Personal Milestones

I have arrived! In my very own mailbox! And I was recently spotted on my very own refrigerator. Sort of a home-town gig for me at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.

Personal Milestones

Steve, Martin, and Stuff

Random "what's happening" thoughts....

Well, the band is off for 3 weeks or so, so getting back to some focused writing and recording back at the homestead. Almost finished with the first book of Pat Pattison's writing excercises. (You know, the strange examples from previous posts.  Should I post more?) lol

Speaking of Pat Patison, signed up for a free online songwriting course he teaches at Berklee College of Music.  It's very basic, but will help me keep on task.
(I found it, by the way, while watching live Twitter feeds of up-to-the-second updates from the "Jurupa Fire" that was close to our house.  On another #songwriting Twitter stream were all these people tweeting, "I just signed up for a free songwriting class...!")

1991 Martin HD-28

My favorite guitar is back from a total rehab. It actually sounds better than my Taylor when recording through my particular setup!  Awesome work done by expert Taylor lutherie, Timothy Luranc.

Steve, Martin, and Stuff

Catholic Church Becomes Performing Arts Center

Under the category "Interesting Performance Venues", here's the Campanile Center for the Arts, Minocqua, Wisconsin.  

Once a former Catholic Church, it was converted into...a place of employment for the boys and I.  

Beer, wine, soda...sins of omission....comission?

Where the priestly preparations were made. Had to take a shot before show time.

Bus parked in the back.

Stained glass only seen from the outside. Covered up inside.

Catholic Church Becomes Performing Arts Center

Hats Off To ...Me!

Sharing with you a gift I received from an enthusiastic audience member during the Thunder Valley Rally we performed at in Cottonwood Arizona.  During "Desperado", a standing, front-row, gray-bearded reveler with sleeveless denim vest and tattoos motioned for me to take his hat and put it on during "Desperado"

I proceeded to wear it for the remainder of the show.  And later I was informed that to refuse such a gesture was a form of disrespect in the biker world.  oh  (Thank you! Thank you very much!)
Actually, it was pretty cool!

Hats Off To ...Me!

First Year at Disney World 2006 - Photo Slideshow

This may be slightly boring to everyone but me and my immediate family. ;)
Collected all the photos of my 2006 working (www.HotelCal.com) vacation at Disney World and put them in a (15 minute!) musical slide show. There are some blurry photos, but I don't care, I used every one - my kids took'em okay! Great memories. Less hair (Less gray!). I get a little teary-eyed every time I watch this.

First Year at Disney World 2006 - Photo Slideshow

Video From the Road: Will Break For Food & Planes

While stopping for food somewhere in Ohio...

Video From the Road: Will Break For Food & Planes

Waiting Out The Rain - Kingsport, TN - Video

"Exciting" short video in which Hotel California A Salute To The Eagles (myself included) wait out a storm, sequestered on the bus in the middle of downtown Kingsport, TN on June 9, 2011

Waiting Out The Rain - Kingsport, TN - Video

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.
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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!

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!

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

Sounds of the Eagles outside | The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN

Although the music of the Eagles spans many years, the tribute band Hotel California: Salute to the Eagles will cover the early classics to the later hits during its Friday concert at Foellinger Outdoor Theatre.

The group is one of two noted tribute bands — the other is The Music of ABBA: ARRIVAL from Sweden — playing at the theater this weekend.

Songs played at the Hotel California concert will include “Heartache Tonight,” “Desperado” and, of course, “Hotel California.” Besides the big hits, there will also be “crowd pleaser favorites, but not necessarily radio hits,” said George Dickinson, a band member.

“If they love a good live show, they'll really have a good time,” Dickinson said.

The concert has some interactivity between the band and the crowd, he said, and “people will be pleasantly surprised how powerful it (the concert) is.”

Those who know the lyrics and music of the Eagles will be drawn into the concert based on familiarity, he said.

“The first 15 minutes you're going to hear hit songs,” he said.

The five band members of Hotel California are multitalented and play several instruments, some authentic from the Eagles time period as well as real acoustic instruments.

“We use those talents to bring the Eagles to life,” he said.

The sound quality of the band is better than what the Eagles had because of improvements in sound over the years, Dickinson said.

The band Hotel California was founded in 1982. The five members perform at 150-200 high-profile events every year.

The performance at Foellinger Theatre is part of the theater's summer concert and movie series.

Take a chance?

Foellinger Outdoor Theatre will welcome highly popular tribute bands back to back this weekend. Here is the information about the Saturday evening show:

What: The Music of ABBA: ARRIVAL from Sweden, which includes original band members from ABBA, will perform a concert of classic ABBA hits, such as “Dancing Queen.”

When: 8 p.m. Saturday

Where: Foellinger Theatre, in Franke Park off Sherman Boulevard

Cost: $15 in advance, $20 day of show. Tickets available online at www.fortwayneparks.org, then click on facilities, Foellinger Theatre, concert and movie series, then to “ABBA” to purchase tickets. Or call the Parks and Recreation Department at 427-6000 or go to the office at 705 E. State Blvd.

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via news-sentinel.com

See you in Indiana! ~ Steve

Sounds of the Eagles outside | The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN

Texica or "Monotony Is What You Make Of It" - Video

Another bit of footage from the road.  I was listening to some African music in iTunes while making the day-long trek on I-10 east across Texas.  "Diama  Don" by Issa Bagayogo just fit the mood so well.  I'm sure you've heard it, right? ;-)

Another way to look at it is simply using the most-helpful storage power of YouTube and thereby freeing up space on my hard drive.

Texica or "Monotony Is What You Make Of It" - Video

Pool Party Anyone? - Article in Laughlin Entertainer

Okay, then.  Pool party, it is!

There's an article and interview just out about our show (Hotel California) coming up this weekend in Laughlin, Nevada at the Avi Resort Casino.  Wonder what boots and swim trunks would look like together?  Thoughts, anyone?

Click HERE to read the article and Dicky Lee's interview!

Pool Party Anyone? - Article in Laughlin Entertainer

Warm-up with Kenny

Just found this cool, short behind-the-scenes clip from Kenny Loggins, one of my musical inspirations (unbeknownst to him).  Some of you singers out there can maybe relate - when you're younger and you try to sound like your favs and then you realize it would behoove you to get past that stage (not that it's a bad thing!) to find your own "voice". Yeah, Kenny was one of those guys for me.

PS. (about a week later as to "finding your own voice") Of course, if you get PAID to sound like some of your musical heroes, like I do in Hotel California (Henley, Frey, etc.), that's a different story!

Warm-up with Kenny