Todd Steed and the Suns of Phere: News

Have a safe, complete, lively, and mostly argument free holiday.

Thanks to all the fine folks who came by or tuned in to the Blue Plate yesterday, we had a holly jolly time.

Free 'I Hate Christmas Songs' download here:

http://toddsteed.bandcamp.com/

Be safe, eat fun, drink thoughtfully, laugh completely, hug often, play music, do something for somebody unexpected, clean behind the dark spots.

Such a happy journey into Johnson City and northern parts of West Virginia. Dave and I haven't played JC since Clinton was president. Saw a lot of pals, made some new ones, camped, had miner's rolls, watched the vols at Gene's, laughed, snored, and rocked. That is life. That is all.

Now awaiting UT/LSU. Help us, someone.

Always a pleasure to conversate-ize with Mr. Wildsmith:

http://www.thedailytimes.com/Weekend/story/Todd-Steed-recalls-his-Blount-County-teenage-triumph-on-eve-of-his-musical-return-id-015462

Well, actually they have been getting plenty of play, but not outside the house much.

The Suns are soon to be back in action- check the CALENDAR PAGE. Very much excited about going to Johnson City for the first time in years- as well as a return to West Virginia- Morgantown and Thomas were we shall drink beer and play music with Owen Davis. Perhaps we can find a TV for viewing the spectacle that is the sure to be the sure defeat of GA by UT.

Bob Deck and I are heading to downtown Maryville on Sept 9. Southland books. Fans of literate and illiterate music are welcome.

In other news, okra is not the challenge you think it is. And we are very glad the WM3 are free. We hope you are, too.

We had a crazy great time up there. Fire dancers, Flecktones, Unmind unspoken, camping, campfire jams, and general happiness was breaking out everywhere.

Yeah.

It's free for you:

http://toddsteed.bandcamp.com/
Featuring ED RICHARDSON, BOB DECK, GREG HORNE, TODD STEED. A lovely 'I HATE CHRISTMAS SONGS' for the peoples of the world.

Some updates: The physical CD (remember those!) of UNMIND: A Solution for Modern Life, will be available at Disc Exchange by DEC 7. If you aren't in Knoxville, you can order it from here:

http://toddsteed.bandcamp.com/
The bandcamp version has an extra free track on it: An instrumental called You Were Having A Great Time.

Of course, you can get it on I-tunes, Amazon download, etc.

The physical CD has a really great George M design- the same dude who did Eskimo Hair design. Fancy booklet included.

Lots of shows coming up. See schedule page.

In dog news, Doggus is on steroids. I told her she has to be off that shit if she wants canned dog food.

Bob Deck and Todd Steed spent their summer vacation at summer camp Apeville.

The result, and audiobook called UNMIND: A Solution For Modern Life

Is it satire, slapstick, social commentary, serious, silly? I dunno.

Is it self-help, self-hurt or self-hip? Yes.

It is on I-tunes and Amazon.com. Find out for yourself. Coming soon in physical form.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/unmind-a-solution-for-modern/id405050236

Gig with RB Morris- Scott Miller- Jill Andrews- at Bijou- plus workshop in the day, Details to come. June 27 is the date, a nice sunday.

Info here: http://www.metropulse.com/news/2010/jun/16/local-music-sages-hold-workshops-bijou-jubilee/
Jubilee Welcomes Musicians, Friends and Fans!
Sunday, June 27, 11 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Jubilee 2010 festivities continue on Sunday with activities that celebrate our community's rich musical culture with talented performers who are favorites at the Bijou.

11 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Bijou's historic nooks and crannies. Tours held ever half-hour - Free

2 - 3 p.m. - Three of Knoxville's most talented songwriters—Scott Miller, R.B. Morris, and Jill Andrews—hold a workshop in a casual setting, talking about their creative process - $10

2 - 3 p.m. - WUOT's jazz coordinator Todd Steed hosts "Jazz 101" in the Bijou's upstairs gallery. Learn how to be a more educated listener and hear some of “must haves” from this connoisseur’s collection - $5

3:30 – 5 p.m. - Singer-songwriters Jill Andrews and Todd Steed have done their share of performing on the road, and WDVX program director Tony Lawson has listened to countless records. These music biz pros share their experience of touring, management, promotion, and ideas for getting radio play - $10

7 - 8:30 p.m. - Knoxville favorites Todd Steed, Scott Miller, R.B. Morris, and Jill Andrews have performed all over the world. Hear their stories and songs in unique collaborations perfect for the intimate setting of the Bijou Theatre - $10

Sunday's events are sponsored by the Tennessee Arts Commission.

Day Passes for Sunday's community events are $25, which includes a one-year membership to Friends of the Bijou.

Some new gigs coming up- see Calendar page- Ijams Nature Center and a July gig in Hot Springs!

In other news- filling in as host on All Things Considered on WUOT a couple of days per week. http://wuot.org
It's really fun- and working the board calls for great mindfulness.

Going to sit in THIS WEDNESDAY at Tennessee Shines with the House Band- a couple of surprises in store.
Hope everybody out there is fabuso.

Named numero uno local release in KNS:

http://www.knoxville.com/news/2009/dec/31/010110bestlocal/

Suns just back from a great trip to Asheville- we played with Ol Hoopty at the Grey Eagle.

There is a rock slide on I-40 so we took an alternate route- got to enjoy riding up and down mountains behind a not-speeding tractor.

After getting way too comfortable at the Holiday Inn Express on Tunnel Road- we woke up and headed down for the first of two suppers. Grey Eagle has GREAT cajun food, we ate one meal before and one after the show.

Set went well- though I think the audience was afraid to get too close to us less they get bitten with satire. Deck was in rare form- playing some incredible guitar on Petyon Manning Shirt - and Ed brought his I-phone and did some great bot moves during Is It Time?

Ol Hoopty rocked the house- and we headed back to zzzzz. Woke up this morning, lots of blogs start out that way.

While eating breakfast, we got in zen mode and started laughing at nothing. And everything. Bob left the waitress by the side of the river. (inside joke)

Back to the subaru- found ticket on the car, but it was just warning, which lead me to proclaim I LOVE ASHEVILLE at a louder volume. This resulted in someone across the street (old pal Will) who yelled: TODD STEED!

I went over there, gave him an Eskimo Hair and he gave me some pottery, which was beautiful.

Drove to Cosby- visited the apple farm, got a crapload of fabulous apples and apple related project. Then some poor tea and headed home.

I don't know, but that was about a perfect road trip except for the poor tea.

I love this time of year, though I get a bit maudlin.

I don't know what to add to that.

But- I am selling some guitars soon- watch this space!

Suns of Phere back in action- see show dates. Trio gig with HARRISON and RB MORRIS / Todd Steed on DEC 11 @ Square Room.

It's been a while, but we are back in action. First show up is AUGUST 23 at the Cider House (next to the Valarium in Knoxville)- We are opening for Cracker.

Their new record is fan-rock-tastic.

Smokin Dave played with Camper Van Beethoven back in the 80s, Apelife did a great show with Cracker in Asheville in the 90s- and so it's time for us to rejoin with our brothers of irony.

Do you remember the movie the Boatnicks? I sure do.

OK, been crazy lately, Bonnaroo was a smash this year and I didn't even get a sinus infection this time. Hits were Katzenjammer, Al Green, Julia Nunes, The Boss, Dirt Pojectors/Guvnors, and more.

Off to West Virginia soon to play with Owen Davis and Al Bonneroo, next to Gene's in Morgantown.

Not much music activity. Taking care of life things.

But music can't be ignored or denied.

Been a while. So much going on. Yet in certain ways, not too much.

Suns played a couple of enjoyable shows- Oak Ridge Earth Day and WUTK Benefit w/ Julia Nunes, Mic Harrison, and Bobby Bare, Jr.

Heading to Bonnaroo in a week- and then after that up to Morgantown, WV for an outdoor fiesta.

New songs being written on bouzouki- and rumors of SDPD recordings in late summer in honor of the 25.5 year reunion.

nd here is 2009. Same as the old boss, lots of cold damp rain.

I wish all the best to everyone, especially that and luck to our new prez. New year, new prez, new attitude.

2008 ended with a bang. The Miller/Morris/Steed set at the Square Room went off splendidly. We had a nice big meal upstairs before the show and had the treat of playing a new room in K-town, right on the Square. Each of us played songs by the others and at the end of the night we did a jam of sorts going from Levon Helm to Woody Guthrie.

Christmas was Christmas.

NY eve was especially fun as the Suns Of Phere played two sets- one at TN Shines- and one at the Square Room. My two favorite places to play in Knoxville, both within a three hour period. Getting interviewed by Jim Lauderdale was just too cool. Should have been other way around. Fine sets by everyone from Elizabeth Cook, Alex from WDVX, Christabel, and the Hackensaw Boys.

We tried not to repeat too much material just in case somebody was at both shows, but we did do Keef Richards Blood twice, but I never get tired of that one.

Friends Mark and Shannon from the Cheeksters came into town- that ended up in more merriment at the house with Mark and I finally figuring out how to play Waterloo Sunset. Which we played over and over and over- what a song.

Saw lots of family and friends- but it's never enough of either.

http://www.metropulse.com/news/2008/dec/17/todd-steed-unstuck-time/
http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/brown/archives/2008/12/knoxville_songw.shtml
Lots and lots of music going down. Morris Miller Steed gig at Square Room was magnowonderfulz. Thanks to the folks that came out and soul'd out the house.

Next up WDVX noontime Blue Plate on Dec 24. NY EVE TN SHINES- 8PM. Square Room with the Suns on First Night also on NY 10:30. Going to be a lot of notes.

T

I am doing Twitter now. I don't know why. They call me apeville

Suns of Phere added for NY EVE TN SHINES at Bijou. WOO HOO.

I like popcorn.

Hear ye Hear Ye Hear Ye...


Knoxville sanging to commence:

RB Morris/Scott Miller/Todd Steed

One night only, loser leaves town (for the holidays)

WEDNESDAY DEC 17 8:00 PM, DOORS AT 7:00

SQUARE ROOM- Market Square Mall- Knoxville's new listening room.

Solo sets by each, trio set by all, obscure covers and song swap-o-rama. Good human fun.

http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=651694&pl=squareroom

YOUNG PEOPLE! YOUNG PEOPLE! PUT DOWN YOUR SPIRITUAL CONDIMENTS AND VOTE!

also- new suns vid:

http://www.knoxnews.com/videos/detail/todd-steed-perform-five-oclock-wdvx/

(First- quick note that the bio has been rewritten.)

Eskimo Hair photo guide

Several, if not thousands of people have asked me about the photos in Eskimo Hair. So, here are the answers. Pull out your CD and play along.

Cover shot: I took this one in 2006, before the old Eskimo Hair sign was replaced with the new one. (See on youtube- search ‘eskimo hair explanation’) I tookd over 40 pictures of Eskimo Hair, much to the general confusion of everyone that was observing. I tried to explain to passersby with my limited Chinese, but simply saying: photo, music and one bottle water please wasn’t enough to get clear information out. Notice the guy talking on the cell phone, he’s conversing with the monk in the first inside jacket photo. More on that later.

Anyhow, I fell in love with this little area of Beijing- and this store name in particular. Seeing it instantly gave me the album title for an album I had yet to start. I think I was waiting on a title before getting to work.

BOOKLETTE

EMPTY SHOES: The glorious designer of all Suns of Phere recordings, George Middlebrooks took this one, it’s actually from North Knoxville. I wanted to make sure we had at least one local photo in there and this did the trick. It also sort of reminds me of New Orleans after Katrina.

TEAPOT: Obviously, with all the tea references going on in my recorded output, why not? This is from Beijing 2005 in my apartment in Puji. The little monkey is also seen on Heartbreak and duct tape. He goes on most of my travel outings. I took him to London once and never let him out of my backpack. He never forgave me on that one, always saying: I COULD HAVE SEEN LED ZEPPELIN INSTEAD ALL I SAW WAS SOCKS!

CHINESE MAN: Taken in 2006 in China. I watched him perform in Bei Hai park in Beijing. Kind of a street actor. He was amazing, couldn’t take my eyes off him. He can’t take his eyes off the ladies in the next picture, according to George Middlebrooks. He represents, to me, the arts and age/wisdom.

FUZZY BLONDES: From Montreal. I had not figured out how to work my camera in low light yet, and this accident came out. Have always enjoyed blur, the look, not the band. This photo also included since this was French speaking bar/eatery and there is a European connection to Eskimo Hair, represented in this photo from North America.

RED SHADOW GIRL: I don’t know exactly who took this- but Elodie (singer on Redneck & French Girl) provided it/ directed the photo. It’s her. She’s stopping to smell the roses, I think.

PUNK SHIRT: Also from Beijing 2006, Wudouko area. This is from a barbershop that competes with Eskimo Hair, about two blocks down to the road. I first became aware of Punk Barbershop when I walked by their building one morning and the entire staff was out in front of the store for morning drills- yes morning drills. They did this really cool dance with hand movements (pretending to cut hair) and everything. The button on the shirt is an employee button, which, I found, are not for sale under any circumstances. I purchased one in 2008 there after getting a hair cut and employing powers of persuasion -and about 8 bucks.

MONK ON THE PHONE: Inner Mongolia, 2006. I walked into a monastery and this was the first sight I saw. I whipped out my camera as quickly as I could, snapped a couple of photos and then quietly walked on. Later, I asked the head monk of the place for the meaning of life: He laughed for a bit and then said: FREEDOM. I am just now starting to understand what he meant.

BAND PHOTO IN INSERT: Taken by Ed Richardson after practice with camera self timer. Lots of hidden clues that connect the secrets of the universe. How many ape references can you count?

BELL PHOTO ON BACK: Taken in 2005 by Stamatoula Kaousias, indirectly related to monk photo. That’s me in the bell, wearing WDVX Camperfest shirt, by chance. 2005 was my first trip to China and I was obsessed about bells and gongs. Trivia: I never wear a watch, but the one week I did was when this photo was taken. I kept worrying about being late with jet lag and all so I bought a 2 dollar watch. It lasted about a week but served me well.

CD IMPRINT- I took this one- bikes at the uni in Beijing, 2006.

Todd Steed perform "Five O'Clock" at WDVX
http://www.knoxnews.com/videos/detail/todd-steed-perform-five-oclock-wdvx/

Todd Steed perform "Stuck in Asia" at WDVX
http://www.knoxnews.com/videos/detail/todd-steed-perform-stuck-asia-wdvx/