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Steve: As Sonny Boy Williamson said, "Don't start me talking. I'll tell you everything I know." My mom, a single working mother, sang in bands for a little while but earned her living mostly as a cocktail waitress. She taught me little novelty songs like "Abba Dabba Honeymoon” that we used to sing in the piano bar she worked at. Good for tips. Mom came to Austin from Florida for a visit a couple of years ago around Christmas. One night after my wife had gone to bed we ended up singing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry". It was the first time we had sang together in decades. The harmony blend was quite something and my mom is 75. My wife heard it back in the bedroom, got up and stuck her head around the door. She was in tears. For all the rest of my life's saga, you can read the bio at my web site, though I've often thought of writing a book...except who the hell would read it and who the hell would believe it?
Dave: While listening to your "The Journey" album, I was more than a little impressed with your quirky, edgy lyrics ~ where do you get your ideas from?
Steve: The ether. Everything comes out of the ether. "Bosses Daughter" I wrote while I was waiting for the lady in question. "The Journey" was inspired by a story about by great-grandfather, an erstwhile gold miner and horse wrangler in South Dakota. I'll just hear something someone says that catches my ear and write it down for future use or sometimes it all comes out at once. I guess it helps that I'm fundamentally warped...
Just as an example, the title "Money and Fun" came from a decision I arrived at while sitting in a meat market pickup bar in Belgium. I was doing a solo act in this place where the Porches and BMWs would circle the front door like vultures. The place was packed so tight I couldn't leave the stage on breaks, but I was like musical wallpaper. Contemplating my situation, as one does, I thought, "This ain't fun but the money is good. Hmm…money or fun. Ideally you have both, but if it ain't fun the money better be good and if the money isn't any good, it better be a whole lot of fun." Now I think its actually a clause in my contract somewhere. The story of the song was inspired by Bob Segar's "Hollywood Nights". I always loved that song because I lived in Hollywood for seven years and that story of the mid-Western guy coming to Hollywood and getting shot down happened a thousand times a day. It still does. That whole California as the land of milk and honeys is a strong magnet. I just told the story from the first person. Everybody references the music to Buddy Holly, but the guitar lick at the beginning should really give the game away. It’s a nod to "California Sun" by The Rivieras...
Dave: Of the musicians you used on the album, I feel I should mention Pete Matheson & Ian Lawrence's guitar work which is excellent throughout ~ it must be satisfying to know you've got such talented performers working for you!
Steve: I love talking about these guys. They are all friends of mine for years and years and they are all pro to the bone. They are all either born and raised in South Wales or in Pete's case, lived there for ages. I lived in South Wales for a really long time. It’s really where I became a working musician. Almost everyone on the album had played with me at one time or another either in Sting Like a Bee or Lincoln and The Continentals. They had certainly moved on from there. Pete Matheson went to London and became a hired gun, eventually working with Ray Davies for several years. Colin Griffin, my favourite drummer ever, had just left a three year stint with Van Morrison when I was able to grab him. Bob Watkins has toured several times with Shakin' Stevens. Ian Lawrence is the best-kept secret in South Wales. He plays guitar, pedal steel, dobro, banjo, and mandolin. He's ridiculously good on all of them. Quite extraordinary. Colin Edwards is a session keyboard player and a pretty damn good guitar player as well. He makes his living mostly doing soundtracks and such. He just walks in and does it. "Shadow of a Doubt” was a song he'd never heard. He gone and lost the demo I'd sent him. He did it in one rehearsal pass and one take. I was sitting beside him calling out where the chords were going. His part on that song is constantly being commented on. In fact I can't hardly play it live unless I hire a piano player. It just ain't the same song without it...
The thing is the whole evolution that a song goes through from writing to recording the demo to handing it to guys like these is just magic to me. You can usually recognize me in the studio. I'm the one with his mouth hanging open...
Dave: I was actually quite surprised to see on the CD cover that you recorded most of the album in Wales. How come you recorded over here and not in the US?
Steve: Well again, the players. I knew these guys so well. John David was a bit of pre-ordained luck or more like The Great Mystery. I'd been referred to John but hadn't been able to get in touch with him. I went ahead and booked a studio in Cardiff but something was just wrong. I kept waking up not being able to figure out what it was. I was staying with Bob Watkins and asked his opinion on what I should do. I felt I'd given my word when I booked the Cardiff studio. Bob said, "Cancel it. Its too important not to feel right about it." That same morning John returned my call and Bob and I travelled out to see him. About five minutes of sitting in his studio and hearing his reaction to the demos and it was so obvious that John's was where I was meant to be. John has become a real good friend and one of my greatest supporters. I literally can not imagine having done "The Journey" anywhere else...
Dave: My favourite tracks on the album are "Money & Fun", "Boss's Daughter" and your inspired re-working of that old classic "House Of The Rising Sun" ~ I'll bet these tracks go down a storm live?
Steve: "House of the Rising Sun" in particular. First they think it’s a country waltz, then off go the horses on this off the wall bluegrass feel, then the lyric comes in and all hell breaks loose. I usually use it as a closer or an encore. "Running for the Border" is also a stormer that goes down a treat...
Dave: On the subject of live performances, are you a band man or do you go out solo?
Steve: I prefer a band. I like drums and amps and leaping about the place. I'm a bar band guy. Having said that I can play solo, duo, or trio as an acoustic singer/songwriter. I'm a journeyman. I'll stage it in whatever way gets me paid...
Dave: You mentioned recently that you'll be touring the UK and Europe soon ~ how are your tour arrangements progressing?
Steve: Early days yet. I had to leave it a bit later than I would have liked to begin the process but I'm starting to get some recognition of "The Journey" which is helping. I'll probably do just a few select venues but as many broadcast outlets as I can manage...
Dave: Since bringing "The Journey" out, have you been writing any new material for a follow-up album?
Steve: Oh yeah. The next ones going to be a bit rockier. The great thing about Austin is there are so many opportunities to be inspired. Just a couple of nights ago I caught Billy Joe Shaver and Ray Wylie Hubbard at Antone's. If I ever had a doubt about where I wanted to go with the next album Ray Wylie Hubbard took care of that. Loud, swampy, and rockin' for days. I'm thinking to bring in different folks for each song and try and get some recognized names now that I've made some friends here in Austin. I've got to shift some more units of "The Journey” first, so get out those credit cards folks!
Dave: I thought "The Journey" showed a diverse mixture of styles from Rock to Alt-Country to Jazz to Blues ~ who are your influences?
Steve: Influences are a funny thing. With me it’s everyone from Hank Williams to The Who. It’s kind of odd lately. I felt for awhile that marketing "The Journey" was a problem because sometimes its too rocky to be singer/songwriter and too singer/songwriter to be in the boogie down market. My wife always said that she believes the diversity is one of its great strengths. Proving not for the first time that she's smarter than me, folks like your self have been making the same comment...
Dave: In the sleeve notes you say thanks to "The Great Mystery for allowing me to hang around having adventures for far longer than I counted on" ~ in view of the sentiments behind that quote, what do you think the future holds for you?
Steve: You know Dave, I don't have a clue. I truly admire those who have their life laid out before them. I just never was in that position. "Life Went and Happened", on "The Journey” came from a John Lennon quote, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans..."
My thanks to Steve for taking the time out to chat to us...
"The Journey" is reviewed on the "Reviews" page...
As soon as Steve lets me have his finalised tour dates I'll put them up on site in the "Tour News" section...