Lionlimb
Album: Shoo
Release Date: 2016
USA
Lionlimb is Nashville native Stewart Bronaugh’s recently resurrected project. Originally started in 2010, the project was put on hold as Bronaugh worked as a day laborer in Chicago and San Francisco before making his return to the Midwest. It was then that he began collaborating with drummer and so- called “intuitive dogmatist” Joshua Jaeger. Shortly thereafter, the two joined Angel Olsen’s backing band both on tour and on her seismic Burn Your Fire For No Witness (2014). The recent revival of Lionlimb exhibits a thematic shift which includes jazz elements and Bowie-esque guitar arrangements, complemented by Bronaugh’s understated vocals. With Jaeger on drums and production by Nashville’s Robin Eaton, the upcoming Turnstile 7″ will be Lionlimb’s first official release, out on Bayonet September 18th, 2015. [Bayonet]
Stewart Bronaugh talks about Turnstile
I was having writer’s block before I wrote this song. I asked my friend if I could play piano at his studio one day, I thought a change of location would help.
I rode my bike over there and it was real chilly and crisp outside and changing from summer to fall. I sat down at the piano and just Immediately played the opening chords Gm7 and C in the same rhythm you hear on the song. I kept playing it over and over.
It’s sort of my breakup song with opiates. Like any relationship that dies, I feel lucky to be living a life without it but part of me still loves and misses it.
Stew on Turnstile
A few days later I came up with the pre-chorus and chorus. All I lyrically was singing was, Your love is a _____ and I ____ it”. I came up with maybe twenty versions of that and picked my favorites. I struggled with opiates from the age of 18 to about 23. I still struggle with it but I haven’t used it since then. The last couple of years of doing opiates I had moved onto heroin when I was living in Chicago. I left in an effort to get away from it cause I was just meeting more and more people who used it. But after I stopped using I just replaced that void with alcohol.
I’ve been sober for almost four years now but I was no doubt hungover when I wrote this song back in 2014. It’s sort of my breakup song with opiates. Like any relationship that dies, I feel lucky to be living a life without it but part of me still loves and misses it.
Lyrics: Turnstile
You said you couldn’t stay long
And you play such terrible songs
In the shadow cast by promise
What secrets have you not forgotten
Didn’t I see it
Didn’t I believe in it
Didn’t I need it
Didn’t I long for it
Your love is a needle and I stuck it
Your love is a guitar and I sold it
I tried my hand at desire
I tried my hand at grief
Didn’t I deal it
Didn’t I pay for it
Didn’t I need it
Didn’t I dream of it
Your love is a turnstile and I jumped it
Your love is a habit and I fed it
Tracklist: Shoo
1. “God Knows”
2. “Domino”
3. “Ride”
4. “Tinman”
5. “Lemonade”
6. “Hung“
7. “Turnstile“
8. “Blame Time“
9. “Wide Bed”
10. “Just Because”
11. “Crossroad”
