Back in May 2019, I walked away from performing. I was done, tired of everything, you name it. I was dead set on never touching a stage ever again.

The muse has proven me wrong.

Yes I have done two shows with Naked Glory and were a lot of fun. But this show I am about to mention is super important for many reasons:

1. My first show as Steve Bello since May 2019
2. My first show this year featuring Attacker drummer Mike Sabatini and bassist Brian Smith
3. THIS IS A BENEFIT SHOW FOR OUR FRIEND IRENE DeMEO WHO IS BATTLING CANCER!!!!

That third reason is the most important. Michelle over at Dingbatz made a post last week about doing this show to help defray medical expenses for Irene, and I immediately wrote her with “I have to be on this bill!” And since Brian and Mike agreed, Michelle dutifully put the band on. I am beyond thrilled to be helping Irene but this is NOT about me or any other band on the bill. This is HER night, plain and simple!!

This is the FB event page, so click on it, see all the info: F–k Cancer

Make no excuses, clear your calendar for Friday March 4th!!!!

After almost three years, I stepped foot on stage at Dingbatz. I said that would never happen ever again.

I love being proven wrong.

Naked Glory were one of three bands that performed last night, as part of a tribute to the late Steve Ferrigno. We never got to rehearse because of bad weather, so we decided to just wing it. And wow did we ever!! Some hiccups but who cares? Even a perfectionist like me learned to let go, and be in the zone. We did “Heavy Metal” by Don Felder for the first time, with no rehearsal, and we pulled it off quite well. I have to admit, it shocked me to see the crowd respond like “Wow, THAT song!! COOL!”

My biggest fear was “Am I overdoing it on stage??” I didn’t hear any complaints, so it must have been pretty good. I learned how to be a better perfomer when I toured with TM Stevens in 2014. Granted, I thought my stage presence was good up until that point. But he offered me the best piece of advice: “People pay money to see the whites of your eyes, not the top of your head! Give ’em a SHOW!” And I’ve done that ever since.

More gigs are happening with Naked Glory, and maybe one or two with my band will be coming up shortly. Keep checking the UPCOMING EVENTS page for more.

And I thought I was done…

When it snows, what do you do?

You make a video.

Here is the third and final single/video from my latest cd MOOD SWINGS. “Force Quit” debuted at #3 on Banks Radio (Australia) and so people are taking notice of what I consider my angriest song. So here you go, I made yet another trippy/funky video to hopefully match the music. Of course you have to keep watching as things unfold over seconds and minutes.

Naked Glory’s gig at Lakeside was obviously cancelled due to the weather. Winter is tough for sure. But if the snow gods behave, we will get to do two more shows coming up on consecutive Saturdays. You can go to the UPCOMING EVENTS page to see what’s brewing.

I am also very pleased that the interview for Guitar Girl Magazine has gone past 1000 views in two weeks. Think that’s a first for me. Caroline Paone is happy too, so win/win for both! I hope more guitar magazines start asking her to write for them too.

Oh and if I can get in Guitar Player magazine, that would be pretty sweet too.

Make it so!

I had a pleasant surprise this week. Ella over at Orange Amps sent me an email saying the new Super Crush 100 is ready to be shipped to my house.

Well alrighty then!!

UPS brought it to the house Friday night but I didn’t get to play with it until Saturday. Yes I was pained. I made a video showcasing the clean tones (which are GORGEOUS) and the heavier tones (which are KILLER). But of course, the video I made came out with a lower volume.

Can’t I do anything right?!

So today at rehearsal, I got to put this amp head to the test. It did NOT disappoint. I don’t know how we didn’t walk out of rehearsal feeling some sort of vertigo. Brian Smith (bassist) even told me that he had to turn UP because I was so loud. Oh I like the sound of that…

After rehearsal, I asked Mike to film a bit of me playing nice and loud. So the video above was done in one pass, totally off the top of my head. Yes I make silly guitar faces (who doesn’t?!) but one thing’s for certain…this amp flat-out ROCKS!!!

I play fast, yes?

Wow, it’s been 19 days since I typed a blog. Did you miss me?

Don’t answer that.

This year is starting off on some good notes for sure. As you see above, my song “Force Quit” debuted at #3 on Banks Radio in Australia! Took a while to get moving over there but it finally happened. I am grateful that the people down under liked the song well enough to make it chart so nicely.

And I posted on the PRESS page another first: I was interviewed by Caroline Paone for Guitar Girl Magazine. Yes, you read that right. The interview took place over two days back in December, between emails and phone calls. It was the most relaxed interview I was ever part of. We talked about the obvious things such as the new album MOOD SWINGS, as well as my gear. But of course, the highlight was women in music and so far the response to that from friends and fans has been amazing. I’ve been doing interviews for many years and this, I feel, is the best one I’ve done to date. Here’s the link if you wish to peruse it: Steve Bello Guitar Girl Magazine

But wait there’s more…

I will be playing more shows with the cover band Naked Glory starting on January 29th. Shows are posted on the UPCOMING EVENTS page. One of their guitarists stepped down so I was asked to step up, and I obliged. I am working on getting a couple of shows with my trio soon, so keep an ear and eye out for those!

One more thing (I sound like Columbo)…

Expect a blog soon about my new Orange Super Crush 100 head! The UPS driver should be dropping it off today and I will put it through its paces this Sunday at rehearsal.

Okay time for coffee…

Here we are, a couple of week into the new year, and it’s been brutally cold in New Jersey. Not as cold as some parts of Canada, but enough to make me annoyed!

At least playing in front of a loud amp keeps me warm.

We had two rehearsals so far this year, and they have been nothing short of amazing and LOUD! Finally added the eighth song to the roster, so now I can make a proper set list because…wait, what’s that…?

Yes, I will be looking into live shows starting in April. Because of Mike and Brian’s schedule with their own band Attacker, I have to be mindful of when they can or can’t be available. Not that I am looking to book a ton of shows, but want to find ones of quality. I know that sounds a bit pompous but, speaking for myself, I’ve paid my own dues a few times over.

It was nice playing the eighth song (which I won’t name yet), as I had not touched it since 2019. These guys haven’t played it at all until today HA! So as it stands, there will be four songs from MOOD SWINGS, one song from three previous albums, and one non-album single. Now it’s time to ramp things up!

But first, a nap.

Here we are, one week into 2022 and things are already weird. Well, they always were but now it seems like we’re entering the Twilight Zone.

Where’s Rod Serling?

Anyway, some of you may roll your eyes when I get excited about new gear but I have to toot Orange Amplifers’ horn as always. Back in September, they debuted the new Super Crush series of amps to replace the original Crush series. Yes, I bought the CR120H when it came out back in Feb 2014 (and that was when I officially became an artist endorser/ambassador for Orange!) So when this emerged, along with Ty Tabor of King’s X making demo videos, I had to write my rep Ella Stormark over in England about this.

But…

She said because of shipping issues, none will be in the States for a while.

But…

On Wednesday this week, she emailed me and said to order one as they might be here in March at the earlier, or May at the latest. So needless to say, I filled out the form, and while it won’t be in my hands for a couple of months, I will be the proud owner of a new Super Crush 100-watt head!

(Trivia note: Ty Tabor and I were the first two artists to get CR120H’s when they debuted…the perks of being endorsers!)

And on a somber note, it’s been two years since the world lost a true giant in Neil Peart of Rush. Instead of being bummed, I am cranking Rush all day in my earbuds and telling myself “You still have miles to go to be as good as THAT band!”

Even Linus misses Neil…

Nice way to end 2021 with my album MOOD SWINGS coming in at #4 in Denmark!

Also heard Jerry Declet at Metallicave (Cranium Radio) say that this album is in his top 3, along with the bands Nuse and Cassius King.

I feel vindicated!

But I also feel grateful that people like YOU made this album a hit, and continues to do so.

THANK YOU and Happy 2022!

While these are nice…

And these are cool too…

This is most important…

Let’s hope 2022 is an improvement over the past couple of years!

Well, normally I would be heading to Jersey City for a rehearsal but instead, I headed straight home after giving a lesson.

Such a jarring feeling!

It’s nice to have the two-week break before rehearsals commence on January 2nd. It’s also equally as nice to have people ask “So when you are playing shows?” I can only hope they mean it when I advertise for gigs around March/April 2022. Whatever the case may be, I cannot wait to hit the stage with the most muscular and heaviest rhythm section I ever stood next to: Attacker drummer Mike Sabatini and bassist Brian Smith!

As for Naked Glory, I am on-call in case their guitarists cannot do a show. I am definitely on board for at least one but am not saying much. I’ve had other cover bands ask me to fill in but my schedule is crammed between teaching and two bands. Feels good to be wanted though. If a situation arises and I can help someone else’s band out, fine. But I make no guarantees.

Also trying to get more promotional work for MOOD SWINGS. Hard to believe the album is four months old! Considering how I didn’t think I was going to get even one song off the ground, I am astounded at how things came together so quickly when Mike uttered the classic line “Send me the songs.” In this industry, you have more flaky musicians per square inch but when you find the one or two that put their money where their mouths are, it’s the best.

And yes I’ve been writing new riffs…imagine that.