[“How Did It Get Dark So Fast” by Tall Tall Trees]

[bright alternative folk music]

Mike Savino: How did it get dark so fast

Winter, spring, and summer’s past

Leaves are raining from the treetops

I wish that I could make it

Every night you’re on my mind

Sound and picture crystalline

Footsteps pounding on the rooftop

I wish that I could make it stop

I was afraid that I let you down

Changing my story and losing my sound

Oh it seems so simple when you’re around

A year within a day

I say

[bright alternative folk music]

Appleton, what’s up?

Mmm words like fire, words like rain

Were hanging from a silver chain

Waiting on a lonely teardrop

I wish that I could make it

Stop

[bright alternative folk music]

I was afraid that I let you down

Changing my story and losing my sound

Oh it seems so simple when you’re around

A year within the day

If you want me to stay, then I will stay

I will stay

[bright alternative folk music]

Mmm how did it get dark so fast?

Winter, spring, and summer’s past

Leaves are raining from the treetops

I wish that I could make it

Stop

[audience applauding and cheering]

Mike Savino: Yeah, guys, what’s up, how you doing? [guitar strums] Sound okay out there?

[audience cheering]

Mike Savino: We’re Tall Tall Trees from Asheville, North Carolina. It’s kind of an unusual project. I play electric psychedelic banjo.

[zapping sounds]

Mike Savino: And Josiah plays the drums and synthesizer.

Mike Savino: And yeah, we’re two musicians. We’ve been friends for 24 years, and we’ve been playing together for…

Josiah Wolf: On and off since then.

Mike Savino: On and off since then, yeah.

Josiah Wolf: The project started, it’s Mike’s project, but I’ve become more and more involved.

Mike Savino: Oh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

Mike Savino: Yeah, I mean, I feel like anywhere we go, we always kind of get to surprise people with what we’re doing since we kind of, like, have a very unique sound, and you know, not a lot of people play banjo in the way that I do. And Josiah, you know, and his drums and modular synthesizer setup. You know, we make a lot of noise for two people and trying to keep it fun. And yeah, hope we can bring some joy to some folks out there, and just have a good time.

Josiah Wolf: Yeah.

[“Say Something Real” by Tall Tall Trees]

[percussive banjo tapping]

[bright banjo music]

Mike Savino: I was in the front seat, you were in the back

She was in the middle though sitting on your lap

West of California, staring down the sun

The sky it was a prism and heaven came undone

Were you in the desert underneath the moon

Planetary vision reflecting in the pool

Laughing in the water, three becoming one

They said that it was over, but we had just begun

It feels like the end, but we’ve only begun

[high-energy banjo and percussion music]

Mike Savino: Clap your hands! [clapping]

Mike Savino: You’re comin’ and goin’ and walkin’ and talkin’

And playin’ a foolish game

I was lookin’ at her lookin’ at you lookin’ at me

We could be another couple in love

And then wonderin’ what’s your name

I want you to go, I want you to stay

I want you to say something real, yeah

Say something real, yeah

Say something real, yeah

Say something real, yeah

[high-energy banjo and percussion music]

[electric banjo solo]

[high-energy banjo and percussion music]

Mike Savino: Listen to the Beatles “Here Comes the Sun”

George was the one who played second to some

Tell me what you’re thinking, show me how you feel

Spare me all the bull#### and tell me something real

Open your heart up and say something real, yeah

Say something real, yeah

Say something real, yeah

Say something real, yeah

Say something real, yeah

Say something real, yeah

[audience applauding and cheering]

Mike Savino: Thank you so much, my friends.