Begging Dog is the project of multi/asrtist Jeff Kleinman, an outlet for his work outside of the band Choir Boy. DEMO 1 is are first Begging Dog demos, self-recorded, self-produced, and self-released — that is until DAIS Records heard it and offered to give the original album a wider vinyl release, the LP will be available December 12th.

Kleinman came up playing in punk bands, and over the last two decades, he has found his place in the DIY community, having called various locations home, notably Columbus, Ohio, and Salt Lake City, where Choir Boy formed, followed by New Haven, Connecticut, before his move to LA. The songs on DEMO 1 feature a range of lived-in observations, scenes, and characters.

Among many are a pushy union rep and a mailman with a steady federal job (“Begging Dog”), a compulsive gambler (“Money Tree”), a beloved homeless man in his neighborhood (“Laughing Boy”), and the absence of ex-loves haunting several tracks, all collaged together. Kleinman sites Bruce Springsteen as an inspiration in how his songs are penned with plain ink, opting for direct simplicity over flowery prose.

“Loneliness always keeps the best company,” he sings on the synth-laced “Laughing Boy”, walking through his neighborhood contemplating the meaning of life, decrying high rent, and noting the scent of jasmine trees in the same breath as the jarring police presence. Later on “Common Place”, surrounded by urgent drum machine kicks and distortion, he feels truly alive at a Seven Eleven downtown, then darts between a tragedy he witnessed at a park and more fond memories of living communally in Salt Lake City, before declaring his new mantra: “It’s over.” The contrasts here are what make these songs human.

“No matter how good or not good you have it, you’re kind of like looking for something more,” says Kleinman, stopping short of trying to find some larger meaning in his work. “When I’m writing about these things, I don’t try to make them more important than what they are.”

Begging Dog
DEMO 1
Tracklist
Dais Records

01 – Begging Dog
02 – Cave In On Me
03 – Money Tree
04 – The Eel
05 – Laughing Boy
06 – Clamshell Tune
07 – Continuing Education
08 – Tell Me That You Love Me
09 – Common Place
10 – Here For A Good Time

pre-order DEM0 1 by Begging Dog HERE