Conquerors

Heaven Knows

Heart of Worship Music with Christina Mae

 

Christina Mae and Heart of Worship Music

 Please tell us about your musical journey in Christ. How long have you been making music? Any formal training? Professional experience?

I didn't get to know Jesus personally until later in my life. I was 29 when God's grace and mercy got a hold of me and I accepted the precious gift of hope and life that Jesus offers to all who will come to Him. I realized then that I wanted to use any of my musical abilities and talents (and anything else I had) to serve Him and glorify Him. I had been trained as a classical pianist and also had some vocal training - and had played in clubs and bars for much of my early adulthood. I now wanted to use all that experience to tell the world about the King of Kings! I began serving in our local church and also had the opportunity to start writing with some really gifted Christian writers in Nashville. God has been extremely faithful and generous to bring many people into my life that have helped guide me and encourage me in both my spiritual and my musical journey.... It's a never-ending journey where I continue to surrender anything and everything I have back to Him - that He might use my gifts to build His kingdom and bring the life-changing news of the gospel to others.

Christina Mae

What music inspires you the most (Christian or secular)? 

I am inspired my many genres of music - most deeply when the beauty of God is seen - which can happen even in a simple melody. I love classical music such as Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin etc but my most favorite type of music is that which draws us closer to God and invites us to know Him more, usually because there are lyrics attached that inspire us. The Getty music group (including Matt Boswell, Matt Papa and Matt Merker) is currently writing fantastic, Spirit-filled songs that speak of God's greatness, love and mercy and invite us to respond. In a more contemporary vein I enjoy some of the new Elevation worship music that finds a very relatable way to express deep theology under the leadership of Steven Furtick. One of my favorite solo artists right now is Danny Gokey - I think his music is very accessible to this generation and always has a message that points hearts to Jesus. I also spend a lot of time listening to Southern Gospel - groups like Legacy 5, Brian Free and Assurance, Joseph Habedank, Gold City and the Lefevre Quartet. There are so many great vocalists, musicians and writers out there who are using their gifts for the glory of God.

How has making music made a difference in your Christian walk?

From a songwriting perspective, music has made me very carefully examine what I believe and what the Bible says on certain topics. I would never want my music to lead someone in the wrong direction - and I want anything that I write or sing about to lead people to some kind of action or reaction. This means I need to dig deep into the truths of God to make sure they are expressed clearly and in a way that makes people want to respond. Writing has also made me sensitive to some of the serious battles and struggles other people are going through - and I seek to find ways to use God's promises to bring hope and peace into those struggles.

What projects are you working on now? What are your hopes for them?

I just finished work on a song called "BEAUTIFUL LIFE" - now available on YOUTUBE and SPOTIFY. It is my hope that this song will remind us all of God's many blessings and goodness, no matter what we are walking through.

                                     

Where can we find out more about you, your band and your music?

I enjoy writing and singing both solo type and more congregational type worship songs. I have made many of these songs available with free lead sheets on my website below. https://heartofworship.online/

Christina Mae and Heart of Worship Music

 Please tell us about your musical journey in Christ. How long have you been making music? Any formal training? Professional experience?

I didn't get to know Jesus personally until later in my life. I was 29 when God's grace and mercy got a hold of me and I accepted the precious gift of hope and life that Jesus offers to all who will come to Him. I realized then that I wanted to use any of my musical abilities and talents (and anything else I had) to serve Him and glorify Him. I had been trained as a classical pianist and also had some vocal training - and had played in clubs and bars for much of my early adulthood. I now wanted to use all that experience to tell the world about the King of Kings! I began serving in our local church and also had the opportunity to start writing with some really gifted Christian writers in Nashville. God has been extremely faithful and generous to bring many people into my life that have helped guide me and encourage me in both my spiritual and my musical journey.... It's a never-ending journey where I continue to surrender anything and everything I have back to Him - that He might use my gifts to build His kingdom and bring the life-changing news of the gospel to others.

Christina Mae

What music inspires you the most (Christian or secular)? 

I am inspired my many genres of music - most deeply when the beauty of God is seen - which can happen even in a simple melody. I love classical music such as Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin etc but my most favorite type of music is that which draws us closer to God and invites us to know Him more, usually because there are lyrics attached that inspire us. The Getty music group (including Matt Boswell, Matt Papa and Matt Merker) is currently writing fantastic, Spirit-filled songs that speak of God's greatness, love and mercy and invite us to respond. In a more contemporary vein I enjoy some of the new Elevation worship music that finds a very relatable way to express deep theology under the leadership of Steven Furtick. One of my favorite solo artists right now is Danny Gokey - I think his music is very accessible to this generation and always has a message that points hearts to Jesus. I also spend a lot of time listening to Southern Gospel - groups like Legacy 5, Brian Free and Assurance, Joseph Habedank, Gold City and the Lefevre Quartet. There are so many great vocalists, musicians and writers out there who are using their gifts for the glory of God.

How has making music made a difference in your Christian walk?

From a songwriting perspective, music has made me very carefully examine what I believe and what the Bible says on certain topics. I would never want my music to lead someone in the wrong direction - and I want anything that I write or sing about to lead people to some kind of action or reaction. This means I need to dig deep into the truths of God to make sure they are expressed clearly and in a way that makes people want to respond. Writing has also made me sensitive to some of the serious battles and struggles other people are going through - and I seek to find ways to use God's promises to bring hope and peace into those struggles.

What projects are you working on now? What are your hopes for them?

I just finished work on a song called "BEAUTIFUL LIFE" - now available on YOUTUBE and SPOTIFY. It is my hope that this song will remind us all of God's many blessings and goodness, no matter what we are walking through.

                                     

Where can we find out more about you, your band and your music?

I enjoy writing and singing both solo type and more congregational type worship songs. I have made many of these songs available with free lead sheets on my website below. https://heartofworship.online/

Aware by DesGens:Music Video Review

 

Aware by DesGens is a new song with accompanying video that is truly a crowd pleaser. Not only is the brilliant musical score uplifting and meaningful, the cinematography and production quality are extremely well done also. The juxtaposition of innocence against the backdrop of Christ's suffering on the cross, shedding a tear for His people creates an emotional hook that will draw you in for the duration of this just over three minute video. In its entirety, it's a collage of strife, longing and reconciliation images that visually portray the message and passion of the gospel. You will thoroughly enjoy this brief but engaging cinematic composition that amplifies the musical message, purposefully intended to make you "aware" of what has been done for the world through the love and sacrifice of Christ Jesus. Try not to cry if you can. 

Little Wretches Release New Album

                         

 Red Beets and Horseradish 

by

The Little Wretches

RED BEETS AND HORSERADISH is inspired by a relish or side-dish usually served around the holidays of Easter or Passover by various ethnicities of Eastern Europe. For the Serbs, for example, the red of the beets is symbolic of the blood of their people, and the horseradish the bitterness of their suffering. For others, the symbolism involves the blood of their savior and the bitterness of His suffering. People in the Jewish tradition also enjoy the dish, but there is no blood involved—the beets are merely for flavor—but the horseradish does represent the memory of bitter suffering in bondage.

The songs on the album involve vignettes and portraits of people who’ve suffered—old people, sick people, crazy people, people who are alone—but the heart of the songs lies not in the suffering of the characters but in the indomitable faith and humor that sustains them.

The introductory track to the album, Rise, sets the tone and theme of the collection with a folksy and upbeat ballad that offers promise straight up in the face of adversity:

Rise from your slumber

Days without number

Wait for you

Shake off your losses

So many causes 

to put your shoulder to

It’s time to mend

Time to turn the next bend

We depend on you to harmonize

so Rise

Rise

Next comes the song, Lovingkindness, which begins with a harmonica intro hook that blends into a pleasing and catchy melody accentuated by lyrics that glorify the personal praise and testimony of a soul grateful to the God of Creation who is fearsome yet loving and kind to those who He has purchased through His sacrifice on the cross in Christ Jesus.

The third track, Palms & Crosses, picks up the beat somewhat with the drums and electric guitar sounds, and it is a song that seems a bit ironic regarding our Lord's passion at Calvary:

One week palms, joy and praise, 

Hearts are lifted, voices raised

Next week nails and crowns of thorns

The mother of God herself will mourn

The chorus line to the song is my favorite: "All I know is that tomorrow will decide what yesterday means!" And it's a good application of gospel doctrine that should be exercised by every believer who walks in faith and not by sight.

Winter's Grace is a beautiful ballad,  written by Annette Dietz and performed by Rosa Colucci, that is almost existential in its sympathy and awareness of human limitations in the face of adversity but yet we try: 

My friend lives in a deserted mine, 

He wears brokenness like a cloak.

My friend lives in a deserted mine, 

He wears brokenness like a cloak.

My friend lives in a deserted mine.  

Tonight, we walk to the quiet shrine

The moon settles onto my upturned palm

With a brilliant dusting of snow.(A brilliant dusting of snow.)

Some days the best I can do Is clear a path for light.   

       

Heaven Was Open, is a song that speaks of "seeing the light" and offers a comparison between unseen spiritual realities and the fallen visible world and the Lord is to be praised for this eye opening experience (of course).

Old Hundredth, is partially based on an old Isaac Watts hymn with modifications and is probably my favorite track on the prolific album which totals thirteen songs. It is modern and moving with timeless words of strength and encouragement:

Eternal are Thy mercies, Lord

Eternal truth attends Thy word

Though mist and shadow all around

I’ll set my feet on solid ground

 Solid ground, Solid ground

 Solid ground

The final song, It's All Between Me and God, is a great outro song to the album that makes anyone who has spent time plying the path to eternity to pause, look out the window and reflect upon the wonderful (and sometimes frightening) aspects of salvation. And in the final analysis, this might be a good way to sum up the concept behind the entire collection of Red Beets and Horseradish -- a thoughtful musical journey through trials and tribulations of both a personal and social nature that keenly reflect the Christian experience. Do give a listen!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER A COPY OF THE CD!!!

RED BEETS & HORSERADISH BY THE LITTLE WRETCHES, THE NEW ALBUM IS HERE ON MARCH 18, 2022 

Click here to order a

Robert Wagner of Little Wretches

(photo by Melinda Pietrusza)

ROBERT A. WAGNER - THE LITTLEST WRETCH

My songs are mirrors, and I often begin or end my performances by

playing a version of The Velvet Underground’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror”

extended to more than ten-minutes in length to include some of the

images that most shaped my view of the world as a young

man—working men and women enslaved in pursuit of the dollar, the

now-vacant void from whence the spirit fled filled with the distraction of

mindless entertainment, alcohol and assorted drugs, people so numb

that self-destructive violence has lost its impact and the only way they

can hope to feel anything is to hurt the people they love.

Having descended from Slovakian immigrants that sought fortune in

the once-booming steel towns of Western Pennsylvania, I elect to

portray the lives of those around me—family, friends, community,

work. In literature and art, working class characters tend to appear as

comic relief or in the form of the noble savage.  They are cast as

victims, oppressed and betrayed. Personally, I'm sick of Tom Joad. I

hold my characters accountable.

If you sell your soul for money, don’t come crying that you got a bad

deal.

I don’t suppose I’ll ever be accused of telling people what they want to

hear. Then again, I’ve crafted some rather compelling musical portraits

of my grandparents and parents, my sister and brother, my neighbors,

closest friends and fellow travelers. There’s a considerable portion of

love and compassion in these songs, though a lot of people tell me I

sound angry.

I’m not angry; I just enjoy a good fight.

As a kid, I idolized Popeye, Mighty Mouse and Bruno Sammartino. I

ran around the neighborhood, an empty can of spinach stuffed under

my shirt and a corncob pipe between my teeth, a super-hero’s cape in

the form of a bath towel pinned to my shoulders as I defended the

weak and battled the evil-doers of my imagination.

I also loved music. My older cousin said The Beatles were the best

musicians because they wrote their own songs, so he and I built

guitars from scraps of plywood, two-by-fours, nails and rubber bands

and started writing our own songs.

My Catholic parents sent me to St. Anne’s School, where I learned

that we can only be happy when we do what God asks of us. The

nuns taught that God has a special purpose for each of us, and we will

know that purpose by the joy we feel when we’re fulfilling it.

God wanted me to grow up to defend the weak and vanquish the evil-

doers by writing songs and telling stories.

And if I’m wrong, I’ve wasted my life.

NO SHELTER - PRECURSOR TO THE LITTLE WRETCHES

No Shelter was co-founded by John Creighton and Robert A. Wagner

while drinking beer in the Squirrel Hill Cafe the night before The

Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.

Wagner was battling cancer and wasn't sure he was going to live.

Creighton was depressed and wasn't sure he had a reason to live.

Both loved music and agreed that starting a band was the key to

survival. 

No Shelter was part of the first generation of Pittsburgh-area

punk bands. The single Brooks Robinson's Camp / Soldier Boy was

considered a breakthrough for the scene; raising the bar for quality

and production-values and combining powerful lyrics, expressive

performance and a compassionate world-view. Brooks Robinson's

Camp is the transcribed monologue/rant of a deranged man in the

24-hour fast food restaurant where band-members used to drink

coffee and talk. The ascendancy of President Ronald Reagan led to

the cutting of social programs for the mentally ill, rendering people like

the narrator Brooks Robinson's Camp homeless.

THE EARLY WRETCHES - FOLK/PUNK PIONEERS

The Little Wretches was co-founded by brothers Robert Andrew and

Charles John Wagner. Bob wrote original songs and adapted

traditional folk songs, tried to sing and accompanied himself on guitar

while Chuckie worked out counterpoint melodies on violin. Chuckie

and Bob were joined by former members of No Shelter, Ed Heidel on

bass guitar and John Creighton on flute, percussion and background

vocals. Religious missionary Chris Bruckhoff was attracted to the

group because a lot of the songs seemed to have spiritual content,

and he apparently believed he could recruit the members of The Little

Wretches into his church by infiltrating the band. Like John Creighton,

Chris sang background vocals and played various percussion and

wind instruments. Bob Goetz played electric guitar and did some

singing. Deena Alansky took pictures, tried to book gigs, and pasted

posters all over town. The original line-up of The Little Wretches

debuted at The New Group Theater (founded by Martin Giles in the

spirit of the legendary progressive theater company, The Group

Theater) along with the godfathers of the Pittsburgh hard-core scene,

The Five. The earliest version of The Little Wretches came to an end

with the sudden death of John Creighton. John never considered

himself an actual member of The Little Wretches (he was just helping

out), but he was so much a part of the group's sound and persona that

his loss was devastating.

BORN WITH A GIFT - THE CLASSIC ERA

The Little Wretches went straight rock adding Dave Mitchell on

drums, Mike Michalski on bass, and Ellen Hildebrand on electric

guitar. This generation of The Little Wretches played so often at The

Electric Banana, central venue of the Pittsburgh underground, that

many came to regard them as the house-band. The Little Wretches

felt otherwise and eventually stopped performing at The Banana.

Robert Wagner said, "Being content to be the house-band at The

Electric Banana is like a family being content to live on welfare and

food-stamps".  Michalski, who later founded The Heretics and The

Kelly Affair and produced recordings for Rusted Root and Get Hip

Records, described his time in The Little Wretches as like going to

rock school, " Hundreds of bootleg recordings were made by friends

and fans of the band."

 The theme-song of the era was Born With A

Gift, and songs like Thanks for Saving My Life,The Taste of Dirt, Who Is America, Let Me Play Your Guitar sound as vital today

as they day they were written. This generation of The Little Wretches

ended with the departures of Mike Michalski, Dave Mitchell, and

Chuckie Wagner.

ALTHOUGH IN THE FUTURE, THEY'LL

SAY THESE WERE DARK TIMES -

MAYBE NEXT TIME, MAYBE NEXT TIME

David Losi had been living in Atlanta, performing in groups like Sexy

Up and B-49. He dropped in on a Little Wretches recording session

while in Pittsburgh to visit his family, played piano on the entire

session, and decided to return to Pittsburgh to join the band. Losi was

unembarrassedly Beatles-esque could KILL with harmonies, ballads

and raw rock vocals. Mike Madden was/is one of the best rock

drummers--period. When The Little Wretches performed at The

Decade, the legendary Pittsburgh rock club graced by Springsteen,

David Johansen and any number of blues heroes, the club's manager

asked, "Where'd you get that guy? He's the best drummer to come

through here in years!" Unfortunately, Mike was raising a family and

unable to tour, so The Little Wretches had to look elsewhere for a

drummer. Gregg Bielski, a friend and fan of The Little Wretches, had

been attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania and generating an

awesome body of work as the founder of Shrink Wrap (see G. G.

Allin). Gregg had been working with tapes and drum-programs, started

collaborating with drummerless The Wretches, and soon began

performing with the band. Ellen Hildebrand switched from guitar to

bass, and this new version of The Little Wretches went into the studio

to create JUST ANOTHER NAIL IN MY COFFIN and THIS TIME THE

REBELLION WEEPS, and a modified version of this band (with

Angelo George on drums and Jon Paul Leone on guitar) recorded

THE LITTLE WRETCHES. The band rehearsed and recreated at

Ellen's sheep farm in Clarksville PA, and a major breakthrough

seemed to be right around the corner as the band began to meet with

lawyers, managers and publicists. This generation of the The Little

Wretches passed when various band-members entered the season of

their lives that called for raising children and caring for families. Listen

to the recordings. Read the reviews.

THE FOLK POET - TELLING STORIES AND ASKING

QUESTIONS LIKE JESUS AND SOCRATES

I continue to perform solo and with small acoustic ensembles, usually

appearing at coffeehouses or small clubs. In addition to writing songs

and telling stories, I teach and counsel abused, neglected,

traumatized and court-adjudicated youth. (I have both Crip and Blood

bandanas hanging on my bedroom door, souvenirs from battle.) The

season of rock n roll having passed for The Little Wretches (It no

longer made sense to be carrying amplifiers and unloading trucks at

4:30 in the morning), I had a something of a rebirth after

hearing/seeing/studying the live-performances of Michelle Shocked,

Steve Earle and Peter Himmelman and the live-recordings of Phil

Ochs. I got involved with the songwriter's group at Calliope, The

Pittsburgh Folk Music Society back in the mid-nineties. With Gypsy-

jazzman James Hovan, I co-founded The Calliope Acoustic Open-

Stage at The Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, a weekly event that has lived

for going-on fifteen years. We also founded The Threepenny Opry

performance-series at The Starlite Lounge. I've managed to record

and release some pretty powerful stuff. I hope I get to meet you and

play for you someday. 

Sincerely, Robert A. Wagner The Little

Wretches

MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE BAND'S WEBSITE FOR THE FULL SCOOP AND LINKS TO MUSIC AT LITTLEWRETCHES.COM

Music Review: Red Beets and Horseradish by Little Wretches

 Red Beets and Horseradish 

by

The Little Wretches

RED BEETS AND HORSERADISH is inspired by a relish or side-dish usually served around the holidays of Easter or Passover by various ethnicities of Eastern Europe. For the Serbs, for example, the red of the beets is symbolic of the blood of their people, and the horseradish the bitterness of their suffering. For others, the symbolism involves the blood of their savior and the bitterness of His suffering. People in the Jewish tradition also enjoy the dish, but there is no blood involved—the beets are merely for flavor—but the horseradish does represent the memory of bitter suffering in bondage.

The songs on the album involve vignettes and portraits of people who’ve suffered—old people, sick people, crazy people, people who are alone—but the heart of the songs lies not in the suffering of the characters but in the indomitable faith and humor that sustains them.

The introductory track to the album, Rise, sets the tone and theme of the collection with a folksy and upbeat ballad that offers promise straight up in the face of adversity:

Rise from your slumber

Days without number

Wait for you

Shake off your losses

So many causes 

to put your shoulder to

It’s time to mend

Time to turn the next bend

We depend on you to harmonize

so Rise

Rise

Next comes the song, Lovingkindness, which begins with a harmonica intro hook that blends into a pleasing and catchy melody accentuated by lyrics that glorify the personal praise and testimony of a soul grateful to the God of Creation who is fearsome yet loving and kind to those who He has purchased through His sacrifice on the cross in Christ Jesus.

The third track, Palms & Crosses, picks up the beat somewhat with the drums and electric guitar sounds, and it is a song that seems a bit ironic regarding our Lord's passion at Calvary:

One week palms, joy and praise, 

Hearts are lifted, voices raised

Next week nails and crowns of thorns

The mother of God herself will mourn

The chorus line to the song is my favorite: "All I know is that tomorrow will decide what yesterday means!" And it's a good application of gospel doctrine that should be exercised by every believer who walks in faith and not by sight.

Winter's Grace is a beautiful ballad, written by Annette Dietz and performed by Rosa Colucci, that is almost existential in its sympathy and awareness of human limitations in the face of adversity but yet we try: 

My friend lives in a deserted mine, 

He wears brokenness like a cloak.

My friend lives in a deserted mine, 

He wears brokenness like a cloak.

My friend lives in a deserted mine.  

Tonight, we walk to the quiet shrine

The moon settles onto my upturned palm

With a brilliant dusting of snow.(A brilliant dusting of snow.)

Some days the best I can do Is clear a path for light.   

       

Heaven Was Open, is a song that speaks of "seeing the light" and offers a comparison between unseen spiritual realities and the fallen visible world and the Lord is to be praised for this eye opening experience (of course).

Old Hundredth, is partially based on an old Isaac Watts hymn with modifications and is probably my favorite track on the prolific album which totals thirteen songs. It is modern and moving with timeless words of strength and encouragement:

Eternal are Thy mercies, Lord

Eternal truth attends Thy word

Though mist and shadow all around

I’ll set my feet on solid ground

 Solid ground, Solid ground

 Solid ground

The final song, It's All Between Me and God, is a great outro song to the album that makes anyone who has spent time plying the path to eternity to pause, look out the window and reflect upon the wonderful (and sometimes frightening) aspects of salvation. And in the final analysis, this might be a good way to sum up the concept behind the entire collection of Red Beets and Horseradish -- a thoughtful musical journey through trials and tribulations of both a personal and social nature that keenly reflect the Christian experience. Do give a listen!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER A COPY OF THE CD!!!

RED BEETS & HORSERADISH BY THE LITTLE WRETCHES, THE NEW ALBUM IS HERE ON MARCH 18, 2022 

Click here to order a

Robert Wagner of Little Wretches

(photo by Melinda Pietrusza)

ROBERT A. WAGNER - THE LITTLEST WRETCH

My songs are mirrors, and I often begin or end my performances by

playing a version of The Velvet Underground’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror”

extended to more than ten-minutes in length to include some of the

images that most shaped my view of the world as a young

man—working men and women enslaved in pursuit of the dollar, the

now-vacant void from whence the spirit fled filled with the distraction of

mindless entertainment, alcohol and assorted drugs, people so numb

that self-destructive violence has lost its impact and the only way they

can hope to feel anything is to hurt the people they love.

Having descended from Slovakian immigrants that sought fortune in

the once-booming steel towns of Western Pennsylvania, I elect to

portray the lives of those around me—family, friends, community,

work. In literature and art, working class characters tend to appear as

comic relief or in the form of the noble savage.  They are cast as

victims, oppressed and betrayed. Personally, I'm sick of Tom Joad. I

hold my characters accountable.

If you sell your soul for money, don’t come crying that you got a bad

deal.

I don’t suppose I’ll ever be accused of telling people what they want to

hear. Then again, I’ve crafted some rather compelling musical portraits

of my grandparents and parents, my sister and brother, my neighbors,

closest friends and fellow travelers. There’s a considerable portion of

love and compassion in these songs, though a lot of people tell me I

sound angry.

I’m not angry; I just enjoy a good fight.

As a kid, I idolized Popeye, Mighty Mouse and Bruno Sammartino. I

ran around the neighborhood, an empty can of spinach stuffed under

my shirt and a corncob pipe between my teeth, a super-hero’s cape in

the form of a bath towel pinned to my shoulders as I defended the

weak and battled the evil-doers of my imagination.

I also loved music. My older cousin said The Beatles were the best

musicians because they wrote their own songs, so he and I built

guitars from scraps of plywood, two-by-fours, nails and rubber bands

and started writing our own songs.

My Catholic parents sent me to St. Anne’s School, where I learned

that we can only be happy when we do what God asks of us. The

nuns taught that God has a special purpose for each of us, and we will

know that purpose by the joy we feel when we’re fulfilling it.

God wanted me to grow up to defend the weak and vanquish the evil-

doers by writing songs and telling stories.

And if I’m wrong, I’ve wasted my life.

NO SHELTER - PRECURSOR TO THE LITTLE WRETCHES

No Shelter was co-founded by John Creighton and Robert A. Wagner

while drinking beer in the Squirrel Hill Cafe the night before The

Pittsburgh Steelers faced the Los Angeles Rams in the Super Bowl.

Wagner was battling cancer and wasn't sure he was going to live.

Creighton was depressed and wasn't sure he had a reason to live.

Both loved music and agreed that starting a band was the key to

survival. 

No Shelter was part of the first generation of Pittsburgh-area

punk bands. The single Brooks Robinson's Camp / Soldier Boy was

considered a breakthrough for the scene; raising the bar for quality

and production-values and combining powerful lyrics, expressive

performance and a compassionate world-view. Brooks Robinson's

Camp is the transcribed monologue/rant of a deranged man in the

24-hour fast food restaurant where band-members used to drink

coffee and talk. The ascendancy of President Ronald Reagan led to

the cutting of social programs for the mentally ill, rendering people like

the narrator Brooks Robinson's Camp homeless.

THE EARLY WRETCHES - FOLK/PUNK PIONEERS

The Little Wretches was co-founded by brothers Robert Andrew and

Charles John Wagner. Bob wrote original songs and adapted

traditional folk songs, tried to sing and accompanied himself on guitar

while Chuckie worked out counterpoint melodies on violin. Chuckie

and Bob were joined by former members of No Shelter, Ed Heidel on

bass guitar and John Creighton on flute, percussion and background

vocals. Religious missionary Chris Bruckhoff was attracted to the

group because a lot of the songs seemed to have spiritual content,

and he apparently believed he could recruit the members of The Little

Wretches into his church by infiltrating the band. Like John Creighton,

Chris sang background vocals and played various percussion and

wind instruments. Bob Goetz played electric guitar and did some

singing. Deena Alansky took pictures, tried to book gigs, and pasted

posters all over town. The original line-up of The Little Wretches

debuted at The New Group Theater (founded by Martin Giles in the

spirit of the legendary progressive theater company, The Group

Theater) along with the godfathers of the Pittsburgh hard-core scene,

The Five. The earliest version of The Little Wretches came to an end

with the sudden death of John Creighton. John never considered

himself an actual member of The Little Wretches (he was just helping

out), but he was so much a part of the group's sound and persona that

his loss was devastating.

BORN WITH A GIFT - THE CLASSIC ERA

The Little Wretches went straight rock adding Dave Mitchell on

drums, Mike Michalski on bass, and Ellen Hildebrand on electric

guitar. This generation of The Little Wretches played so often at The

Electric Banana, central venue of the Pittsburgh underground, that

many came to regard them as the house-band. The Little Wretches

felt otherwise and eventually stopped performing at The Banana.

Robert Wagner said, "Being content to be the house-band at The

Electric Banana is like a family being content to live on welfare and

food-stamps".  Michalski, who later founded The Heretics and The

Kelly Affair and produced recordings for Rusted Root and Get Hip

Records, described his time in The Little Wretches as like going to

rock school, " Hundreds of bootleg recordings were made by friends

and fans of the band."

 The theme-song of the era was Born With A

Gift, and songs like Thanks for Saving My Life,The Taste of Dirt, Who Is America, Let Me Play Your Guitar sound as vital today

as they day they were written. This generation of The Little Wretches

ended with the departures of Mike Michalski, Dave Mitchell, and

Chuckie Wagner.

ALTHOUGH IN THE FUTURE, THEY'LL

SAY THESE WERE DARK TIMES -

MAYBE NEXT TIME, MAYBE NEXT TIME

David Losi had been living in Atlanta, performing in groups like Sexy

Up and B-49. He dropped in on a Little Wretches recording session

while in Pittsburgh to visit his family, played piano on the entire

session, and decided to return to Pittsburgh to join the band. Losi was

unembarrassedly Beatles-esque could KILL with harmonies, ballads

and raw rock vocals. Mike Madden was/is one of the best rock

drummers--period. When The Little Wretches performed at The

Decade, the legendary Pittsburgh rock club graced by Springsteen,

David Johansen and any number of blues heroes, the club's manager

asked, "Where'd you get that guy? He's the best drummer to come

through here in years!" Unfortunately, Mike was raising a family and

unable to tour, so The Little Wretches had to look elsewhere for a

drummer. Gregg Bielski, a friend and fan of The Little Wretches, had

been attending Indiana University of Pennsylvania and generating an

awesome body of work as the founder of Shrink Wrap (see G. G.

Allin). Gregg had been working with tapes and drum-programs, started

collaborating with drummerless The Wretches, and soon began

performing with the band. Ellen Hildebrand switched from guitar to

bass, and this new version of The Little Wretches went into the studio

to create JUST ANOTHER NAIL IN MY COFFIN and THIS TIME THE

REBELLION WEEPS, and a modified version of this band (with

Angelo George on drums and Jon Paul Leone on guitar) recorded

THE LITTLE WRETCHES. The band rehearsed and recreated at

Ellen's sheep farm in Clarksville PA, and a major breakthrough

seemed to be right around the corner as the band began to meet with

lawyers, managers and publicists. This generation of the The Little

Wretches passed when various band-members entered the season of

their lives that called for raising children and caring for families. Listen

to the recordings. Read the reviews.

THE FOLK POET - TELLING STORIES AND ASKING

QUESTIONS LIKE JESUS AND SOCRATES

I continue to perform solo and with small acoustic ensembles, usually

appearing at coffeehouses or small clubs. In addition to writing songs

and telling stories, I teach and counsel abused, neglected,

traumatized and court-adjudicated youth. (I have both Crip and Blood

bandanas hanging on my bedroom door, souvenirs from battle.) The

season of rock n roll having passed for The Little Wretches (It no

longer made sense to be carrying amplifiers and unloading trucks at

4:30 in the morning), I had a something of a rebirth after

hearing/seeing/studying the live-performances of Michelle Shocked,

Steve Earle and Peter Himmelman and the live-recordings of Phil

Ochs. I got involved with the songwriter's group at Calliope, The

Pittsburgh Folk Music Society back in the mid-nineties. With Gypsy-

jazzman James Hovan, I co-founded The Calliope Acoustic Open-

Stage at The Bloomfield Bridge Tavern, a weekly event that has lived

for going-on fifteen years. We also founded The Threepenny Opry

performance-series at The Starlite Lounge. I've managed to record

and release some pretty powerful stuff. I hope I get to meet you and

play for you someday. 

Sincerely, Robert A. Wagner The Little

Wretches

MAKE SURE TO VISIT THE BAND'S WEBSITE FOR THE FULL SCOOP AND LINKS TO MUSIC AT LITTLEWRETCHES.COM