As mentioned before, I will be performing TOMORROW at the Live Wire! Radio variety show at the Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland, OR. It is quite an honor to be invited to perform at this renowned production and live broadcast, so I’ll aim to do my part in making it as stellar as its reputation demands.

Because it’s a variety show, I am simply a part of the whole and therefore only get two songs. Best foot forward, right? That said, I’ll be playing Great Man’s Funeral and Better Be Us All.

It’s always hard to chose which few of my many songs to play (when limited) but I think this will be a nice mix for the Live Wire! folks. Please join us for this fine event.

Live Wire! Radio Variety Show
@ The Alberta Rose Theatre
Saturday October 22, 2011 at 7:30 PM
3000 NE Alberta St.
Portland, OR 97211
Minors OK when accompanied by a parent or guardian

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

These days, it seems that my Facebook feed is dominated by images and videos — for whatever reason, I’m not seeing many good ‘ol fashion status updates anymore…

Anyway, with this new trend, I’ve inversely been exposed to some good humor as of late that I wanted to share with you. Although I will not claim that these are the end-all, funniest pictures on the Internet, I will claim that these are some damn funny images that have crossed my path in the last week or so. Enjoy.

I’m proud to announce that I’ve been invited to perform on the Live Wire! Radio Show at the Alberta Rose Theater on Saturday October 22nd. This is truly an honor.

If you haven’t heard of it, Live Wire! is a top-notch radio variety show that tapes in front of an enthusiastic audience and airs each week via Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and is heard nationally and internationally through its podcasts.

Over the years Live Wire! has featured a number of stellar talents including Chuck Palahniuk (author of Fight Club) and Joe Purdy and, on this particular October night in 2011, I will be featured as the solo musical guest; joined by author David Guterson, Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen, cartoonist Kate Beaton and a big-time full band musical guest, Typhoon!

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

Live Wire! Radio Show!
@ The Alberta Rose Theater
Saturday October 22, 2011 at 7:30 PM
3000 NE Alberta St.
Portland, OR 97211
Minors OK when accompanied by a parent or guardian

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

I started playing live music at the Buffalo Gap Saloon in Portland, OR circa 2003 — it was one of the first venues to give me and my music a chance and I therefore owe them much. 8 years later, I don’t play there as often as I used to but I still consider it my local haunt, my Cheers, my home away from home, my watering hole, my … well, you get the idea. It’s a swell place.

All that said, I was recently invited to play at their annual birthday party known as Gap Fest and following my set, I was surprised with the decorated frame below. I was beyond honored when they presented me with this tribute frame that celebrated my career and the Buffalo Gap’s involvement in its progression.

It will be hung on the wall of the establishment for the many years to come…

Thank you Buffalo Gap for the opportunity and the friendship.

THE BUFFALO GAP SALOON & EATERY
6835 Southwest Macadam Avenue
Portland, OR 97219-2313
(503) 244-7111

Like I said, I’ve played MANY shows at the Buffalo Gap … here is a pic from one of the hundreds.

As everyone knows, I have a strand of OCD coursing through my veins that is borderline clinical. Yeah, I don’t really sleep at night because I can’t put aside the fact that a margin is off on my blog or the font could be improved on my website(s) — there’s always something that can be improved.

Well, with that, I bring you the newest TylerStenson.com. The changes are ever so subtle but I slept pretty well last night…

THE NEW SITE:
As I mentioned, the changes are very subtle but I feel it’s a lot cleaner overall. You’ll notice a new custom font installed, new and improved social icons, a new music and video player and a sleeker vibe across the board. Click on the image below to see the full size screen shot!

THE NEW HEADER:
I moved the header from mid-page, up toward the top where most sites would have them featured. Additionally, I changed the font to match my new custom font (Round Up). To me, this new header is much more pro and a bit less playful than my previous site.

THE NEW SOCIAL ICONS:
Most subtle of all but to my everlasting joy, is the new, custom, social icons. The ones before were slightly pixelated and more in tune with the previously playful vibe, however, now, they’re spic-and-span. I suppose most notable of all is the fact that I kicked the mySpace button to the curb and replaced it with my ReverbNation link. Peace out mySpace!

THE NEW FONT:
I’ve been using this new font for some time now in my general branding but I’ve finally integrated it into my website. With the help of my good friend Mr Diggles, I’m now able to use my brand’s font as a font, rather than an image. This is a very subtle upgrade but extremely valuable in the realm of web design.

Of course, there will be more subtle changes happening to this site for the rest of my life but, on this day in October, I’m proud to bring you another TylerStenson.com update with some improved pieces that have me sleeping soundly.

Every once in a while I get self-conscious about the amount of self-promotion that I do on Facebook and Twitter. While I feel it’s the necessary quantity to get my messages to the masses, there are still wavering moments when I ask myself Dude, was that too much?

Well, just as I’m considering cutting back on the posts, I log-on to Facebook and see what my other friends are up to — based on the dirty-laundry-rant below, I’m all at once certain that it could be worse.

LIKE ME ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/tylerstensonmusic
FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: @tylerstenson

In an interview earlier this summer for KZME’s Music on the Air TV program, I was asked to recall my favorite Portland moment — what one thing sticks out when I think about my years in Portland as both a resident and a musician?

While I could never-ever account for all of my favorite memories in this fine city, in a moment of pure panic and scattered thoughts, I spouted off two contenders:

1) The final moments of my farewell show at the Aladdin Theater.
2) My first Por Que No taco.

Here is the video footage of My Favorite Portland Moments…

For your reference, here is that final moment at the Aladdin Theater…

Oh, and if you’ve never been to Por Que No, here is the address to both locations…

3524 N Mississippi Ave, Portland – (503) 467-4149
4635 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland – (503) 954-3138

Of course, I have many many many other fantastic memories when it comes to living and playing music in Portland (opening for Chris Isaak at the Oregon Zoo and selling 140+ albums to a host of new fans freshly comes to mind) but it’s still damn near impossible to sum up how kind this city has been, and continues to be, to me.

I was in the Kink.fm studios today and had a pleasant conversation with Inessa that will be featured on tonight’s Kink.fm Local Music Spotlight. Between opening for Chris Isaak in July, opening for Alpha Rev tomorrow at the Aladdin Theater and a new management agreement in the works, we had much to discuss — and discuss we did.

Here is the link to the full interview: http://bit.ly/n8PFNE

TO BE TRANSPARENT, THIS INTERVIEW WAS TO PROMOTE:
1) I’m opening for Alpha Rev at the Aladdin Theater on 9/14
2) I’m playing on the Kink.fm Early Escape Cruise on 9/16
3) I’m playing at the Alberta Rose Theater on 9/29

Tune in tonight to hear the discussion and my song Daffodils live on the air!!

Save the date!! I have been asked to play at the Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival on Saturday September 10th at 5:00pm. Of course, the festival spans from 3pm to 8pm, so mark your calendars accordingly and come join me and other musical acts such as the Legendary Soul Diva Linda Hornbuckle.

Tyler Stenson at the Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival
Saturday September 10th @ 5pm

Tickets are $5 and kids are free!

VISIT THE RIVERKEEPERS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO: http://www.tualatinriverkeepers.org

Tualatin Riverkeepers are the leading independent advocate for the river, streams and wetlands in the Tualatin community. That said, the Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival aims to support a clean and healthy Tualatin River that is accessible to everyone and offers something for the whole family — great music, food, nature activities and kayaking on the river!

DIRECTIONS?

IF YOU’RE DRIVING:
The Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival takes place at 8515 SW Tualatin Rd

IF YOU’RE PADDLING:
The Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival takes place at Tualatin Community Park at river mile 8.9

IF YOU’RE WALKING OR BIKING:
The Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival takes place just south of the Ki-A-Kuts Bridge

IF YOU’RE BUSING:
The Tualatin Riverfront Music Festival takes place on Tri-Met line 76

THIS JUST IN: I will be opening for Alpha Rev at the Aladdin Theater on Wednesday 9/14.

Alpha Rev w/ Tyler Stenson
Wednesday September 14th @ The Aladdin Theater
Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM
Minors Accompanied by Parent
$15.00

GET TICKETS HERE

Alpha Rev is a soulful American rock group out of Austin, TX, led by front-man Casey McPherson. Their music is full of achingly beautiful melodies, haunting lyrics and classical beauty. As Austin’s famous landmark club Antone’s raved on their website “witness [McPherson] in action and you know God made this man to play music.”

ABOUT ALPHA REV:
(bio taken from Aladdin-Theater.com)

Above all else, Alpha Rev is a journey into the depths of the human experience.

Frontman Casey McPherson’s gripping, emotional songwriting dares others to search out hope in the bleakest of circumstances and the unique instrumentation pays homage to the classical music that gave him his love for the art. While McPherson’s songwriting and rock-inspired vocals form the core of Alpha Rev’s music, he is supported by a unique cast of musicians that fill Alpha Rev’s songs with as much classical beauty as American rock. In addition to the typical guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums, Alpha Rev boasts a violin and cello that add brilliantly to the band’s sound. Together, Alpha Rev offers up layered, orchestral, melody-driven masterpieces able to turn strangers to super fans in a single listen.

Home schooled in small town Texas, frontman Casey McPherson studied classical piano for 12 years and learned to play guitar left handed after figuring out it only worked when he played it upside down. The first band he started, Endochine, performed with Staind, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pete Yorn and many others. During this time, McPherson lost his father and only brother to suicide. Although Endochine was succeeding on many levels, touring took its toll, eventually leading to the band’s demise. Faced with unimaginable tragedy and the dissolution of his band of five years, Casey began to realize that his music, and his life, needed to take a turn in a more positive direction.

The result was Alpha Rev and its distinctive brand of soulful American rock, full of achingly beautiful melodies, haunting lyrics, and classical beauty. Welling up through all the rich, sonic splendor is a message of hope spun by McPherson and his penchant for perseverance. As Austin’s famous landmark club Antone’s raved on their website “witness [McPherson] in action and you know God made this man to play music.”