Jim Schwall (of Siegel-Schwall Blues Band fame) serves up straight shot portraits of folks losing track of their best laid plans, betraying expectations, shanghaied by love. Schwall resembles a working class Loudon Wainwright III. These Short Stories are deftly written, biting, touching, hilarious. "Superball Sunday" relates a couples' blowing their year's finances on a luxury hotel to watch the Super Bowl, and missing the game in favor of rediscovering one another. Several songs take place in barrooms, Schwall's canvas of human frailty and foibles. Styles range from blues to folk to old-timey to romantic ballads. W/ guitars, mandolin, piano accordion, bass, cello, lap steel, fiddle, dobro, accordion, drums.