Well, we our plans have been approved by the county…woohoo! See the permit?! And that shaded portion on the blueprint is going to be the studio/lounge. The contractor can now complete his bid and then we’re good to go. It’s a matter of creating some breathing space. I have a nice room now that I use, but I just have too much equipment, too many instruments. And the harpsichord and piano are still in the garage!

 

 

 

 

I am still recording some demos though. It helps to practice with the “record” light on and it helps me to work out arrangements. I have a ton of new songs. My girlfriend, Laura, recently suggested a title “Landslide Straight to Your Heart” and I came up with a pretty cool song, if I do say so myself. It’s not a cop of the Stevie Nicks song. It always amazes me the kinds of stimulus that lead to fruitful songwriting.

Another that I will be posting soon “Give me Tomorrow,” came about as I was reading about Bob Dylan and the writer mentioned a minor key song of his in 3. I can’t recall which song at the moment, but a rhythmic pattern in 3 came into my head and within a couple hours I had a new song. It’s a matter of keeping open to inspiration and then taking action when it hits. Fun stuff.

Anyway, I hope everyone is having a great new year so far. I promise lots of music to come. Take care, All

 

Steve

Hello all. It has been a while since I’ve posted here, but I have an excuse. And a rather exciting one at that. We are in the process of a remodel which will include a combination teaching/recording studio and a lounge. We have an outdoor patio where we have been storing our antiques and collectibles with which we plan to start a business.

Look at all that stuff!

Looking better now!

So the first step in our plan was to have a shed built to store those items – after taking pics of every item and logging them on a spreadsheet.

We have had plans drawn up to have the covered patio made into a real room with soundproofing, climate control etc. We have been collecting cool retro furniture for the lounge and posters with which to adorn the studio. It’s going to be amazing. We are waiting on approval from the county before officially beginning construction. Oh, and we found this awesome old full upright piano dating from about 1905. It has had new keys and hammers recently installed. We will have it refinished and it will be my teaching piano.

 

More pics and info to follow as things develop! Meanwhile I am still writing and practicing songs. I expect to release my best of plus another album in 2017.

Don’t forget to spread the word: I am still offering a free song download to everyone who signs up here for my mailing list.

Here is a video of me playing Rocket Man one of my few cover songs. Unless I am getting directly paid to perform a specific song, i.e. weddings etc, I really have to connect with a tune in order for me to bother learning it. This one has of late. I have known the song since I was a kid. And I remember seeing William Shatner do one of his possibly non self-aware ironic versions on one of the many variety shows of the 70s. But recently the words have struck me as particularly meaningful. Online searches indicate that Elton John’s lyricist Bernie Taupin wrote the song as a musing on what the astronaut’s life would be like if/when it became a more or less regular job – possibly like an airline pilot.

I see another possible interpretation, one that speaks to the world we are living in now with equal parts promise and despair at the unfulfilled promises of science and civilization. I see the narrator as not being an astronaut at all, just a guy going off to work at some mundane terrestrial job. However, he is desperately trying to give his occupation and life some meaning, even if it is pure fantasy. He is not living the life he thought he would. There are no flying cars, there is no 20 hour work week, the world is not a kinder place where possibilities know no limits. The character retreats to the world of fantasy, taking off in his car only to return again that evening to start it over again. Anyway, regardless of how Rocket Man is interpreted, it’s just a great song. I hope you enjoy it.

Steve