The Official Porch Web Page

PORCH WEB PAGE

UPDATED 4.30.01

Porch is:

beth strahle - vocals

tom strahle - vocals, electric and acoustic

guitars, electric 12-string, mandolin,

hawaiian lap steel, dobro, bass

and percussion

kirk maclane - bass

jeff myers - drums

Upcoming events -

Porch has nothing scheduled at this time.

Download an mp3 file of the song "Somethings Wrong" from the Porch CD here!!!

Do you need an mp3 player? Click here:

The CD from the original members of Rumors of War is FINISHED AND HERE!!!! The thirteen song CD, "Porch", features Tom and Beth Strahle, Kirk MacLane and Jeff Myers. It is available on CD only. With the exception of the song "Something's Wrong" which was released on Songs You've Never Heard/Light Volume Two (Ocean Records), the music contained is all original new material all written by Tom and Beth.

If you want to purchase the CD email me!

Band Bio -

"Porch" is a Southern California band previously known as "Rumors of War". "Rumors of War" was formed in 1988 with the above members plus Brad Coleman who went on to form "Mercy Miles" with Glenda Hoffman. "Mercy Miles" which included Tom, Kirk and Jeff performed extensively in Orange County and was signed to Storyville Records. "Rumors of War" recieved modest radio play with the song, "God Died", on the Ocean Records release; 'Songs You've Never Heard Before/Light Volume Two".

Musically, "Porch" is transplanted middle americana rock, as both Beth and Tom grew up in Indiana. Guitar driven and song focused would be the best way to describe their music. All the songs on the CD were written by either Tom or Beth.

Album Notes - Songs on the new CD are as follows:

*song that has a story behind it below in "song stories"

Some Quotes -

"I've spun it a million times. "Friends" is my favorite. I like that you chose authenticity, honesty over Nashville-style super slick style of production. Beth's voice has always reached me. A wonderful work to be very proud of." - d, indiana

"We like the CD lots. I'm most appreciative of all the fun guitar work. It's a masterpiece. And Beth sounds so good in her strong alternative style" - s & s, california

"It is wonderful. Now I can hear you all day!!!!!!" - l, germany

"GREAT writing."Porch" is the CD I reach for these days.." - s, california

"We thoroughly enjoyed it." - c & b, north carolina

My Uncle Bob in Ohio says, "...I don't care for that type of music at all. So much so that I don't even know what it's called. I could tell that you put your hearts into it...".

We are anxious to work on the next project as we have a backlog of songs waiting to be recorded. Check back here from time to time to here about the progress of the "Porch 2".

Song Stories -

"just like a mirror" was written to convey the frustration of sharing my faith with someone who was a little too much like myself. The lyric "scare you by the truth" was taken from the title of the Mercy Miles song "Scared by the Truth". Written by my good friend and co-bandmember Brad Coleman. Just Like A mirror was written after a long drive to Orange County to see the movie "The Commitments" with the Colemans (Brad and Margy) but they never showed up. So we drove back to Pasadena without seeing the movie and I sat on our sofa and in part frustration and part boredom, stole one of Brad's favorite feels (a celtic feel) and the title of one of his songs.The verses and bridge are in 6/8 but the choruses are in 9/8. The chorus groove is interesting in that the first three beats of each measure are played in a two feel followed by a dotted quarter note and then three eighth notes. Kind of 1...2...1 (2 3) 1 2 3. Hard to explain. Listen to the bass. Jeff had a hard time finding a good groove over that mess, but I think he found the perfect part.

"'round about" is not a remake of the 1970's Yes epic (though that was one of first songs I learned how to play on guitar). Most songs I write start with a feel, a verse progression and the first lyric line. That was the case with "'round about". I started playing the groove one day and then sang the first line "settle for an angels kiss was my 22nd wish", I still don't quite know what that means. But it went on to become a song about not trying to predict when that last hour before the second coming of Jesus Christ occurs. As Jesus Himself said, "but of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone" - Matt. 24:36. The chorus to "'round about" is; " 'roud about, 'round the block. There're no hands upon that clock. People tell me they know the time, but I know better than to cross that line." The song was originally suppose to start with two guitars like it does, with the bass and drums coming in at the fifth measure, and they did. However after Kirk and Jeff had recorded their parts and left I realized that I'd had them play to simplistic through the first verse and chorus. It sounded like a polka. So instead of having them come back over to redo their parts, when I mixed I just muted the bass and drums until the end of the chorus when the real groove kicks in. So it's just two guitars (my tele on one side and my strat on the other I think) and voice for the first part of the song. I bring in mandolin when the drums and bass enter (if you listen closely you can hear it). On the outro I faded out the rhythm guitars, bass, mandolin and drums and left the lead guitar and my Mellencampish ( I wish) vocals to fade out by themselves.

Many blessings to you, Tom Strahle.

Our email address is tstrahle@aol.com, FOR BOOKINGS E-MAIL US.