Bar/venue owners...please get your act together. If you delegate the responsibility of booking to an employee or contracted booking agent, then make sure that they're responsible enough to do the job and keep the books straight. Also, if you do have someone who books for your establishment, then don't go booking people yourself without telling your contracted agent. I'm sick of having to find out on my own that a gig has been double booked by either taking the initiative to call your place or just showing up after driving there just to find out at the friggin' door. And once you have either a written agreement for either door charge or garauntee, then stick to it and don't stick it to the performer. I'm not playing any more establishments that have shown that they have a convoluted process of booking entertainment or are slimeball rat snakes. You know who you are. Because you loose the great performers, SUCH AS MYSELF, and also loose any of the people that the performer would have brought to the gig. No, my friends are not going to your establishment if I'm not playing. And neither am I...ever. Keep doing this to performers, and you loose more business than you gain. After all, bad gossip travels faster than a good review on a grassroots level. Start caring about your business ethics, patrons, and people in general. Every little bit counts guy.
August 5th, 2009 - New Recordings!
With the help of my good friend and drummer, Danny Berk, I've just finished the first song on my next indie release! It's called "Unsteady (In Love With You)." It's awesome and sticks to my whole pop/rock, catchy choruses thing. Refining my writing skills and I'm super psyched!
I also just added the missing piece to my cover/party band puzzle with the addition of an awesome female vocalist. Now we can cover so much more territory in bars, parties, night clubs, and strip joints without ever missing a beat! More gigs/shows will be added soon for the cover/party band. Join the mailing list to keep updated. =) peace!
August 2nd, 2009 - COMEDY!
We just saw Pablo Francisco, uber comedian extraordinaire, last night. When it was all over, my gf turned to speak with me about the show and other things on her mind as people usually do in general. "Shhh," I said. "I...I can't...just...just hold me." An orgasmic wave of funny had passed over me and I needed to rest in the afterglow of it all. I don't smoke, but if I did, a cigarrette would have followed. She herself made a brand new "laugh face." A systematic contraction of muscles that she had never experienced. Pablo Francisco, you are ridiculous. It was the funniest stand-up, aside from the greats like Eddie Murphys and such, that I have EVER seen. I've been watching standup my entire life and consider myself to be a comic snob when it comes to this medium of standup. Although he, on the exterior, relied heavily on cheap tricks such as his Arnold impression and movie announcer guy, he had actual substance and wit on this night and I was very impressed. He caught the masses like sheep with his cheap stunts and got the rest of us with the wit. It was absolutely amazing. AMAZING!!! >=O
June 25th, 2009 - MJ/Quick News:
MJ just died. I'm kind of in shock...I don't care what he did in his personal life. The man is a LEGEND for good reason. But here's the crazy thing...he JUST died. News was officially given and not more than 5 minutes later, so it seemed, there was a detailed article on Yahoo all about it. 5 minutes! Pretty soon we'll be at 4, and then 3, then 2, then one, THEN NONE! <=O no wait...that would actually just be called the "present." That already exists...now...and now...and now...and now...and etc
June 13, 2009 - Harbor Park p.s...
To the guy who tipped me 20 bucks just because he thought I look like John Travolta (which I clearly do not), Thank you!
June 13, 2009 - Harbor Park, Middletown, CT!...um:
Harbor Park...we're...we're cool right? Cause like, I think we all had a GREAT time last night. Usually it's customary to wait a few days after such a one night stand so as not to seem so desparate, but really I had a GREAT time with you and I really want to see you again. I've...I've been so lonely lately Harbor Park and you really make me feel ALIVE. For the first time in a long time I wake up and have hopes and dreams! GOSH HARBOR PARK! You make me feel so wonderful I just can't contain myself! Also, If I offended you in any way, I am sorry. I said some things...listen, shooting up heroine into my eyeball while midgets deficate on my chest and farm animals run around without condoms on is NOT cool. Just because I'm from the mean streets of New Haven and I play a few hip hop songs and, for all intensive purposes, am hardcore straight up from da hood yo, it's NO reason to justify the things that I've done in my past. Still, you seemed to have forgiven my faults and life choices last night and...really i had a great time. Just please call me Harbor Park. Please...oh please call me back whenever you get a chance! I - just - really - miss - you...(sigh). So I guess (answering machine cuts off) (click). <=/
March 6, 2009 - harumph!:
Can I complain for a minute? I know, I'm sorry. This is tecnically my blog and all, but what I'm about to write seems like a horribly pathetic emo cry for help. Not really my style. SO HERE GOES! <=D
I swear on God's round table...If I have to play Pour Some Sugar On Me or My Own Worst Enemy one more time, ONE MORE TIME, I will crack. (sigh) but alas, tis the end all of the CT music scene and I really don't have the balls to pack up my life and move to L.A. on a longshot. Well, at least I get to do one original gig at Uncle Mike's in NYC next month. Really, I like when people praise my originals and not just when they blow up at my/our renditions of John Mayer, SRV, or Jimi. Is it for $$ or love? CT or NY? ...NYC, I'm coming for you! Till then (sings) "love me like a...bomb, ba-by...come on get, it, on..."
Alright, I apologize. Maybe it's just good to let it out sometimes. The internet equivalent to a scream. ;-)
March 9th, 2009 - GEAR?:
Lately people have been asking me about my gear. If you've seen my band play, then you'll notice that I don't use an amp. "But how the heck does it sound exactly like Hendrix, or VH?...you don't even have an amp?" Yes, I know...it's not magic though. I use rackmountable amp modeling preamp effects unit called the BOSS-GT PRO. Not to sound like a commercial, but it's the best sounding and most programmable device of its kind that I've found. I did alot of research when looking for the right one. The Boss unit is far superior than any POD device out there in quality of sound. When I want to sound like Jimi, I just call up a vintage Marshall amp, put a Fuzz "box" in front of it going into a Univibe with reverb and/or delay after the amp. All of this is done internally in the Boss unit. When I want a vintage VH tone (VH 1), I'll call up a High Gain Marshall Plexi on one channel, and sometimes a 5150 on the other channel, crank the knobs, set an eq (he took out alot of low end), put a phaser in front, a noise gate...call it a day, BAM = instant VH karma. All of the amps and stompboxes that are internal to the Boss GT Pro sound exactly as they say. Obviously, there is a certain "magic" that is lacking when you are using tube amps to really push the air, but damn if it ain't 99.9% accurate. In fact, I recorded all of the guitars on "Because I Can" going direct from the Boss GT Pro!
My Guitar is a 2007 PRS Swamp Ash special. It's outfitted with Seymour Duncan humbuckers in the bridge and neck positions, a vintage single coil rail in the middle, and coil tap switch for both humbuckers. It's light, feels great, and has what seems as endless possibilities as far as tone from the pickup configurations.
Bottom line is that I built my rig to support the versatitlity needed to nail the vast array of cover tunes that my band has to play in CT and also as so not to anger my neighbors when recording my original music. I could mic 2 fender amps set up around the condo like I did on "Shine," but I really don't like dealing with angry neighbors and police cars =) And there you have it...the Boss GT Pro / PRS Swamp Ash Special is my mecca of sound. Period.
February 18, 2009 - "TOURETTES LIVE 2009!": I just realized that as a college student, I get to have a "Spring Break." It's only 1 week out of 56 = not that much time, but just enough to play at least a few shows. I'm planning on taking that week, and maybe 1 or 2 more, to put together a little "tour" around the East Coast of the U.S. (mainly New England). A small tour...a "tour-ette" if you will. I've entitled it: "STEVE GREGORY; TOURETTES LIVE 2009!" It will take me to such points of interest like:
Decantur, Georgia - Home of SWEET TEAAAAY! "y'ont s'mo sweet tay?! Y'ONT S'MO...Y'ONT SOME MO SWEET TAY?!!! <=O" Georgia, I SURE DO! ;-)
South Carolina - Home of SOUTH OF THE BORDER, mascotted by "Pedro" the patron saint of fireworks and the worst smells you have ever had the pleasure of!
Middletown, CT - Home of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! <=D
The idea is to command an exponentially larger crowd at each show. This will quickly develop into an army. My tourette will bring me farther north still up the east coast with my army close behind. The culmination of which will end in world domination...at the North Pole. I highly recommend that you attend a show on STEVE GREGORY; TOURETTES LIVE 2009. For, anyone opposing my army by the time I reach the North Pole wilst be crushed. And there is no doubt that the majority of the world will be on board by then. And hey, as the saying goes: When in Rome, eat a bunch of food, vomit, eat some more, and vomit once again. They used to call it the "vomitorium." I think I'll make that the subtitle of my mini-tour. STEVE GREGORY; TOURETTES LIVE 2009...THE VOMATORIUM!
Obviously, since I just came up with this idea 2 minutes ago and it's already 2/18, the odds of me actually booking all of these gigs up the east coast is few and far between. But I'll still try! Time to make some press kits. So, to all of my fans whom I loving call "greghorians," I bid you a doo doo. (monks chanting...chanting...etc.)
February 9, 2009 - ANOTHER ELI'S ON WHITNEY BLOG?! - My sincerest and most humble thanks for everyone who came out to see the trio last Saturday night in Hamden. It was a good time. Sorry for swearing so much. Mike's (bassist extraordinaire) family was there and I dropped a few...ahem, a bunch of curses over the mic. I really need to stop speaking like a pirate/sailor ;-) aaaaarrrr I decided to take a more blues rock approach to the night and really dig in to some Hendrix and such. Of course, that was after we satiated everyone with the mandatory "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Brown Eyed Girl," "Don't Stop Believing," "Living On a Prayer," "Wanted, Dead or Alive," "What I Got," "Gin & Juice," etc. And what the hell was up with that drunk guy who decided to knock a mic stand straight into my teeth whilst mid note?! Yeah, we turned it into a baseball game and he quickly got ejected. All in all, a fun night. So, once again, many thanks to everyone for coming out and enjoying it with us! A count of 50 people just from the little unknown band in a small CT bar isn't too shabby =)
September 8, 2008 - ELI'S ON WHITNEY...
Dr. Brian and his friend Mike look great with Heinnekan coaster nipples. Guys, I am never looking in your direction during a performance again. ;-) And random girls who drop down into splits in front of the band without first warming up. Don't know who she is, but she definitely felt that in the morning. ALCOHOL...Helping Girls do splits without pain since 1000 B.C.
August 25, 2008 - Dubliner & Skid Row:
So I'm still laughing my butt off here...My trio played the Dubliner inside the Mohegan Sun last Friday night. AMAZING TIME! To be expected like usual...of course. TONS of cool people packed the place and we all tore the roof off with tunes from Bon Jovi, Journey, Def Leppard, Neil Diamond. So here's where the funny party happens. We're playing a meddley of Brown Eyed Girl and Sweet Caroline when these rock star looking dudes walk in and start hanging out. We're talkin' full blown tattoes, long hair, the leather...pretty awesome...and out of place for what was going down there, haha. In any case, they seemed to be good sports about hanging out in a bar listening to a local band play these crowd pleasers. Come to find out that we were actually performing for Skid Row who just finished a show in the arena. The only thing that really phased me is the fact that I'm laughing my butt off b/c we had just played a set of good time "anti" melt your face metal. How many times can a local band say that they played Brown Eyed Girl and Sweet Caroline to Skid Row who seemed to happily hang with it? lol...yeah, funny times when worlds collide.
July 23, 2008 - Philly:
I've spent a good amount of time in Philadelphia recently and I can tell you 2 things...they loveBen Franklin and Cheese Steaks. In fact, I bet you didn't know this, but Ben Franklin actually invented Cheese Steaks.
Ben Franklin Cheese Steak Recipe Attempt #1: The first of his cheese steaks was made of a large metal Rod which was attached to the roofs of various government buildings and houses in order to diffuse the heavenly electricity gracefully to the ground in order to save many many lives. However, this preliminary cheese steak recipe, although very practical, proved to be unpalatable and digestible. He instead named this first recipe the "Lightening Rod."
Ben Franklin Cheese Steak Recipe Attempt #2: Made of many glass bowl-shaped tubes attached to a centrally rotating metal rod on which each tube became equally diminished in size from its preceding tube on which water was poured over when applying one's finger to each of the tubes, produced a harmonious sequence of chromatic notes. Again, this yielded a very unpalatable and indegestible cheese steak. Thus, Ben Franklin decided to name this the "Harmonium" after its harmonious sounding audible characteristics and it remained his most favorite invention although it quickly lost favor with musicians of subsequent generations. Yet, he was still in search of creating the coveted Philly Cheese Steak...
Ben Franklin Cheese Steak Recipe Attempt #3: Ben Franklin, living in what is now the "Old City" portion of Philly, repeatedly asked for people to stop ringing the Liberty Bell so much. Even though the first two Bells were cracked in exactly the same spot the first time each one was rung (the first one was actually "defective" and thus melted down completely, poured into a different cast yet still cracked again in the same exact spot...creepy), the people of Philly seemed to love the bell more than life itself. They rung it non-stop. They rung the bell when it rained, they rung it when it was sunny, they rung it because it was xmas, they rung it because it was Easter...they rung it in celebration of ringing it. Well, Ben Franklin could not take the level of this noise pollution and made a point to "complain" and "nag" the authorities. The authorities were not familiar with this new concept of "demanding what you want non-stop regardless of what other people may actually feel," whilst all along hoping to stumble upon what he hoped to be his final cheese steak recipe incarnation. Thus, doing this, Ben Franklin invented the art of "Complaining" and "Nagging" which is still a very prominent practice by many to this day! Sadly, to him it was merely another failed attempt at creating the cheese steak.
I also enjoyed a Boyz II Men, random smooth jazz artist, and John Legend concert while I was there during those few weeks. BUT, my absolute favorite thing in Philly...absolutely favorite thing is this lady who owns a Fruit Stand near the UPENN hospital. She's near Locust Walk on campus. If you can run into her stand on a weekday morning or afternoon, for a few bucks you'll get the most delicious fruit ever piled higher than Ben's Lightening Rod. Tell her I said "hello." She will look at you funny b/c she doesn't know me nor is she completely fluent in English, but you must do this nonetheless. For my last note on Philly pertaining to this: Ben Franklin also invented: Fruit Fruit Stands Fruit Stands run by foreign speaking peoples Foreign speaking peoples (German notwithstanding) Philladelphia Liberty Bells the SEPTA system University of Pennsylvania All religions Life itself and finally...Dildos and other assorted adult novelty toys
Thank you Ben...thank you.
Black Potatoe Music Festival 2008! - June 27, 2008:
I'm pleased to announce that I've been asked to perform at the Black Potatoe Music Festival on July 13th! I'm pretty excited seeing as the NY Times dubbed them the "Sundance Festival" for music. I'll be playing an all original solo acoustic set with some other really great artists that day. In fact, it's a 3 day event with nothing but great artists. So, I'm very happy to be a part of the lineup this year. Wow, I just realized that this makes 2 New Jersey shows in a row for July! I guess it's time to start getting out of CT. ;-) Check out the Black Potatoe 2008 Festival by clicking the picture to the right for a link.
Black Potatoe Music Festival 2008
Hip Hop - June 11th 2008:
I tried my hand at some hip hop and electronic music. For my money, the benchmark of hip hop is Fitty Cent. I am obviously not as good as him. I'm more like 2 dimes and a nickle. So I'll be exploring the world of hip hop under the name "Loose Change." I'll post mp3's when my fresh phat rhymes have turned good and rotten.
What It Is - June 1st, 2008:
I put alot of emphasis on musical textures both live and on my recordings. So much so in fact that I forget that, at the heart of it, what really makes the impact is a well-written song and quality performance. This was made apparent at our gig last night at Anna Liffy's in New Haven. Steve Cioppa, Mike Omara, and myself ventured out as a 3 piece acoustic rock band. We never rehearsed any of this stuff together before...just showed up to make sounds. And I'll be damned if we didn't make beautiful expressive music with an acoustic guitar, bass, and drums. (I sang of course) We rocked harder than the rock cover bands I see around here. We sounded smoother than the RnB acts I see around here. We were more well-refined and inventive than the jazz groups I see around here. And you know why? Because I gave into the fact that it's not about who plays the "right" notes when in a specifically written out arrangment. It's about picking up a piece of wood and metal, being thrown into the mix and smiling at the fact that you have everything you need to make something beautiful happen right now. It's all jazz at the heart of it. Make music with what you got and be happy that the moment will be beautiful. ;-)
Refreshing Truth - March 24, 2008:
Below is a refreshingly truthful quote sent to me by a friend looking out for my best interests. It reinstilled in me why I write and perform music. It's because I love it. It's in my heart and soul. Without these things that enrich our lives from the inside out, we would be shells of meaninglessness. So, as much as I like to joke around and be cynical for the sake of humor, this was a rejouvenating glimpse into the bottom of my craft. Thanks guys.
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench - a long pastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -from Jerry Heller's book "Ruthless"
Until the overall business model changes, artists will be be tested on the true reason for why they do what they do. This is a great time for real artists to Shine.
STEVE / SETH @ DANIEL STREET January 11, 2008:
I want to thank all of our friends who came out to support the show at Daniel Street in Milford, CT last Thursday night! A few awesome things:
1. Seth Adam is amazing. You should go to one of his band's shows. They'll show you how it's done.
2. Joe...er, Jeff...I mean JoeJeff the soundguy at Daniel Street did a fantastic job! I don't recall us ever sounding that good. It's a close call between the sound at Daniel Street and Toads and that's saying something.
3. My bandmates are some of the coolest bunch of guys I know. I'll just go ahead and say it...WE - ROCK.
4. To Sarah Kasuba - I'm glad that we Finally were able to print some new CD's with your awesome logo on it. You'll notice that my page's background has also been changed to include your artistry. I hope one day to repay you for your innovative creative genius. I guess it beats your normal day of sitting in a room capturing the majestic beauty of Lysol products for corporate promotion ;-)
Stay tuned for more upcoming shows in the area! I hope to see you there.
Songwriting Tips January 5, 2008:
I haven't been writing songs for very long. Just a few years. Most of my life I've been more concerned with the mere joy of playing my axe, but since I talk too much I decided to start incorporating that into my guitar playing and thus songs are born. It's difficult being a songwriter. Here are a few tips that have helped me. I hope they help you too.
1. Make sure that each song has a very musical and long intro. In fact, the longer the better. You basically don't even want to start thinking of lyrics before the 30 second mark. If you sing before that you'll be robbing the song of all its artistic merrit and will "give it all away" before the song even has a chance to blossom into the beautiful piece of groundbreaking art that you've written. You wouldn't want to give your art away would you?! Basically, you should model every song you write after Pink Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."
4. The chorus should come in somewhere around 2 and 3 minutes. That'll give your composition the time to really expand itself emotionally and draw the listener in. I'd even say that a minute 40 is still ample time to really make that musical statement that your song so deserves. You should thus try and write as many thoughts into your verses as possible. The longer the verses the better because the more time it takes for you to get to the chorus, the more tension you've built! DUH!
5. Keep the lyrics as metaphorical as possible. People don't want to relaaate. People can relate to real life everyday in...REAL LIFE! They want to be taken on a magical journey of lyrical bliss about topics which they must dig deep to understand only to sing your praise of brilliant whit when they find out that you've embedded the song about your dead dog into an epic saga of good and evil...with dragons preferrably. But that's still not metaphoric. I'll give you an example. "When the night is bright and filled with strife the dragon sits with his owl knife...dead dog." You see, that 1/24th of a verse uses imagery, rhyming (which is mostly unnecessary), and dragons whilst still cleverly embedding the overall theme of the "dead dog."
10. Don't follow the "paint by numbers" pop music formula that most people foolishly use. We've heard verse/chorus/verse/chorus/bridge/double chorus so many times that it has lost all effectiveness. Try changing things up. I recommend beginning with the bridge. Most great movies don't give it all away at the beginning. Take Fight Club for instance. We have no idea that the plot twist will hit us like a steam train until at least half way through the movie! Or even Momento (no I am not a huge Brad Pitt fan). Give the listener something to ponder for about 4 minutes and then BAM! Hit'em with the main purpose of the song in the outro. They won't know what hit em! Your songs will carry the emotional weight of a steamtrain!!! They will all love you.
3. Music is an art and NOT a business. Don't learn anything about copyrights or breakdown of monies b/c that'll only impinge you and your brain from making great ART. NOBODY is going to steal ANYTHING from you. In fact, the better the song, the more people you should send it to unregistered. Let those people know that the song is unregistered. It will make them feel special that you trust them enough with your song and they will probably end up giving you their songs as a musical "thank you." Basically, let the suits stay in their offices and give no regard whatsoever to what any business person tells you is a smart move.
21. Listen to nothing I say
November 11, 2007: We (The Steve Gregory Band) just played the Dubliner inside the Mohegan Sun Casino last Friday night. What can I say? It was an amazing time! The food was awesome, I suggest the Irish Sandwich, the staff was phenomenal (I ordered a Guinness at the beginning of the night. Literally the moment I finished the last sip of my first, the waitress took it out of my hand and replaced it. She repeated this twice as if she had some sort of sixth sense about the state of my beverage from across the room.), and the crowd was great and rowdy as all hell! Everyone took smashingly to our original songs and choice of covers as we played, danced, drank, and ate all night long.
Thank you to all of our friends and family who came out to support and have a good time! Special thanks to UNLIMITED ENTERTAINMENT for hooking us up with THE DUBLINER. We'll be back there soon with more great Steve Gregory originals and classic covers that you love!...yeah, I know, but I only talk in third person for branding purposes ;-)
FREE WEBSTER THEATER TICKET! October 17th, 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cM_jqYnZswk
Here's a video of me and the band playing Say Goodbye at the Webster Theater on 9/28 when I opened up for Teddy Geiger. If you can be the first person to name at least 1 of the following, then you win a FREE TICKET TO MY UPCOMING WEBSTER THEATER SHOW ON SUNDAY 10/28 with TENET, Kenny Mehler, and Columbia Fields! ok...here goes:
1. The name of the drummer
2. The specific model of guitar that I'm using.
3. How much taller Keith, the acoustic guitarist, is than I
4. Why on EARTH was I wearing that idiotic blazer as if it was still the 80's and we were playing all of the hits from Top Gun and the theme song to Miami Vice...oh yeah, I was wearing sandals with that gettup too. I need some fashion advise. You know what? I'm changing question 4 to: whomever gives me the best fashion advice for my upcoming show wins. =)
LIFEHOUSE SHOW Sunday October 14th, 2007:
Lifehouse is amazing. They sound even better than their recordings which are great to begin with. On top of it, they're really nice guys. In fact, the drummer let Stu (my drummer) use his drum throne...um, that's a seat for all yee none musician types. The bassist was like "hey guys, cool...have a good show." And we got a chance to joke around for a few seconds as they waiting to storm the stage. The kicker was a room full of snacks and a frige filled to the brim with gatorade and orange juice in order to keep the electrolyte balance good before a strenuously rocking set.
We played in front of 1500 people. I have my problems about the set that I can complain about aaaaall day, and in fact have spent the past 24 hours complaining about it to the point of almost not caring anymore. We did what we did and it happened like it was meant to happen. I think I was given this gig to learn a few lessons:
1. buy a floorpedal tuner! my guitar was horribly out of tune and I apologize to whomever was there to hear it.
2. Don't freak out. If the bassist goes missing a half hour before the set, he's a smart dude...he will find you before the set. Trust the right people, and things will turn out alright.
3. If you're easy going, humble, and concise, soundmen will like working with you.
4. If you're a local band, odds are that you are not going to sell that many CD's at a national act's show. Once the flood gates open and people have taken their places, they aren't going to move in order to buy your CD. Thank you to the one girl who took one though! I'm glad that the guy gave it to you for free...I know that money is tight and you gotsta get you drink on.
5. Rockstars are normal people who have an awesome job, but a job nonetheless just like anyone else.
6. Guitar techs look really cool with badass multi-colored chin beards that extend beyond 6 inches.
So, I'm sucking it up and trying not to come down on the whole performance. I learned alot, met cool people, and had a good time. Can't ask for more than that. Next time I'll make sure that tempos, guitar tunings, and other techical non-mentionables get taken care of and stay taken care of through the show. NOW ON TO THE WEBSTER THEATER ON SUNDAY 10/28 WITH TENET, KENNY MEHLER, AND COLUMBIA FIELDS!!! I'm psyched...I get to take the lessons I learned at the Lifehouse gig and put them into action at the Webster Theater! =D Hope to see you there! p.s. CHECK OUT THE NEW PICS FROM MULCAHY'S!!!
i95 HOMEGROWN SHOW October 3rd, 2007:
When a normal person writes a song, assuming they're not Billy Joel or John Mayer, they have thus created an avenue for anxiety within themselves. We are not the best critics of our music/talent. Case in point; American Idol. And to throw a song to the lions to see if it can thrust a sword whilst looking dashingly strong in chain metal armor is, again, scary as all hell. And yes, I am sitting here picturing my notebook in armor, weilding a sword, battling lions...it's amusing.
I'm not sure why exactly I want people to like my music. Fame/fortune is a pipe dream, I write songs so that I can figure things in life out, and mostly just give myself a vehicle for guitar solos...it's quite self-serving (not really) ;-) So if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the road to a creation is more important to the writer than the creation itself, then why do artists feel the need to share? Well, I have no idea but I can tell you that when the tangible product that is your end creation is hailed as being "great," by anyone, it's a really great feeling.
Enter the CT based terrestrial i95 Homegrown Music Show every Sunday night with Neil Hedley. It's a full hour of local CT based music acts on an otherwise Cumulous Media conglomorate station. Neil featured my entire CD last Sunday night and had nothing but good things to say about it. In fact, I have never heard so many ackolades of my music in such a short span of time. There I was, driving back from my opening slot for Teddy Geiger, listening to one of the radio stations on my presets and being completely confused at the fact that I was simultaneously hearing my songs...all of them! I thought that the nasty spill I took backstage at the Webster, hitting my head on the side of the stage had caused some damage. Then I looked down at my crotch and realized that it was fine. Next time I'm wearing a cup...BUT THAT'S BESIDES THE POINT! I realized that I wasn't going crazy when I heard break after break of Neil praising my songs.
And then I revisited a moment: Summer, the end of a morning run around a lake in Clearwater FL. with "iPod," drenched in sweat and the sound of John Mayer's Contiuum, stopping to stretch but instead looking out upon the water and wildlife covered in this soundtrack...me, this music, the water...how can a writer know what adventures his/her music will take after they release it into the world. Maybe my music will one day become part of the emotional landscape to someone's adventure. I'll never know. So, until then I will revel in knowing that it was at least the soundtrack to the Sunday night i95 landscape this past weekend. Thanks Neil for all your kind words man =)
peace and chicken grease,
Steve
WEBSTER THEATER! October 1st, 2007:
Thank you to all who came out to the Webster Theater in Hartford, CT this past Sunday night as my entire band opened up for Teddy Geiger! There were a few great performances that night and we all had a great time. Although it was rather loud in the Underground...my apologies for that ;-) Oh yeah, and Matt the sound guy is awesome! Couldn't have asked for better sound that night. If you picked up a CD, then I hope you enjoy it =) And to the girl who signed the "email" portion of my mailing list with a single horizontal line and then proceeded to give me her full name and hometown...yeeeeeah, that does me no good honey. To all those who wrote legibly, THANK YOU! I'll keep you posted on more orignal show dates with and without the full band. Hope to see you at more!
SOUTH CAROLINA...PEDRO? =/ August 1st, 2007:
South Carolina...what the hell is the deal with those Pedro, South of The Border signs every-two-feet?! The first 99 were amusing, but that last one put me over the edge. I think Pedro ate one too many of his atomic bomb blast taco salads with those vicious hot peppers, halluncinated and bought a whole bunch of signs from the bilboard salesman by accident because he thought he was talking to his spirit guide. Lessons:
1. Frequency is the key to advertising
2. Not all salads are lowfat. Just look at Pedro. Tacos don't cease to be bad for your obesity just because you slap the word "salad" after it.
3. Some hot peppers can cause you to trip ala the Simpsons episode when Homer talks to his spirit guide coyote in the desert.
4. Bilboard salesmen have no conscience...Pedro was hallucinating man! He didn't know what he was doing. You're a mean salesman. I hope you burn in a lake of hot pepper fire.
INSOMNIA 2 "WORLD DOMINATION" JULY 26, 2007:
everytime I hear that Mark Anthony song "I Could Be Your Hero," I get hungry for a sandwich with assorted Italian meats, cheeses, and tomato…hold the Mark Anthony.
Everytime I see a Dairy Queen, I think about gay cows.
my plan for world domination through a hit single:
It will contain musical elements of such artists as Justin Timberlake, and…I can't think of anyone else because I don't listen to that crap, but it seems as if everyone else does.Musical elements including such things as the "Orchestra Hit," "Lead Synth," and overly auto-tuned background vocals.The chorus will contain the line "I FU-CKING LUUUUV YA GURL." This will be the knock-out punch as not only will it be catchy but also will stir much buzz and controversy over its explicit choice of lyric and bad grammar, to which I will respond in my swaggering sexy RnB voice, "Baby, ain't no thang."Small white girls from the sub-urbs will quickly fall in love with both me and the song due to it's easily digestable musical arrangement and lyrics along with the rebellious nature of the word "fuck."
I will then change the lyrics to "YO TU QUIERO GURL."This will spawn my English-Spaniolish crossover hit much like Selena except backwards and masculine.My "RnB" name will be ONELES. Spanish speaking peoples will love me.
He will have a sidekick by the name of Nikkos who will rock a pompadour with long pointy sideburns and do nothing but wear gold teef and chains while shouting things such as "YEAH!" and "WH-AT?!"Yes, I know this has been done before and I'm a bit late to the What The Hell's Going On Party, but has anyone ever done it whilst armpit farting the Canadian National Anthem? No, I didn't think so.With a name like Nikkos, Greek people will love it along with the Canadians for paying such great homage to their national identity and pride. Japanese people will love Nikkos because they love anything that even remotely looks like Elvis.
I will then quickly release it a week later with a bepop jazz trumpet in place of the lead synth and eq the bassdrum bringing up 80hrtz while having itraised in the mix giving it that sought after "shake the shit out of my trunk" low end punch.Black people will love this because black people love drums and jazz trumpet.
I will then release it in Australia with a new bridge section that features a didjeradoo and change all of the "gurls" to "Jesus."With this simple move, I will kill 2 birds with one stone.Christians will hail me as the next coming of Creed in RnB form. And, before you know it, you'll see Aboriginees with many Gods all of whom are named Jesus, are 4 feet tall, have poor grammar and posters of Oneles featuring Nikkos on their mud hut bedroom walls.
I myself will be wearing red school boy shorts with an SG guitar strapped on for show (go watch some AC/DC videos) over a bright blue blazer with a huge pink lapel and gold chains.I will top it off with a creepy child molester pencil thin mustache. This will take care of the rest of the Australian populace and Euro Trash alike.
All of the gurls in my video will be wearing veils and showing absolutely no skin.Muslims will be intrigued by this and warm up to the Western World.
I will release the Club Alchemy Dance remix to which all of the gurls will strip out of their robes and veils half way through the video.Durty sluts who crave attention will love this and it will spawn a new dance craze called "having lesbian sexual experiences on the dancefloor of your local trashy club for attention because daddy never hugged you."Girls will get up and shout, "HEY EVERYONE! LET'S DO THE "having sexual intercourse on the dancefloor of our local trashy club for attention because daddy never hugged us"…and then they will proceed to do as such.
At the beginning of the song, I will count the band off with a '1-2-3-FO!"Chinese people will love this because they're good with numbers.
I will solicit the purchase of my song via telemarketing during dinner times between the hours of 5pm and 8pm.Indian people will love this because it will create tens of thousands of more jobs for them.English people will love it because they would be given at least a 10 second break from eating their farm animal entrails that they so affectionately call "bread pudding."Bill Cosby agrees that with modern technology, pudding has come a long way from it's origins as barely edible entrails.
At this point the entire world will be jamming out to my jizzoint.They will have no idea that deep within the song's chorus I have embedded a simple one line subliminal message:
"show me your tits"
This will work.This is the subliminal message that I would give.If you could choose, what message would YOU send?
FLORIDA OR CT? JULY 25, 2007:
I'm a native of southern CT.I decided that I needed a change of scenery for a bit.I hopped in my car and drove to Largo, Florida.It's great here, but I can't rely on my instincts alone to tell me whether or not I should stay.Thus, below you will see a list.I think it's self explanatory.However, considering that when I posted an evite to download my songs people responded with "I can't make it.Sorry, I'm not in CT," I feel it necessary for some to have things spelled out for them.You will see a list of things that I like and dislike about my stay here in Florida.At the end, I will tally up the numbers and make my decision as to whether or not to stay here or come back to CT to begin and quickly finish up my music career so that I can finally get it out of my system and go back to school for gynecology.
THINGS I LIKE ABOUT FL.THING I DISLIKE ABOUT FL.
1. Alligators1. Alligators
2. Boobs the size of coconuts2. bugs the size of bugs (cars)
3. Heat lightening3. fastidious cubes of rain
4. hicks4. hicks
5. sand5. sand
6. Gulf of Mexico6. my armpits in the Gulf of
Mexican humidity
7. pelicans7. small birds that steal my lunch
8. bars (they have them)8. children (they have these too)
9. mixed drinks by the ocean9. children while I'm enjoying my
drink
10. my guitar10. terrible music scene (unless you
you like a man with his
computer of sequenced
backing tracks playing hours
upon hours of Jimmy Buffet)
11. walks on the beach11. old people
12. writing music12. the number of CVS's on every
street corner to fill the
medical prescription needs of
the old people
13. pudding13. pudding
14. youTube14. obsessing over youtube
15. well-tempered locals15. bugs in my food
16. no way to record music
17. no cable tv
18. too many gated housing
communities
Upon tallying up the list, it looks as if the "dislikes" have out numbered the "likes."I can't ignore the facts.I guess I have to come back to CT.I give it a week, especially considering I have a gig at Café Vivaldi on August 1st.Besides, the cubes of rain that descend upon specific locations makes for strange occurrences, much like this morning when I walked outside and it was pouring horribly in only half of the yard as if I was standing next to a glacier of water. Yes, I'm coming back to CT and you should COME TO MY SHOWS AND BUY MY SONGS =D!
NAME CHANGE July 11, 2007:
For quite some time I've been troubadouring around CT, a traveling menstrual if you will, under the name "Steve P." When I first thought that this name would be a good choice, it was because of the pronunciation of which is properly pronounced as STEVE "P(eh). Once must actually make a "P" sound and depending on how much saliva is exerted from one's mouth tells me just how excited a person is about me, my name, my music, and life in general. People have instead taken to pronouncing the "P" as the actual letter thus making it more of a directive for me to urinate. "STEVE!...PEE! PEE DAMN YOU!" >=O I can conclude 1 of 2 things; People actually want me to urinate in public or people do understand the original participatory nature of the name Steve P(eh) and just hate me, my music, and life in general. If the second is the case, then I am mostly concerned about the hating "life" part, but am inclined to change my stage name to STEVE GREGORY. If people just want me to urinate, it only furthers my push to change my stage name to STEVE GREGORY...coming to a college near you with a full-length original CD. I think they call them LP's
