In a world on internet hoaxes, I had to really make sure this was true.

Sadly it is.

We lost TM Stevens Sunday night at the age of 72. He was without question the best bass player that I ever played with. We didn’t do many shows but the ones we did were thrilling and magical.

He had been battling dementia since 2017 and had heard various stories from people such as Vernon Reid and TC Tolliver about their visits to the hospital. Dementia is cruel, without a doubt.

I really have nothing else to say at this moment except “Thank you for the memories” and RIP TM…

Two gigs with two different cover band over two weekends. That’s a world tour for me. In the words of TM Stevens, “Gotta put mustard on that hot dog!”

I prefer ketchup.

Last Saturday I sat in with Supernova at Sparta Lanes. Yes, a bowling alley! Let me tell you (because it’s my blog) that it was SUPER fun! Never did I expect things to sound good at a bowling alley but it sounded HUGE. Always a blast playing with Tony, Chris, and Mike, doing songs ranging from The Beatles to Billy Idol, even chucked in some Van Halen (I broke my “no Eruption” rule LOL). And we didn’t do “Chicken Fried” 🙂 Was interesting hearing the sound of pins being knocked down as we played. Hey, there’s a first for everything!

Last night (Friday March 8), Rock Hard returned to Bardi’s. We played there back in September and it was cool, but this time it was OFF THE WALL! Everything sounded full, the crowd were really into it, and no requests for “Free Bird” (though one guy asked me to do Slayer…one day…) Even though it was our third show, it sounded pretty polished and yet teetered on anything can happen in an instant. Playing with Tom, Alana and James is always a treat, and we ripped through songs by Motorhead, Led Zeppelin, Bush, AC/DC and my fave Living Colour. Added White Zombie and Jimi Hendrix to the list (Alana freaked that I played guitar with my teeth).

Come to think of it, I played my third show with Supernova too. Third time really is the charm.

Now I can decompress after feeling like a guitar god for two shows 🙂

A picture of Rush? Why not!

I am typing this on a Saturday morning, so you won’t see this until either Sunday or Monday, depending on how I schedule it. No matter how many bands/artists influenced me over the years, if there’s one band that really made a severe dent in my skull, it’s the power trio from Canada.

As I sit here listening to HEMISPHERES with my headphones on, I am always reminded of what compelled me to be the guitarist/musician that I became. And if there’s one thing the late great Neil Peart said in an interview: “Compromise is not a word in my dictionary” (or something to that effect).

As a pre-teen, I was grooving to my Atari video games as well as bands like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Queen, Cheap Trick, Kiss and Bay City Rollers (no shame here, not one to act “too cool for school” because I will never be cool). I don’t miss my youth at all but I have those fleeting moments of nostalgia where for a brief period, it was cool to be a kid. Almost.

I heard this strange noise come through my radio after hearing (and taping) Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir” on WNEW. What is this?! I listened a bit more…and was sucked in. At the end of it, the DJ said, “That was brand new Rush from the album MOVING PICTURES called ‘Tom Sawyer’.” My 11-year-old brain couldn’t process this sci-fi sound. I had to have more of this!

I bought MP on cassette and my world changed. And I wasn’t even really learning guitar (that’s where Jimi Hendrix and Ritchie Blackmore came in a year later). I was fixated on this band, this sound. I was teased for liking them (and other bands…life in North Arlington sucked). When I really focused on learning guitar, after figuring out Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and The Cars “Drive”, I had to tackle Rush songs.

There’s no such thing as an easy Rush song.

I learned about time signatures and funny chords as if the band invented them. I had to be a great musician. NO COMPROMISE! Yes, I honestly convinced myself in my halcyon days that if I wasn’t a great guitarist, nobody would like me.

Oh I was so wrong there.

Here I am many years later, still with the same perfectionism and undying appetite to grow as a musician. Others are content with “This is what I know, so leave me alone” but not me. You can thank or blame Rush for who/how/why I am the way I am. I still get excited hearing them, whether it’s “La Villa Strangiato” or “Time Stand Still”, or a deep cut like “Alien Shore”.

Now to crank that F#7add11 chord…

It’s been six months since the release of my latest cd ACT NATURAL. Buzz for it started off kinda strange. Peoples’ reaction to the first video, the title track, varied from “Wow this is cool” to “This is f—-n’ weird!” (No weirder than a Tool or Mr. Bungle video!) Radio stations warmed up to the music, and then interest seemingly dropped off. Magazines didn’t respond to emails for interviews, and those who did gave me the runaround.

I am just going to be honest here…

This album, compared to the others I released in the past, was met with such a tepid reception. I chalk it up to something not connecting with the public. Also when people are hyper-fixated on Taylor Swift’s next move, or that suddenly “Mick Mars is Motley Crue” (nobody cared for years), chances of my music being noticed were slim to none.

I simply lost the heart after a while. I stopped talking about the album. Others did too. Hey it was bound to happen. We live in a very nostalgic age and that’s scary. Old bands put out new albums, there’s excitement for a couple of weeks, and then the subject changes. New bands are trying to look and sound retro, raiding their mom’s closets and being nostalgic for a decade where they weren’t even a thought in their parents’ eyes.

Just being honest here.

So what do I do?

I know…remaster and re-release the first two albums because people have been asking me for years “When are we going to hear the old stuff?” So I did, and was met with…crickets.

I get the hint, really. I’m not what some people want to hear. This is not a pity party, this is fact. I will not stop writing music though. I won’t change my stripes either for public acceptance. MOOD SWINGS connected with people, whereas ACT NATURAL didn’t. And of course some will say “If you only had a singer…” I can’t work with singers, and they don’t like me either, so we’re even.

So what else do I do?

I help out cover bands who need a fill-in guitarist. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. I was in a cover band from 2013-2017 that shall remain nameless (plus they want you to forget I played with them too). I figured NO MORE! But then I helped out Naked Glory for a short time, and get asked by the band Supernova to pinch hit. I have been enjoying time with Rock Hard, as everyone are really cool, and I’m playing songs that are equally as cool. If this is my new path, along with being a teacher, fine with me.

Without a guitar in my hands, I’m pretty f—-n’ boring.

Yes I sent out a blog two days ago so forgive me here.

This will be quick…kinda.

On this date back in 2014, I signed a deal and became an official artist endorser/ambassador for Orange Amplifiers! Ten years…wow! And to think it all started when my daughter Emma played an Ibanez RG through an Orange Rockerverb 50 at Alto Music in 2013.

Yes, that is a very true story which I will rehash at a later time.

For now, I shall bask in this moment 🙂

Things come and go in our lives. Family, friends, guitar effects…huh?

It’s all coming back to me now.

Three years ago, right after the lockdowns were lifted, I went to the now-demolished Sam Ash on Route 4. They had a used pedal display case and a purple wah caught my eye. Never heard of this brand (oh but again, how things find me!) so I asked to try it out. I really liked it, so I bought it. And then of course the gods (well, maybe Jimi Hendrix) put another wah pedal back in my life: Ibanez Weeping Demon. So I gave the purple wah to a student, thinking “I don’t need this anymore.”

Cut to late last year and I order some pedals from this company called Caline through Amazon. Wait…they make this purple wah! Would my student let me have it back? I had to ask, no shame in doing so. He said, “I never used it, so you can take it.” BAM! Put the pedal on The Fly (the name I gave my fly rig) and those throaty funky sounds came through my Orange amp with such elegance and coolness!

I still have the Weeping Demon on the Behemoth board but I plan on re-doing that one soon. I have NO intention of parting with the WD pedal but rather might put the Dunlop mini Hendrix wah on there. Unless I become a huge guitar god (YEAH RIGHT), I won’t have roadies. So I don’t feel like lugging heavy stuff anymore.

I made two demo videos on YouTube so check them out when you wish.

And on a slightly more serious note: I may deep six this website at the end of the month. Honestly, I’m putting money into something that isn’t getting much attention unless I post about buying my music. Even with these blogs, I rarely get any likes or comments. Algorithms on social media bury website links so you can’t jump off their own sites. I miss the days of MySpace when musicians had it easy.

Did I just date myself?

Yep.

Well I went ahead and did it…

I put my first two albums on various streaming sites through DistroKid. I honestly held back for the longest time. Yes, I put these albums on my Bandcamp page as I felt that was the right thing to do.

So why the change of heart? I figured WHY NOT!

These cds have been requested over the years and I was very hesitant to reissue them. Listening to these albums brought back a lot of great memories but I refuse to wallow in the past. I still maintain that these two albums will be up for a limited time. I don’t have any plans on reissuing any more past releases.

So enjoy these while I feel like keeping them up 🙂

Life has a funny way of reminding you that you can get complacent. The universe put me to the test this week (it’s not all bad, don’t worry).

But Christmas continues!

Had another flood in the basement, due to pounding rain and causing the snow to melt (which I like…yet I didn’t want it down here!) Thankfully all my gear were safe, nothing damaged, and yes the cats are fine. However, my laptop of nine years crapped out. Guess it was a sign to finally get a new one.

Headed over to Best Buy and treated myself to a new HP Envy x360. And it was at a reduced price! Got home, set it up, and it was lightning fast! Yeah, I like that. And you know what else I like?

New pedals!

I’ve been chatting with Steve at Caline and he is pleased that I am pleased (say that five times fast) with the brand. I received two more yesterday: Killer Shark boost pedal, and Chamecho analog delay. Will put them on my new fly rig which I call The Fly and debut these new noisemakers on Saturday with Rock Hard.

Again I ask…I’m 54, right?

“I’d like to thank…”

I need to practice my speech if I win, right?

Was nice to receive an email with this graphic above stating that ACT NATURAL has been nominated for Male Album Of The Year. And not only that, the song “Walk Through Lightning” is up for Male Single Of The Year. (But I’m not a single male…har-har-har…)

If you may recall, my last album MOOD SWINGS as well as the song “Never Be The Sane” were nominated in 2022. The album made it to the finals, the single didn’t (which is okay). And while it was THISCLOSE, the album didn’t win gold/silver/bronze awards. But the gods granted me an award on my birthday for Best Instrumental Artist.

Nice work if I can get it.

The single “Pieces Of Light” was nominated in 2023 but didn’t make it to the finals. Again, totally fine. But this time…I want to take home a nice award to show off 🙂

Voting from the public doesn’t open until April 2. After all, if one or the other (or both) make it to the finals, then the judges decide. I create music that makes me feel good, and if others like it, even better. And when awards are involved, yes it’s nice to be noticed.

As the late great Neil Peart once said, “It’s kind of a big deal.”