Crocodile Tears. Issue #28

In case you haven't yet heard, Seattle's own Crocodile Cafe shut it's doors for good abruptly last Saturday. The club opened it's doors April 30, 1991 and since then had become nationally known as one of the best rock clubs and places to see music in the Northwest. I've seen my share of shows at the Croc and though I unfortunately never played a bill there under my own name, I am thankful to have stepped on stage for a night while I was temporarily the lead guitar player for SWEET LOU in 2003.
I know that a lot of people are sad about this as it was a destination spot for music lovers who knew the evening would be ABOUT THE MUSIC (what a concept), but my reminiscing comes more in the form of what it symbolized to me as a young teenager in North Seattle...

When the Seattle Scene "exploded" in the early 90's, I was a 12 year old just starting to discover music (and my teenage identity) who every morning ate breakfast while flipping through the paper to see what exciting band was featured this week, and hoping there was a picture of what was sure to be my favorite new band (I didn't know many).
When you read interviews now with the popular Seattle bands of that time, they dismiss the "Seattle Boom" as annoying and unnecessary; an artificial hype that couldn't sustain itself and ultimately destroyed many bands in the process of unrealistic career expectations. I can totally understand that point of view if you were involved directly in that time, but for me as a young suburban kid looking into a yet unattainable world of music and art...I FUCKING LOVED IT.




SCREAMING TREES, SOUNDGARDEN, PEARL JAM...these guys were like gods to me and still to this day I wish I was of age at a time which appeared to me like pure magic. It seemed like at the core of all this was a Valhalla-like club called the Crocodile Cafe. This was the place I always felt like would be my first destination of choice should it work for a 13-year old to get away with a fake I.D.
All the good shows seemed to happen there, and it seemed like THE place I needed to get into first when the time was right; a mystical realm where you were transported into rock and roll ecstasy.

When I finally did play there, it was exciting but I also had the feeling that I missed out on being a part of a different time and that no experience could be what I had built it up to be in the head of a music obsessed teenager. The Crocodile Cafe I will hold in my memory was the Candy Cane lane of music and the unattainable woman of adolescent dreams...


As stated in my good friend Patrick Porter's blog, it is very difficult to run a successful business, and even harder to run a good music venue. The Crocodile Cafe did it for many years and for that reason alone it deserves our respect. Still, I wonder what this means in the bigger picture of things. With more and more live music venues closing in the past 5 years, we see an increasing trend of live music seemingly becoming lower and lower on the entertainment priority list for the public at large.
You have to ask yourself (especially someone in my line of work) why this is. In the age of Netflix, iTunes, and everything clawing at your entertainment dollar while sitting at home; it appears that more and more live music is taking a backseat. I by no means am offering a solution or saying I know why this is, but more or less just throwing out the questions that need to be asked no matter how uncomfortable.

Does live music matter anymore? I think so, but then I'm also pretty biased. :)
I think here is also where some of the responsibility lies with local area musicians in any city that make up most of the weeknight billings in clubs like the Crocodile.
I know that it's a challenge for myself and ALL fellow musicians to get new people out for shows who have never heard your music before which is half the battle in expanding your fan base. It's not that these people aren't extremely talented (many times they are), it's just that many people have been burned on exploring the local music scene and not being "met halfway" in the relationship/live performance. I can completely understand because for years I too have tried to catch the random newly hyped local band expecting the best and found myself leaving disappointed. Does that happen all time? No, but enough that I can understand why "Joe Music" may have given up on supporting his local music scene. I also know that that's probably a pretty unpopular thing to say, but unfortunately that's what I feel may be an ugly truth and probable contributing piece to the puzzle of why more and more clubs close. I'm all for original art through and through, but there's a reason why even though we're force-fed "American Idol" groups against our will, we turn around and make them the biggest selling albums of the year. Why? I believe it's because people want songs they can relate to that tell a story and artists that they can believe in no matter how the artist reaches their success. If the average listener/show attendee got the same feeling from the majority of his/her local music experiences, I can promise you the Wednesday nights would be packed, clubs would be thriving, and "I work early" would be and excuse of the past.


With more and more venues closing and the corporate airwaves getting increasingly homogenized,I think it's a challenge for all of us (myself included) to up the local music game. This isn't a half-assed pathetic call to arms that so many of us have read over the years for "invigorating the scene" (I'm not sure there's even a scene anymore) that never happens, but more of a look into how we artists may be part of the problem. I'm talking stronger songwriting, I'm talking stronger performances, I'm talking about taking the time to learn how to sing the parts right (you'd be surprised), and I'm talking involving "Joe Music" in a way that I think people are wanting to be involved in...art from the heart void of any "scene" or exclusivity. I'm not saying by any means that this is a responsibility to be filled my myself or ANY one band at all. What I'm saying is that we artists collectively have a responsibility to the venues we play to bring quality entertainment to the table and they equally have a responsibility to us to provide the environment where that interaction can take place between artist and performer. If one of those things is unbalanced, it's not working for anybody be it performer, venue, or listener.

"Build it and they will come?"

Maybe, maybe not; but we don't know until we do. I'm sure this will be a pretty unpopular viewpoint (A.K.A. piss some people off) of a what I consider to be a crucial piece in ensuring local music sustainability, but I encourage you to tell me why you disagree if you do for both musicians and listeners alike.

Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas!

KS

Now What?/6-Month Recap. Issue #27

O.K., I am partially back among the living now, at least enough to write something that might be interesting. This has to be one of the worst flu bouts I've had in a while, and I am ready to be out it the world (shoreline?) again.

Hmmm...lot's I wanted to write about last week. Let's start with the "SONGS FROM THE ORANGE ROOM" CD Release show at the HIGHDIVE. Lots of fun, and I hoped everyone enjoyed seeing new full ban lineup. Seems like there are lots of new people around that had never been to a LAYMANS TERMS show before and thought that I was just a acoustic artist and were slightly confused. That's funny because I always thought people were confused when I would just play solo which used to be the exception until the past year when that's how I've been playing mostly. I really enjoy playing with the new band, and I hope you got to rock out!


It had been about 5 years since my last CD Release show (LT's "Everything You Love And Hate"), and the event in itself has always served as a "Christmas like" event for me; something you looked forward to for months and put a lot of weight into thinking it was the most fun you would have all year. Not so much self-pressure was put into this one, and I think that is kind of representative of the way music has changed for me, probably in a good way. Instead of having it be the end all personal inventory event of the year, I viewed it as more of a snap-shot in time and more of a celebration of accomplishment with friends. I found the whole process of recording, promoting, and organizing the event much different experience-wise since it was under my name instead of a separate band identity. In some ways it was a lot harder being all on my plate, and in many other ways much more fulfilling when success's came and challenges were overcome in the process. A year ago, I thought a solo CD Release would be years away and for that I'm very thankful in having been given the tools to speed up that process...

That said, I've been thinking while sitting with a head full of goop on the couch this week (and watching "Keeping Up With The Kardashians"...I'm sorry) that perhaps I've let the focus of this blog slip a little bit. When I started it, it was all about the process and bringing readers on the journey of how the hell I was going to make getting back into doing music as a job. I think I've done that mostly, but I know I've let explaining the process (as short and painlessly for you as possible) get away from having print time. Maybe people don't mind, but until I get comments saying "STOP WRITING ABOUT THAT" I think I may explore it a little more....


So....WHERE CAN I FIND THE NEW CD?

A: First and foremost, I know many of you have forgotten where the record stores are in your area (what's a record store?). If this is the case for you don't worry, I've got your back....

You can find "SONGS FROM THE ORANGE ROOM" on iTunes for $6 by downloading directly HERE!

If you would like a physical manifestation of the album, feel free to hop in your suburban northwest vehicle and go to EASY STREET RECORDS on lower Queen Anne, or your nearest SILVER PLATTERS. Stocking stuffers friends, stocking stuffers...

Here's a picture of my dudes and I before the CD Release show! I love this picture.




We also had local photographer Heather Canik film the show on her SUPER nice camera (2 shots still and roaming), for a nice video to be put together in the next month or so. I've seen the footage and it looks great! Now if we can only piece together enough footage where I'm not standing there playing while catching flies like a mouth breather. "Art imitates life imitates art imitates..."

As I stated last week, I wanted to do a little 6 month/half-way point re-cap for this year long deal I signed on for with ISLAND FILM GROUP. So far I've gotten to do some pretty cool stuff in the form of the following below...

#1: Record a solo album.
#2. Get a full performing band together and release the album.
#3: Sell a song to a T.V. show, "Beyond The Break" ("Thicker Than Leather" off SFTOR).
#4: Record and release my first produced E.P. for another artist in the the form of Gigi Edgley's "...SO IT SEEMS".
#5: Play a 10 date tour with TJ SHERRILL.


I feel that these things have set the path for what I am hoping to accomplish in the next 6 months. First and foremost, I need to do everything I can to promote the disc, and with that brings more touring, and more playing out of the Seattle area.
On top of staying fresh with my own material, ISLAND FILM GROUP has some projects coming down the pipeline I need to start preparing for and once I can share I will pass it on.

Gigi Edgley and I are also looking to do some performance dates in the late winter/early springtime, and TJ and I plan on expanding the tour radius as we step into 2008. As always, I'm sure there will be some unexpected steps along the way and I'm welcoming those too...:)

Next week I'll talk some more about COLLIDER and clear up the difference between that and the Kyle Stevens Band a little more in-depth...

P.S....hope no one got to flooded earlier in the week. My garage did a little bit and I became and expert in water diversion as my yard was dug up to create some different drainage paths. I was feeling sorry for myself until I saw pictures of our friends in Chehalis. NOT GOOD. Stay dry, and see you next week...

-Kyle

Feeling Like Crap. Issue #26

Last Wednesday was the last of 2 CD Release shows for "SONGS FROM THE ORANGE ROOM", and thank you to all who helped us birth her @ HIGHDIVE. This the halfway point blog entry wise documenting my year development deal, and I had planned a big review of the show and summary of the year so far. Unfortunately, that wont be happening this week because I have the flu and I don't even know what I'm typing. You deserve better than reading the ramblings of someone half coherent, so I'll make up for it next week.

Also, if anyone took any pics of the concert please send them to kylestevensmusic@gmail.com, and I'll put them up on here next week.

See you soon,

Kyle

Wolverine On Drums! Issue #25

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the All-Ages CD Release show at THE COMIC STOP last night and helped make it a huge success! The band and I had had a great time and we hope you did too. Also a big thanks to The TJ SHERRILL BAND and their fans for coming out and starting the evening out right.

For a little over a year now the owners of THE COMIC STOP and I have thrown around the idea of doing a show there and it felt good to finally fully realize the concept. Hopefully it will be something we can do again in the future...
I am being serious when I say that playing a show where I can combine two of my favorite things on this Earth (rock music and comics) was a magical moment for me. I'm glad you were part of it!

Now the focus is on the Big CD Release show at HIGHDIVE on Wednesday night (11/28)!
We open the evening @ 9:00 sharp, followed by CARAVEL and HEY MARSEILLES.
Cover is $5 at the door...

See you there as we present "SONGS FROM THE ORANGE ROOM" to the spirits of Fremont, but until then enjoy the photos from last night!

Meet The Band/All-Ages CD Release (11/25)! Issue #24

I just got back from the chiropractor and I must say I'm feeling better (thanks for asking!). It turns out there was some wonkiness going on in this little frame from the car accident with Gigi that I really didn't feel until a few days ago, so I decided to check it out. All I can say is that it sounded like popcorn. Mmmmmm...melted butter.


So here's the deal, I think it's time I told you a little bit about my band who is playing with me at the CD Release shows, don't you? After all, they've tried VERY hard to not roll their eyes at me this week, and since that means they've earned not 2, but 3 gold stars for their efforts, I think they deserve a cookie in the form of a proper blog profile.

First up, Matt Edington...


Matt and I go WAY back to when we met at age 13. He had just gotten a acoustic guitar, and I had just gotten my 3/4 size "Harmony" electric for my birthday. Actually, that and Pearl Jam's "Ten" album. It was a GOOD birthday. Matt and I decided to start playing together since we didn't know anyone else our age who played (that we liked), and set out to "destroy" the Whitman Middle School Talent Show that was to take place in the spring of 1993.

Did we know how to write songs? NO.

Did we think we did? YES.

That started a musical marriage for Matt and I as we taught each other how to play guitar over the years as we started a band called A NEW BEGINNING (Deep...), that turned into AGAINST THE PILLAR (think Sharon Stone in "Sliver"), evolved in to AREA 51 (Matt was into aliens), and finally became LAYMANS TERMS. LT put out 1 album with Matt in the lineup before he left in 1998. Over the years Matt and I have stayed in touch as he spent years on and off living in Asia and drinking Foo-Foo drinks.
When he moved back in early 2006, we talked about playing together again and flirted with some song ideas over the next couple of months. Nothing seemed to be sticking as we both had pretty specific ideas of what we wanted to do that didn't exactly go together. In Spring of 2007, we just decided that the most important thing is to play together because of chemistry, and the band would develop it's sound naturahttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.giflly. This is how our other band COLLIDER came about, and we'll actually be playing a few of those songs at my CD Release shows as well.
Besides playing in COLLIDER and recording as a solo artist under the name FORCEFIELDS, Matt has also offered his services for my solo deal and enjoys trying to make mess up my vocals with a grab bag of ridiculous faces thrown at me while I'm singing. If you see him throwing these at me, feel free to throw things at him...

Next up, Mark Wooten...


I met Mark through my wife's family's church when I was approached a few years ago to help with a youth band called THE COVERALLS. The band was made up of High School students that belonged to the church that wanted to perform at community events/school fundraisers, etc...
Tim Jolin is a good friend who "runs" the band and he asked me if I would be interested in helping out. I said no problem due to the fact that LT had just
broken-up, and the kids were really nice and motivated to learn "The Rock". Tim told me about Mark and how he was looking for a new project to get into. I played with him in a couple of off-shoot Coveralls shows, and after a while told him that I was in the planning stages of getting a solo band together. He said he would be interested, to let him know when I was ready to pull the trigger. Mark was part of the early Seattle scene in a band called ZIPGUN, and politely tolerates my many questions about old-school Seattle Music and who he knew and played shows with. The best of his stories I heard so far was when he and his old band caught Cali Punk band BAD BRAINS stealing all his bands gear cause' they "thought it was theirs". Yeah...

Finally, Ian Caruso...


Ian is a funny guy. This is important in a drummer, especially since many times it is the only thing that will cover-up the annoyance of all the other "drummer-isms" that come with the territory. The good thing is, Ian doesn't have any of the "-isms" that I'm used to dealing with with drummers. He actually shows up on time, cares about what's going on in the other instruments, and can stop playing when people need to work things out. I keep telling him I'm waiting for something to surface...
Also, Ian knows someone EVERYWHERE, and seemingly a little something about EVERYTHING but not really in the annoying way. Growing up in the North end of Seattle and holding an array of past day jobs all over while never leaving for College, my wife had always told me that I knew someone everywhere. I see now that I'm not even in the same league of social whore-dom as Ian. I have much to learn...
Ian also owns many drumsets and has a cover-band fetish from what I can gather.
In closing about Ian, he and I share a similar past in that we both swam in High School. We also both made it to districts in our league, but he denies that I saw him having his back shaved pre-race in the locker room. Maybe it wasn't him (maybe), but Seattle Prep swim guys were pretty hardcore about that stuff and I did see the team doing that on more than one occasion.
If there are any witness to put this debate to rest, then please come forward...

I hope that everyone feels they know the band a little more now, and be sure to introduce yourself to them at the CD Release if you feel like it.

What...CD RELEASE!?!

Yep, it's been weeks of me stapling it to your memory and it starts this Sunday, November 25th with an ALL-AGES show @ THE COMIC STOP in Lynnwood!

The ROCK starts at 6:00 with TJ SHERRILL opening the evening and it's only $2 at the door. Copies of "SONGS FROM THE ORANGE ROOM" will be on sale for $6, and we'll also have the new T-Shirts for $10

THE COMIC STOP is the best comic shop in the Metro Area and will be to date the closest I will have gotten to rocking out at the X-Men's Xavier Mansion. They won't return my calls...

SEE YOU THERE!

-KS

This Is An Album Cover. Issue #23

This week the P.R. caravan for "SONGS FROM THE ORANGE ROOM" has been in full effect and starting to gain some momentum. I thought I'd share the album cover with you (above), and let you know what we've got scheduled surrounding it's release. We now have two CD Release shows planned as I decided I actually don't hate people under 21, and thought it might be nice to include them as well.

Before that, let me tell you that the first sample tracks off the album have been posted on my myspace site HERE! The songs put up are "Sparkle and Fall", "Getaway Car", and "This Is Not A Love Song".

ENJOY!

That said, the first show will be ALL-AGES on Sunday, November 25th, at THE COMIC STOP in Lynnwood. The show starts at 6:00pm with my buddy TJ SHERRILL opening, and the band and I following right after. Cover is $2 at the door and sorry drunkys no alcohol at this venue, but if you like good music, soda pop, and 7-layer dip then this the show for you!
Seriously though, if you've got kids and have been wanting to come out then know that this is a great family-friendly venue. THE COMIC STOP is the best comic shop in town, and if you disagree I'll fight you. I'm not trained, but I do read A LOT of comics so I'm guessing one of my "moves" will land...HARD.

As reported before, the +21 CD Release show will be Wednesday, November 28th, at HIGHDIVE in Fremont. People know it's my favorite rock club around, and they always treat us well here. The cover is $5 at the door that night and we'll be opening the evening at 9:00PM followed by CARAVEL, and HEY MARSELLIES.

This is my show to be at this year, so pass the word!

I've included a clip from last week's TOST show, and it was good to see some of you out there for a stripped down set with Matt and Ian. The song featured below is a new song called "Getting Better" that Matt and I wrote in August...

My old High School friend Bryant Moore just released his first video for his new single "Baby Can I Wear the Dress?"
I LOVE THIS SONG.





I hoping to sneak on stage with him soon and jam out on it in the near future if he lets me...

Also, send good vibes to Patrick Porter of EXPLONE and Andrew Norsworthy as they continue their fall tour across the U.S. of A.

If you are in the New York are this weekend, Gigi Edgley will be appearing at BIG APPLE CON this weekend selling her new album, "SO IT SEEMS..", and "BLUE SHIFT" comic book. Also appearing will be the French-woman from "LOST, as well as the freaky "Ethan" guy who from what I hear is Tom Cruise's cousin. This is the only time you will see the words "Tom Cruise" in this blog, unless my mom hacks the site and posts something of her own...

I Have Been To The Mountain (FARSCAPE Convention Re-cap). Issue #22

Last Thursday I caught a flight out to Burbank at the Dime-Slot of morning to play at the 2007 convention. If you have read earlier blogs, you know that I recently did a CD with Gigi Edgley who was one of the main characters on the show named "Chiana". Every year since the show has been on (and 4 years since canceled) there has been this HUGE gathering of people celebrating a show that they love and for many I found have a very personal or emotional connection with. I can attest to that as I myself am a self-proclaimed "fanboy" of the comic book world. Still my friends who you could say are even "geekier" than me said that I was in for a one of a kind experience. If they meant by that that I would meet some of the nicest people I have in a long time, then they were right...

I arrived at Long Beach Airport around 10:30 and Gigi met me to drive me into L.A. to pick up her comic she was going to sell for the con at the local UPS store. I noticed a large brown SUV swerving next to us in the right lane (if the freeway was 6 lanes wide and 1 is on the far left, we were in 2). I yelled to her to watch out for this guy, but it was to late and he hit us on the right side sending us into an Escalade on our left. We bounced off of the Escalade and proceeded to spin clockwise to the right until we were hit again and spun the other way. Though it was a complete blur, we both confirmed that we were hit back and forth 4 times and spun around 5 until cars stopped slamming into us. I honestly thought I was gonna die. As each car was about to hit us, I was wondering if that was going to be the one to seal the deal. I wondered when people would eventually stop hitting us as we ended up in lane 1 facing the other direction, and quickly (after making sure we were all there) got out of the car expecting to find cars littered on the highway. Surprisingly, everyone but the Escalade drove off including the brown SUV that started the whole thing. After walking across the freeway to the other side and picking up rims/ripped off mirrors off the road, we found the passengers were O.K. in the Escalade. Even the baby (oh, man) in the car had fallen asleep again. I honestly haven't ever been that scared before, and I don't know how we didn't get hurt extremely bad or killed. The police said that we were VERY lucky and that he usually doesn't show up to these kinds of accidents to very good situations as you can imagine. I really believe someone or something was taking care of us that day (insert religious belief, even Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster HERE).

As the arriving officer told me, "Welcome to L.A.".




After everyone got what they needed information wise and cars were taken away, Gigi's friend Rob picked us up and took us to the convention where I basically sat scared shitless in my room all day until we began to rehearse that evening. Thanks to all who talked to me that day as I worked it out...

The next morning we were to go to a special FARSCAPE breakfast in the courtyard of the hotel where it was featured that "Gigi Edgley and her Producer would be signing".

NICE.

We set up the comics and the CD's to sell for the next 2 hours and I got the opportunity to see her in her element and meet some amazingly nice and interesting people. The convention reminded me of other comic cons I have been to, but this one was very different in that everyone was there because they really liked THIS ONE THING. I met school teachers from Texas who have been coming for years, couples from Germany who had just started watching seasons of the show on DVD and HAD to come, and some women from France who had actually come across my music and wanted to talk about my new CD. It was very fun, and everyone made me feel welcome. It was obvious that all of these people were SO happy to be there and get the chance to talk, and interact with Gigi on a close face-to-face level.


We spent the rest of the day getting ready for the "Cabaret" Friday night which was to be the debut of Gigi's music and her first live performance. It's interesting what our comfort levels are in situations we're not used to. For example, she's been in movies, TV, and can talk on stage with no problem. For the show though she was nervous, as was I when I saw the hundreds of people in the convention hall awaiting the performance. It was a reaction and a stomach churn that my body usual reserves for when I'm about to do Karaoke.

Mostly because Karaoke is TERRIFYING.

She went up to give the intro to a barrage of flashing lights from cameras and it was truly cult Sci-Fi stardom at it's best! Pretty cool, until she announced me and I made my way from the back of the stage only to get a little wrapped up in the curtain in front of everyone.

Again, NICE.



All in all, we played really well and I was pretty proud of her for her first musical live performance. I told her that the road is littered with crappy albums from actors/actresses/and athletes, but I think she's in the clear in that department. At the end, she got a standing "O" from the crowd and a flood of compliments backstage from her FARSCAPE cast mates and friends. It was enjoyable to watch her succeed in this project's reception, and got me excited for what future performances will be like.

After celebrating with a few beers and a few new friends in the hotel bar that night, I made my way up to my room only to be stopped by some of her fans asking me to sign some stuff. This turned into more people and more stuff including napkins, JACK DANIEL'S bottles, T-Shirts, and ticket stubs. I felt like someone was playing a joke on me, and I tell you this not to sound like I'm bragging, but because it was another surreal moment in a very surreal weekend. I think everyone hopes for some form of success in their chosen art field, and you hope people like what you do. Still, if that's all you go after, you are bound to be pretty unfulfilled and frustrated. Since stuff like this NEVER happens in Seattle, I felt kind of embarrassed until I just decided to enjoy it. I hope everyone gets to experience something like that in their life, because honestly if I'm being true to my inner 13 year-old who tried to dress up like Oasis...IT WAS AWESOME. :)


The next morning we spent signing CD's again and answering questions regarding my own solo work and if it's on sale in England..."No, it's not....BUT GET ME THERE!"


All was well when we were able to sell in the bar later that night, and again met some amazing people with huge hearts. I was actually sad to leave, because as I stated before, it had a nice family feeling in a world wind-weekend of positivity. Whether it was to cheer for someone when they won the auction of limited edition FARSCAPE prop guns, or have people come up to me to make sure I was o.k. when they heard about the accident, I felt welcomed into what is a very unique and loving group.

Who knows what the future brings, but I hope to attend next year and keep in touch with my new friends. The only thing is this year I was let off the hook when it came to dropping FARSCAPE knowledge since I had never seen the show. Next year, I know I have people holding me accountable. Time for some DVD watching...


Only a few more weeks before "SONGS FROM THE ORANGE ROOM"!


Keep it real homies,

Kyle