THE MUSIC OF EMPTY STREETS is now available to purchase from these online retailers:
55% of all sales goes to The Veterans Resource Center at
Golden West College, with another portion going to the
Southern Poverty Law Center.
As the main characters (in the film) Johnny and Carol travel through the lonely night, their journey is followed by a selection of music as wide ranging as the emotions they feel — haunting blues melodies, screaming electric guitar, jazz-influenced hip-hop, gritty rap and metal.
The soundtrack of Empty Streets includes the following tracks:
• "A Peaceful Solution" – Willie Nelson
• "Halls of Montezuma" – Jimbo Mathus
• "Blues for John Lee" – Charlie Musselwhite
• "What’s a Man" – Righteous Movement
• "Give em Whatchu Want" – Lil Wish
• "The Author" – Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
• "Body Bag" – HurricaneEye
Willie Nelson
www.willienelsonpri.com
Willie Nelson and his daughter Amy Nelson wrote “A Peaceful Solution” in April 2007 at 3 a.m. aboard their bus, on the way to Coachella. Willie Nelson offered the song for people to use in making music videos they could submit to the Peace Research Institute www.willienelsonpri.com and elsewhere, but Empty Streets was the first film allowed to use the song in a different way.
Jimbo Mathus
www.jimbomathus.net
Jimbo Mathus composed a new version of the Marine Hymn for the opening shots of Empty Streets, and recorded the tune at his studio, Delta Recording Service, in Como, Mississippi. He founded the “hyper ragtime” band, the Squirrel Nut Zippers. In August 2007, Paul and Ely drove from St. Louis, Missouri to Como, Mississippi (during the Veterans for Peace national convention) to be part of the session at Mathus’ studio, Delta Recording Service. Ely is playing backup cymbals and tambourine on this track. Mathus played a key role in Buddy Guy’s “Sweet Tea” (2001) and Grammy winning “Blues Singer” (2004) as guitarist and arranger.
Charlie Musselwhite
www.charliemusselwhite.com
Charlie Musselwhite is a 12-time Grammy Nominee and 1-time winner who has played in clubs with Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, Michael Bloomfield and has shared the stage with Etta James, BB King, James Cotton and Elvin Bishop. He’s a kind, gentle soul that flat-out wails on the harp. Mr. Musselwhite kindly gave us use of a song titled “Blues for John Lee.” On this track he plays acoustic guitar and it was a song he composed for his late friend John Lee Hooker.
Righteous Movement
www.therighteousmovement.com
It was June 2007 and Paul and Kendyce attended a Righteous Movement show at Old Ironsides. Midway through the set it was clear: Righteous Movement’s musical and lyrical style just had to be part of the film. We used their song, “What’s A Man.” In addition to continuing shows in Sacramento and northern California, the Righteous Movement was on stage at the 2007 Vans Warped Tour.
Lil Wish
“Give Em Whatchu Want” is typical of Wish’s style — a mix of juke, rock and hip-hop. From the West side of Chicago, Wish has toured around Chicago and throughout the Midwest. Lil Wish started winning local talent shows at a young age. We were given his track by our friend Kevin whom Paul and Kendyce met in the "Historic" Chess Records building. Kevin was manager at the Willie Dixon Blues Foundation. The building was responsible for recordings by Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters and the first American recording of The Rolling Stones.
Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
www.vishwamohanbhatt.com
Vishwa Mohann Bhatt is a north Indian classical artist whose style is Hindustani and American blues. He created an instrument called the MohanVeena – a 19-string, modified archtop guitar, which he plays lap-style. Bhatt won a Grammy Award in 1994 for his recording with Ry Cooder, “A Meeting by the River.” Bhatt, from his home in Jaipur, India, wrote and recorded his song “The Author” for this film.
HurricaneEye
HurricaneEye formed in 1992 in Beverly, Massachusetts. Hurricane Eye composed the anthem to the sport of kickboxing, titled “Rage Zone.” During the early 1990s, the group performed at shows throughout Canada and disbanded in 1996. Tim Long, the founder of Hurricane Eye, composed electronic music for MTV’s “Making The Video,” and produced music for MTV, Comcast and Spike.
---written by KM (minor additions by Paul Booth)
Music Compiled by Ely Kalilikane, Kendyce Manguchei and Paul Booth
Soundtrack Release Produced by Ely Kalilikane and Paul Booth
All songs written and composed by the artist listed with their track.
"Empty Streets" is a film about a soldier who returns from war and loses himself more and more each night that passes.
