Some three or more years ago, I wrote a song called, “Trouble and Turmoil.” Believe it or not, I wrote it before moving to Bakersfield.

The song was inspired by what I was into at the time: Johnny Cash, Nick Lowe’s “Dig My Mood,” Dave Alvin’s “Public Domain” and Charles Bukowski. My aspiration was to write a cycle of songs as dark and depressing as I could possibly muster — not because my life was so dreary (though, it has grown decidedly better since), but because I thought it would be a cool thing to do. Of that cycle, Trouble and Turmoil is the lone finsihed song. I moved on to other things. It wasn’t long after that I got promoted to director of new media in Ventura. Life became much busier with stuff that seemed far more important than writing songs few people would ever here.

After I recorded my version, I sent the MP3 to a bunch of friends. I got good feedback from Matt Welch, Ken Layne and Buddy Blue, but only Kevin Featherly promised to record it.

A while back, I got an e-mail from Kevin saying the song was finally recorded and he was mixing it. He warned me that this wasn’t the rockabilly/country song I initially envisioned, but something much darker, and it’s now a rock song.

It might feel a little as if you gave your child up for adoption, then reunited much later, only to find the child had been raised by wolves.

When I heard the first rough mix the next day, I was blown away. The wolves raised my baby right.

Here’s the Song: Trouble and Turmoil, the Featherly Faction

Credits: Bruce Featherly, vocals; Scott Maida, drums; Kevin Feathery, all other instruments, production and mixing; words and music by Howard Owens.

It’s such a damn kick to write a song and hear somebody with far more talent than I have record it. I have other songs. One of them, “This Town,” is actually about Bakersfield. You can hear it on my Bakotopia profile page.

Thanks to Kevin for putting a band behind this song and giving it his own interpretation. That’s very cool.

His whole self-released CD (Plastic on the Fire) is pretty darn impressive. Kevin is a helluv a songwriter. Being a writer by trade, it’s not surprising that he writes penetrating, thoughtful lyrics, but he can also turn out soulful, interesting melodies.

It’s interesting to reflect on writing Trouble and Turmoil. A lot has changed in my life in the past four years or so. Since then I’ve been through trouble and turmoil like I never expected, and I’ve also had some of the best times of my life. Sometimes you have to pass through a valley to reach the mountain. Thanks to all of my friends for their support, encouragement and outright big-hearted friendship. Happy New Year to all.

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