"The Nightnoon is an album about a hotel where check-in's at Midnight and check-out's at Noon. This unusual schedule obviously leads to some nefarious characters staying at this hotel; gamblers, mistresses, billionaires, drunks and criminals. The story is centered around a musician who plays to a crowd of hotel residents, where he performs songs directed at specific people in the audience, especially a love interest who also performs on his off nights at the hotel. 'The Nightnoon Hotel' sets the ambiance and vibe of the album, and pays homage to that classic 60's LA sound in the process, not gonna name names..." 

- Neil

"The Nightnoon Hotel" Lyrics:

Dark and mystic night

Take my supple dreams

Back to paradise

Gotta stay out of mind

Check in’s at midnight

Hidden in the hills of Hollywood

Nestled near a canyon creek

Stands an old wooden, blue striped chateau

On an old and lonely street

At The Nightnoon

Check In’s at Midnight

You best be leaving at Noon

Over at The Nightnoon

Check-in's at Midnight

You best be leaving by Noon

You best be leaving by Noon

The bedsheets are all dyed black

Just in case the guests have blood on their hands

A calming cool cigarette breeze

Is flowing through the air 

Home to desperate gamblers

Drunken ramblers

Hell bent on chasing their next fix

Over at The Nightnoon

Check in’s at Midnight

You best be leaving at Noon

Over at The Nightnoon!

Check in’s at Midnight

You best be leaving by Noon

You best be leaving by Noon

I pass through these carpeted halls

nestled in the trees

near a cool lake of azure

A place they call

The Nightnoon

"'Hard To Get' was one of the fun ones to record because we got to go into the famous Tubetown Records studio in San Clemente, owned by Hayden Hanson of Tunnel Vision. Getting to work alongside one of the best in the Ska/Reggae scene inspired me to try and capture some of that Reggae essence. Story-wise within the album, the main-character- musician is playing his opening song to the crowd, but it's directed at a specific love interest who he see's perform there on his off days. This particular night, she's in the crowd, and it's almost like everyone else fades away, and he's just playing to her. Anytime they interact, off stage, she's always playing hard to get. This love interest is a reoccuring character throughout the album. He really is playing this whole show, to get her attention. This is visualized in the official music video for the song." 

- Neil

"Hard To Get" Lyrics:

Hopin′ that you look my way

Wanna catch a little glimpse while I'm playing on stage

See you here all the time

I know you play this club too

And you sing the blues

How many times do I wait

To make the first move?

Let′s see what she thinks of this groove

And do I play it real smooth

I'm here all night

And I ain't gonna tell a lie

And I know it′s gonna be a long time

Before I earn your trust

I said it′s gonna be a long time

Cuz she's playing hard to get

I know you′ll be up here singin' with me someday

I can see it in your eyes when you′re standing in front of the stage

Meet me outside, after the show

By the hotel bar

Maybe then girl I'll make the first move

And you can tell me what you think of this groove

And did I play it real smooth

I′m here all night

And I ain't gonna tell a lie

And I know it's gonna be a long time

Before I earn your trust

I said it′s gonna be a long time

Cuz she′s playing hard to get

And it's gonna be a long time

Before I earn your trust

I said it′s gonna be a long time

Cuz she's playing hard to get

And it′s gonna be a long time

Before I earn your trust

I said it's gonna be a long time

Cuz she′s playing hard to get

"'Love Is' is a simple love song, with a simple message, there's a right way to love someone and a wrong way. Within the context of The Nightnoon, this is part of the main-character-musician's sales pitch to his love interest in the crowd, a regular performer at the hotel as well. He's telling her he's gonna treat her right."

- Neil

"Love Is" Lyrics:

(dada dada dada)

I wanna show you what love is

(dada dada dada)

And it's not standing in the pouring rain

(dada dada dada)

Make-up running down your face

(dada dada dada)

(Love is)

When I'm thinking about you every day

(Love is)

When I can't get you out of my brain

(Love is)

Driving me crazy

Wondering what she's wearing tonight

It must be something bout the way you smile

You always seem to get left high and dry

Wondering why, you always get treated this way

(dada dada dada)

I wanna show you what love is

(dada dada dada)

And it's not standing in the pouring rain

(dada dada dada)

Make-up running down your face

(dada dada dada)

(Love Is)

Taking you out before taking you home

(Love Is)

Letting everyone else know

When you find the only person that makes sense in this cold world

(dada dada dada)

I wanna show you what love is

(dada dada dada)

And it's not standing in the pouring rain

(dada dada dada)

Make-up running down your face

(dada dada dada)

(dada dada dada)

I wanna show you what love is

(dada dada dada)

And it's not standing in the pouring rain

(dada dada dada)

Make-up running down your face

(dada dada dada)

If you'd asked me what the first thing I'd draw would be

I'd tell you I would paint you a portrait

You can hang it on your wall

(dada dada dada)

I wanna show you what love is

(dada dada dada)

And it's not standing in the pouring rain

(dada dada dada)

Make-up running down your face

(dada dada dada)

(dada dada dada)

I wanna show you what love is

(dada dada dada)

And it's not standing in the pouring rain

(dada dada dada)

Make-up running down your face

(dada dada dada)

There's something here going on

(dada dada dada)

There's something here going on

(dada dada dada)

"'Moonshine' almost continues the musicians love-sales-pitch, but this time, he's fantasizing about what the future holds, and in this fantasy, they have their own private island. It's a beautiful pitcure that I wanted to paint, about getting to spend the rest of your days eating coconuts and drinking moonshine on a private island with your true love." 

- Neil

"Moonshine" Lyrics:

Tell me where we′ll be in 20 years

Will we be stranded on some island drinking some moon gin?

Will we be far away from all our fears?

Will we be swimming through paradise in the Caribbean?

Oh, take in the sunlight

Come on over drink my home made moonshine

Oh, take in the starlight

We'll be sailing dawn by moonlight

You can be my friend until the end

And we′d have our own private island

You can be my friend until the end

And we'd have our own private island

When the sun goes down

And the stars come out

We'll live out our dreams like we′re 20 years out

We can find the buried treasure hidden deep within our hearts

You could love me forever, underneath the stars

Oh, take in the sunlight

Come on over drink my home made moonshine

Oh, take in the starlight

We′ll be sailing dawn by moonlight

You can be my friend until the end

And we'd have our own private island

You can be my friend until the end

And we′d have our own private island

Oh, take in the sunlight

Come on over drink my home made moonshine

Oh, take in the starlight

We'll be sailing dawn by moonlight

We′ll be sailing dawn by moonlight

"It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Reggae. 'Sonora' is my personal tribute to the legends of Reggae I grew up listening to, infused with my Cosmic Blues sound. The song itself has double meaning, the first by way of the musician in The Nightnoon addressing his love interest in the crowd. He has seen her perform, he has hung out with her off stage, and she's always played hard to get, yet he see's her constantly getting her heart broken, mistreated or let down by other guys. The love interests name is revealed to be, Sonora. The other hidden meaning within the song has to do with psychedelic cactus." 

- Neil

"Sonora" Lyrics:

Sonora

Where you gonna run now?

Sonora

Where you gonna go now?

She turns rain to sunshine

She lights up the room with her smile

But she’s always on the run from someone

When all she does is spread her love like

Sonora

Where you gonna run to now?

Sonora, yeah

Where you gonna go now?

You can’t go to the trees

Cuz I know they see everything

You can’t go to the sea

But your always coming back to me with

Sonora, yeah

Where you gonna run now?

Sonora, yeah

Where you gonna go now?

When your feeling low

And got no place left to go

Just to take a look inside

And see where the truth lies

Through cacti eyes

With Sonora

Where you gonna go now?

Sonora, yeah

Where you gonna go now?

Sonora, yeah

Where you gonna go to now?

Sonora

Singin' Sonora

(Where you gonna go?)

"'Reckoning' breaks the 4th wall a little bit. While it is still within the story of the album, directed at rich, capitalist billionaires who frequent the hotel, the song is more fact than fiction. With all the injustices going on in the world, it was important to me to show everyone where I stand, so people know I care about what's right, and ultimately that they aren't alone. There's a lot of cognitive dissonance in our real life world, and people have no problem stepping on each others heads to stay selfish. This is me letting you know I got your back and will not stand for the current situation we have been presented with in 2025. I plan on using any platform I'm given as an artist for good. Love is the answer." 

- Neil

"Reckoning" Lyrics:

Judgements here in plain sight

Hellfire rains down from the sky

Sparks from a hill fly

No one is questioning why

Why we all have to die?

Where does the meaning all go?

Are you chosen or do what your told?

This isn′t the start of religion

Or a fascist nation's decision

This is because you are a victim

Of the system in which you were given

Noise is easy to come by

And music is hard to find

Where a false prophet waves his hand in the sky

Reckoning is never too far behind

The truth will never lie

But it isn′t always right

Open up your minds eye

It's happening in plain sight

Yes, it's what you think

It′s based on what you drink

You either let in the fire

Or get blinded by desire

I was blinded by hate

Always chalked it up to fate

But, now I′m falling in love

Guess that was the meaning all along

Noise is easy to come by

And music is hard to find

Where a false prophet waves his hand in the sky

Reckoning is never too far behind

Noise is easy to come by

And music is hard to find

Where a false prophet waves his hand in the sky

Noise is easy to come by

And music is hard to find

Where a false prophet waves his hand in the sky

Reckoning is never too far behind

"This song picks up directly where my last album, Sultry Have Gone The Roses, leaves off... our main character is dead. Tons of nods to influences and heroes of mine on this one, let me know which ones you're hearing!" 

- Neil

"Not Worthwhile" Lyrics:

Let me tell you about what I want

Let me tell you about what I need

A girl who's gonna hear my prayer

Not leave me on my knees

Cuz I'm broken, dead and not worthwhile

I said I'm broken and I'm dead and not worthwhile

Cuz I'm broken, dead and not worthwhile

Yeah I'm broken and I'm dead and not worthwhile

(Keep gettin' the same signs)

Did she give me what I deserve?

Was it worth all of his pain?

Am I something worth fighting for?

Are you gonna leave me again?

Cuz I'm broken and I'm dead and not worthwhile

Yeah I'm broken and I'm dead and not worthwhile

Cuz I'm broken and I'm dead and not worthwhile

Yeah I'm broken and I'm dead and not worthwhile

(Alright)

Oh, what I want is what I need

A girl that's gonna set me free

Cuz I'm broken and I'm dead and not worthwhile

I'm broken and I'm dead and not worthwhile

"I know this intro is short and sweet, but our goal was to channel the vibe of a Southern Blues bar, maybe in New Orleans, and somehow transition that old school sound, into the Cosmic Blues sound... it's almost like a before and after scenario. The song starts with this old time-y timbre, and transitions into the opening of 'Gone Away' in a really cool way. This is one of the many nods to the traditional side of The Blues on this record. If you listen closely, you can hear producer Ben Relf saying 'Here it comes' before I come in singing." 

- Neil

"This song picks up where the last two leave off ("Not Worthwhile" & "Gone Away"), our character is dead. This is the same character, that upon a more further dive, is actually the same one carried on from my last two albums. Their death actually is first mentioned officially in the song "Bury Me" off of my last album. They are so heartbroken after finding out their lover cheated on them, they take their own life in an attempt to truly get the last laugh, and guilt trip their lover. All that is then left to do is bury them. Obviously, only one person truly loses in this scenario, the one who dies. When writing this song, in the back of my mind, I felt like i was closing the bookend of The Blue Roses saga. This song even felt like a 'part 2' to the song "Blue Roses" off of my album I put out back in 2020, I Want Blue Roses on My Grave." The roses are finally being laid on the grave. The Blue Roses to me have always been a symbol of the characters eventual suicide. It's like saying from the afterlife to the partner who wronged them, 'You said you loved me, but went and hurt me, and now I'm dead and all that's left to do is put these Blue Roses on my grave.' This kind of stuff has always given me chills, postmortem requests,  so I had to lean into it."

- Neil

"Roses on the Grave" Lyrics:

It was springtime, I met my fate

The skies were blue, but your eyes were filled with rain

My time came, oh my time came

It's time to put those blue roses on my grave

So put 'em down, put 'em down

Put those blue, blue roses in the ground

Cuz my time came, oh my time came

Blue skies of rain, my time came

So let 'em down

Let 'em down

Let those blue, blue roses hit the ground

Cuz my time came, oh my time came

Blue skies of rain

So let 'em down

Let 'em down

Let those blue roses hit the ground

My time came, oh my time came

Blue skies of rain, blue skies of rain

It was springtime, I met my fate

The skies were blue but your eyes were filled with rain

My time came, oh my time came

It's time to put those blue roses on my grave

"I always imagined this tune as us recreating the sound and atmosphere of a show at The Rib Joint, a local bar in Dana Point I got my start playing at, early in my career. On a deeper level though, the character who's story is being told in this album, which could be any one, is swirling around in the cosmos after their untimely fate, searching for answers, until suddenly, they meet someone special in the void..." 

- Neil

"Our main character whilst swirling through space, encounters The God of Blues, and He offers to grant their life back in exchange for one simple thing, 'play that guitar till you die.' This song is my tribute to some of the later class of players I look up to. I felt like I was channeling BB King at times, or Albert Collins, or even some Muddy. I really just wanted to do my own thing on this whole record, but still leave some space for the greats. I am never claiming any sort of originality with The Blues, I mean, it's The Blues, it doesn't belong to anyone. That being said, I wanted to make this record as transparent as possible, leaving no mystery to who inspired it and where it truly came from. There's also a little tilt of the cap to Robert Johnson's 'Me and The Devil Blues' on here. This song was actually recorded in 1 take, and the video of Ben Relf and I playing on it together is on Youtube and VEVO." 

- Neil

"God of Blues" Lyrics:

Well I spoke to The God of The Blues

'Said I could bring you back to life

Spoke to The God of The Blues

'Said I could bring you back to life

Keep strumming that guitar, and play that music till you die

Don't got no worry

Don't got no sin

All I need baby is my guitar and a bottle of gin

And I go walking, me and The God of Blues side by side

He said, keep strumming that guitar and play that music till you die

Spoke to The God of The Blues, yeah

He said I could bring you back to life

Spoke to The God of The Blues

'Said I could bring you back to life 

Keep strumming that guitar and play that music till you die

God of The Blues

Said I could bring you back to life

Well The God of The Blues

He said I could bring you back to life, yeah

All you gotta do is keep strumming that guitar and play that music till you die 

"This is my Cosmic Blues tribute to Aldous Huxley and one of his masterpieces, Brave New World. The book was published in 1932, yet at times feels more relevant today than ever. I did combine some things from the book, with some real life topics and events, but can you even tell them apart? From a story point of view, this track can be seen as our main character, now fully resurrected and committed to playing the blues for the remainder of their extended life, awakening to a new modern dystopian age." 

- Neil

"Brave New World" Lyrics:

Keep your eyes open to the brave new world

Listening to music that objectifies girls

Drugged out prophets trynna kill your soul

Everything eventually takes its toll

Dump your mind by the side of the lake

Cuz our lives, our lives were never ours to take

Money's all it takes to run this place

They're sending rich people to outer-space

Pumping toxic fumes into the schools

Twisting minds in a crowded room

Leave your mind by the side of the lake

Cuz our lives, our lives were never ours to take

Society is getting worn and old

Dead people choosing who holds the throne

Choosing how the youth will spend their lives

Forcing them to term, against basic rights

Leave your mind by the side of the lake

Cuz our lives, our lives were never ours to take

Watch as they tear down the walls

Building churches on our sacred ground

Everyone's waiting for a great big change

And no one, no one is gonna hear their name

Leave your mind by the side of the lake

Cuz our lives, our lives were never ours to take