The Enclave turned out to be a really good time!

Arriving in Willoughby I pulled up to a great parking spot almost smack dab in front of the coffee house, almost as if someone had reserved it for me, very cool. Went inside, got a big hot cup of green tea, introduced myself to the barista, sat with local guitar player talent Mark (sorry, but Mark’s last name escapes me - me thinks have it written down somewhere) who was there doing some drawing. It’s always good to see Mark around the town, especially at Open Mic Nights when he has his guitar in tow, he is fun to listen too and play guitar with. Anyhow, proceeded to scope out the PA, and got to work getting things setup. This was a new room for me, and it’s a long room at that – I didn’t know what to expect in terms of what equipment would be available, I had brought all my own stuff to work with (and set it all up anyhow for the bass and monitor whatever etc.) it turns out that the Enclave house PA is a really a decent setup (they even have microphones and extra cabling), so no equipment problems.

Steve Pohl arrived shortly after the PA was turned on and he got right to work setting up his contraption kit. S.P.’s kit has always been one of the most unique contraptions, what with all the decoration and vintage parts and mini sized cymbals - but S.P. has really outdone himself recently by adding lights to the kit. Now, the bass drum lights up on the beat, and the snare head glows with this really cool blue light. Very nifty! A brief history: S.P. and I have played music together on several occasions and that’s how we got the “Steve Squared” nick name, all those Open Mic nights with Mary Clare and Sarah Schinko dontcha know. Eventually I decided I liked the nickname enough, changed it slightly too just plain old Steve2, and bought the domain name. So, we got to work playing some tunes. We sounded pretty good in spots, and also a little rough at times – we could use more practice as a duo. Steve really hung in there for the entire evening and did a fine job of playing even though he said his knee hurt real bad, I know all about that, that’s what happens when you start to degenerate into middle age. Probably the highlight of the evening (and some of the best playing) was the jam at the end of our set featuring Tim Fry on electric guitar and Alex Brandy sitting in on bass guitar – they really sounded good and made Steve P. and I sound really good too. Thanks dudes!

My buddy Ryan Smith (Guitar player singer songwriter with Miranda’s Moon) is hinting around that he is coming out to the
Arabica this Saturday to hang out and sit in on a few tunes, and I am looking forward to getting into some jams with Ryan he is one of my earliest Cleveland friends. If he can make it, it will be an extra special evening! This Saturday will be the second time out for the ‘new’ PA (one Peavey PA cab and an amp – early Christmas and birthday gifts to myself – and only a small pang of guilt to go along with the purchase which I put on my credit card – hey, some things you can’t live without) it’s going to be nice to finally have decent equipment out there at Westwood Arabica, in the past I have used ‘problematic’ guitar amps as PA gear and all that nonsense has come to a stop now – no more equipment hassles! Yeah for me!

See you out there?

PEABODY’S DOWN UNDER MONDAY NIGHT NOV. 17TH 2003

Edwin McCain
Brent Kirby
Will Hoge
Connor O’Brien
Mason Jar

Monday evening’s Edwin McCain show at Peabody’s Down Under turned out to be an exciting and well attended event, one of the more entertaining shows I have seen or heard in a mid-sized Cleveland club in weeks. Black painted, cavernous, beer soaked, and smoke-filled with two rooms for music (the main room and The Pirates Cove) Peabody’s is a conveniently located downtown venue in which to enjoy 20 Oz. well drafts, watch beautiful woman, and catch rising talent. This bill was chock full of all three of those most essential elements.

The evening began with Connor O’Brien belting out a selection of songs from “Soliloquy”. The current band assemblage sounded loose, apropos in that Connor has been on an extended performance hiatus for a number of weeks. Well-known chrome domed local hipster Dr. Bob sat in on electric guitar, while another fellow wielded a beat up, duct taped acoustic guitar. A bass player completed the lineup while Connor’s drummer Dave Cottrell sat watching the show with manager Rick Smith. Apparently, Cottrell came prepared to setup and play a full drum kit; however, promoters must have decided (at the last minute?) that this did not jibe with the acoustic singer songwriter theme. At any rate, Connor sang in a clear strong voice, radiating charm and showmanship, while more or less ignoring the occasional experimental sounding rhythms and parts. And while there is no doubt that Connor is a fine voice talent, and that the songs on the album are strong, the music this night did not reflect the crystal clear vision of perfection that is “Soliloquy”.

Next on the bill, we were treated to the sounds of Will Hoge. Up from Nashville Tennessee, wielding an acoustic Gibson Guitar and accompanied by a Piano player, Will played songs from “Blackbird on a Lonely Wire” (released on Atlantic Records). Since I was entirely unfamiliar with his music up to that point, and did not know what to expect, the first couple of songs hit me right where it counts: Great voice, stellar solo delivery. I found his story telling (and the brief blues rendition of “Ittsy Bitsy Spider”) disarming and charming. In spite of the albums huge and precisely orchestrated sounds, Will’s wonderfully spare Peabody’s performance gave the distinct impression that he has rolled hundreds of miles through the deep blue country night with only his voice, a guitar, and a piano player for company. His mist smoked whiskey soaked vocal delivery quavers and glides along well-crafted country tinged songs like a coal train around a Colorado mountain bend. This is some fantastic new music, with immediately accessible hooks and strong writing that demands repeat listening, check out a verse from “Second Hand Heart”:
“Here it comes another lonely night I’m waking up in my clothes – I know this place is poison but I’m coming back for a lethal dose
I got fist full of chances and a washed up angel to fill me up with bad advice – sex and god and lust and I just hope that maybe I can get this right”


At about the same time that Will had the big stage; Brent Kirby was rocking the Pirates Cove with his four-piece band. Brent is a recent addition to the Cleveland stable of singer songwriters, relocated here from Nashville Tennessee. Brent came up to Cleveland to GM a local Sam Ash music store, when he is not on stage you can find him out in Lyndhurst. I have heard Brent Kirby play his songs unadorned and Totally Freaking Acoustic with Chris Nekvinda at the Mudhouse in Lakewood, and I have heard him rocking out on stage with his band. Either way Brent is a charismatic character capable of delivering well-crafted slabs of American Rock and Roll. Brent’s band is certainly beyond reproach, they are well rehearsed and expertly maintain a deeply solid groove with two guitar sounds (Fender Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul) intertwining and sizzling between the bass and the drums. And although I enjoy a good rocking band as much as the next guy, I did not specifically attend this show to hear bands, I had come to hear songs and voices. As voices go, Brent’s possesses a distinct fragile quality, one easily buried under a band sound, and I would have rather enjoyed listening to Brent (and his band) deliver an acoustic set.

Who were those crowd-pleasing guys of “Mason Jar”? This was the first time I had heard them; they played with three acoustic guitarists, one pleasantly hyper bass guitar player, and a drummer. Right off the mark these guys were playing low key up-tempo acoustic rock with clear vocals and a bouncing danceable vibration that seemed to emanate primarily from the kinetic bass player guy. And the audience was into it – they connected with the music and crowded the Pirates Cove, bunching up to the stage like true believers. I noticed that the crowd encompassed many beautiful young professional women (well, the entire facility was packed with beautiful ladies). I spoke with a young corporate lawyer just a few hours removed from a long day slaving away at contract law, somehow she began to fret over her ‘nerdy’ eyeglasses – which (she said) she could not see without. I did my best to reassure her that her sleek, black framed glasses complimented her fabulous good looks, and she in turn made certain that I had the name of her band: The Curve. At about the same time, an attractive and buff young lady had started something with someone (further highlighting the crowd complexity), and for just a minute I couldn’t decide if I wanted to flirt with her or get the hell out of the way. If this is the kind of crowd that Mason Jar is bringing round, then count me in. Just don’t punch me out.

The headlining act, with a voice sounding at least as big as the Montana Sky and as dusky as a Texas sunset, Edwin McCain took the stage accompanied only by his guitar, and a sidekick Baritone Saxophone player who also wielded a magical slide whistle of some kind. Although Edwin is a platinum recording artist with hits "I'll Be," "Solitude," and "I Could Not Ask for More" that have brought him to the attention of fans nationwide, I, (once again - the whole reason to have gone to the show in the first place) was unfamiliar with the songs. Listening for the first time to the voice of Edwin was a revelation - he comes well armed with great songs. Apparently, Edwin is drawing inspiration from multiple sources. His web site indicates he maintains relationships with at least a couple of other Nashville songwriters (Neil Thrasher and Wendell Mobley) who have helped McCain write "I Want It All". And it looks like this guy has at least a few other irons in the fire, he is currently working up a ‘for cable’ TV series “The Acoustic HighwayTM" that will feature the singer songwriter touring around the country in search of songwriters, great songs, and stories. On the web site the pilot is described as 'Austin City Limits' meets Comedy Central's 'Insomniac' - sure sounds more interesting than about 70 percent of the basic MTV schmaltz.

Overall the Peabody’s Edwin McCain show was an entirely successful offering featuring mixed musical elements and some of the best local and national voice talent that can be heard in medium sized clubs, well worth the small ticket price, they even ended up giving tickets away at the door. If you are a fan of great songwriting, charismatic voice and acoustic guitar, then I heartily recommend catching Edwin and Will Hoge the next time they are in town. In the meantime don’t miss the opportunity to hear our local talent Brent Kirby, Mason Jar, and Connor O’Brien when they are playing next. After all, it might be one or more of our local artists lighting out for point’s unknown and returning to Cleveland with a few platinum hits and a Grammy or two!

This past week the OMNL team attended three Open Mic events that we had not previously visited:


DECENT PIZZA TUESDAY NIGHT OPEN MIC
The first event was a Tuesday night with Charlie Mosbrook at the Decent Pizza on the corner of Mayfield and Coventry roads next to the laundry mat. Given that this is an Open Mic hosted at a pizza joint, the first question to come to your mind ought to be something like “How’s the pizza?” and OMNL found the pizza better than decent, yep we liked it allot - it’s really good! We started the evening off with a sizable slice of plain cheese (in the style of thin crust New York pizza pie). Nibbling from the ‘Wide End’ first, we were impressed right off the bat with the nice, fresh, moist and tender chewy crust. Yum! With a lightly sweet, aromatic and savory tomato sauce, this first slice of Decent cheese pizza made an excellent impression on the entire OMNL staff! Thankfully, Decent Pizza also maintains a respectable selection of bottled beer, so the OMNL team imbibed several cold ones throughout the evening. In addition to ‘regular’ size bottled beers, Decent pizza also offers cutesy little ‘tiny’ bottled beers; we got our small cute beers for one dollar a piece.
The evening’s entertainment began with the Decent Pizza Open Mic host, Charlie Mosbrook, plugging his guitar into the PA and getting the room warmed up. Charlie is a well known and widely respected local singer songwriter possessing a strong, accurate finger picking technique, a smooth vocal talent, great original songs, and a sensitive ear. In addition to Charlie, we heard from the inimitable Aaron Bonk http://www.aaronbonk.com/home.htm). And although you might know Aaron primarily as a fantastic local juggling talent, it turns out that Aaron has a good singing voice and performs a respectable repertoire of songs both original and cover. OMNL also had its ears perked by the original songs of Scott Franklin and Nate Maloney, both of these singer songwriters played short sets of original tunes. OMNL has taken particular note of Scott Franklins plaintive, edgy singing voice, however, there is simply not a whole lot we can say after only one listen other than that we enjoyed the sounds we heard and we hope to have the company of these two performers again in the near future.

BARKING SPIDER OPEN MIC NIGHT WITH GUEST HOST RYANN ANDERSON
Finishing off a second slice of mushroom pizza (a great follow up slice with fresh mushrooms – a little small though) the OMNL team piled into the car and headed off to the Barking Spider for the Open Mic. Although most Clevelanders are familiar with The Barking Spider as a happening music venue, we would like to take this opportunity to remind (any of you who need to be reminded) that the Spider is a wonderfully warm venue with woodsy décor and low ceilings. It is intimate and cozy and with a nice warm fire burning in the ‘stove’ it is the perfect place to sit with a beer or two and enjoy the company of your best buddies. There are games in the Carriage Room and on summer nights the large Carriage Room doors are flung wide to the sweet summer night air. This nights Open Mic featured guest host Ryann “Guitar” Anderson http://www.ryannguitaranderson.com/. If you have never heard Ryann perform, hit his website for the event schedule and pick from among the dozen or so dates that Ryann is playing in November. Ryann has a few MP3 files posted to his site as well, so you can get a taste of what kind of music he plays. Truthfully, the OMNL staff had a 10PM date with a friend at the University Circle Arabica, so we made it over to the Spider a little late; and only heard a few performers. We heard Tim Fry kicking down a set of his songs, and we also heard Jim Unsub play a set of original tunes before taking the stage ourselves and playing several songs. Tim currently is working on his CD, and Jim has had his CD out for several months now, and the OMNL has posted reviews of both of these performers in previous issues, some of that material is available online at the brand spanking new OMNL web log, just drop by www.steve2.net and click the web log link. By the time we had finished our set, the Spider had pretty much emptied out and Ryann picked up his guitar for the last set of the evening. Ryann’s recorded material is available on his website, the CD’s “Hodgepodge” and “Patchwork” sold separately or together as a set for only 15 dollars.

FLYING MONKEY OPEN MIC NIGHT WITH XELA
More recently, the entire OMNL team managed to get itself over to the Flying Monkey in Tremont for last Sunday nights Open Mic event with XELA. Those of you familiar with the Flying Monkey need no introduction, however, this was the first time the OMNL team had been there and we were tickled to find the place really spiffy and bright with a super clean, woodsy, cozy look to it and a fabulous wrap around bar. The Monkey is tastefully decorated with a few choice custom HILL guitars framed and hanging on the walls! How super cool to see custom Jon Hill guitars hanging on the walls of the bar! The HILL guitar shop is right there in Tremont, if you want to know more about HILL guitars take a peek at the website: http://www.hillinstruments.com. Predictably, a number of cold and tasty Buckeye Brewing Micro Beers were consumed, and a good time was had with XELA running a high energy Open Mic night full of musical high jinx and shenanigans.


The OMNL team is currently composed of only one wistful dude who has dreams of writing this column for The Scene or The Free Times. The editor in chief and primary artistic director is Steve2 so please direct all inquiries, complaints, and praise to one of our two primary email addresses: music@steve2.net or smw@speedyweb.org


Here are the approximate addresses for the various Open Mic Events:

Decent Pizza is at 2768 Mayfield on the SW corner of Coventry and Mayfield roads in Cleveland Heights. The music starts at 8PM sign up for 20 minute time slots at 7:30PM

The Flying Monkey Pub is on the south-east corner of Jefferson and Professor in Tremont with live music on Sundays, and happy hour during the weekdays.

The Barking Spider Tavern is at 11310 Juniper Rd. Cleveland, OH 44106

Another great weekend of music out at the Westside Arabica with Terry Writz and our special guest Mary Clare. Mary Clare added some very tasty flute playing to the evenings song selections - and played a few songs of her own as well! Thanks Mary for contributing your talent! Once again, as has been the case, the crowd was very good, basically a 'full house' - the room is relatively small, so it only takes about 20 bodies to make the place seem happening. There was a nice consistent flow of patrons into and out of the place with most people hanging around at the tables with lattes and muffins for at least a couple or few songs. Terry played only a small sampling of his original tunes, including a song I had not heard before about getting stuck, sick, in a Russian hospital - Terry has respectable breadth of experience and a really long list of unique and original songs that reflect that experience so the next time you get a chance to come out and hear him play, you should do so!

Had a great weekend, went on Friday to meet a few new musician friends and we had a good jam session together - the gang were gracious enough to supply a sweeeeeet bass guitar for me to play - an old Gibson Artist series, maybe a Destiny or something like that? It was sweet, real nice to play with the action setup so very low that until the instrument warmed up the high G string was buzzing against the frets, after the beauty warmed up a bit it was just as nice to play as she could be! And what a great goup of people to jam with too! See, awhile back (abut a week ago) I had walked up to Ohio City to get my haircut at the barber college (only 4 dollars) only to find it closed - sigh - so I parked myself a Great Lakes for a beer and then went around the corner to the Glass Bubble Project and wow what a sweet space with nice hot glass kilns and two really cool guys Chris (the main operator fellow) and another guy Adam - they were gracious hosts, offering a beer and inviting me to play the House Guitar - very cool people. So, no sooner had we broken the ice than Chris was suggesting that he knew of a group of guys who were seeking a bass player - well, my interest was piqued and I was on the phone with Jason Richardson and invited to the very jam I am writing about here - and was it ever fun, Drew is a guitar player singer songwriter and Jennifer is a great violin player. Matt the drummer was real nice to play with the whole gang was great fun and I hope to see them again soon

The home recording project has escalated - in addition to the web site and the MP3 site, I am putting together a CD Booklet Concept in an effort to create a real DIY multi-media experience with drawings and song lyrics. I had initially considered my little portable black and white inkjet printer limiting, and still thinking about buying a color InkJet, currently working within the B/W paradigm, so the first couple of CD jewel case designs are black and white. More later -

DEMO/HOME RECORDING:

This weekend I made a relatively quick demo recording of "Time for Getting Stoned". I am sure some of you have heard me play this song more than a few times, it's one of my favorites, written by my friend Mitch Fraas (Portland OR). It was time well spent at the PC, I had fun and managed to nail some 'real good' 3 part harmony voice tracks. Also played three entirely separate acoustic lead tracks, mixing em up in the post production. It turns out the three entirely seperate lead tracks sound real good mixed up together! It's very strange. Will be submitting the song to the MP3 site this week and it should turn up by next week.

GOOD, BETTER, AND BEST
I am trying to determine which of the 17 or so 'home recordings' that I have put together so far sound, uhm you know, 'the best' and I think I have narrowed the feild down to about 7 or 8 tunes that will go onto the 'OFFICIAL STEVE2 DEMO DISK' - if you have one of the recent 'experimental' limited edition test burns (there were only five (5) CD's with the custom one of a kind hand colored Steve2 graphics that included the Tim Fry/Steve2 recordings) then you have heard most of the stuff that has been recorded so far at Studio 501. I figure no more than 7 or 8 songs will go on the REALLY REAL OFFICIAL STEVE2 DEMO DISK and so far the real standouts, you know, are the recordings with the best vocal performances. The nice vocal performances and simple guitar work good together.

At any rate, I have submitted the current demo disk (with waaaay to many songs on it) to a few folks for consideration in an effort to get some live shows around town (one went to the Enclave and the other went to the Arabica out on the West Side).

A REALLY REAL LIVE SHOW
I don't have a band or even a real consistent duo or trio thing yet. So the question in regards to a live show is 'how to create more sound and more excitement?'. Though the recordings are simple enough, there are still multiple parts - lots of lead guitar stuff - I am hoping that I can get a few of my associates out to some gigs - once I secure some dates - to fill out the sound a little. No practice sessions are planned at this time.

I LOVE THE PHOENIX TUESDAY NIGHT OPEN MIC

Yup, Steve2 is a HUGE fan of the PHO Tues. night scene - it's a happening event no question about it. This past Tues. was no exception and I hope that it stays that way.

Heard Terry Writz play a couple few songs, and its most obvious (after a few listenings) that Terry is UNQUESTIONABLY an accomplished and mature song writer. Originaly from New York City, Terry is writing and singing intimate intricate songscapes that sound 'folkish' while possesing some kind of unrealized poetic psychodelic undercurrent - this listner is not sure yet what Terry really has hidden up his sleave, but he is talking about doing some recordings so we might get a much better look at Terry's songs in the very near future.

Ahhhhh the Ole Lakewood Phoenix Open Mic is TONIGHT!

With host XELA MAN !!

Count on a sizable crowd and lots of singer-songwriter types! Uhm, I might not make it, I am plain beat. Ran and walked on the treadmill last night, lifted some weights, ouch. It's not like I do that everyday, I am not a big 'Work Out Guy' but have to make an effort now and then.

Spending too much time tweaking and twiddling around with both the Steve2 MP3 site and the Steve2.net home page

I suppose that’s part of the reason that I had put the creation of those two sites off for as long as I did, I just knew that they would be time consuming. I dearly want to see everyone I know visit the pages everyday, all day long, I want one million hits, is that too much to expect? If I am to continue to pour time and effort into managing the content of the pages, then I need all my friends and associates to support the effort by reading the page and sending email to me indicating that they are doing so (gawd, I am soooo anal) . I suppose my enthusiasm for daily content updates will inevitably begin to wane, but for now it’s just fun to change the pictures and add to the blog.

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If you have not done so, please visit the MP3 site soon in order to listen to the newly recorded version of ‘Snuggly Places’ because it’s good. I just submitted the song for review today, so it’s going to be a couple of days until posted to the page. I thought about adding it to this site, but I want yawl to visit the ‘official’ MP3 site for the ‘official’ MP3 files, huh, that’s why I pay for the service. Well, shit, the premium GOLD service is not at all expensive like 5 bucks gets server space for over one hundred songs – I dunno seems kinda cool for right now anyway, I get all excited about stuff like that. I would just love to see my MP3 site with a 1000 visits logged into it.
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So, is anyone really reading this blog thing? Lemme know if yar.

Have decided to change the name of the blog to (drum roll) just plain old OMNL because its so short and sweet that way.

Geez, don't know about you, but I have hadda helluva long boring day, can't wait to get out of work and into the, uhm, evening. Not that I plan on going out tonight - I gotta go home and - do stuff. You know, it ain't easy trying to have a LIFE and also be at work every day like a clock and then on top of that eat good food, work out a little bit, and all that other stuff. So whazza guy to do.
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TERRI WRITZ TONIGHT FEATURED ARTIST AT THE HI FI 10-11pm - OPEN MIC SIGN UP STARTS AT 6 O'CLOCK
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And I have it on good word from the HI-FI bartenders that you can phone ahead and reserve a time slot - I dunno how reliable a method that would be, there is always lots of traffic after 7:30-8:00 - the best plan is to GET THERE EARLY FOR SIGN UP.

What fun to hang around the Lakewood Phoenix with Adam Smith and the Bachelors Hall – yep, those guys are a hoot. There weren’t that many folks at the Phoenix – and that’s par for the course at that particular café venue. In my experience the only time the Phoenix really gets ‘packed’ for a band is when it’s a punk act that attracts the local teens. I have very little interest if any in that particular sector of the Cleveland music scene. I am after all well over 30, and I don’t mind playing at all to only a few people at the Phoenix – it’s relaxing and mellow. The only other exception to the generally applicable mellow rule at the Lakewood PHO is the Open Mic Tuesday with host XELA - ordinarily that scene crowded – so if you ARE looking for crowds at the PHO, then show up on Tuesday nights.

In regards to Adam Smith and the Bachelors Hall, I have heard Adam play solo, and I have hung out with Adam, but I have only heard the band play together now three or four times. I enjoy the levity of the band act - so much so that I have asked Adam and his guys to jam with me in the near future, I hear compatibility between our acts and I am eager to capitalize on that edge. I hope to work up a few of my originals with Paul, Gary and Adam along with a couple of jazz standards, those guys seem to think it’s a pretty good idea, so now all we need to do is ‘get it together’.

If you didn’t already know, The Bachelors Hall recently completed a CD with 7 songs on it and if you have never heard them play together ‘live’ than the CD is a great way to introduce yourself to the music. Getting the CD without going out to hear the band is a kind of a catch 22 because the Hall guys don’t have a label, they don’t have a manger, and I don’t think you can find the CD in any music store – you pretty much have to go to a show to get the CD – it’s one of those low budget DIY artist things. Low budget or not, the CD sounds really good – recorded on a four track tape deck not a hard disk. The recordings sound very ‘live’ – I think the band performed the material together live – or some of it – the overall sound is very roomy and organic (you know, lively) – and I really like it that way. If I had to criticize something (and I do – what fun is it to say only good things about the art of ones peers – heh), then I gotta point out the obvious: The bass was recorded straight too (line in) and it sounds sterile within the context of the live drums and guitars, so much for constructive criticism. Hearing and seeing the band play out is the preferable experience, with the live experience you get to watch the guys have fun and if you’re lucky you get to see and hear Adam play his freaking blinking Theremin do dad while simultaneously strumming away on his Fender and blowing on a Kazoo!! Oh yeah – catch em live at the HI-FI TOMORROW NIGHT!

Until next time – email me, OK? By!

In case you were wondering, It was never really my specific intention to begin to ‘review’ any of the recorded efforts of my musical artistic peer group here in Cleveland. In all honesty, I can make no claims to any professional integrity whatsoever in regards to music criticality! However, as opposed to writing about my own personal life (as interestingly complex as it might be), I find that the effort is better directed towards some artistic cause. An artistic cause is a perfect excuse to right some about what the hell is going on around me here just below the frantic surface of things! I started the Open Mic News Letter with the idea that I would simply start to attempt to clearly connect names and faces to guitars and songs, perfectly innocent intentions, really! Things have just gotten out of hand and look what has happened – a full on web blog devoted to the Cool Cleveland semi professional and amateur music scene! Considering I have been in Cleveland for all of four years, well, I just have THE NERVE don’t I! As my friend Chris Nekvinda has been wont to say “Everyone is entitled to my opinion” – damn straight huh!

Last night I decided to listen to Jim Steigerwald’s CD ‘LOST IN DRIED FLOWERS’ – all the way through, no interruptions, for only the second or third time. This is pretty thick song writing with 11 songs total making up the work – at times the songs lyrics are impenetrable to a less than concerted and or repeated listening effort – it would be great to be able to READ the lyrics in the CD liner notes! On the surface of things, this disk sounds more or less like what you would get if you were listening to Jim live, the major difference being the presentation. The recordings are more broadly representative of Unsub’s writing and artistic efforts, and less about performance technique. The songs are set against straight, rhythmic, mostly low-key guitar music with very few overdubs, making for enjoyable listening even if one is less than inclined to focus on the lyrics. However, it will take an average listener some time and effort to break into the writing for the SUBTERRANEAN meanings. Overall and so far I feel that I have failed to unravel the tightly wound stories and lurking shadowy imagery of the UNSUB CD, but I will continue to try. On the recorded version of RED BALLOON GOES BOOM Jim really has captured a fittingly round and rich acoustic guitar tone. It tells us in the liner notes that this song was recorded at Magnetic North Studios and I wonder – on good old analog tape or straight digital to hard disk? Jim highlights the lyrics in this version by recording the song with a somewhat less frantic tempo than you might have heard him play it live, lending poignancy and depth to the material. UNSUB is an artist yearning to be heard, confident and plaintive of voice, Jim deserves the artistic respect of his peer group, and this disk proves it.



Contact Jim: Jim Steigerwald AKA: UNSUB UNSUB33@MSN.COM

This dog hauled his ass up to the new improved GROG SHOP in Coventry last Thursday night to hear ACROSS THIS SWAAMP (www.swaamp.com) and was treated to a two part surprise: FIRST SURPRISE: The new GROG SHOP is soooo great! It's just so right and nice - it has a big roomy room with a shiny concrete dance floor, a large stage area, a great sound system, a loaded juke box, and a nice long bar - the whole place is cleaner - it looks better, it smells good, it feels nice. It's a nice place to be to hear/see a band! SECOND SURPRISE: A most refreshing and invigoratingly 'New Improved' rhythm section has been added to the Swaamp lineup - and the new guys really sound mature and professional, bending the whole band sound towards a more energetic, focused, Rock and Roll personality. I had only a few minutes to speak with Phil, the new drummer cat, he brought an all electronic kit and played it deftly - this dog has detected that Phil is contributing needed dimension, accuracy, and depth to the Swaamp mix. I did not unfortunately even get a moment to talk with the new bass player (I didn't even get his name .. Oops) as he arrived late and just jumped up onto the stage (front and center) ready to go! Whoever this New Swaamp Guy is, he is all there from the first note to the last - playing with equal parts gusto, subtlety, abandon and go-juice. And go they did - the band sounded great, the harmonies between Tim and Charlie were tight, the whole band played with admirable dynamics (Tim Fry tastefully interjected clean guitar riffs here and there into the ebb and flow - at times sounding more than a little Jerry Garcia-esq) leaving enough space in the music to allow Charlies easily recognizable voice to cut through the mix. The last song of the set was energetic and rocked up - this has been an approach that the Swaamp has used since the beginning of the band, starting the set with a somewhat subdued, and building towards a swooping rock and roll climax. After only this one show, it is most obvious to this listener dog that with the current rhythm section, The Swaamp has moved closer to a 'lighter and tighter' more professionally focused sound, one that I am looking forward to hearing again and again in the near future - look for them around the town!

Well, hello Cleveland Open Mic movers and shakers (you all know who you are)! I guess your wondering what happened to the OMNL - well, it has, uhm, changed a bit. Significantly in fact! You see, it needed to evolve. It was just taking to darned long to write the whole thing at once - know what I mean? - this old world just moves to darned fast anymore - you know, time flies and all that - frequently it was diffifcult to keep up-to-date information going on. Getting it all written down at once was tough - and by the time you were getting that information, it was kinda outa date, wasn't it? So, the solution is simple enough, write a web log instead! So, here it is the first official entry of the newly improved - and recently bloggified - OMNL !! Yeah!! (Insert the sound of champagne corks flying)