Author Archives: steviehimself

I am typing this on a Saturday night so that it will be posted this coming Tuesday September 17th. So I’m from the future. Tickets for the upcoming TM Stevens benefit concert at The Cutting Room were supposed to go on sale September 12. But whatever the reason, that didn’t happen. So now, I receivedContinue reading “CLEARING THE AIR”

Former Yes/King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford said something to the effect of showing admirable restraint when listening to a song and it didn’t need anything. So he sat there and still got paid for it. I had to show a LOT of restraint since July 9!!!! On that particular day, I received a phone callContinue reading “ADMIRABLE RESTRAINT”

Typing this on August 31 at 2:53pm, so you will see this tomorrow September 1st. I’m from the future! The year is 3/4 gone and as we all say in unison: “THIS WENT FAST!” The summer especially sped by like it was caught robbing a bank. For me personally, the first few months of thisContinue reading “3/4 THERE”

I never set out to be an instrumental artist. It all happened purely by accident via my Ibanez endorsement 21 years ago. I used to do instrumental demos in the hopes of finding a big-named band but who knew that it would ultimately by my so-called career? Certainly not me. When I would play inContinue reading “KNOW WHAT’S WEIRD?”

How do you love something that never loved you back? Easy…you don’t argue, don’t over-explain, just walk away and close the door. That’s exactly what I did after the failure of my latest cd. Also, not being accepted by the gatekeeping metal world forced me to re-think things. Do I still love heavy music? Absolutely.Continue reading “GOTTA DO WHAT’S IN MY HEART…”

Ask any musician who inspired them to want to pick up a guitar/bass, a pair of sticks, a microphone, whatever…and undoubtedly you’ll hear the answer “The Beatles on Ed Sullivan”. But ask anyone who made them dream of being rock stars, and you’ll hear “Kiss”, “Led Zeppelin”, “Aerosmith”… If I knew then what I knowContinue reading “THIS BUSINESS OF MUSIC…”

Recently I did a Zoom interview with Evan Haga. He write blogs for Music & Arts (the store where I teach) as well as Premier Guitar. He wrote me via LinkedIn, and asked if I would be up for doing a Q&A about being a teacher. Sign me up! Those of you who wish toContinue reading “IN A DIFFERENT LIGHT”

Artists are a funny breed. We isolate ourselves while pouring over a new song, a painting, a novel, whatever. And then expect the rest of the world to love us and what we create. Is it a right or a privilege to be successful/famous? When we’re young, we’re undaunted and don’t give a damn aboutContinue reading “IS IT A RIGHT OR A PRIVILEGE?”

Take a good look at that screen shot. This is what it meant for me to be a musician. Living in the moment, playing awesome funky metal songs with two legends. One sadly left us this past March. I had it good and knew it then. Drummer TC Tolliver (hard to see in this pic)Continue reading “TEN YEARS GONE…”

Another gig in the books as my “tour” came off hiatus when Evie from Evolution asked me Thursday night via text: “Can you do a gig on 7.7 at In The Drink?” My car was packed anyway! This came out of left-field but fortunately I have the time to do fill-in gigs as needed. WeContinue reading “THREE MORE T-SHIRTS AND ANOTHER REMASTER…”