From: Steve Skinner
Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 11:15:42 AM
Subject: Art Opening?

My Dear Friends –

After more than 25 years of writing, recording, filming and performing original music I have come to realize that, sometimes, for me, performing live is like an art opening. The opportunities for live, local music have been squeezed into some pretty tight, uncomfortable tubes. Sometimes I miss the days when my band played three nights a week to appreciative freaks all winter long in places like The Paradise, Dean Street, The Shaft, The Jerome, The Red Onion, The Slope, Andres, The Tippler, The Warehouse and countless parties, pubs an outhouses, valley-wide.

Those places are gone. Venues have switched from live performers to DJs. It’s cheaper and in many instances, it’s what the people of the iPod generation want. The Belly Up doesn’t support local, original music and they are almost the only real music gig in the valley … except Steve’s Guitars in Carbondale. This small listening room has been the portal for many artists over the past ten years and I have had some memorable times both onstage and in the audience at Steve’s.

Through this outsourcing and downsizing, I have continued my quest to write, record and whenever possible, perform original music for people with ears, hearts and minds. For me, it is not a choice. And maybe, if I were a better pimp or in another, bigger pond, there would be more opportunity and more people would hear my music.

That’s why, for me at least, performing at a place like Steve’s is almost as good as it gets. People come to LISTEN. As a songwriter, there is nothing more satisfying than someone spending that few minutes to really hear what you have crafted on the audio canvas. In past performances at Steve’s I have tried many interesting and unusual things … black lights and bug outfits … performance in the round … having the audience onstage … using overhead projectors and umbrellas. I recorded a live album for Matt Johnson and have broadcast shows from many artists onto KDNK.

This Friday, December 12 at 8:30 pm I return to Steve’s with my band, The Natives. Since releasing my 12th album, “Restless” earlier this year I have been working with the musicians in my band to craft new music that is rhythmic, melodic, nuanced, dynamic and catchy. I feel very fortunate to write and arrange with such incredibly talented players and singers. There will be harmonies, keyboard hooks, accordions and a rhythm section that feels cinched down to the cosmic confluence.

We will be recording the show and will also hand out the latest CD to all comers. I sincerely hope you can attend this “art opening.” If not you, who? If not now, when? Let’s get together!

“We the willing
Led by the unknowing
Are doing the impossible
For the ungrateful

We have done so much
For so long
With so little

We are now qualified
To do anything
With nothing
In no time at all”
- Unknown

Love!
Steve Skinner