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.

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.

On Sunday morning, my buddy Aaron and I headed east for an extended road trip. Since he was on his way to Cincinnati, OH and I was bound for Nashville, we thought it best that we caravan to Ohio and I’d do the final leg to Tennessee alone. The pictures below are a few images from the road to my new home.

TS behind the wheel

No road trip is complete without some sort of car trouble. Somewhere on I-90 in Crow County Montana, Aaron blew a tire and slowed our 80 mile an hour pace. The next service town was 60 miles away in Wyoming and it was slow moving on a doughnut spare.

Aaron's blown tire

The goal was to get to Mt Rushmore on day two but because of the tire delay, plans changed and we realized it wasn’t going to happen. With that in mind, we took in more Wyoming scenery and detoured to the Devil’s Tower. Though it wasn’t on the original itinerary, I was stoked things worked out the way they did.

The Devil's Tower

We eventually made our way to Mt Rushmore on the morning of day three. It was smaller than I imagined but had more of an impact then I expected. As we rounded the bend and I caught my first glimpse of Washington, I’ll admit I got goose bumps. America F Yeah!

President Stenson at Mt Rushmore

I’m currently safe and sound in Waupaca, WI and staying with Aaron’s family for a couple days before the home stretch. There is plenty more road ahead of us and therefore plenty of pictures to come.

Sanjay Gupta & Joe Albert

My best friend Joe Albert recently had the chance to meet Obama’s Surgeon General, Sanjay Gupta- the resulting picture is above. Though most would be excited to simply be captured on film with such a high profile individual, Joe made sure to point out his outfit of choice. If you pay close attention, this photo features a hand-printed Lander T-Shirt and a couple of other dudes that happened to make the frame. Thanks Joe, we’re making history.

My bestest friend Adam Herman and I recently crossed the Atlantic and ended up in Europe; Barcelona and Rome to be exact. In total we spent seven days in Barcelona and four days in Rome… we agreed the trip was simply epic. Though the pictures refuse to tell the whole story and the memories therein, below is a brief account of our European adventure.

Tyler Stenson in Rome, IT

The Trevi Fountain was a popular haunt for us. On most nights we found ourselves joining the crowds, making wishes and gazing tirelessly at the lights and the water. There was something very enormous about uncorking a bottle of red wine and talking to no end with a good friend.

Tyler Stenson in Rome, IT

One of my favorite sites was The Pantheon; the oldest church in Rome. Maybe it’s because it was the first truly Roman structure I saw or maybe it was that first bottle of wine in public… either way, breathtaking.

Tyler Stenson at the Pantheon

St. Peter’s Square was larger than life- a true testament to the result of faith, passion and pride. Even the most godless man would marvel at the artistic achievements within the walls of Vatican City. I wasn’t allowed to take pictures, but Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel was my favorite site in all of Rome, period.

Tyler Stenson at St. Peter's Basilica

Art Work at the Vatican Museum

My second favorite site was the Coliseum/Forum combo. To walk those grounds was to experience a rich history. I couldn’t help but gawk at the craftsmanship and sheer man hours that must have gone into these structures- marvels in their own time and now. Be it The Senate, Julius Caesar or the Gladiators, there is a clear reason for the infamy of the Roman Empire.

Tyler Stenson at the Coliseum

Tyler Stenson above the Forum

Tyler Stenson at the Coliseum

Though the pictures are less plentiful, the majority of our time was spent in Barcelona. This picture below was taken on our last day during a day-trip to Begur, a small Spanish village built around a Mediterranean cove. Traveling back dirt roads (that I’m sure are traveled by few), we were spit out into this scene and spent the day lounging in the rough sand, in the shade by the sea.

Tyler and Adam in Begur, Spain

The day after my birthday I peeled myself out of my bed at 5am and caught a flight to Salt Lake City. Once I landed, I wound my way through the falling snow for another couple hours before getting to Utah State University in Logan, UT. As you can see, there was a beautiful sight awaiting my arrival.

The Performance Hall - Utah State University

This was an extremely special evening because of the immaculate setting and respectful audience. I always love playing these state-of-the-art facilities because you’re simply spoiled. The sound was perfect, the technology was flawless and it allowed me to project my lyrics for the audience to read– in the end, I gained a quality recording that I’ll be showing off in good time.

Tyler Stenson at the Performance Hall - Utah State University

Another benefit to these large performance halls is the presence of the piano. Since I don’t own my own, I always revel in the opportunity to sit and play. I spent a large portion of sound-check plunking through different songs and I ended the evenings encore with the piano ballad As of Late.

Tyler Stenson at the Performance Hall - Utah State University

All of that said, the most special moment of the evening was when my little sister Austi joined me on stage. She has one of the coolest voices on this planet, and since she goes to Utah State, I called her the morning of the performance and asked if she’d join me. Understandably nervous and hesitant, she was gracious and agreed to do her part on such short notice. She really added a sweetness to the evening in general but most importantly, improved I Might Be Gone, Cannonball, Welcome the Change and Wyoming. Thanks Austi– you nailed it!

Tyler & Austi Stenson at the Performance Hall - Utah State University

Thank you Kris, Sally and Utah State University for having me– I hope I added to your cause in the least.

Tuesday was a sweet experience; I had the opportunity to visit North Park Elementary in Logan, UT. It was heart-warming to have the children so excited to see me; asking random questions and requesting specific songs. A child’s spirit is an amazing creation in its own regard– they have a gleam and an innocence that is inspiring.

Tyler Stenson at North Park Elementary

While playing in one of the classrooms, the children requested songs by name: Big Hearts, The Bus, Wyoming, etc. I thought I’d have some fun with a couple of the songs and keep things interactive.

Big Hearts for example, I told the kids that in my song, I chose to compare a big heart to a full moon, the Northern Lights, freight trains, etc. When I turned and asked them what other things are big like hearts, they replied; Elephants, Dinosaurs, Blue Wales, Giraffes, Wolves of Wolves and of course, the Universe. I believe they enjoyed their new version better than the original…

Tyler Stenson at North Park Elementary

In another session, I had the children re-write The Bus with me. In a mad-lib style, I asked them to give me a mode of transportation, an emotion and a piece of scenery. The song went from a simple little ditty about city lights, to a soaring Epic about the blue clouds.

THE BUS: ORIGINAL
On the bus, I’m in love.
On the bus, I’m in love
With the city lights
As they lie there; thin on the horizon.

THE BUS: NORTH PARK ELEMENTARY VERSION
On an airplane, I am happy.
On an airplane, I am happy
And staring out at the clouds
Because they are blue.

Tyler Stenson at North Park Elementary

Lastly, by show of hands, I opened the floor to questions– to name a few, I was asked: Do you have any serious songs? What’s the lowest note you’ve ever played? What is the highest note you’ve ever played? Do you have any love songs?

Tyler Stenson at North Park Elementary