What happened to my website? Was it taken over by aliens? Was it sabotaged by disgruntled ex-band members?

I like the aliens story.

But no, yours truly felt the site needed a new coat of paint, a nip and tuck here, as well as hopefully regaining interest. Yes, I obsess over Google analytics and have seen low numbers. While that doesn’t mean I can’t play guitar anymore, it does mean that people aren’t going here. And I had to change that.

Groove or die.

I wanted to re-do the entire site but five minutes into it, things went all snafu. OH NO! I though to myself “What did I do?!” I retraced some steps and fortunately saved all the pages but the home one. Okay cool, I can make a new front page, make it pop and then take it from there.

Adapt or die.

So while I’m not totally satisfied, at least people are noticing the changes and like them. One friend even said to me about putting a video of me playing for “peoples’ minds to be blown right away!” Duly noted. Now at the bottom of the main page is the sorta-legendary live video from Metalfest 7 at Debonair Music Hall.

I also changed the pages from white to black, to make things jump out a bit more. Changed some colors around, added new pics, whatever I felt was necessary. I do welcome other ideas, so feel free to email me.

Now the site is more metal 🙂

This past Wednesday, I was in the studio with DJ Metal Mistress for her Metal Meltdown show. Unlike previous shows, this one was definitely a bit different.

I didn’t promote anything for once!

We talked on air about music in general, fave bands, took questions from people in the chat room. Aside from talking briefly about the June 28 gig with Rock Hard at Bardi’s, I was not in informercial mode. Felt good to relax and chill out. Any time the Metal Mistress and I get together, it’s very natural and laid-back. Lots of laughs, and I talk enough to power a small country.

We played select tracks from bands I hand-picked, ranging from Led Zeppelin to Deep Purple, Sex Pistols to Black Flag, but didn’t get to chuck in heavier stuff like Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse. Next time, right?

But the last 15 minutes of the show was devoted to me talking about TM Stevens. Metal Mistress asked me about how he and I first met, and I felt like my dad talking about “Back in the day…” I guess it’s inevitable that when you hit a certain age, you reminisce. I said on the show that it’s fine to do that but I am all about moving forward. Still was great talking about “those days” and what a ride it was to play in his band.

I refuse to be stuck in the past though. Yes, it’s good to think back, learn from our mistakes, have some laughs, shed some tears. But rivers flow in one direction and that’s exactly what I am doing. I don’t have much going on and that’s okay. When the universe taps me on the shoulder (or bangs me over the head with a 2×4), then I will know what the next move is.

For now, I want the focus to be on surrounding myself with good people.

They are scarce but do exist.

Sorry it took a bit of time to get a video going for the newest single “Spherical Miracle”. But this thing called life kept getting in the way.

It happens!

But here you go, another video created by Metal Maiden Vicki using AI technology. And I discovered cool new effects to make the video a bit more interesting than the previous two. You will be seeing this video at 9am, same time as it premiers on YouTube

While I am digging this little shift in direction musically, I am eventually going back to what I am kinda-sorta known for: progressive funk metal. I know that ruffles some feathers the way I describe it but what else should I call it? Fusion metal? Nah that doesn’t work…PROGRESSIVE FUNK METAL it is!

I hope you enjoy this clip and leave feedback (nice words, please!)

It’s nice to be invited places.

Especially when it’s when the person inviting you is DJ Metal Mistress (pictured above with yours truly).

She asked me to be a guest DJ next Wed May 22 on her Metal Meltdown Show. And of course I obliged. Hadn’t been there in quite some time. Yes it’s been a while, and while I have nothing new to promote, that’s okay. It will be a night of us riffing back and forth with bad jokes. And of course playing songs hand-picked by me, so you never know what will come blaring through the speakers.

You can tune in here from 7-10pm and even jump in the chat room! And I may…hmm…play live shred guitar on the air?

Nah, no pressure…

It’s already May?! How can this be?! I have to be blunt as always, this year has been pretty slow for me personally. Think I’m finally seeing signs of life and feeling better each day.

I sound like a Hallmark card now.

Above you see a nice flyer that the good folks at Caline Technology made for yours truly. I was asked, “You have pics of you with those three pedals together?” and I said “Those pedals are already on their boards, so I only have the single pics.” And they ran with it. Those pedals in the pics are all on my Behemoth Board and am very pleased. I am definitely “on board” (groan) with these pedals. Been getting some people checking them out and they say the same things: “Well-constructed”, “Great for the price”, “Sounds awesome”.

I can be an influencer?

On a slightly more somber note: I attended the service for the late great TM Stevens last Saturday in Fort Lee, NJ. Was nice to see old friends, make new ones, share stories, shed a few tears, but overall this is what TM would have wanted. Unity, togetherness, and LOUD FUNK METAL! Yes, his music has played in between eulogies, so this was definitely a unique experience. TM would not have wanted quiet, droopy, mopey attitudes. And no I won’t “name drop” who was there because that’s not the point of this. The point is, it was cool seeing everyone bond and enjoy (in a strange way) being in the moment.

And now the burning question…

All two of you have asked me if I am performing live anymore. Aside from a fill-in gig here and there with whatever cover band asks (and I am learning that THAT scene is more brutal than the original one), I am no longer performing live with my own music. There is no demand for it, then again there never was. I’m simply not what people want to see and hear. It’s okay. I came to this conclusion a while back but kept my mouth shut until I couldn’t any longer. I will be diplomatic and say that the bands in New Jersey have their own little clique/eco-system and I ain’t in it, to paraphrase the late great George Carlin.

Linus and Lyra like my playing anyway 😉

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/1808869176&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true

Steve Bello (Instrumental) · Spherical Miracle

Yes, I have released my third ambient-type single tonight entitled “Spherical Miracle”. I’ve had the title forever and finally got to use it! But I recorded the music on April 3 this year. Originally was not going to have any guitars on it.

HUH?

I figured I would do a synth-only piece (done on my laptop, not a real synth). And then one morning it hit me: why not add backwards guitars?

HUH?

Going off the deep end here. But it was needed and glad it happened. Was not easy getting the delays to line up properly while looping everything backwards. But oh what fun to make more noise!

So here you go, “Spherical Miracle” is waiting for you to give it a listen. It can be purchased on my Bandcamp page and will be streaming on various sites soon.

Enjoy!

Best thing I ever did: Discover Caline pedals

Worst thing I ever did: Become addicted to them.

Actually, it’s a good addiction, but I have to stop ordering pedals!

I was re-arranging the Behemoth Board ala Tetris and came across a dilemma: Nine pedals but only eight plugs in the chain. Quite the conundrum! Fortunately I had the smarts to see if there was a pedal that had both chorus and delay on it. Enter the DEVILFISH pedal.

You gotta love the name!

Of course I saw it on the Caline site and had to check out videos on YouTube. Yes I liked what I heard (but some people CANNOT make a good demo video with a gun to their head!!) so I ordered one and received it this afternoon. Fired it up and immediately felt like a mad scientist, playing with the knobs, finding the sweet spots. The chorus is very rich-sounding, definitely akin to the Boss Chorus, and I can achieve those Police/Fixx tones. With distortion, I can almost nail the 5150-era VH sound. Yet it still sounds like me.

The delay side is analog, warm and punchy. I like to combine analog with digital delay to get a very atmospheric yet dizzying effect. Some people cannot stand delay but screw ’em! I love it. I use the analog to fatten the sound and the digital (Ibanez DE7) to give it more space. I run the Devilfish through the FX loop of my Orange amps so as not to sound muddy.

Below is the demo video I made for it this afternoon. It’s not pretty but it’s honest and unsullied. Big words, I know…

I ran the pedal through the Super Crush 100 head with PPC212OB cabinet. The guitar is plugged directly in the front, so you are hearing natural clean and distortion. No other effects (but that damn swirly sound happens here and there…not sure why!)

At my age, I am still chasing sounds, no matter how nice or ugly. Caline really impresses the hell out of me, which is not easy to do.

Now tie my hands behind my back so I can’t order any more!!!

Christmas in April?

Why not!

I ordered two more pedals from Caline Technology (via Amazon) and received each a day apart. Keeps me busy.

First up is the Eagle Eye Boost. I’ve had my eye (no pun intended) on this pedal since January, watching demo videos online. Kept thinking “I already have the Killer Shark boost but this one looks interesting.” I was right (for once!) This pedal is very transparent, doesn’t muddy up the tones. The Mode button is a great feature, as it has six different settings so you can attenuate things to whatever room you are in. I found the fifth and sixth settings work best, they really beef things up.

Now I can sound more metal 😉

The second piece is the Green Mamba overdrive. Okay I admit this pedal looks friggin’ cool as hell! Again, checked out demo clips and everyone compared it to the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer (and that’s a great pedal too). So of course once this landed at my doorstep, I ripped the envelope open with much vigor and aplomb.

And my cats looked at me funny.

The GM pedal sounds very cool too which is always a plus. I had the Drive at zero and it still sounded awesome….HUH?! What pedal sounds great at ZERO?! With a clean tone, I achieved a nice bluesy tone, and I’m the world’s worst blues player. When it’s engaged with overdrive, it really adds a bit more hair, and I have a good amount of hair to begin with.

Safe to say that Caline has REALLY impressed me with their pedals. I hope they make a switchless wah and phaser soon.

Yes, those are hints.

April has been an interesting month and it’s only the first couple of weeks!

This year feels like one long Monday as well.

Full moon…surprise earthquake…solar eclipse…anything else?

Oh yeah, Facebook being all stupid and taking down everyone’s posts about the ISSA voting poll. Apparently the link that we all shared goes against community standards because of the word “vote”. I am not kidding. Yet others can post fake stuff and get away with it.

Someone explain this world to me.

At first I thought I was being sabotaged (not the first time) but when other artists said “My post is gone”, Tamanie Dove looked into it. Yes, the wording had to be changed so as not to be removed. Free speech is not free, people. Unless you pepper your posts with hate and rhetoric. So now the link can be posted again WITHOUT the word “Vote” in it.

ISSA VOTING POLL (I can say the word here HA!)

Oh I forgot Mercury is in Gatorade too.

At least my car passed inspection.

A couple of years ago, my album MOOD SWINGS was up for Male Album of the Year, and “Never Be The Sane” was up for Male Single. The single didn’t advance to the finals, which was cool. The album did, which shocked everyone including me. It didn’t win, and that’s okay. As I always say, being acknowledged is already a win.

Wash rinse repeat.

Now the album ACT NATURAL is in the running as well as the single “Walk Through Lightning”. Voting polls are open now until midnight April 30. After that, ISSA founder Tamanie Dove will announce those who will advance to the finals. And from there…who knows! But your vote counts, so hit this link and follow all the directions carefully:

ISSA Voting

And I will keep saying that being nominated is already a nice feather in my cap.

Now GO VOTE!!!!