The Official Blog of Portland's Songwriter of the Year

Archive for the ‘video’ Category

My Updated ReverbNation Page

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Because I spend so much time keeping my website up to date, I tend to neglect the 3rd party sites such as ReverbNation. That was then…

This is now… I’m proud to announce that I’ve recently spent a few grueling hours getting my ReverbNation page completely up to date and chalk full of fresh music, images, press and videos.

Enjoy the updated widgets below or visit my Reverb Nation page by following this link: http://www.reverbnation.com/tylerstenson

SPREAD THE WORD AND PASS IT ON!!




Opening for Alpha Rev

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

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.”

Alpha Rev w/ Tyler Stenson -- Weds Sept 14th at the Aladdin Theater

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.”

Alberta Rose Videos

Monday, August 8th, 2011

Five months after having experienced one of the greatest moments of my musical life, I bring you documented proof. Below are a few select videos from the Alberta Rose Theater in Portland, OR. If you can’t see it on my face, I assure you, this was a very special evening. Enjoy.

OFTEN & MUCH

BEST LAID PLANS

CANNONBALL

Download the studio version of Cannonball

ROME TOMORROW

Download the studio version of Rome Tomorrow

RADIATE

Download the studio version of Radiate

Kink.fm Noon Tunes

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Please join me today for the Kink.fm Noon Tunes in Pioneer Square, PDX. Noon sharp.

Yep, for one hour, Tyler Stenson and the Elegant Folk, will be filling the downtown air with roughly the same set list as Alberta Rose Theater and although this won’t be an intimately seated auditorium, it will be a sunlit outdoor amphitheater swarming with Oregonians enjoying the rare, 80-degree day.

Kink.fm Noon Tunes w/ Tyler Stenson
@ Pioneer Square PDX
Tuesday August 2nd, 2011

If you work downtown or are simply passing through the city, I hope you’ll join me and the Elegant Folk for your lunch break. After all, this is a rare opportunity to soak up the sun and catch a full band performance.

See you soon.

Chris Isaak TONIGHT

Friday, July 29th, 2011

I will be opening for Chris Isaak TONIGHT at the Oregon Zoo so consider this last call for Chris Isaak tickets! Grab a friend and join me for this.

Tyler Stenson & Chris Isaak
@ the Oregon Zoo
Friday July 29th
7pm

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

I will be playing a solo set from 7 to 7:30 and then Mr. Chris Isaak himself will be taking stage shortly after at 8pm. Please join us for a very special evening of music and maiden voyages.

See you soon!

Wieden+Kennedy Lunch Box

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

I’ve played many gigs in my life — both large and small — but I was truly honored to be invited to play at the Weiden+Kennedy Lunch Box Concert Series at their home base offices in Portland, OR. Oh, what fun we had.

Wieden+Kennedy Banner

Because Wieden+Kennedy is a world-class ad agency, they thrive on good vibes and care very much about the morale of their workforce. Therefore, in short, the Lunch Box is a showcase designed to entertain Wieden+Kennedy employees on their lunch break — to keep things fresh and spirits high.

Wieden+Kennedy Lunch Box Concert w/ Tyler Stenson

I played an hour of music as workers came and went — some stayed for the duration of my set and some simply poked their head around the corner between meetings. Regardless, I had fun and feel my sound was well received. Check out this video that someone snagged of me playing The Road from my album Bittersweet Parade!

Thank you to the folks at Wieden+Kennedy, you were wonderful and I sincerely thank you for your energy, your hospitality and your approving applause. Can’t wait to be invited back!

READ THE FULL W+K POST ON THE WIEDEN+KENNEDY BLOG

KZME Music On the Air: 07/11/11

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

I was recently invited into the studios of MetroEast Community Media and KZME Radio to film a performance and interview segment known as Music on the Air. In all, we filmed a 30-min episode that features five live performances and interlaces some of my interview responses regarding the Portland music scene, my stint in Nashville, my upbringing, etc. Fun stuff.

Thank you John Lugton and the MetroEast crew for your hospitality and for supporting local music. You do a good service to the community.

Enjoy the video embedded below or visit their Blip.tv site to watch.

THIS EPISODE WILL AIR JULY 11, 2011. TUNE IN.

SET LIST:
1. The Road | buy now
2. That Moon | buy now
3. Often & Much | coming 01.01.12
4. Best Laid Plans | coming 01.01.12
5. Better Be Us All | buy now

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
MetroEast Community Media | Community Television and Beyond
KZME Radio | music where you live

Another Gleam in 4-Minutes

Friday, June 17th, 2011

Today is the day — the day I proudly and finally release a batch of songs into the world that I’ve been massaging since 2003. Although I previously released this same group of songs in 2008 on See That Gleam, I was simply unhappy with the end product and schemed for years a way to do them their justice.

Therefore, in 2011, I bring you Another Gleam — a complete re-recording of See That Gleam, only this time done right.

Enjoy this 4-minute preview of my new and improved 47-minute album.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM ON CD BABY!!

Discussing Big Hearts

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

In late 2006, two very gracious friends of mine surprised me with a plane ticket to Europe, providing me with a monumental opportunity to feel another breeze and lay beneath another sun. The trip changed my life. And, because this gift was given out of the complete kindness of their hearts, I felt mine shift and soften as their Big Hearts made mine grow.

This song is my very humble way of saying, Thank You.

Below is a video discussion of the behind-the-scenes background of Big Hearts, track #1 on my new album Another Gleam — a revealing look at the inspirations, the meanings behind the song, the songwriting process, the recording experience and much more. Enjoy.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

BIG HEARTS
by tyler stenson © 2007

Heaven knows I’d wait to feel another breeze
And to lie beneath another sun;
Deep down in your love.

Big Hearts are filling up the hemispheres.
Big Hearts are warming up the coldest years.
They’ll lie beside me forever more
Because Big Hearts make mine grow.

It’s growing everyday
And softly resting miles away.
I swear Heaven was exploding there-
It was filling up the air.

Big Hearts are filling up the hemispheres.
Big Hearts are warming up the coldest years.
They’ll lie beside me forever more
Because Big Hearts make mine grow.
Big Hearts are Full Moons and Northern Lights.
They come full circle-
They defy science.
Big Hearts are freight trains that push me along
They hold onto the tracks even when the wind is strong.
Big Hearts are factories of Godlight Beams
That just get brighter as the daylight completely recedes.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

The Meaning Behind Cellophane

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011

While perched on top of Mt Pilatus in Lucerne, Switzerland, I had the opportunity to observe some of the most beautiful scenery one could ever behold. In all, there were three sources of beauty; the elegant alps in the distance and Lake Pilatus below … where the water looked like Cellophane, reflecting stars back into space and [her] eyes looked that way to me.

Below is a video discussion of the behind-the-scenes background of Cellophane, track #2 on my new album Another Gleam — a revealing look at the inspirations, the meanings behind the song, the songwriting process, the recording experience and much more. Enjoy.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!

CELLOPHANE
by tyler stenson © 2007

From the tops of mountains
We collide with clouds above the sea
And down below they disappear
(But I’m not convinced they were ever there)
Cause the water looked like cellophane,
Reflecting stars back into space,
And your eyes look that way to me.

Where we are, the hills are green
And elegant as anything we’ve seen
And Pontius and Pilatus lay beneath the waves
Of their water graves and
The water looked like cellophane,
Reflecting stars back into space,
And your eyes look that way to me.

So, where we are, the hills are green
But the white in your eyes is all I see
Because it seems the world is a perfect sphere
And that all things beautiful are gathered here
And the water looked like cellophane,
Reflecting stars back into space
And your eyes look that way to me.

Ah, look there, see that gleam?
It’s the sun and your eyes the beam.
All out streams rise off your face-
All I see is all your lace.

BUY ANOTHER GLEAM!!