Nothing’s Real ‘Til It Bites You

It seems obvious now that this should have been the single we pushed, as opposed to “Rip It Away“. Who needs a record label when you can mis-promote yourself!

The band is really a unit on “Nothing’s Real ‘Til It Bites You”, with all the players having parts that are by their nature, feature parts; Clay’s opening harmonica blast balanced with Johnny’s slashing guitar and Deb Pasternak’s very tough backing vocals; and Walt and Colin, both players whose restless styles could drive us to distraction (mostly for the good) locked into something here that makes two complex parts one thing which is simple and elegant and strong.

The opening lyric was written on the wall of my chemistry class in high school and I’ve enjoyed singing this song at hundreds of shows, as if it were a hit for us.

I’ve told the story many times onstage….In 1989, before The Previous, I played a show at an Amnesty International benefit in LA. Bruce Springsteen was at the event, though not at my performance. After I played and realized Springsteen was in the house, fueled by the hubris of youth and at the urging of my friend Saundra, I tracked him down and asked if I could play him a song. I played one and he asked for more. This was the second song I played him. There was somebody there taking pictures that night but I’ve never tried to find out who it was. I should do that. Nothing’s real ’til it bites you.

Written by Andras Jones
Engineered & Produced by Earle Mankey

Andras Jones – Vocals & Acoustic Guitar
Clay Goldstein – Harmonica & Vocals
R. Walt Vincent – Bass & Vocals
John Nason – Guitar & Vocals
Colin Mahoney – Drums & Vocals
& Deb Pasternak – Vocals