Goodbye 2010 - Happy New Year!

My last shot of daylight 2010 in the snows of Minnesota. Make your 2011 a great one!

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Goodbye 2010 - Happy New Year!

Attention Disney Fans: Feast Your "Ears" on a My New Song!

(Photo: Ellen Auld)

Okay, so got this idea for a song quite a while ago. Song title came first ("I'm Going To Disneyland") and I persisted to chip away at it until the finished form posted here.

I get a personal kick out of this myself , but I have my misgivings about it when we're talking marketabilty in the world of serious songwriting.

1. Trademark/legal (obvious?) issues in the hook.  And, would someone besides me want to sing this (my main goal for writing songs in the first place)?

2. I wonder too if the lyric really "works" well enough to get it placed somewhere.

Check out the photo of yours truly during some R&R (but is it really in the extreme June humidity, seriously!?) at Disney "World" as opposed to Disney"Land", the subject of our inspired song.  I think the majority of the celebratory "celeb" commercials are aimed toward Disney World.

But there ya have it.

Click on player below to hear "I'm Going To Disneyland"

free music download from Steve Probst

What it all has come down to for me at this point is to just not think about it too hard, finish it and move on to other songs.  Just get it out there and show that yes, I may have some songwriting ability in this genre. 

I hope you enjoy it.  Should I make it a free download?  Feel free to speak your mind.  Love it, hate it, "keep your day job"?  Oh, and thanks reading all this! 

sp


Here are the lyrics for those who care to read along:


"I'm Going To Disneyland"

© 2010 Steve Probst

I'm rounding third, I'm almost home

Her smile is sayin', "Go, man, go!"

I take her hand and hold it tight

I pop the question, let it fly

Can you believe it?

I major-league it

There's never been a happier man      

Hey, I'm going to Disneyland

She's so mine, and I'm so proud

We go together

Like sunny weather 

And pictures with Mickey Mouse

I get the goofies just holdin' hands

I'm going to Disneyland

In front of friends and family

Gave that girl a diamond ring

Had us a daughter, then a son

Should be a crime having so much fun

Hey, alligator  

I'll see ya later

There's never been a happier man

Hey, I'm going to Disneyland

They're so mine, and I'm so proud

We go together

Like sunny weather 

And pictures with Mickey Mouse

I've got the goofies, I'm makin' plans

I'm going to Disneyland

SOLO

Life's so amazin'

That's why I'm sayin'

CHORUS

Attention Disney Fans: Feast Your "Ears" on a My New Song!

Hey, Mom and Dad - I'm in the Paper!

via inlandsocal.com

Eagles salute comes to Sturges Center
By HOLLY LA PAT
Special to The Press-Enterprise

Eagles reunions may come and go, but Hotel California has been recreating the country-rock band's hits for more than 20 years.

"We do them exactly like the studio recordings," said band member Wade Hogue in a recent phone interview.

Eagles reunions may come and go, but Hotel California has been recreating the country-rock band's hits for more than 20 years.

"We do them exactly like the studio recordings," said band member Wade Hogue in a recent phone interview.

Hotel California plays Saturday night at the Sturges Center for the Fine Arts in San Bernardino, performing classics like "Desperado," "Take it to the Limit" and "Lyin' Eyes." The show also includes songs from the solo careers of Eagles members Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh.

To capture the Eagles sound, vocals are critical.

"To be in this band, you have to be a good singer," Hogue said. "You have to know about harmony and how harmony parts move."

Hogue performs keyboard, guitar and lead vocals for the band, with Dicky-Lee Dickinson and Steve Probst on guitar and vocals; Scott Fronsoe on bass and vocals; and Ken Nichols on drums and percussion.

Hotel California plays Saturday night at the Sturges Center for the Fine Arts in San Bernardino, performing classics like "Desperado," "Take it to the Limit" and "Lyin' Eyes." The show also includes songs from the solo careers of Eagles members Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh.

To capture the Eagles sound, vocals are critical.

"To be in this band, you have to be a good singer," Hogue said. "You have to know about harmony and how harmony parts move."

Hogue performs keyboard, guitar and lead vocals for the band, with Dicky-Lee Dickinson and Steve Probst on guitar and vocals; Scott Fronsoe on bass and vocals; and Ken Nichols on drums and percussion.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOTEL CALIFORNIA: A SALUTE TO THE EAGLES
When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Sturges Center for the Fine Arts, 780 N. E St., San Bernardino
Tickets: $19-$45. 909-885-5152, www.ticketmaster.com, www.sturgescenter.com

Hey, Mom and Dad - I'm in the Paper!

Taxi Forward - Classic Rock, Rocks!

Recently got the email news of another Taxi Music Forward instrumental!

Two bands mentioned in the pitch were Aerosmith and Kiss, so went for some sort of classic rock feel on this one.

Click on music player below to hear "Kiss This Way":

free music download from Steve Probst

I was so clever in coming up with a title, wasn't I? ha ha.

What is Taxi?  What is a "Forward"  Click HERE.

Taxi Forward - Classic Rock, Rocks!

Canine Racquetball

After the work day is through, this is how I might spend a typical afternoon.

This is Lola preparing to give chase to the racquetball she assumes I will no doubt be picking up. How can you not give in to a mug such as this?

This post also serves as a test of this new-fangled Blogger for Android app I've got in my possession.

Excuse me, someone's barking at me....

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Canine Racquetball

The Day I Sat in the Johnny Depp Chair - Part 2 - The Movie!

Okay, here it is!  In continuance of my previous photo post, see me in moving picture-like form sit in the very chair that Johnny Depp sat in when he starred as John Dillinger in the movie, "Public Enemies"!
I tag along as Kevin narrates our adventure. While rolling on the bus I took his video and slapped it all together.

On April 8, 2008 filming took place inside the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL for the movie, "Public Enemies", starring Johnny Depp.
On September 23, 2010, "Hotel California - A Salute to the Eagles" arrive there for a day of load-in and soundcheck in preparation for the evening's performance.

The Day I Sat in the Johnny Depp Chair - Part 2 - The Movie!

The Day I Sat in the Johnny Depp Chair! - Part 1

Wanted to write something to try and convey the feeling of performing at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL, one recent evening in September 2010.  Of course, to get to stand on any stage is a blessing, but there a few throughout the year that our definitive highlights.

You see, for one day in April 2008, some filming for the movie, "Public Enemies" took place in this very venue.  That would mean Johnny Depp (among many other talented people in the cast) worked as well in this same theatre. (Of course, there are other legends who have performed on this very stage, not just "in a seat", but on the stage, such as Tony Bennett, etc.  That's another subject but just the same of a thrill for me.) 

Okay, this is the way I see it. I admire JD's work ( a lot of it, anyway). He's in show business. I'm in show business (Different, uh, "level", I know, but we both entertain for a living). So it's inspiring to be working in the same place as said sometimes-pirate.  Savy? Kind of like a brotherhood of show biz-like types.

Here's a little story: Our stage manager for the night at the Paramount told us that as she was "just doing her job" during the April shoot, making sure the wrong people were not passing into the sacred inner filming sanctum, this guy tried to get in the side door of the theatre, and she was like, "Excuse me sir, can I help you"?  Little did she know, it was Johnny Depp just trying to get to "his seat" (See photo below).  She didn't believe it was him at first until finally to convince her he belonged he had to say to her, "I'm Johnny Depp". [!]

She told me she didn't recognize him without his pirate makeup!

Here are some photos from that day (Once I get my hands on Kevin's video I'll post that in Part 2. Stayed tuned!).

Sneaking away from soundcheck and looking inconspicuous in the Johnny Depp chair (Sorry, looking the wrong way-see below)

Here he is. There I was.

Once again, me....

....Him (Them)

Was that cool or what?!

~ sp

The Day I Sat in the Johnny Depp Chair! - Part 1

What's Happening Wednesday - P90X, New Track, etc...

I'm on Day 3 of the infamous P90X infomercial workout to get this body movin' a little better in the everday activities of life, if you know what I mean?  The road is tough!

Me trying to get home outside Flagstaff, AZ - Photo: Kevin Lovelady

Trying to get to  a little lyric/melody work in the morns, and then get to whatever recording I need to tend to.  Yesterday I finished and pitch an Aerosmith/Kiss type of rock instrumental entitled, for lack of a better word, "Kiss This Way"

Click on player below to hear:

free music download from Steve Probst

Other than that, shows and travel have slowed down a bit and "civilian life" is grand!

What's Happening Wednesday - P90X, New Track, etc...

Double Bonus Post! - New Track and Gig Photos

Purposely and lovingly crafted to resemble a certain song from the 80's, I bring you "Chiller" as this year's Halloween Time creative effort to add to my catalog of instrumental "What...?"  Click on the music player to play track.

free music download from Steve Probst

Now this may have been influenced slightly by a performance we did in West Bend, Wisconsin on the evening of July 31, 2010 (this year), where during the day in front of our stage they set a Guinness World Record for the largest "Thriller Dance" in the US.  Here's a pic below.

Celebrate Wegner Park 75th Anniversary West Bend, WI - Cameraman demonstrates his agility over musical equipment

For those of you who would like to see video from this event, click HERE.

Double Bonus Post! - New Track and Gig Photos

Hey, Songwriters!: Appletell reviews MasterWriter 2.0

Provides: Creative writing tools and reference dictionary
Format: Download and CD
Developer: MasterWriter
Minimum System Requirements: 1.42GHz PowerPC or 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Mac OS X v10.4, 512MB RAM, built-in or external microphone, QuickTime 7.5.5 or better (installer included)
Processor Compatibility: Universal
Price: $9.95/mo, $99/yr, or $199 purchase
Availability: Now
Version Reviewed: 2.0

A good friend of mine from high school—a gentleman and a poet—once told me that when writing lyrics he always tosses out the first rhyme that comes to mind. Too obvious. I’m not sure if he developed that rule on his own or if he borrowed it from someone else, but it seems like good advice to me. I can think of a lot of songwriters who really need to take that approach (I’m looking at you, Paul Stanley).

Trouble is, of course, that the second option isn’t always there. You’ve got “love” on the page, so now what? “Shove” again? “Glove?”

This is where a program such as MasterWriter can prove helpful. It’s just a database, really, but it’s a database full of rhymes, phrases, parts of speech, word families, pop culture references and plenty of more, all of which place that perfect word or phrase right at your fingertips.

There’s a version of MasterWriter 2 aimed specifically at poets and songwriters. I’m not reviewing that version, but if that’s your outlet, you can learn more about it here. I will be looking at MasterWriter 2.0 for creative writers.

First, the toolset. MasterWriter 2.0 is broken into:

• Word Families - reference dictionary
• Parts of Speech - descriptive words with numerous filters
• Phrases - 33,000 phrases, sayings, idioms and word combinations
• Rhymes - over 100,000 rhymes and close rhymes
• Pop-Culture - 11,000 icons of American and world culture
• Dictionary - Merriam-Webster—165,000 entries with 225,000 definitions
• Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster—over 340,000 synonyms, antonyms, idioms and more

Each of these tools works basically the same way. In Word Families, for instance, you can search for “angry.” Characters are often angry in stories, after all, but how angry? Well, search for angry, then select your part of speech. I chose adjective, and was presented with 44 options. “Bristly,” for example, but that looks kind of wimpy on the page. “Hot-under-the-collar?” Perhaps a few generations ago. “Incensed?” Better. “Wrathful?” Now, we’re getting somewhere. “Ireful?” “Livid?”

These are good words. Much better than “angry,” but you can only go with one. You won’t need to search for “angry” again to remember these options, though. You can double click the ones you like to add them to your favorites. Then, you can call them back up with the click of a button.

You can also play with filters to see more/fewer options, or target specific uses and degrees of intensity.

Now, click on Phrases, and you get a list of popular phrases that use the word “angry.” That angry character can express it in ways people do in real life (like it or not, most of use tend to speak in clichés from time to time). I found this helpful in other ways, as well. For instance, is the phrase “six ways to Sunday,” “six ways til Sunday” or “six ways from Sunday?” Searching for “sunday” and clicking Phrases, MasterWriter tells me it’s to. I’ll trust them.

What would be really helpful here, however, is a history of the phrase. The dictionary gives you the basic origins, but knowing how a word was used when would be very helpful with historical fiction. That would pretty much require a whole new database to be worthwhile, however.

The Rhymes feature is pretty powerful here despite the program’s songwriter/poet counterpart. “Sunday” gave me ten pages of rhymes. I could narrow these down by primary (May), secondary (jetway) and pop culture (James Earl Ray), and even search for rhyming phrases (you can’t drink your cares away). There are 29 pages in this result, 39 if I search for wider sound-alikes, decidedly less if I narrow it down by syllables. Have to worry about meter, after all.

Pop-Culture proves to be one of the more surprisingly powerful tools available, mainly because of its integration with Wikipedia. You can search for popular references in numerous categories, then pick a name. Say, comedians, then Steve Martin. Click on his name, and it appears in the Wikipedia search bar. Click Go, and you’re at his Wikipedia entry without leaving MasterWriter.

And that presents me with my only real complaint about MasterWriter 2 (well, aside from the dated and somewhat clumsy PC-like user interface); pretty much every tool presented here is available through something called the Internet. The difference is that you get access to everything in one tight package with MasterWriter 2.0, including the ability to keep your results well-organized and easily retrievable. You can even write your stories within MasterWriter 2.0, but it’s not nearly as friendly or powerful for that as Storyist or Storymill.

What I don’t know, then, is whether it’s worth the heavy pricing schemes, especially if it’s only a reference tool for you. I’m always put-off by software subscriptions as you can get with MasterWriter’s monthly and yearly plans. There’s an outright purchase option, but it includes no upgrades; you’d have to go two years without upgrading in order for that to pay off versus the yearly license fee.

So, it’s expensive. But it’s also convenient and powerful (there are many features I didn’t have time to cover here), and you could likely make that money back in time saved, depending upon how serious you are about finding the perfect word, phrase or reference. The aforementioned Paul Stanley doesn’t need MasterWriter 2.0. He’s more than happy to rhyme “rough” with “tough.” Steve Martin likely doesn’t need it, either. He’s happy to rhyme “pointy” with “annointy.” I need it, though. I’m likely to use it six ways to Sunday.

You, in the meantime, can check out the trial version.

Appletell Rating:

Buy MasterWriter 2.0

via appletell.com

A highly recommend songwriting software used by yours truly! :)

Hey, Songwriters!: Appletell reviews MasterWriter 2.0

Proud Dad Moment - See Johnny run, see Johnny toss. Go, Johnny!

Got home just in time earlier this week to see Jonathan's running soldier/rifle tossing solo in the Patriot High Band and Colorguard Parent Preview!  You'll him run across your screen at about 4:30

Proud Dad Moment - See Johnny run, see Johnny toss. Go, Johnny!

There's Goes Sebastian.... to Italy "Parte Tre x 4"

...Part 3 x 4 = Are you getting tired of me posting these YouTube commercials by Renault Italy utilizing my infamous track "There Goes Sebastian"? Just reporting the news, folks. :) Might as well buy a Renault. I'm half Italian, you know.

There's Goes Sebastian.... to Italy "Parte Tre x 4"

There's Goes Sebastian.... to Italy "Parte Due"

...That's "Part 2"

I found two more YouTube commercials posted by Renault Italy using my track, "There Goes Sebastian"!  (I shared the first two videos HERE)

Though we've always been a Toyota family I may have to check out a Renault during our next car shopping experience - maybe get an "employee" discount? ;)

There's Goes Sebastian.... to Italy "Parte Due"

My Video Preview of This Month's Winslow AZ Festivities

We'll see what happens when the boys of Hotel California - A Salute to the Eagles return to spend a day and perform in the evening at the Standin' On The Corner in Winslow, Arizona festival. http://standinonthecorner.com

See You There September 25, 2010!

My Video Preview of This Month's Winslow AZ Festivities

There's Goes Sebastian.... to Italy!

Was jazzed today to find my instrumental track "There Goes Sebastian" in a couple of YouTube commercials for Renault Italy!  It plays in and out throughout both videos.  I have arrived! ;)

(I previous posted about this track a while back. Click HERE to revisit that post and hear the original track clocking in at 1:33, which now plays basically twice in each of these 3 min. videos)

And to add to my excitement, it was picked up for another internet (animaton) project just yesterday!  This little track is getting a lot of mileage. Have to add these with the others on the News section.



And the other...

There's Goes Sebastian.... to Italy!

What A Night For "Promises, Promises"!

On a whim, I "splurged" and procured for myself a seat to see, well mainly, Krisitin Chenoweth in "Promise, Promises" at the Broadway Theatre this past week.

I am both a fan of Kristin's (since discovering her from "Wicked") and the tunes of Burt Bacharach/Hal David.  To hear them both at the same time was indeed a treat for me!

Of course, a trip to the stage door after the show was in order!  Something that is so easy to do on Broadway since the venues' stage doors spill right out onto the street.  Now, here's a tip (and reminder for me next time) if you want to do the same for an autograph:

Get by the back-stage door earlier right after the show and get right up against the barricade.  I was approximately 2 & 1/2 people behind (not far at all actually).  I was close enough to see Kristin's gracious, smiling face and her perfectly crafted eyebrows, but not close enough for her to reach my Playbill for a quick black-sharpie squiggle of acknowledgement and thanks.

Now I could have been rude and lowered it into the faces of fans in front of me, but that didn't seem right.  And Kristin is quite tiny and I supposed reaching up would have been a little difficult and, quite possibly, a little unsafe for her.  So a gaze upon her presence amidst the hoopla that goes with it will have to suffice.

She signed just enough momentos before being whisked away in a black Audi sedan which sequence of events went like this:

1. All the actors, ensemble, main characters (Sean Hayes being one of them - but hey, I'm a guy, and Kristien's better lookin') exit the theatre.

SIDE NOTE: It's interesting, maybe a little sad, that the amazingly talented ensemble players just kind of saunter out one-by-one in their sweats or whatever street clothes and everyone pretty much just watches them walk out into the late-night NYC city streets.

2. Tall serious-looking guy enters black Audi parked in front of the stage door and starts car, lights on, and goes back into the theatre back-stage door.

3. Out comes KC to fan cheers, with said body guard and another guy carrying her small dog who stands by the car in waiting while she proceeds to sign various sized paper and cardstock items.

There she is next to bodyguard with assistant in background holding her Maltese, "Maddie"

4. Then off she goes "whisked away in a black Audi sedan."


So there you have it.  An inspiring night at the theatre for me!  On broadway, no less!

Next thing on my list,  buy the soundtrack.

What A Night For "Promises, Promises"!

My Adventures in New York City - 2009

A fast-paced slide show of my visit to NYC in the Summer of 2009. I've already been again (2010) so guess I'm a little behind! This may be boring to you. unless you're a family member, but I'll post it anyway for posterity! If you like Wicked, Sinatra, Disney, you'll like the music!

As is my habit all photos were taken with my simple phone camera. I shot numerous angles of some of the same shots and ended up putting them all in, to make it even more boring for you!  Some are blurry, dark, and even backwards, but there ya have it.


I really, really "heart" NYC!

My Adventures in New York City - 2009

Go Emmy & Johnny! - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis! Thursday

Go Emmy & Johnny! - Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis! Thursday

Feeling Like Bernie Taupin

As I've done some traveling over the years, spending a lot of time rolling along on the bus with these five other talented gentlemen, I've developed a strange knack for writing lyrics only, no music.  I would never write in this manner before.  But since signing on for co-habitation in a 45 foot home away from home, I've had to rethink my approach to keep the writing muscle active and growing.

I'm not one those writers who can just pull out a guitar with other people around and just start squeaking out the perfect match of lyric and melody for all to hear.  (Of course, in a collaboration setting, it's different.  You don't mind if that person[s] you're working with hears your off-key attempts.  In fact, you welcome their "yes' or "no" to keep you moving in the "write" [ha ha] direction.)

And funny thing, when I'm writing in this manner, I'm usually listening periodically with my noise-canceling headphones on to whatever music or artist on my iTunes that happens to match the mood and style I'm trying to get in my lyric.

So, the reason for my title.  Steve = Bernie Taupin, lyric writer only.  Then Elton John comes along and writes the melody.  So, when the time comes, I'll put on the "Elton" hat, for my valiant attempt to find the perfect marriage of melody with the lyric. (And while I'm at it, maybe the glasses, too!  Hmm.... or maybe Bernie's)

Feeling Like Bernie Taupin

Oh, the Places You'll Go! - Photo Moments

Riverfest stage before the "crowdfest" - Watertown, WI


Back behind the stage at Riverfest.


Going into Watertown, WI and the Riverfest. Great folks and hospitality, great crew! All adds up to a great show!


Noticing dinosaurs in floor tile now, am I?


Service with a bang!


So convenient!  Drugs, car parts, and fireworks!


"'Cause this is Thrillahhh!..."


They set a record for the US in front of our stage during the day.


Foellinger Theatre - Fort Wayne, IN after it's all over and quiet. Should have heard things earlier!


At the catalog-favorite Sweetwater store.
I really like this little Taylor 312ce!


OC Fair - Costa Mesa, CA


Country Round Up stage - Winfield KS

a quickr pickr post

Oh, the Places You'll Go! - Photo Moments

Putting songwriting tips to the test!

Okay, so I didn't feel like writing today..  Nope, sorry!  Go away muse, don't bother me!  But knowing this is not how the pros behave, I took a three-word title I had saved for some future genius-moment and wrote down whatever word or phrases came to mind in three separate columns for each of the three words in the said "future" title.  I even went so far as to actually use a yellow legal pad and pencil (mechanical and slighty pink, at that) instead of my macfor the first flash of inspirational supernova.

I happened to read some where in a songwriting book or Twitter post of this little excercise to get the creative juices (in this case molasses) flowing.  Viola! (pronounced, "Walah!")  Broke through my curmudgeon little attitude and the words started to flow.  Pretty soon I had a couple of rough verses and a chorus to pat myself on the song-smithian back with!

Another thing I did was put a time limit on it, say, 2 hours, and if nothing comes of it I gave myself permission to stop.  As happens quite often, I passed the 2 hour mark due to my oh-so-disciplined efforts.  I was having so much fun I couldn't stop! 

What is the tune called, you ask?  Let's keep it a surprise, shall we?  I would like to reveal the song title with some form of word and melody when I get it a little more presentable.

Until then, back to writing...

What do you do to....."trick yourself" into "getting to work, already!"?

Putting songwriting tips to the test!