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!

Taxi Music Forward! - How Kitschy!

Got a Taxi Music Forward!  Yay, for kitschy retro crime jazz!


Here's what I had to go on:

MUSIC SUPERVISOR for a REALITY TV SERIES needs kitschy CRIME JAZZ and LOUNGE INSTRUMENTALS a la John Barry, Lalo Schiffrin, Peter Thomas, Keith Mansfield, David Holmes... DOWN to MID-TEMPO tracks will work best. They're looking for instrumentals with a distinctly RETRO vibe. James Bond-style brass would be nice but is not necessary. You can go DARK and a bit SINISTER but it needs to have a bit of a SMIRK. They're not looking for an epic Morricone-style Spaghetti Western score. Your tracks must be at least 1:30 long.

This was fun to do. Trying to get the feel from the Dirty Harry film soundtracks and the work of composer, Lalo Schiffrin.  Had a limited time frame as usual to put something together. I happen to love this old stuff.

Taxi Music Forward! - How Kitschy!

CD (Re)Release! - Available Now!

Okay, time to make good on a promise (or threat!) from an earlier post about putting out into the cyber world my music for sale.  The masterplan was three different musical collections.  And so far...

Here's #1!  "a little unplugged"

I shall quote the album notes (I'm actually quoting myself since I wrote the darn things!)

"Faith-encouraging Contemporary Christian Rock songs with thought-provoking lyrics from Steve's earlier recording days. All instruments and vocals performed and recorded by Steve.

"'a little unplugged' looks back on the recorded archives of Steve's musical history, when all he had studio-wise to work with were eight tracks of recordable "sound-canvas". Playing all the instruments, singing all the lead and background vocals, "programming" the drums - he's done it all on this inspired early work and first release. There are many more in songs in the Contemporary Christian genre that he has yet to record!"

The CD (download and/or actual CD in jewel case) can be found by clicking on the album cover above.

"a little unplugged" CD download can also be found at:

GoogleMusic   iTunes   Amazon   Bandcamp

*** PS. I have chosen a title for Album #2.  It shall be named "Window Seat" after the song of the same name from that particular period of my songwriting and recording endeavors.  Look for it shortly at these same online locations.

CD (Re)Release! - Available Now!

Dear Diary...billboard sighting

...saw my huge self on a billboard on the side of the road as we were driving to the venue. I had seen a picture of it on Facebook (see below), but there I/we was/were! The sun must be pretty bright along the Oregon coast! lol

Photo by Sandy & Dennis Dunsmore

Dear Diary...billboard sighting

Christmas in August - New Recording

Worked up a "contemporary" Christmas song for a recent song pitch.  Spent 2 days at home laying tracks (vocals, guitars, keys, etc) and added the rest plus mixing (putting it all together) on the road.

In prep, had a listen to the current charts and found a song/vibe I liked. But the only elements that ended up identical to those in my track are the xylophone and the tempo. Then it just grew from there and took on a produced-by-steve life all it's own. It's nothing like the song I originally heard. lol  So, add another track to the song catalog if it doesn't hit the mark.



Would love to hear what "style" impressions you get when you hear it?  Hope you enjoy listening.

Christmas in August - New Recording

"I don't run, but when I do...."

Listened to Stevie Wonder, "Songs in the Key if Life".  Inspired by his free-spirited vocals. Studied his lyrical craft.  And gave my heart some love in the process. 2 miles of actual running. 1/2 mile warm-up, 1/2 mile cool-down. Lol

"I don't run, but when I do...."