hard heart and a soft smile

Karen Teperberg - drums, vocals
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
Mike Freas - guitar
Krister Axel - guitar, vocals

Live at the Knitting Factory Los Angeles, opening for Tony Furtado.

Karen Teperberg - drums, vocals
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
Mike Freas - guitar
Chet Dixon - harmonica
Krister Axel - guitar, keyboards, vocals

Live at the Knitting Factory Los Angeles, opening for Tony Furtado.

Karen Teperberg - drums, vocals
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
Mike Freas - guitar
Chet Dixon - harmonica
Krister Axel - guitar, keyboards, vocals

Live at the Knitting Factory Los Angeles, opening for Tony Furtado.

i was the revolution
you were the liberation
that falls from a pregnant sky
set loose on a Friday night
I know what you do to me

Karen Teperberg - drums, vocals
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
Mike Freas - guitar
Chet Dixon - harmonica
Krister Axel - guitar, keyboards, vocals

Live at the Knitting Factory Los Angeles, opening for Tony Furtado.

Karen Teperberg - drums, vocals
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
Mike Freas - guitar
Krister Axel - guitar, keyboards, vocals

Live at the Knitting Factory Los Angeles, opening for Tony Furtado.

Krister Axel - guitar and vocals

Fast write, 90% finished. Listenable as is.

If this old world is gonna pass me by
I won't try
I won't try at all
we've never met but you know my name
just leave me here alone

in my pain + joy

live from the Relay for Life concert at Coronado Island. Recorded stereo mic to minidisc.

Krister Axel - keys, vocals
Matt Delvecchio - bass, vocals
billy Hawn - drums
Mike Freas - guitar

another French song - written at work :)

Krister Axel - vocals, guitar, drum programming.
My first political song in French.

lorsque tu prends
prends ce que tu veux
des que tu mets
la main aux yeux
Tu parts en vacance
tu reviens bronzee
tu ne connais rien
rien desormais

il n'y a qu'a ce bouger
ce mettre debout
pour s'entendre avec eux
On marche dans les rues

Straight-up lounge stuff. Horns and ev-er-y-thang.

Krister Axel - acoustic guitar, Rhodes, vocals
Bart Ryan - electric guitar
Adam Marcello - drums
Matt Delvecchio - bass
Sally Jaye - vocals

Live from the Highland Grounds in Hollywood (November 2002).

the band:

Krister Axel - electric guitar, vocals
Carson Cohen - bass
Adam Marcello - drums
Stephanie Davis - vocals

The title track from this 2008 release.

Well, if I come for you
would you come for me?
And if I want you to
would you stay?

just 'cause you're leaving on a fast train
just 'cause you're breaking all of my heart
just 'cause you don't know how you belong here
maybe I won't let you go yet
maybe I won't let you go

what if I tell the truth
would you tell the truth?

recorded at 'The Village' in Santa Monica.

lyrics:

still feels broken to me

all the laws have changed
you think you know but you won't stay the same
you think you feel but you don't feel the way
the night is fixing to fall
and it's on the road for you
know the signs but you won't see the truth
all these clouds are hanging over you
but you can't run from yourself
oh well

I left my broken down in Texas
the road has never felt so long
along the way I start to wonder
who will miss me when I'm gone?

if you don't mind waiting
for the news to break
before you turn away
before you turn away
if you don't mind waiting
for the news to break
before you turn away

Some say there's nothing after dying
that all we have is in this world

I still love this song. Interesting take, but still fun to listen to. I will probably rerecord this song soon.

This recording is from a long time ago!

Ah, youth.

It was all for you
The long expensive road to nothing new
These unappreciated lines for you
Falling on this tough love crowd, it’s true
I did it all for you
Open arms
There’s nothing better than those ample charms
Somewhere waiting for the world to start
Somehow afflicted by a broken heart
Looking for those open arms

When I was a prince of the world