This January during my Bittersweet Parade album release tour, I had the opportunity to sit down with the fellas at Acoustic Conversations and chat about my move to Nashville — I even got to play a couple songs! Curt and Peter are good guys and I always enjoy our little talks. I hope you do to.

LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION: HERE
SEE MORE PHOTOS: HERE
RE-VISIT THE FIRST CONVERSATION: HERE

GO TO iTUNES TO DOWNLOAD THESE EXCLUSIVE LIVE TRACKS:

1. Welcome the Change
2. Leave Oregon
3. Blush
4. That Moon
5. Roderigo (Cover, Seven Mary Three)

Today was the first official day of recording for my new EP Long Before the Wheel! Yes, I had already been in the studio to track a scratch guitar and vocal but that was all too casual. Today was the first legitimate day of professional players and grinding hours.

That said, it doesn’t feel like a grind when you’re watching a pro in action. I had the honor of working with Derek Mixon as my drummer for the record — he set a solid backbone of drums that has me beaming about this album’s potential. Nice work Derek, it was a pleasure working with you.

Call me nostalgic but I’ve decided to post a recording of my first song EVER — written and recorded in 2000, this is Her Song.

It’s funny, this is a song I no longer claim (because of the obvious departure from my current music); however, I’ve recently received a number of requests for it via email and I’m even receiving royalties here and there as a result of the old school recording. Who would have thought, a song I wrote 10 years ago, before I even knew the craft, would still be in demand?

That said, for sake of nostalgia, I dug up a copy of the original version and then re-recorded it today to show the difference between my vocals then and now. Below is a pair of recordings of Her Song — one is the original from 2000 and the other was humbly recorded live in my bedroom today in 2010.

I don’t take either one very seriously but I thought you’d like to hear the first song I ever wrote. My how time changes things. Enjoy Her Song.

HER SONG (original version circa 2000)

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HER SONG (new version, 2010 bedroom recording)

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You live your life day by day
People come and go
But no one stays by your side
Next to you
It’s so hard

Until that day;
You see that one
Standing there beautiful in the sun
Kissed by angels
Perfect She seems
The girl of my dreams

When we touch, I tremble
When She talks, I’m all ears
When She laughs, I smile
She calms my fears
With Her love and with Her words
I’m all Hers.

When she talks, the world is silent
No one exists.
And when we kiss,
Oh, I’m all Hers!
I’m Captivated by Her love,
By Her touch,
By Her glory,
By Her eyes,
By Her smile,
By Her laughter
And by Her.

When we touch, I tremble
When She talks, I’m all ears
When She laughs, I smile
She calms my fears
And wipes away my tears
With Her love and with Her words
All the sweet, sweet words that she says…

When She moves the earth sings
And I sing along…

In September of 2009, the world lost a true talent — Scotland Barr. He was a singer-songwriter and wordsmith and someone I respected deeply.

In November of 2009, tragedy struck once again and took the life of my peer — Kipp Crawford in a freak biking accident. He was a drummer in Portland in which I’ve shared many stages and beers and laughs.

Though I was never extremely close to either, their lives impacted mine greatly. I’m different because of their lives and their deaths. Both had a story to tell and both were taken long before their time.

This song is my humble tribute to these fine men and musicians — may all your fields be songs and daffodils.

Note: I hate to admit it, but in the video below, I had just written this song and therefore got the first line wrong. It should be “Who was September” … the final recording on my upcoming EP will reflect the correct lyrics and date.

DAFFODILS
by tyler stenson © 2010

Who was September
To decide it was time
To pull your pen from the page
That drew out your line
Since 1965?
-Long before your time.

May your fields be pure gold
And yellow like the loveliest sun.
May we hear your bones
Singing at the top of their lungs.
May all your fields be songs and daffodils.

Oh, then November
Would not be outdone
And dimmed that bright old smile
From an Ashland Son
That burned since ’78
-Then all at once faded away.

May your fields be pure gold
And yellow like the loveliest sun.
May we hear your bones
Sounding out the beat of a drum.
May all your fields be songs and daffodils.

I for one, hope you found your Sun Years
And finally laid your eyes on some Spanish Dust.
Your words fill up our Paper Dixie Cups,
In a cheers to you,
One of the few who knew love.

So, may all your fields be pure gold
And yellow like the loveliest sun.
May we hear your bones
Singing at the top of their lungs.
May all your fields be songs and daffodils.

May all your fields be songs and daffodils.

Monday April 5th, 2010 was a very special day — it marks my first performance in Nashville with a band. Yes, it was a stripped-down minimalist trio but it was something other than a Writers Round and that alone excited me to no end.

Asked to join the night’s lineup by a few writers that I deeply respect, I was given a nice chunk of time to play my music and therefore wanted to make it special. I was so excited I even played a bit too long … woops:) That said, I asked my friend Amanda Broadway to sing with me and called upon a new friend, Chris Bauer, to play some pedal steel in the cracks.

Below are some videos captured from the evening. It’s not all of them but it’s a nice taste of what went down in the 12th & Porter Lounge.

PLENTY MORE VIDEOS ON MY YouTube PAGE: www.youtube.com/landerband

PLENTY MORE VIDEOS ON MY YouTube PAGE: www.youtube.com/landerband

PLENTY MORE VIDEOS ON MY YouTube PAGE: www.youtube.com/landerband

PLENTY MORE VIDEOS ON MY YouTube PAGE: www.youtube.com/landerband

PLENTY MORE VIDEOS ON MY YouTube PAGE: www.youtube.com/landerband

One of the most special evenings of my lifetime took place on September 11, 2009 — my farewell show at the Aladdin Theater. The videos below are from my Last Waltz in Portland, OR before moving east to Nashville, TN.

WELCOME THE CHANGE

YOU ALREADY KNOW

AS THE CROW FLIES

CELLOPHANE

THE ROAD

WYOMING

EXPLODE

GREAT MAN’S FUNERAL

I GET NO SLEEP

BETTER BE US ALL

Tonight I played the “New Faces Night” at The Basement in Nashville, TN. I booked the show all the way back in October so when it finally arrived, I was excited to say the least. Barring a few technical difficulties, which are part of the game, I feel good about it.

The video below was streamed live online by UARadio.net and the folks back in Portland were able to tune in. Thanks to Julian from UARadio.net for the great service that you offer for guys like me and thanks Monique Roy for lining it all up.

Today is the eve of what I believe to be my best show in Nashville (to date). I’ll be playing at a lovely place called The Listening Room and I’ll be joined by a slew of talent. I’m extra excited for this showcase because I get to play twice as many songs as usual and it will be broadcast LIVE on UARadio.net!!! No matter where you are, I hope you’ll join me for my show tomorrow night … whether it’s in person or online. Thanks!

THE LISTENING ROOM
209 10th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203-4124

I’ll be returning to my favorite venue in Portland for a very special evening with new guest musicians and the debut of some new songs. I’m working very hard to make this extra enjoyable and unique- the tricks up my sleeve will make it so.

In addition, the show will be a live audio/video recording so I hope you’ll tell your friends and join me for this soon-to-be immortal concert event. Details are below.

THE MISSISSIPPI LINE UP:
Doors @ 7:00
Riva Devito @ 8:00
Buoy Larue @ 9:00
Tyler Stenson @ 10PM
Runaway Norm @ 11PM
Get your tickets here!

Loenard Cohen’s Hallelujah (made famous by Jeff Buckley) has recently become a staple in my set and a shining star in my repertoire. Whether it’s played in a vaulted auditorium or a crowded bar, it seems that this song demands a respect. Though it sometimes gets a Shrek Soundtrack shout-out, it ultimately gains a reverent attention from the masses and has tendency to be very emotionally moving.

When I first made the decision to learn the song, I went online to track down the lyrics. To my surprise, I’m led to understand that Cohen originally wrote roughly 80 verses to his epic ballad and countless individual artists have since contributed their own interpretations across the years.

In the spirit of this co-op, I decided to learn a few of my favorite verses from Cohen’s original, as well as, humbly contribute my own verse to history. The video below from my AcousticConversations podcast, displays my version of Hallelujah and offers up my original verse:

Father, can you hear me now?
If you can, please scream out loud
Because I need to believe I’m getting through to ya.
I know it’s been the longest time,
But if you can hear me, show me a sign
And make the words I sing, sing Hallelujah.

Thank you Mr. Cohen for such a beautiful contribution to music.