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

photo by pete wright

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)

I just finished designing a new promo poster that I plan to make available for purchase in the near future — need to get them printed of course. These will be full 11×17 prints on heavyweight card stock, a true-blue poster to add to my merchandise offering. Stay tuned.

2010 promo poster

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.

My belief in Mississippi Studios as Portland’s premier venue was made whole after my Monday show on June 14, 2010. Approximately 120 friends and fans gathered in the intimate venue to create an atmosphere that was amongst the greatest I’ve known — nothing short of magic.

In an effort to make my Portland homecoming extra special, I had the lovely Jenna Ellefson join me for my personal favorite song Babysitting the Cowboy and then the oh so talented Amy Seeley took stage to join me for 5 more songs; including a couple newbies that will be included on Long Before the Wheel. Both ladies elevated my songs beyond belief and added such grace to the event.

photo by Stephen Kallao

Tyler Stenson & Amy Seeley - photo by Brittney Myers

Tyler Stenson & Jenna Ellefson - photo by Brittney Myers

Tyler Stenson & Amy Seeley - photo by Brittney Myers

Tyler Stenson at Mississippi Studios - photo by Brittney Myers

Tyler Stenson at Mississippi Studios - photo by Brittney Myers

Tyler Stenson & Amy Seeley at Mississippi Studios - photo by Brittney Myers

After Amy Seeley left the stage, I was honored to debut my two new songs The Ramblin Kind and Best Laid Plans. Although both went over well, I must admit, the sing-along portion of Best Laid Plans was one of the best moments in my musical career. I’ve never written a song intended for crowd participation — but this one was — and they nailed it. What a thrill to be joined in song by 120 people; singing a song you’ve written. Thank you all for joining me on cue and not hanging me out to dry.

MISSISSIPPI STUDIOS 2010 SET LIST
Welcome the Change
The Road
Babysitting the Cowboy
That Moon
I Get No Sleep
Clover
As the Crow Flies
Daffodils
Ramblin Kind
Better Be Us All
Best Laid Plans
Hallelujah

Beyond that magical evening at Mississippi Studios, my heart was warmed once more upon waking the next morning. My facebook page was full of the kindest words ever pointed in my direction and it confirmed that the crowd took away the same joys that I felt inside — their comments coupled with my inner-glee makes me believe that something special had truly happened on that Monday in June.

If you know me in the least, you’d know that Willy Wonka (old school version) and The Pricess Bride are my absolute favorite movies of all time — hands-down — no contest. Not that I need to justify this fact, but as proof, my first album was called Princess Willy. Yes, I was young but the sentiment of undivided dedication stands.

That said, my good buddy Tommy recently stumbled across this graphic and sent it to me — the biggest Princess Bride fan that he knows. I’m honored to hold that title.

Below is a poster of the infamous Indigo Montoya spouting his famous words, “Hello, my name is Indigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die.” A lifetime lived for vengeance.

Thanks Tommy!!

Indigo Montoya - You Killed My Father, Prepare to Die

I was recently contacted by a new-found fan in the UK that was having trouble ordering my new album Bittersweet Parade from CD Baby. Not sure what the issue was but after going back and forth one-too-many times, we finally worked out a deal where he paid via PayPal and I sent him the album personally.

As you can see, he surprised me by documented the delivery and is currently listening to my new record all the way across the ocean — hopefully spreading the word as he goes.

If you’re from anywhere in the world that bars you from purchasing my new album from iTunes or CD Baby, feel free to contact me personally and I’ll make sure you get ahold of Bittersweet Parade — signature and all.

Tuesday February 16, 2010 was the day I turned 29 years old. In all honesty, it was a day I had feared for some time — not because of its proximity to the dirty-thirty but because I wasn’t sure who I would spend it with. Now that I’m in Tennessee, I’m removed from my life-long comfort zone and the friends that I have accumulated as a result of sheer history. That said, I found myself asking, Have I made enough of an impact that calls for a birthday party? Of course, I have made friends but much like an airport run, I wasn’t sure who I had reached that level with.

My first instinct was to let the day pass without raising much of a fuss but a lovely friend of mine urged me to live it up. I listened to her advice and sent out the invites. I’ve only known most of them for a matter of weeks/months but I’m proud to say that they made my day as special as the previous 28. Thanks guys!!

With this new year ahead of me, I’ll admit, I feel every bit of 29 and I’m so grateful for that. The years under my belt are invaluable and I feel totally confident that I’m ripe for this new adventure — the ultimate professional push. I’m not the boy I was just a few years ago and though he is missed at times, I’m proud of the man I am at 29.

Thank you mom and dad for giving me life. Thank you mom and dad for raising me right. Thanks brothers and sisters for keeping me grounded and thanks to my friends for making me feel cooler than I am. See you next year — the dirty-thirty:)

I played the “Second Friday Songbirds” round at the Sommet Center the other day with some other great writers. We each played about 5 songs and I was happy to finally get to test out my new Flip HD camera! Below is the video for the “oldie but a goody” Rome Tomorrow and a picture of the crew. Thanks Stephen for the invite … cheers to many more!

Here is the crew: Cody & Chance, Tyler Stenson, Stephen Salyers, Chelsee Oaks and Rob Bolin. They were all fantastic writers and performers but above all, our group lunch outing afterward proved that they are good people. The conversation was totally offensive and irreverent and comfortable. Thanks for the camaraderie.

I received a tweet today from one of my favorite Northwestern gals Mrs. @sprizee … she took a trip to the beach this weekend and was sweet enough to take this very special picture for me. It is a lyric from my song Whistle Stop:

Don’t whisper softly the things
That you want loudly to be;
Be like a wave,
Leave impressions in the sand.

Thanks @sprizee for thinking of my music when there were millions of others to choose from. Every sun is going to fade, but in the morning rays I hear a songbird singing your name.

I received news on the morning of November 4th that a new friend of mine, Kipp Crawford was killed in the night. I won’t claim to have the longest history with him but the relationship I did have was musical and therefore amazing. Kipp was the drummer for Redwood Son, a band I’ve worked with an enormous amount over the last year, and he was a genuine individual. I appreciate the smile he beamed and the carefree zest he wore on his sleeve.

The details (as I know them) are freak and tragic and obsolete in the scheme of things — some sort of altercation left him laying in the road. As twisted fate would have it, it was at the same moment that two intoxicated drivers rounded the corner and ended him. Kipp was taken to the hospital and died shortly after.

He was a talented drummer and a bright light of a man and my final memory of him is exactly how I’ll remember him always…

We played a show at the Aladdin Theater together and I was sitting backstage as he drummed for the band before me. I’ll always remember him looking over at me during the middle of a song; beaming grin and staring me in the eyes like a true madman as he did a power drum fill. We absolutely shared that moment of bright lights and music. I giggled to myself and muttered crazy bastard in the most endearing of ways. Maybe he was — but he was Kipp — and he’ll be missed.

As a tribute to Kipp and another Portland musician Scotland Barr, I wrote this song called Daffodils. I hate to admit it, but I got the first line wrong about Scotland; it should be September rather than December. It will be included on my upcoming EP with the corrected lyrics. Enjoy.

Here are some links to articles about the accident:
Portland Mercury
OPB Music
Portland Tribune
Ashland Daily Tidings

*** “The Drums Are For Your Heart” is a line from a Michael Torrey song.