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SPB WORKING ON BUILDING SUPPORT FOR NEW CD
Band managment is busy continuing to look for . . . well, band management, a one-stop promo outfit, booking agent, concert dates (attempts by Press Agent to open for Bob Schneider again fizzled), raising money, label support for next CD, etc. The big news is our remix of country CD "Stuck In A U'Haul" taking place in MD as we speak. We will also remix "Apparition" - says Steve, "I like this new engineer's approach" - but "we're focusing on just going public anyway possible."
MEG MURRAY & ERIC SCOTT RECORD BACKGROUNDS & LEAD VOCALS FOR "STUCK IN A U'HAUL"
Bryan and Steve just pulled off another hat trick pulling in Eric Scott and Meg Murray of Meg and Bryan fame to add background vocals and duets to tracks on the upcoming release of “Stuck In A U’haul”. They even performed “Letter” featuring lead verses sung by Steve, Meg and Eric. Came out great. We were lucky to get Eric and Meg to help. These two are very accomplished solo acts. And Eric even played on some of the tracks in 2008 that are making it onto the CD so its great to have him back.
SPB VIRTUALLY RELEASES "NOTHING TO DO" SINGLE
Steve virtually releases “Nothing To Do” single. The song was co-written by Paul Hussell and was first recorded in 1980 at that very station owned then by Paul’s father. Steve attended a British boarding school at the time and did a duo version with piano and guitar with Paul singing backgrounds. “That was the first track I peddled to the “industry”. We walked it into BBC headquarters in the Spring of ‘80 one day and, yes, they did play it. . . for us.
BRYAN EWALD PERFORMS WITH RACHEL YAMAGATA
Steve saw Bryan play with Rachel Yamagata at Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. Steve remarked, “Wow fantastic show. And they make due with that extended van with all that gear and merch. Steve even got to meet Mike Viola who gave a steller solo opening act. As anticipated, Bryan complimented Rachel’s tremendous delivery and soulful voice.
STEVE PALMER BAND PLANS RELEASE
OF COUNTRY CD IN 2012
The Steve Palmer Band and their indie label Arythmia Records hope to release country-rock CD “Stuck In A U’Haul” in 2012. New music, a fan opinion poll about a new song and release dates will follow.
"I saw crossovers from Rascal Flatts, Zach Brown to Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum, and thought this was a time to promote music for music's sake and not worry about fitting into a ‘segment’ or ‘format’," says Palmer.
SPB FINISHES RE-RECORDING
“STUCK IN A U’HAUL” LEAD TRACKS
Steve, Bryan, Josh and Brandon rolled into Wright Way studios in Baltimore on August 25 to re-record a few lead rythm tracks from their new soon-to-be released country CD “Stuck In A U’Haul”. The band recorded tracks together as a four piece. In the final track lineup, Executive Producer Steve Palmer decided to keep a few tracks from the Blackbird/Downtown Battery/Sterling recording sessions, and he selected a track from a ’08 recording at Cue in Virginia with Eric Scott, Andy Hamburger and Mike Ault. The band also picked a Rolling Stones production headed by Niko Bolas from a Blackbird/Omega recording session.
“I picked the best tracks from our efforts over the last three years. Unfortunately, a lot of our resources have been drained by a whole cast of characters, many of whom did nothing. What we need now is help from good people in the industry. There’s no doubt about it.”
The band will also move “No Words To Say” to the country CD because the promoters Steve hired never really promoted it on Hot AC and Top 40. “I am just happy that we have this almost ready to go. And we are talking to industry promoters. So, there is hope for our music.”
NEW TSUNAMI SONG BY SPB
Following the calamities in Japan, Nashville and now the east, Steve Palmer Band will release "Where Have The People Gone," a song Palmer wrote the night of the Tsunami in Japan. The song was recorded at TMC studios in Nashville and was influenced heavily by Larry Hall playing a Yamaha grand piano.
BAND BEGAN RECORDING
NEW ROCK CD
"MIRRORS IN YOUR MIND"
SPB lead guitarist, musical director and engineering ace Bryan Ewald continued tracking the band’s second rock CD, "Mirrors In Your Mind", in Annapolis and Baltimore. After finishing some tracks at TMC in February, the band recorded four more in May at Wright Way.
"I remember hearing Johnnie Popper's engineer say that Blues Traveler’s first CD didn't do well, that everyone must 'struggle' to make it in the business. Well, I think that smells funny. If the industry actually promotes great music then people will respond. Artists' shouldn't have to constantly struggle,” comments Palmer. “So when I get help I’ll release ‘Apparition’ in earnst or “Mirrors In Your Mind.”
Palmer adds, “’Mirrors’ will feature a more minimalist four-piece sound on some tracks and will be tracked with Bryan and ultimately mixed and mastered at Wright Way Studios in 2012. The title song is about how timeless music reflects the best in people.”
(PHOTO INSIGHT: The snapshot above was taken before the band's performance in Nashville right off Broadway. "We had a show there because I really like Nashville and the way it respects the art community as a whole, and as a kid I always went to shows on Broadway in New York. Sept. 11th was a tragic event for everyone but they are bouncing back.")
SPB Gears Up To Release Country CD "Stuck In A U'Haul"
Steve began re-recording a few tracks for "Stuck In A U'Haul", their country CD. The band will scrap four of the Downtown Battery, Sterling and Blackbird tracks and move to Baltimore based Wright Way Recording Studios on August 25th-26th to work with Steve Wright. "Hey its been a long road. But I love the country and I love country music. Hopefully this will break us... I mean won't break us. I mean both. As the Billy Currington song really did say, "People are crazy.", exclaimed Steve.A Mysterious Surprise
The mysterious "surprise" referred to in a band member's anonymous tweet could only refer to a secret promotional effort underway to accompany "Apparition." Whether that, as of yet unpublished, undisclosed and not too subtly hidden "surprise", refers to the radio effort to promote - in earnst - the first single off "Apparition" or to some other offering is, as of yet . . . well, unpublished, undisclosed and not too subtly hidden. More to follow. Soon . . . I hope.SPB RECORDS NEW TRACKS IN NASHVILLE
The Band had a great session at TMC Studios in Nashville. . . plowed through eight tracks from the 2012 CD entitled "Mirrors In Your Mind". "Lot of laughs from the band," exclaimed Steve. Steve tracked vocals and guitar tracks on eight tracks. Brandon tore up a 6 minute "epic" (LH) song dedicated to Martin Luther King. Bryan was a quiet dominant presence throughout. Larry did a few songs with B3 and Piano... but we're trying for minimalist on this one. And Josh dictated the feel of "Rollin On", inspired by Cat Stevens' (Usaf Islam) "Peace Train". We will post our Tsunami relief effort song as soon as possible and begin a charity drive.
STEVE PALMER BAND'S DEBUT CD 'APPARITION' NOW AVAILABLE ON ITUNES AND AMAZON.COM
Steve Palmer Band has released their debut CD "Apparition" on iTunes and Amazon.com. Indie label Arythmia Records has distributed the CD to popular digital music stores and physical CD's will be released later in major retail stores. "We are excited but wish that someone from the industry would step in and use their considerable marketing muscle to push the new album. I've decided that we are going to go it alone. I just had to hunker down and get this critical work done. So I contacted Neilsen about Sound Scan, got catalogue and ISRC numbers and did it myself. A good day for SPB but a bad omen for the industry if you ask me," laments Steve Palmer.
SPB BEGINS PRODUCTION ON SECOND ROCK CD
Steve Palmer Band has begun work on the follow up rock CD entitled "Mirrors In Your Mind". Steve has finished arranging and writing intros, guitar riffs, and solo progressions for the CD and has recorded demos on eight of the songs.
"Bryan came over late last year and we recorded four acoustic tracks and I dug up three other full band demos from my library that I did earlier in the decade with my previous producer, Jim Ebert. The current band also recorded two tracks at my house with our new pro tools rig with an 8-16 channel interface. Brandon sounded great. Bryan is the best engineer I've worked with and the guy still plays ridiculous lead. We begin recording next month down in Nashville on a 64 channel Neve at TMC so we can't wait. Brian has some serious chops - can’t wait to hear what he comes up with. We worked up one track ‘Gentle Ben’ in 40 minutes and it sounded ready for radio. 2012, here we come!”
"The title track is about how music can reflect and bring out the best in us all and another track, ‘Never Leave You Alone’ is about one of my heros, Martin Luther King, who died a tragic death but lived a beautiful life and touched everyone on this planet who had a heart, a soul and a mind."
The band is also re-mixing their rock/leaning country offering, "Stuck In A U'Haul" with Steve Quick of True North Productions.
SPB GEARS UP FOR PUBLIC RELATIONS BLITZ
Steve just finished interviews with Big Blend’s ‘Rants Raves and Radio’, Maximum Ink, Traverse City Record Eagle, In The Now,KJAG 95.5 (Salina, Kansas) and Power Play. Check out the in-depth Maximum Ink article online at stevepalmerband.com on the feature section.
HOLIDAY SINGLE 'IN LOVE' RECORDS 10,212 DOWNLOADS
Our 'IN LOVE' holiday charity campaign had 10,212 fans downloading the free song! We must report that we weren't pleased with the final mix of the song but we just had to get it out. “Christians, Muslims and Jews are being killed today because of faith. So we had to do something”, explains Steve. We will re-mix 'IN LOVE' and release it again next Christmas. Good news is we will make donations to Save The Children & St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as planned."
Filming The Music Video for "IN LOVE"
Filming the 'IN LOVE' music video was a "verifiable blast", commented Steve Palmer. "We roamed around Traverse City during on and off snow - lake effect and cloud effect - and we visited a local art store, WTCM, was interviewed by the Record Eagle, shot live footage off Front Street and off Steve's balcony facing the almost frozen lake, and we visited Horizon book store (Steve's favorite in TC). "It was natural and happy" added Steve. "Marty Yaple, a Northern Michigan student, filmed the video and we directed. I will definitely work with him again."
Steve Palmer Band Offers Free Download Of Their Holiday Single "IN LOVE" To Support Children's Charities
Steve Palmer Band's new original single for the holidays "IN LOVE" was released November 30, 2010, and in the spirit of Christmas, Arythmia Records is offering fans a free download of the new song to raise funds for Save The Children and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Arythmia Records will donate $.05 cents for each of the first 200,000 fans who download the new song through January 31, 2011. "There are a lot of significant things that Christians, Jews and Muslims have in common, and that's what this song is all about." says Steve Palmer.
ShareThis to help spread the word about this great song and help out two great charities by sharing this offer with friends!
SPB's Trip To The Hollywood Music in Media Awards
"Steve Palmer Band made it - traveled to LA for the HMMA's at The Highlands.
All steps were taken to insure success - we had a back up bass player in
case our new bass player had plane problems. Well - he got in on time and
so did everyone else. Had a great sound check, did the red carpet ala
Hollywood style complete with interviews and pics, played "Apparition" (didn't win for AAA/AC best song) and enjoyed a night on the town. Steve rubbed a elbow at the mixer the next night, and Bryan, Judd, Brandon (a bit camera shy got a tattoo from a local parlor) and Steve eat donuts at 1:00 am pacific time across from the Renaissance hotel. All in all a successful
trip."
- Steve Palmer
"Apparition" Nominated for 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Award
Steve Palmer Band has been nominated by the prestigious 2010 Hollywood Music In Media Awards for their song “Apparition” in the category of Adult Contemporary/AAA. SPB will be performing at the event which will take place November 18th at The Highlands at the Kodak Theater Complex.
Steve Palmer on Fox Connecticut TV
Steve Palmer was interviewed and did a live solo acoustic perfomance of "Apparition" on FOX TV - CTnow.com
SPB Rocked EpiCentre In Charlotte Opening for Blues Traveler
Oct. 21st, the band opened for Blues Traveler and played the full CD “Apparition”. A crowd of over 1,000 enjoyed the free show put together by Bud Light and EpiCentre, with 106.5 The End in attendance. After the show Steve said “Hey, that was a blast with all those people. Don’t know if the music projected but Josh did a great job considering it was the first time he played with us."
SPB Welcomes More Band Additions From Maryland
Steve Palmer Band is happy to announce some more additions from Maryland. Josh Chapman will continue jamming with SPB on bass coming from Bryan’s Maryland based Bens Bones and Judd Bolger will join the lineup from Nashville’s Judd & Maggie. Both will joining Steve at Hollywood Music In Media Awards ceremony and performance where “Apparition” is nominated in AAA/AC. Thanks to Bryan, the new musical director for bringing them on board.
Conversation with Johnnie Popper of Blues Traveler
I was fortunate to spend time with Johnnie Popper of Blues Traveler at Keene, New Hampshire after their gig. Johnnie has a heart of gold and was really nice to me. . . He ran around screaming, ‘Hey everybody, Steve Palmer is here.’ The conversation went something like this:
Steve: “Hey Johnnie, I got to promote one of your gigs this morning on Fox Connecticut TV.”
Johnnie: “Oh, yeah? What did you say.”
Steve: “I said you sing with your heart . . . But you can’t play harmonica.”
Johnnie: Humm. . .
Steve: No, Johnnie. I actually said you were the best player in the world.”
Johnnie: “You know someone said that to Coltrane once.”
Steve: “You’re kiddin. You’re not supposed to say that kind of stuff. At least not nowadays. So what did Coltrane say?”
Johnnie: “He said, ‘Yeah. Its really the truth. Isn’t it?”
Anyway, I can’t wait for Charlotte on Oct. 21st with Johnnie Popper. I love the guy and he is phenomenal on the harp. Best in the world? Well, there might be others out there we haven’t heard from yet. Hey, I wrote Clive at Sony two years ago and said we were this generation’s Beatles. Didn’t get too far to far with that one. - Steve Palmer
Oct. 21st Show Announced in Charlotte, NC
SPB will move forward with a one hour direct opening slot with Blues Traveler on October 21, 2010 at EpiCentre in Charlotte, NC. The band will play all songs off their debut CD “Apparition” which is slated release in January 2011. For the Oct. 21st gig the band will welcome bass player, Josh Chapman. Josh has been playing in the mid-atlantic area with Bryan and Brandan for years. “Really, I am lucky to have a professional and friend like Bryan Ewald in my band. The guy has done a lot for me not to mention bringing these great players to the band to help with touring. Also Bryan has done a tremendous amount for the sound and identity of the band. He a real star." - Steve Palmer
9/23/10 - Opening For Blues Traveler @ Colonial in Kenne, NH
Steve Palmer Band is gearing up for their big gig with Blues Traveler at The Colonial in Kenne, New Hampshire, Thursday, September, 23, 2010. “Hey, I love these shows because the fans that like Johnnie usually appreciate our brand of rock and roll. And this time, I’m gonna ask Johnnie to do a pic with me.” We are on at 7:30. Try to make it and say hi to Steve after the show.
Steve Palmer Band's Most Successful Show In Windsor, CT
Steve Palmer Band finished their most successful show September 5, 2010 at the Summer Winds Performing Arts Center in Windsor Connecticut. Playing at the newly erected outdoor multi-million dollar tent structure, SPB enthralled almost a thousand fans prompting the venue to request encores. “This was a great night for us. Our biggest yet and we are looking forward to more shows to reach out to the public.
“Apparition” Release Party on July 20th, 2010
Arythmia Records, Howard Rosen Promotions and Village Voice completely their joint July 20, 2010 release party for “Apparition” at Kenny’s Castaway. Wonderful hostess, Maria, the owner of KC, helped us organize. We had a couple radio stations, a couple booking agents, many cases of PBR “on the way” (to our stomach), photos, videos and some intense rock and roll from a four piece SPB with Vicki on background vocals. Gary Trust from Billboard even showed up and spoke with Steve about how he envisions the music. All in all our most successful promotions event by far.
New Radio Promo Deal for the Single “Apparition”
Steve Palmer Band is happy to announce the completion of a new radio promo deal for the single “Apparition”. After announcing the hire of Steve Levesque of Luck Media and Marketing, Arythmia Records entered into a promotion campaign to push Apparition to major Top 40 markets across the country. After reaching 37 on the R&R indicator charts, SPB kicked off the new effort to bring their music to the public. Armed with a new business partner and adviser, Steve announced, “Hey we have a new slamming Top 40 Mix of the CD by Howard’s team, a new press agent and a new goal – I think the ball might finally start rolling downhill.”
Ribbons Into Space
There is a new Steve solo up. "Ribbons Into Space" was recorded at Sound Shop by Grateful inconvenience which has done some great work for our little indie. The song was written about college life and young love and is the basis for a play Steve is working on entitled, "The Poet, The Lover and The Saint." He got the idea for the "deodorant in his hair" line in the third verse after being blamed for another prank Steve didn't do while at a tennis camp with the late John Kennedy Junior across the hall. "I really admired John John from afar after realizing all he went through growing up and how the Kennedys kept their heads up. I remember when he received a white ceramic dove at the awards ceremony because he had this peaceful quiet way about him. Sure, the girls liked him, but so did everyone else."
SPB Jumps Up The Charts
Steve Palmer Band
made a swift sudden move upwards on the Mediabase Activator Top 40 Chart. "This
was a 20 point jump in one week and it indicates that Howie Rosen and his team
are on the right track. We have backed this up with new tour engagements and
bids so this is part of the whole effort. Almost all of our cylinders are
operating and I'm happy with that," added Steve, the band's manager.
Sister Hazel Tour Wrap Up
Off we
went again from
Bob Schneider Tour Wrap Up
“Well, we wrapped up our first
extended tour, fronting for Bob Schneider. Yeah!! . . . but its just a
beginning. And we completed it without major incident. Sure the frig broke,
the bus couldn’t get parking alongside the venue a few times, the band huffed it
with gear down city blocks in Milwaukee, Boston and New York, but . . . we had
sesame crusted pizza in NYC after our last gig at the Bowery. . . . we had a
well deserved picnic at Steve’s house and a company table at Birchmere sponsored
by Steve’s Dad . . . and we suffered no real war wounds to speak of. Our agent
at Supreme even fielded follow up inquiries from a complimentary Birchmere. The
band got rave reviews from the crowds enthralled by the big pulsating sound of a
B-3 and backing vocals by Vicki, Robert and Bryan. And Brian Fullen and bassist
Mario Sangermano did a phenomenal job after only two rehearsals. Thanks to
everyone that came and shared their comments, we ended on a good note. Hope to
announce the next one soon.”