Saturday, June 26, 2010

You Must BE Fracking Kidding Me!

Greeting Earthlings,

Watched a pretty riveting documentary on HBO by the name of "Gasland". If you haven't seen it yet, check it out. Before they start "fracking" near my water supply, I'm gonna write my congressman to tell them to get the "Frack" Outta there:)

I have been ignorant of this issue up until this week. I don't have all the facts, but, if there's is any truth in what this documentary states, then we need to wake up and regulate the process of harvesting our natural resources (In this case, natural gas). And in a manor that does not jeopardize our health as well as our already suffering environment. All one has to do is turn on the TV, open a newspaper or boot up your computer find see the unfortunate occurrence in the Gulf of Mexico. Forget who's fault it is. Put an end to this disaster then move forward to make sure it don't reoccur. Now, perhaps you are sensitive to this issue because you or people you know make their livelihood from within this industry. I can sympathize with that. There lies our the basis of a good debate. Or perhaps it's pure politics. Not enough hours in the day to talk til we're all blu in the face. We ca agree that wet fix what's broken and live long and prosper like the great pointy eared one said. The Vulcan had it right, for the most part.

In the meantime,eat all your vegetables and respect your elders and tell your kids you love them... even if they give you grief, they're still learning, just like you and me:).

Much Love,
Steve Augeri

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Your Fathers Mustache

Fathers of the World Rejoice...

in the splendor of knowing that someday your offspring will indeed throw out the occasional bag of garbage, bring home a report card that's brings a smile to your face, perhaps shovel the path in the snow on that blizzardous day in January.

But above all, as you both share a moment today relaxing by the grill, tall boy in hand, family and friends gathered 'round, hope that you've instilled enough good in the kids to pass it on and taught and shown them a love.

Happy Fathers Day to my Dad, Joe... and to you and yours.

Salute! Now pass the mozzarella!

Steve Augeri

Saturday, June 19, 2010

The Gulf War 2

Off to the Farmers Market now for the usual fare. Maybe some fresh veggies and some shrimp.

Shaved off the beard and mustache this morning. It 's good to see I was still under there all this time.

Lost in cards last night. I was never one for gambling.

What's up with the World Cup today?

What's up with our gulf neighbors not to mention the all that good Gulf shrimp? Haven't our poor Southern brothers and sisters suffered enough after all these past years with the hurricanes and our governments mismanagement? Do you mean to tell me someone in their right mind would actually eat something that was swimming in those waters? Let alone someone as intelligent as my President Obama? I don't think so.

Maybe I'll settle for some just the veggies and some KFC in honor of our Southern neighbors. Hang in there. Somethings got to give.

I'll be the last one in line at the "all you can eat" shrimp buffet in Atlantic City this Fathers Day:)

Happy Saturday!

Steve

P.S. Vote for "Journey to the Cure" (Please see link below)

We’re asking you to help decide which 200 local charities share $5 million in donations from Chase. ...
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010

An Open Letter to a Champion.

Hi All,


This is a response to an interesting blog entry of a valued fan and facebook friend.

Just thought I'd share.


Dear Steve,


First, I want to thank you for your support and inclusion of myself, my band mates from Journey, Tall Stories and Tyketto and my music in regards to your programing at your Pirate radio station. I can't say thanks enough.


Secondly, it's not everyday that someone goes to bat for another person in the manner in which you did for me in your recent Blog. It takes courage, conviction, passion and in plain english, and to quote an AC/DC song "Big B---s" to stand up for the under dog.


The public perception of celebrity, no matter big of small is often not what it appears. It is mostly what our media, the PR specialists and spin doctors care to manipulate it and wish it to be on behalf of their clients or their bottom line.


I must however, for the record say that although you may have portrayed me in an extremely favorable light, you may have given Axel the short end of the stick. One he may or may not be deserving of.


Please keep in mind he is a very big target and has been dodging bullets for quite some time. I can't help but think many of them were and are not warranted. I know this from my own experiences. We're all not perfect. We quasi or bona fide celebrities. Perhaps Rock and Rollers if any, should get a pass if only a slight one, when it comes to morality or character for that matter. After all, it was build on the back of Sex, Drugs and ... , well, rebellion, non conformity and certainly not particularly the Ten Commandments. You get the picture. Besides, at the end of the day, all we really want to do is just make music and have a little fun along the way.


So, finally, my point is merely whereas I will graciously accept your generous compliments, I cannot without coming to Mr. Roses defence. After all, he and his compadres, Guns and Roses did give us one of the genres finest moments with "Appetite for Destruction", which in my opinion, at the time, may have single handedly saved Rock and Roll as we know it. Crap, it doesn't get any "realer" than that my man.


So, again, my hats off to you Steve. Cut Axel some slack and thank you very much. Give my regards to the great state of Pennsylvania.


Yours truly,


Steve Augeri


P.S. Please be aware, take care, and if possible take action against Breast Cancer.


Join me at "Journey to the Cure" and above all have yourself checked as well as the one(s) you love.


Steve


Here are a couple of links you may find helpful.


http://www.journeytothecure.com/


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JOURNEY TO THE CURE NFP


Tuesday, June 15, 2010

You're Worth it!

Hi everybody,

Hope you're all well and enjoying the beautiful day that it is. While all is well in OUR world here's a sad slice of reality that touches all too many of our lives and the people around us. Breast Cancer. Our Moms, our wives, sisters and daughters.

Please be aware, take care, and if possible take action against Breast Cancer.

Join us at "Journey to the Cure" and above all have yourself checked as well as the one(s) you love.

Steve Augeri

P.S. Here are a couple of links you may find helpful.


http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunityg...

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

The Tip of the Iceberg.

How's everybody?

It is rare when we are touched or shall I say teased by greatness or near greatness for that matter.

Months ago I witnessed, for a moment, one of the horrific award shows that seem to come as hard and fast these days as "reality" shows, which for the record I am not a big fan of... but hey, that's me.

But, on this particular occasion I happened to flick thru the channels to hear some rubbish about the debut of some fantastic new band and how friggin'amazing they were gonna be and just watch this commercial, buy this crap and wash your hair with this B.S. our sponsor is trying to force feed you and, blah, blah, blog.

Well, I must have been distracted by my dog Buckley stealing my pretzels or worst, drinking my frosty cold brew, otherwise I would have changed the channel and all would be status quo... when on comes the revelation "they" were hyping as the next or second coming. Boys and girls, much to my surprise, they've arrived. And I am now, months after the fact, writing you as I am listening to their "The Resistance" CD, that's right. The band is MUSE and I am sold and loving it.

I am not a music critic, don't wish or care to be. Just a music lover. I don't desire to hawk mine or any others music or soap for that matter, but, I must share this with you all who may not have had the pleasure of experiencing their music.

Yes, experience. That's what I'm doing as I confer with my spell check more frequently than I care to admit to. In fact one day I will just let one of these blogiddy-blog tranmissions go thru just to shock you. But, I digress.

The first song I encountered was a catchy little (Actually not "little" in the least) anthem by the name of "Uprising". It got my attention immediately. Melodic, rythmic, intelligent. The band was young, hip and appeared genuine and confident considering the fact that this was their big American debut. Could the Grammy's or Mammies or whatever the @#$%&* I was resistantly watching be right? I dare say yes, but... yes. And... this was just the tip of the Iceberg.

There I was, walking down the aisle of the local Target store ( for those of you outside the US, this is a slightly hipper version of the dreaded Wal-Mart and K-Mart stores. All three of which I would frequent as often as possible on tour. So much that I was eventually dubbed the nickname of "Stevie Walmart" by my always witty and humorous band buddie, Ross Valory.) Anyways, while in search of the perfect tube socks my eyes caught a glimpse of the ever shrinking CD section and I could not resist.

Here I am nearly a week later, and I'm like... hey where my MUSE CD. What pile of clothes or lyrics did I hide it under? Well, from top to bottom , MUSE had my attention and then some. I guess it doesn't hurt that at times they are reminisent or has musical moment that are Queen-ish, yes the band and not the Tina Turner impersonator. Musical is an understatement.

It is reassuring to know that someone out there is making music of this caliber. And I for one am a brand new fan.

I did however come across a video (May or may not be the official video) of perhaps one of my favorite tracks, "The United States of Eurasia" and was less than pleased with the visual content. But, hey. This is America where we do have, and exercise our freedom of speech. Hence my rambling.

If you've got some music that has impressed you lately, please share it with me and the rest of us. I can only listen to my old Led Zeppelin albums just so many times in a week.

So, this music has inspired me to write and there it is. I don't want to tell you all the details as to why I think it's extraordinary, I want you all to have fun finding out for yourselves. It's the Journey right? I can't believe I really wrote that:)

Enjoy, 'til we meet again.

Steve


Friday, June 4, 2010

Back In the Saddle Again

Greetings Rock Fans,

Congratulations to Aerosmith for coming to their senses. They're indeed Back in the saddle again, where they belong.

My admiration for this Mighty Massachusettes Mayhem Machine began around the same time for most rockers my age. Albums like Toys In the Attic, Rocks... masterpieces. The seventies did not suck as much as the Rolling Stones would have liked us to believe. They were a fertile time for music. Everything from the heaviest, hardest of rock to the fusion/art rock was top shelf and got 5 star reviews from me. Yes, I even welcomed the Punk, New Wave and Pop music of that decade. Oh, not excluding some Disco as well. ( I did grow up in the heart of Saturday Night Fever Land, literally. There was no escaping it. Another time for that)

And now, after threatening a break-up or worst, the replacement of an impossible to replace Steve Tyler, our "last children" are at last regrouped and heading out again on the "Cock-Blocked and Ready to Rock" or something of that nature Tour. I for one am glad they are. For the record, if there were ever a voice that could step in if only temporarily for Steven, it would belong to Paulie Z of the band Z02. He's got the chops to do Mr. T some justice, that being said... no one can compare to Steven Tyler's frontman abilities. He's a, if not THE master and co-wrote the book on the subject. Enuff on that matter. But, check out Z02s music and tell me if I'm not right or completely insane.

As a struggling musician (Is there any other kind?) I once had the honor of sitting across from Steven Tyler in at the time, both of our managers office. His name was David Krebbs ( of Leber and Krebbs) and David was good enough to sit in on a meeting of mine and helped critic some demos I was presenting to David. I'll never forget how he took the time to listen and break down some of the songs and added his constructive criticism. Of which I went back to my band, at the time we were called The Great Divide, and used most of his arrangement ideas. Wow, Steven Tyler took the time to help a little nobody like me. I was floored and smitten.

So you see, I cheer for the return of "The Smith". His little gesture went a long way with this punk kid from Brooklyn who was trying to make his way in the Rock and Roll world that is all to filled with "Go away kid, don't bother me's" or "I'm too busy' maybe next times'.

All Hail Beantown and their most glorious contribution to this art form we call Rock and Roll. We salute you! Fire!

'Til we meet again,

Steve

P.S. Three cheers for my web designer, Alex Rabe, "The Green Monstah", for an awesome job on my new site. Boston's on a roll... don't tell the Red Sox.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

The Purple Gang.

Morning to all,

Last night I was feeling nostalgic and listened to some music from my formative years. We all do. I know my parents did, sometimes to a fault. Usually not.

Last nights excursion down memory lane was with the legendary Deep Purple. Not a stiff in the line up. Each having a musical personality that stood up to each other and made a concrete strong statement.

I may have first heard Ian Gillian on the Jesus Christ Superstar original cast album. I'm really not clear about that. But I am clear that when he sang it spoke to me and blew me down.

That being said... (Sorry Larry David) last night I had the second coming of Purle on my mind. Yes, the Coverdale/Hughes years. Where did they find these guys? My "Dynamic Duo". That must be an interesting story. Well, I was, as well as my musical appetite, just glad they did. Burn and Stormbringer were most influential to my musical education during the 70's. They showed, I thought, some different colors of the band and perhaps some different layers of Mr. Blackmore that we hadn't seen earlier. I miss him sorely. No offense to Steve Morse. That's life. It's like the Perry thing.

Anyway, I'll be looking for my old vinyl slabs of both records in question today so that I might transport myself back in a time when Aerosmith, Queen, Led Zepplin and the like rules the roost and all was right with the world. Of course, what to where to the prom?:)

Have a Purple day,

Steve

P.S. Who sings better the Glen F-ing Hughes I ask you? Forgettaboutit!



Oh, you can bet it was Deep Purple alright. Now, I was an Ian Gillian fan from day one but, when I heard the Coverdale/Hughes lie-up I was sold. For me, Burn and Stormbringer spoke to me in volumes. Just something personal. My opinion. As for Ritchie Blackmore... I miss hearing the sound of his Strat thru his Marshall like only he was able to deliever. The Godfather of his genre for sure. Ritchie had layers.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Morning all.

Today, I blow off the mechanic once again so as I can partake in highly caffeinated double espressos and rhythm guitars. I am a "Slave to the Rhythm". Hand in hand like love and marriage (Sinatra said it best).

"Plug in man" (Nick Cirrillo"

Later,
Steve