Day two of my fake tour continued yesterday afternoon with the first of 15 shows with Supernova.

I could get used to this.

Let me start off by saying The Jefferson House is a GREAT place!! Playing by (or on?) the lake was a thrill, seeing people on their boats and some were jet-skiing…at a rock show? Hey, stranger gigs have happened but the vibes and the weather were so friggin’ amazing…I could get used to this (again).

As people filtered in, I was greeted by friends with “Welcome to the band” and “About time you were part of this.” To be fair, neither the band nor myself ever said I was in. I consider myself “temporarily permanent” but will say that I was greeted very warmly by everyone. Have I finally fit somewhere? I could get used to this (but am being realistic about things too). Though the guys said “You can stick around as long as you want.” So maybe I’m the new guy? Haven’t felt like that in eons. After years of being a bandleader, maybe it’s finally time I took a step back and enjoyed playing music again. Seems to agree with me.

We did three sets, started with the mainstays but then added new tunes to the mix that I picked (!) I finally got to do “Rock You Like A Hurricane” by Scorpions when other bands would turn it down. Why did I want to do that? Because it was the first song I ever learned on guitar from start to finish when I was 14. And playing it live for the first time brought me back to when I sat on the couch in my old house, jamming on a Guild Madiera Strat-copy through a tiny red amp. I felt 10 feet tall that day.

Other newbies were “Panama” by Van Halen, which was a LOT of fun to play, as well as…you guessed it, “Cult Of Personality” by Living Colour. I did that one with Rock Hard three years ago and got to do it again with these guys. Oh it sounded so good!! The whole band were firing on all sixes, and the crowd were dancing and singing and groovin’ to the music…wait, I hear a hit single! Even honored some crowd requests in the form of “Honky Tonk Women” by the Stones, and “Rockin In The Free World” by Neil Young. I enjoyed playing a tuneless solo for that one.

Some asked me why I wore a blue finger cot on my index finger. Well, I wish I could say something cool like I saved someone from a bear attack. But no, I tripped up my steps last Saturday on the concrete. Lame. But only the index finger of my fretting hand was scraped?! I took care of it with liquid bandage, and minimized playing the guitar aside from giving lessons. In the past, I would have freaked out. Now I was like “Shit happens” and I rolled with it. A couple of people asked me “Were you going to cancel?” For a SCRAPE?! Hell no!! I remember a gig that TM Stevens did in the 90s where he sliced his fretting hand finger and still did the show. Unless I stop breathing, the show must go on.

Onto the next gig at Mason Street Grille, Saturday June 13!

I could get used to this…

The start of my fake tour of New Jersey began last night at Sam’s Bar & Grill (Ringwood, NJ) as sub for Rubber Duckie Riot.

Ibuprofen is my friend now.

Upon entering the place, and I’ve been there before, I saw a small space cleared for the band. Bands used to be set up in the other bigger room but I can see why they moved them to be closer to the bar. Despite the smaller space, we made it work.

Once we got set up, plugged in, and levels set, we were off and running! With songs ranging from 60s to early 2000s, the set list was flowing. People were dancing all night, and a young band even got up in between sets to play live for the first time and it was very cool. Their one guitarist used my gear and had his own guitar, even said to me, “Um, I’m not used to playing a loud amp.” I replied, “Welcome to the big time!”

And I must have a face that evokes various questions such as “Weren’t you in an Ozzy tribute band?”, “Didn’t I see you in the early 90s playing Mike’s Tavern?” and “Aren’t you Steve Brown of Trixter?” The answer for all three was no! And some people were convinced that I was playing in cover bands in the 90s, which I never did. But people have fuzzy memories, and while I do at times too, I am fully aware of who I did and didn’t play with.

But all told, I had a blast and it was a great way to start off my pretend tour. One down, 16 more shows to go. Fifteen with Supernova, and another with RDR on Halloween at Mason Jar (7 minutes from my house!)

I need to get back in shape though.

Was I ever in shape?

Another pedal?

Yep.

Years ago, I owned an Ibanez FL9 flanger. I loved that thing, had the best tones, and just to show you how weird I am…I love dialing the speed all the way down and the width way up so when the flange dips, it sounds really sick. Like someone throwing up.

Thank you, Jeff Beck!

I sold that pedal because, well, I needed the money. Since then, I was on a quest for THAT sound. I could have bought another FL9 but wanted to challenge myself. I love the Electro-Harmonix Neo Mistress flanger, have no intention on parting with it. I also have a Mooer E-Lady flanger, and it’s cool but that vibe was missing. I also had an Ibanez Paul Gilbert Airplane Flanger, and while that was wild, it was too big!!

I would listen to demos online and think “Nah”, “Maybe”, “Almost” but then I came cross this RockReady BBD model. Hmmm…one guy made a demo, and my dead goldfish could have done better. Some people simply don’t know how to make a demo video. The two other videos made me think “Okay go for it.” Ordered it through Osiamo Music Gear in NY, got the pedal and those FL9 vibes came back!

Ah heaven!

I immediately replaced the EHX with this pedal. Again, not selling that other pedal because I do like it. Good to have backups in case things go haywire.

Plus the pedal is yellow!!!

So why am I always forever chasing sounds? Much like a lot of musicians, I am never satisfied. There are some pedals that I can’t see replacing but when it comes to things like chorus pedals and such, I hear these sounds in my head. Sometimes I can achieve them, other times no. The longest I owned a pedal, not including my original Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal from 1983, is the DigiTech Whammy 5. I’ve had that since 2011! I’ve swapped out other pedals, and when I think I’m settled…another pedal might sneak up on me.

And no you can’t have my HM-2!

With these gigs coming up starting next Friday (!), it’s best that I make sure all the sounds are ready to roll. Gotta change strings on Pinkie and Universe, as I always bring them to gigs. I like creating a spectacle, whether it’s my sneakers, cables, pedals or strings. I’m just a conduit for the music, simple as that. I was never good at jumping around and making those O-faces like Eddie Van Halen. I’d rather play my guitar. Period.

I may shake my hair around a bit though.

No matter how many years I’ve been doing music, that giddy feeling creeps in when I least expect it. You’d think by now I’d be over it, with pretty much a “yeah whatever” vibe.

Nope!

It’s nice to receive airplay in the States of course. It’s cool when other countries grab your song and give it a spin. First time my music received airplay in Australia was when MOOD SWINGS came out almost five years ago (!) Issac Banks over at Banks Radio AU played a couple of tracks from it. I admit that I had to go back into my Facebook memories (not always good) to see what song did the best there. “Force Quit” debuted at #3 then. Life was good! Two years later, the title track from ACT NATURAL debuted at #2.

Will “Digital Stress” hit #1? Who knows!

I am just glad that Issac played the song as he said he would. And still, even though I know it was going to be played, the anticipation was strong. When I saw his posts on various socials, the 18-year-old in me was happy. Hell, I’ve been 18 since 1988! He had the song sandwiched in between other really cool heavy rock/metal/punk acts, so here’s the link if you want to hear the show: Banks Radio 5.8.26

BTW The album is 100% mixed! Mike had been sending me files all week, and as of Wednesday night, the last song was finished. As to be expected, the clarity is amazing, there’s a lot of punch and (ahem) balls to it. Mike’s litmus test is if things sound killer on earbuds or a phone, then it will sound amazing everywhere else. We are definitely very excited about DOWN TO THE METAL, and of course the next step is gathering the cash to master it. Thankfully, I have a ton of gigs coming up so those will supplement everything. And then…pressing copies!

I hope to release the second single next month if the opportunity arises. Not rushing anything, and people have noticed. Toning down my eagerness works wonders. That’s not to say that I’m bursting at the seams! Just more relaxed and pragmatic about everything. The pre-order link will follow soon after the second single is out the door. Slow and steady wins the race.

One more thing (ala Columbo): This Wednesday May 13, tune into The Metal Meltdown to hear DJ Metal Mistress and I crack each other up, play select songs from various bands, including my own stuff! Show is from 7-10pm EST. Unless you have to vacuum your lawn that night, TUNE IN!!!!

Thanks 🙂

The picture above is Mike’s “studio away from studio” if you will. It’s the mixing room in his house so he can save on gas and tolls, and have peace and quiet away from other bands rehearsing in the complex in Jersey City.

Plus he sees his cat more 🙂

Mike has been sending me file after file of songs as they are being mixed. Of course he asks for my input but also asks his friend Jon Hanemann who has a very discerning ear! His suggestions really hit the bulls-eye, no question. Many ears make light work.

I have heard two more songs mixed and re-mixed, and we both agree these tracks sound sharp and have a lot of punch to them. One tune is very much in the mold of Van Halen with touches of Yes in spots (trust me here). Another is just an in-your-face heavy rocker that is steeped in the 80s without sounding too retro.

Pretty much the whole album will touch on a lot of past influences but not stay stuck there. I stopped trying so hard to be this groundbreaking guitarist (I never was) and focused on writing solid material and catchy melodies. If something sounded like VH or Rush, fine. If a melody was Satriani-ish or Steve Howe-like, great. But my thumbprint is all over the songs, as to be expected. Of course, Mike did a hell of a job with the drumming as well as producing, and mixing so far. He’s also working on a couple of other bands’ albums, so he’s busy in a good way.

“Digital Stress” has been played on two stations so far this week, between Cranium Radio with DJJD and Metal Mistress, as well as Metal Devastation Radio with DJ Twitch and DJ April Santos. Responses for the song have been pretty positive, and the video has received good reviews. One station in Europe (I won’t say where) won’t play the song but their loss is two other stations’ gains! Expect the song to be played in North Carolina and Georgia soon. I know that DJ Mark Glazier will play the songs on a slew of stations that he hosts, and Issac Banks will play it soon on his show in Australia. I have reached out to other stations, so hope for the best. If any stations are interested in the song, check it out on my SOOTHING SOUNDS page and then email me!

Is this my best album? I will let you decide when it’s released. I am super proud of it though, if that’s any indication. I feel very vindicated with this album. Mike and I were more relaxed and enjoyed everything from rehearsals to recording. And that’s the way it should be, right?

BTW: My first album was TWISTED METAL, this 10th one is DOWN TO THE METAL.

Full circle?

After almost three years, it’s time to bestow a brand new song on your ears. Yes I’ve done some ambient stuff which was necessary but now it’s…

DOWN TO THE METAL!!!

That will be the name of the new studio album (release date TBA) but for now, you can hear the first single “Digital Stress” by clicking on my Bandcamp page. The song will be available for a limited time. When the full album is released, the single will be removed.

I actually wrote this song two years ago but one riff is from 1992. My brain seems to dig deep for these ideas that had a home or not, and now are utilized way better. When I let Mike hear the rough demo, he said “Let’s get movin’!”

To my ears, the main riff reminds me of Led Zeppelin “Communication Breakdown” and Black Sabbath “Turn Up The Night”. Those who heard the five-second clip told me things like “Sounds like early Metallica”, “Reminds me of early Megadeth”, and “I hear a bit of Pantera there.” I like it all! But ultimately it sounds like me 🙂

I hope you like the song. The video will premier Tuesday April 28 at 9a.m. next week on my YouTube. A pre-order link will be up later in the future, not sure when yet.

Breathe deep…new Bello is always good!!

I wanted some gigs, and boy I got ’em! Last time I played this many shows in one year was way back in 2016.

Breathe deep, Steve…you got this!

Received a Facebook message yesterday morning from Supernova singer Mike McCormick, asking me if I wanted to fill up my dance card for the rest of the year. I expected maybe 5-6 shows, that would have been fine. But THIRTEEN?! I say BRING IT ON!!

Jake over at Strings By Aurora is going to LOVE when I order a healthy amount of sets!!

We’re already lobbying song ideas back and forth, and I tried suggesting 2112 by Rush. Guess that’s not a hit with the ladies? Some of these places I’ve played before, and a few are new to me. I know the shows will be great, we always have a blast. I also cannot wait to do a couple of shows with Rubber Duckie Riot, as those guys are a lot of fun to jam with.

I will definitely have my work cut out for me but this is what I asked for, right?

Oh and the first single is being mastered as I type this 😉

Being a Scorpio is a curse and a blessing. People curse when they see me.

Thank you, try the veal.

But seriously, folks…if there’s one thing I do best, it’s overthink things. I have been trying REALLY HARD to control that and sometimes my brain plays tricks on me.

This past Thursday, I took my car to inspection. What do I do upon entering the inspection station? I OVERTHINK THINGS! “What if this fails?” and “What if I get someone who’s in a foul mood?” I passed though, and was even told by the guy who helped me that I have cool hair.

Glad I never cut it.

This morning I woke up with a very strange feeling in my head: “Will anyone care if I release a single soon?” and “With so many bands overestimating themselves, what chance does my new album stand?” And then I realized something: Mike and I worked damn hard on the songs, yet had the most fun we could recall in a long time. The songs will speak for themselves; no need for me to validate or qualify my work. The production is killer, clear as a bell. The music straddles fences but it’s still a heavy metal album. My guitar playing has elevated and improved tremendously.

So why am I beating myself up?

Thoughts of how ill-received ACT NATURAL was (and I blame myself for the overt lack of caring), I suddenly felt myself pulled backwards into this mind game. Granted, the teaser clip got some people asking me “When’s the new album?” and saying things like “Wow it sounds old school but current at the same time” definitely makes me feel warm and fuzzy. But ask any musician and they will tell you that externally they are proud but internally they are skeptical.

I don’t care if the cd sells out or sells slowly. I just hope people LIKE THE SONGS and the playing between myself and Mike. The hardest part about being a musician is getting people to listen.

I feel better now after typing this blog.

Time for chocolate!!

At my age, you’d think I’d be kinda done with writing and recording. You’d think the excitement disappears, and a malaise sets in. “Yeah yeah yeah…another album…”

What’s my age again?

Drummer/producer Mike Sabatini sent me the first mix of a new song, which we both decided would be the first single/video. My eyes widened and heart raced…that Peter Pan feeling woke up. After offering my changes, Mike sent another mix…and then another…and then…well you get the idea. Each one better and better. His friend Jon offered more pearls of wisdom, suggested more EQ options. Mike sent another mix.

THIS IS THE ONE!

Yeah it’s one song so far, but it’s enough to make those butterflies come back. I didn’t think that would happen anymore. Sometimes I like being wrong. I always say that my heart and hair still think I’m 18. And it’s never been more true than hearing the final mix. I went right to work on creating the above teaser clip.

But wait…another one?

This time you hear a bit of the melody along with the riff. But the melody doesn’t sound like a typical guitar lick, does it? Well it is but I added a bitcrusher effect, and unintentionally, it sounds like a tortured saxophone. John Coltrane meets Joe Satriani? I would say so!

We said early on that this album should be about “layering guitars” and we accomplished that. This is the most guitar-dense album I’ve ever done. Sounds strange but true. In the past, some stuff sounded skeletal because I was thinking “How will I play this live?” Since I’m no longer performing my own songs live, this was the prime time to make a bold statement. And it worked.

Mike is taking his time mixing the rest of the album which is fine with me. For once, I’m in no rush to get something out the door. The last album saw me over-eager and far-reaching, and it blew up in my face. I own up to that. The first single will be released within the month and then soon after, I will post a pre-order link. Things need to build slowly, not bash people over the head.

Of course, Joe Lambert will be on-hand to master the album, and he’s definitely one of the best in the business. Other bands have gone to him and they walk out changed people! He makes things sound massive, and yes I’ve seen him work his magic. A simple knob twist here and there, and POW! When my spleen is re-arranged, that’s a good sign.

Though I am very excited, hopes are still kept to a minimum. My confidence has come back, yet humility cushions things as well. Hearing this final mix brings me back to when I heard my first album on playback 23 years ago. All I can think is “That’s ME? I wrote THAT?”

Damn right I did!