8/13/02 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (35 min)
Attendance: 150
Supporting: Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter
Supported By: Viv Halogen, Jimmy Flame, Tyco Party
Set: Idiot, Living Through The Mistakes, Not Only You, Nothing But the Blues, New Year's Day, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, Searching for Melody, Dimebag Blues, You My Girl, Take Care
Notes: Steve plays a set of solo songs that he's recorded, accompanied by Johnny Sangster (who engineered the sessions) on second guitar. Both guys are sitting down, with Steve to Johnny's right. Steve is playing a Gibson acoustic through a Deluxe Reverb and Johnny has a SG through a small Fender amp. Dan, Guy and Mark are in attendance. Idiot is a Sad and Lonely(s) song. Steve prefaces New Year's Day with, "You have no idea how freaked out I am right now." Midway through the set, they break out capos. Steve puts his on and goes a little out of tune, saying, "I think I'm a little pitchy" to which Johnny responds, "Good enough for capo rock." Searching for Melody is introduced with, "This song is in the country idiom." The song ends with the line, "My life is empty, broken and hollow," and when Steve finishes he adds, "Not really."9/19/02 Easy Street Records (West Seattle). Seattle, WA (25 min)
Attendance: 100
Supporting: Scott McCaughey
Supported By: Jim Horne, Chris Van Snyder, Sarah Shannon, Ian Moore
Set: Searching for Melody, Living Through the Mistakes, Idiot, Not Only You, I Want You In My Arms, Smart Operator, Take Care
Notes: Steve is again accompanied by Johnny Sangster, for a show that takes place at night in the cafe portion of a record store. Before they do a set of Steve's songs, Johnny plays four of his own by himself. After Idiot, Kurt Bloch shouts, "Play it again! That's my new anthem!"9/26/02 The Depot. Yakima, WA
Also on Bill: Mark Pickerel, Johnny Sangster10/3/02 The Baltic Room. Seattle, WA (20 min)
Attendance: 30
Also on Bill: Robert Roth, Graig Markel, Mark Pickerel, Andrea Maxand, Aaron Sprinkle, Josh Tilman
Set: Searching For Melody, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, Idiot, Living Through the Mistakes, Painting a Picture, I'm 37
Notes: Before his set with Steve, Johnny does five of his own songs, with backup vocals by Jon Auer who's sitting at the soundboard. Steve introduces the first song with "This song is called Searching for Melody - the person." After they finish it, Johnny says, "Turn me down a hair, otherwise Steve will get mad at me. (whiny voice) 'Johnny's too loud!'" I'm 37 features a samba-ish drum machine beat supplied by a portable CD player. The drum machine track outlasts the song and the guys jam out a little to keep up as Steve remarks, "We can just keep going until the end of the tape."10/5/02 The Crocodile Cafe. Seattle, WA (30 min)
Attendance: 125
Supporting: Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Laura Veirs and the Tortured Souls
Set: Idiot, Living Through the Mistakes, Searching For Melody, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, Not Only You, Nothing But the Blues, You My Girl, Painting a Picture, Take Care, I'm 37
Notes: Before Painting a Picture, Johnny remarks, "This is the disco one, from my part." Steve consults the setlist and says, "The disco one is coming." He prefaces Take Care by saying, "This song should have beautiful female backup singers." Johnny: "But..." Steve: "But we can't afford one." At the end of the song, Jonny quips, "Who needs chicks?" to which Steve adds, "Who needs chicks when you've got Johnny?" Steve introduces I'm 37 with, "This is a song by an old Seattle band called The Max. I learned it on my 37th birthday."10/24/02 University of Washington HUB. Seattle, WA
Attendance: 200
Supporting: Jon Auer
Notes: Steve plays a free mid-day show in a noisy cafeteria without Johnny Sangster.10/24/02 Easy Street Records (West Seattle). Seattle, WA (15 min)
Attendance: 50
Supporting: John Auer, Ken Stringfellow
Supported By: Mark Pickerel, Kristy McWilson
Set: (The Parting Glass), Nothing But the Blues, Not Only You, Idiot, Searching For Melody, Smart Operator, I'm 37
Notes: Steve - minus Johnny - plays a show at night in the cafe portion of a record store. He checks his gear with a little bit of Searching For Melody and then sits down and greets everyone: "Hi, I'm Steve...(scanning crowd)...and there's Peter." The Parting Glass is stopped almost as soon as it's started with a promise to come back to it when he finds the right key. After Idiot, he says, "Normally I got this guy Johnny Sangster playing with me, but he's out of town." He introduces I'm 37 with, "I'm going to finish it with a cover of The Max just because it's West Seattle," and does the song without the drum track.11/2/02 "CMJ Music Marathon". CB's 313 Gallery. New York City, NY
Supporting: Jeff Klein, Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, M. Ward11/21/02 Easy Street Records (West Seattle). Seattle, WA (15 min)
Attendance: 40
Also on Bill: John Rambery, Marc Olsen, Mark Pickerel, Aaron Sprinkle, Ian Moore, Chris Von Sneidern
Set: Not Only You, Living Through The Mistakes, Painting a Picture, Smart Operator, Searching for Melody, The Parting Glass
Notes: Just as Steve and Johnny are ready to begin, MC/soundman Jon Auer leads both them and the crowd in a rendition of Happy Birthday to a woman in the crowd named Amy. Painting a Picture is introduced with, "Not that I have a record out, but when I do, this won't be on it." Johnny then prefaces Searching For Melody with, "This song will be on the album," and Steve adds, "Why, yes, Jonny. It's the title track. It's called Searching For Melody - the chick, not the thing." The set is closed with the first known performance of The Parting Glass, a traditional Irish folk song. Concerning it, Steve says, "This is an old son I learned from a Clancy Brothers record when I was six. I didn't learn it until I was 37."1/30/03 Graceland. Seattle, WA
Supporting: Mark Olsen, Gerald Collier2/18/03 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (20 min)
Attendance: 50
Also on Bill: Mark Pickeral, Garth Reeves, Johnny Indovina, Matt Menovcik, Brian Webb, Johnny Sangster
Set: The Grand Introduction, I Love My Guitar, Painting a Picture, Nothing But the Blues, Zero on the Scale, Living Through the Mistakes, The Grand Introduction, Take Care
Notes: This show contains the first known performances of I Love My Guitar and Zero on the Scale. Dan is in attendance. When they finish The Grand Introduction, Steve mentions that its the theme for the night and it will make an appearance again later. When Johnny takes a minute to tune before the last song, Steve plays it again. Living Through the Mistakes is introduced as an "oldie."2/20/03 The Brick. Rosalyn, WA
2/27/03 La Boite. Barcelona, Spain
Also on Bill: Dark Fantastic2/28/03 Playa Club. La Coruna, Spain
Supported By: The Sunday Truckers3/2/03 Upstairs at the Garage. London, England (60 min)
Attendance: 50
Supported By: Mark Pickerel, Holly Golightly
With Mark Pickerel: (unknown)
Set: The Grand Introduction, Idiot, Living Through the Mistakes, Not Only You, Nothing But the Blues, Painting a Picture, Zero on the Scale, Searching for Melody, Smart Operator, I Want You in My Arms, You My Girl, I Love My Guitar, Take Care, I'm 37, Things to Give Away, I-5 Corridor, The Parting Glass
Encore: (two songs from Searching For Melody)
Notes: This show contains the first known performances of Things to Give Away and I-5 Corridor. Steve joins Mark Pickerel and Johnny during the latter part of their set. After Nothing But the Blues, Steve says, "My album's coming out in May on Loosemusic and this next one's not on it: Painting a Picture...P-ainting a P-icture...hmmmmm, this ones going to be hard to sing, theres a lot of 'p's in it." In between songs, Steve tells a humorous story about a mix up in La Coruna on 2/27 where he was both billed as the lead singer of Mudhoney, the man who sang hits like Touch Me I'm Sick, and played "without and of my friends" and "missed Johnny". Steve said that the former was understandable since, "at least I was in the band." The ads also proclaimed: "Now that he his healthy again, come and see him perform." Steve assured the crowd that both he and Mark were in good health, as were Dan and Guy. Steve also made several references to a trip to Barcelona that he, Johnny and Mark Pickerel took to Barcelona ostensibly to learn songs that devolved into a long drinking binge. He mentions that that he hasn't been able to persuade the rest of Mudhoney to use capos, which he's a fan of, because they love "the mighty E". Elsewhere, he mentions that he has more songs to record, and that he intends to come back to do so with Holly Golightly, Bruce Band, et al. Searching For Melody is introduced by saying that he's "never searched for melody in my life" and that the song is about "skateboarding and girls" - two things which he likes, or at least "likes the idea of" (he also mentions that I Love My Guitar should have verses about these two subjects, but he didn't get around to writing them). He finishes by mentioning that Searching For Melody can be downloaded online, to which Johnny snickers "kick ass." He's quite humble throughout, repeatedly saying that he didn't deserve everyone to show up for the show and introduces at least two songs as "reasons why I don't deserve it." A warm reaction from the crowd at the end of the set proper brings Steve out for his first ever encore, which his proclaims to be "a historic moment."
Setlist [144 KB] | Pictures3/3/03 Metro Club. London, England
Attendance: 50
Supported By: Mark Pickererl, Holly Golightly
With Mark Pickerel: (unknown)
Set: I Love My Guitar, Living Through the Mistakes, I Want You in My arms, Smart Operator, Not Only You, Zero on the Scale, Painting a Picture, Sometimes I'm Wrong, You My Girl, Searching For Melody, (Hoagy Carmichael song) (Johnny Solo), I'm 37, I-5 Corridor, Take Care, The Parting Glass, Things to Give Away(?)
Notes: This show contains the first known performance of Sometimes I'm Wrong. I Love My Guitar opens the set and The Parting Glass closes it. The crowd is less attentive tonight. Steve breaks his G string on Searching For Melody and finishes the song without playing. After the song, Johnny plays a Hoagy Carmichael number while Steve puts a new string on his guitar. During the course of the show, Bruce Brand (of Holly Golightly's band) downs several pints while good-naturedly heckling Steve for being a hippie. Steve retorts that Bruce is not a "dude", but rather a "geezer". Smart Operator is introduced by way of saying that it is based upon a remark that Joe Strummer made in a magazine and that it's about both Stummer and himself. He finishes by mentioning his sadness about Joe's death.
Pictures3/4/03 The Betsey Trotwood. London, England
Attendance: 25
Supported By: Mark Pickerel, David Burn
With Mark Pickerel: (unknown)
Set: Idiot, Living Through The Mistakes, Not Only You, Nothing But the Blues, New Year's Day, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, Searching For Melody, I Contest This Letter (Johnny solo), Dimebag Blues, I'm 37, You My Girl, Painting a Picture, Take Care, Sometimes I'm Wrong, Searching For Melody, Instrumental #1, The Parting Glass, I-5 Corridor(?), Things to Give Away(?), Zero On the Scale(?)
Notes: When he and Johnny get on stage, Steve thanks everyone for coming out. A couple in the crowd that's seen his three London shows thanks him back, and he thanks them personally, saying that it's "really sweet" for them to come to all three shows. He then says that there's no use for their intro song today and they go into Idiot. Steve breaks another string on Searching For Melody (the A, tonight) and after the song, Johnny plays his own I Contest This Letter per Steve's suggestion while Steve replaces his string. Later, Steve asks for requests and does The Parting Glass as a result. That song is written on the setlist as the closer, and when they get to it, Steve discovers that they don't have a closer but can't remember why. Steve points to the man who requested The Parting Glass and shouts, "Because of you! It's your fault!" to which Steve adds, "Get him!"
Pictures3/7/03 The Tractor Tavern. Seattle, WA
Supporting: Dead Moon, Gas Huffer
Notes: This show was originally booked for I-Spy, but moved when that venue went out of business.3/14/03 "SXSW". Lounge. Austin, TX
Supporting: Jon Auer
Supported By: Ian Moore, Marc Olsen, Mark Pickerel, John Ramberg3/15/03 "SXSW". Austin Convention Center. Austin, TX
Notes: This performance was at the main exhibition hall for SXSW, before the Mudhoney show on the same day.4/5/03 The Vera Project. Seattle, WA
Supporting: Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, The Holy Ghost Revival, Broadcast Oblivion, Seawolf4/13/03 The Showbox Green Room. Seattle, WA (45 min)
Attendance: 15
Supported By: Marc Olsen, Mark Pickerel
With Mark Pickerel: As You Were Leaving, Your Avenue, The Best Things in Life, I Promise, Mother of Earth
Set: The Idiot Blues, Living Through the Mistakes, Painting a Picture, Nothing But the Blues, Searching for Melody, Smart Operator, I Want You in My Arms, Zero on the Scale, The I-5 Corridor, Things to Give Away, Take Care, The Parting Glass
Notes: Steve and Johnny back Mark Pickerel for his set and then come back out after Marc Olsen for Steve's set. They take a break to tune after Living Through the Mistakes and Steve starts talking about how he got into punk in the summer of 1980. He mentions seeing Devo on a Friday night and Black Flag and Solger the next night because some skateboarders staying at his house were going. Searching For Melody is introduced as being "about a dirtbag named Rabbi." After Zero on the Scale, Steve says, "To be fair, that was a rock song. There should be drums." Johnny: "I was hearing them." Take Care is introduced with, "Imaging cute girls singing on this," and Johnny adds, "That's me."4/23/03 The Tractor Tavern. Seattle, WA (30 min)
Attendance: 100
Supporting: Crooked Fingers, The Baptist Generals
Set: Zero on the Scale, Painting a Picture, Nothing But the Blues, Searching For Melody, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, Living Through the Mistakes, The I-5 Corridor, Take Care
Notes: Before Nothing But the Blues, Steve talks about the upcoming split single of it that will be released and how he's got the moose's ass of the cover art. Searching For Melody is introduced as a song about skateboarding. After I Love the Sound of My Guitar, Steve mentions that the song is about things that he loves and that it "is supposed to be longer than it is, but I haven't written the songs about skating and gardening." Steve breaks out a thumb pick for The I-5 Corridor, saying that he's not yet fully comfortable with it. Before Take Care, Steve and Johnny talk for a bit about their "two very new minivans" and recommend one to "anyone in need of a midlife crisis."5/6/03 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (25 min)
Attendance: 50
Also on Bill: Jake London, John Ramberg, Jared Clifton, Rick Miller, Jeff Fielder
Set: Zero on the Scale, Living Through the Mistakes, Searching For Melody, Smart Operator, I Want You in My Arms, The I-5 Corridor, Nothing But the Blues
Notes: Steve starts off by introducing himself and Johnny: "I'm Steve, who you may know as the second guitarist during the late era of Mr. Epp. That's Johnny, who you may know from Denmark." They have a setlist, but are mixing it up and deciding after each song what to play next. Before Searching For Melody Steve tells the crowd that the record was released in Spain today, and that they can go to any record store in Spain and proudly purchase it. The I-5 Corridor is introduced as "the minivan song" and leads to Steve and Johnny again discussing their new minivans. When they get to Nothing But the Blues, Steve says that he and Johnny will be recording a version of the song with Mark Pickerel next week, which is news to Johnny. Then, Steve mentions that he just got his 45s of the song. Johnny: "Can I have One?" Steve: "No."5/17/03 The 3B Tavern. Bellingham, WA
Also on Bill: Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter5/23/03 Azkena. Bilbao, Spain (45 min)
Attendance: 50
Set: Idiot, Living Through the Mistakes, (unknown), Nothing But the Blues, I Love My Guitar, Smart Operator, I Want You in My Arms, Searching For Melody, The I-5 Corridor, I'm 37, Painting a Picture, Zero on the Scale, Take Care, The Parting Glass
Notes: Steve starts out by introducing himself and suggests that people might know him "by my acting." The guys say that it's their first time in Bilbao, and being from Seattle it's nice to be anywhere else. They then discuss their problems with Rioja (a famous Spanish wine) before beginning the set. Before I Love My Guitar, Steve talks about being too lazy to write the parts about skateboarding and gardening and mentions wanting to visit an excellent skate park in the area. Johnny asks him what's more punk, skating or gardening. Steve asks if there's any skaters in the audience and no one answers, so he says that there's no punk-skaters. Johnny says that he looks like a hippie with his beard and Steve says that if there were any punk-skaters here, he or she would kick his ass. Steve introduces I Want You In My Arms as a song about girls and skateboarding, and Johnny starts laughing, because he's already introduced a song that way, to which Steve responds, "All are about that." They start joking about their age before I'm 37 and Steve mentions that the song was written by people in their early twenties about older people like them. Steve adds that he learned the song when he turned 37, and now that he's 38, "maybe I'm not allowed to play it now." Zero on the Scale is "a request from the guitarist. You can make requests, too." Take Care is prefaced by saying that, in a perfect world this song would be sung with a girl and suggests that a girl from the audience would be welcome to sing it. "Anyway, I've never lived in a perfect world." Johnny says, "I'll sing it. I'm called the man-girl," to which Steve adds, "I am the man-boy." At the end, Steve mentions that they haven't played for too long, but the album only lasts 35 minutes and that they can't jam. Johnny tries to get him to jam, but Steve laughs and shrugs him off. Johnny then thanks the crowd for coming to see "Steve Turner from the Mudhoneys. In Seattle we call them The Mudhoneys because they are so cute." Then, he wraps things up by giving Steve a hard time for being a hippie and Steve says that next time he'll come clean-shaven. Johnny says that he shouldn't promise that since he's not going to do it and Steve replies, "well, maybe not."5/24/03 Casino Royale. Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Attendance: 30
Set: (The idiot Blues), (Johnny solo), The idiot Blues, Living Through the Mistakes, Searching For Melody, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, Not Only You, Sometimes I'm Wrong, Nothing But the Blues, You My Girl, I'm 37, Take Care, The Parting Glass (set out of order and possibly incomplete)
Notes: The smallish crowd is quite respectful. The show lasts a little under an hour. After introducing themselves, they start The idiot Blues and Steve breaks a string...as usual. Johnny does a song of his own while Steve attends to matters and then they try the song again. They play most of the songs on the record, as well as The Parting Glass and maybe one or two others. During the show, they talk about being pleased to be there as well as a good Spanish wine that they had before the show.5/25/03 Ricoamor. Castellon, Spain
5/28/03 The Wah-Wah. Valencia, Spain
Set: Searching For Melody, The I-5 Corridor, I'm 37, Nothing But the Blues, (unknown) (set incomplete and out of order)
Encore: The Parting Glass (encore possibly incomplete)
Notes: Steve introduces a song as being played live for the first time. It might be the same new, country song played on 6/4/03. Before I'm 37, Steve gives the history of the song and says that he's too old to play it: "Now the song is a lie, because I'm 38...By the way, Johnny is 37, so he can play it." The Parting Glass is introduced as being a song that he's known since he was a child but just recently learned to play.5/29/03 Stereo. Alicante, Spain
5/30/03 Planta Baja. Granada, Spain
5/31/03 Golfus. Tarragona, Spain
5/??/03 "Diario Pop Radio Taping". Spain
Notes: Steve records a session for the radio that is aired on June 1.6/1/03 Sidecar. Barcelona, Spain
Attendance: 40
Set: The idiot Blues, Searching For Melody, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, Not Only You, Sometimes I'm Wrong, Nothing But the Blues, You My Girl, I'm 37, Take Care, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, The Parting Glass (set out of order and possibly incomplete)
Notes: The show lasts a bit longer than an hour. They come out and introduce themselves and talk about the hard life they've been leading recently: having a few drinks, checking out the streets of Barcelona and enjoying the weather. Steve manages to not break a string this show, but is out of tune after the third song or so. Johnny says that Steve likes to tune a little bit higher because he thinks it makes it sound sharper and smarter. Before Take Care, Steve mentions that the song should be sung with a girl, and if Johnny refuses to sing that part, he'll do it. He adds that he hopes that the audience can distinguish between which part should be sung by him and which part should be sung by a girl. Later, he asks if there are any guitarists present. Two guys raise their hands and Steve says that he's sure that they agree with him and begins I Love the Sound of My Guitar. The Parting Glass closes the main set and is followed by a three song encore. Steve closes the show by saying that he hopes to come back soon and it will depend on how much time it takes to record another album.6/2/03 "Radio 3 Taping". Madrid, Spain
Notes: Steve records a session for the radio that is aired on June 16.6/2/03 "La 2 Television Taping". Madrid, Spain
Notes: Steve records a session for television that is aired on June 16.6/2/03 Moby Dick. Madrid, Spain
6/3/03 The Borderline. London, England
Attendance: 30
Supporting: Jeff Klein, Mark Ryan
Set: Zero on the Scale, Not Only You, Smart Operator, Living Through the Mistakes, Searching For Melody, (Johnny solo), Painting a Picture, The I-5 Corridor, Nothing But the Blues
Notes: Steve plays to a crowd far more interested in what's taking place at the bar than what's taking place on stage. Steve breaks a string during Searching For Melody and Johnny plays a song of his own while Steve changes it. Steve talks about his gig at the Betsey Trotwood the following night and how much he likes it there. Later on, Steve introduces himself to the crowd, saying that they may know him from his movie work, and Johnny adds that he was also in the "latter period of The Sad and Lonely(s)."6/4/03 The Betsey Trotwood. London, England
Attendance: 25
Supporting: Sodared
Supported By: Diego Brown and the Good Fairy
Set: (Jam), Zero on the Scale, The I-5 Corridor, You My Girl, Searching For Melody, I Love My Guitar, Not Only You, Nothing But the Blues, A Beautiful winter, Take Care
Notes: A Beautiful Winter is performed for the first known time. Before starting his set, Steve plays along with the blues music that is playing through the PA. Someone's mobile phone rings just as they start playing You, My Girl, and Steve says that he'll let him talk if it is a girl. Prior to Searching for Melody, Johnny mentions wanting to "rock out", but Steve says that they're there to "folk out" instead. Before I Love My Guitar, Steve says that the first verse of the song is for guitarists, Johnny then says that the rest is for Steve. Steve then says "fuck guitarists, what have they done for me lately?" Johnny prompts Steve to provide an explanation for the new song, A Beautiful Winter: he mentions problems with "falling in love with lots of girls" and how he wants a girl to perform this "passive agressive" number as a duet with him. Johnny says he won't do it either. Throughout, Steve and Johnny have a battle of who can play the last note. Before the last song, Steve mentions that he had copies of the album on him to sell, and that no-one bought any last night. Someone in the audience shouts out, "you disappeared", Steve replies with "yeah, we disappeared"; Johnny with "we ran away", and then Steve goes into something of a tirade about the Borderline that goes pretty much: "We ran away from the fucking Borderline. Fuck the horrible Borderline" etc. Before leaving the stage, he says he said that he'll see us all again at the Betsey Trotwood - his favorite London Club. The crowd is way more into it tonight than the previous night.6/5/03 The Nice N' Sleazy. Glasgow, Scotland
Also on Bill: Eugene Kelley
Notes: This show was done without Johnny.6/7/03 Stereo. Glasgow, Scotland
Attendance: 30
Set: Grand Introduction, Zero on the Scale, (unknown), Nothing But the Blues, You My Girl, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, Searching For Melody, I'm 37, Living Through the Mistakes, A Beautiful Winter, Dimebag Blues, Take Care
Encore: Move Ahead
Notes: Move Ahead is played live for the first known time. Steve plays an impromtu show in the afternoon, sans Johnny. He starts off by saying that he's on edge because it's light ouside and asks if folk can be played during the day, because rock can't. He later says that he and Eugene Kelly (Vaselines) feel like it's a Sunday morning rather than a Saturday. He notes Johnny's absence and says that since he's not present, that Eugene will have to be his straight man for jokes and security. When he comes back for the encore, Eugene shouts for Touch Me I'm Sick and Steve calls for security to take care of him.6/8/03 The Village. Dublin, Ireland
Supported By: Will Merriman, The Harvest Ministers
Notes: This show was done without Johnny.6/??/03 "BBC Radio Scotland Taping". Scotland
Set: Searching For Melody, Living Through the Mistakes, The I-5 Corridor (set possibly incomplete and out of order)
Notes: Steve records a radio session for "Air" that airs on June 9.6/10/03 The 100 Club. London, England
Supporting: Vera Cruise
Supported By: Peter Bruntnell, Horse Stories, Big Steve Arlene
Soundcheck: The idiot Blues (soundcheck possibly incomplete)
Set: The idiot Blues, Living Through the Mistakes, Nothing But the Blues, Searching For Melody, Smart Operator, Dimebag Blues, A Beautiful Winter
Notes: This show was done without Johnny. Steve opens the show by saying that he really wants to go home, that Mudhoney hasn't toured for this long in years, and that he can't wait until tomorrow when he gets to go home. Living Through the Mistakes is introduced as being "about girls." Before Smart Operator, he mentions that it's nice to play to a large crowd and mentions the Borderline show where "only two people showed up to se me play...I appreciated that, too!" He prefaces Dimebag Blues by saying that it's a song that he wishes he could get someone else to sing. When he finishes it with the closing line, "My life is empty and hollow" he says that it isn't really like that for him and that's why he wants someone else to sing it. The show ends with a promise to be back again.6/14/03 The Tractor Tavern. Seattle, WA (45 min)
Attendance: 200
Supporting: Marc Olsen
Supported By: Jesse Sykes and some of the Sweet Hereafter
Set: Zero on the Scale, Living Through the Mistakes, Not Only You, Nothing But the Blues, Searching For Melody, I Want You in My Arms, Smart Operator, I Love My Guitar, You My Girl, Painting a Picture, The I-5 Corridor, Take Care, A Beautiful Winter
Notes: Dan is in the audience and after I Want You in My Arms, Johnny looks at him and says, "That song would sound great with Dan Peters on drums. Wouldn't that be fun? Steve, you should get the band together when you're big." Before Painting a Picture, Steve says that the song isn't on the record, "but I think we fucked around with it in the studio" when they were recording the album. When they get to Take Care, Steve points out the Philipson sisters in attendance, who sang backup on the recording of the song.6/15/03 Easy Street Records (Capitol Hill). Seattle, WA (25 min)
Attendance: 30
Supporting: Marc Olsen
Set: The idiot Blues, Living Through the Mistakes, Greenback Dollars, Searching For Melody, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Smart Operator, Take Care
Notes: Greenback Dollars, a Hoyt Axton song, is premiered. Steve does a free midday in-store appearance without Johnny. Greenback Dollars is introduced as a "real folk song" that he learned last week. After he finishes the song, he mentions that Axton passed away a year or two ago and says, "All of my favorite folk singers died young. Why did I take this up at age 38? I'll be dead in ten years."6/19/03 The Brick. Roslyn, WA
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen
6/20/03 Dunes. Portland, OR
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen
6/21/03 Music Millennium. Portland, OR
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen
Notes: This show was a free in-store performance.6/26/03 Hell's Kitchen. Tacoma, WA
Supported By: Marc Olsen, Christopher Blue6/29/03 Maxwell's. Hoboken, NJ
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen7/1/03 Pete's Candy Store. New York City, NY
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen7/2/03 Sin-e. New York City, NY
Supporting: Marc Olsen
Supported By: Michal7/12/03 KEXP Studios. Seattle, WA
Notes: This was a performance on KEXP FM radio.7/12/03 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA
Supporting: Ian Moore
Supported By: Marc Olsen, Jeff Fielder7/17/03 The Starry Plough. Berkeley, CA (CANCELLED)
Supporting: Ian Moore
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen
Notes: This show was cancelled due to a death in Steve's family.7/18/03 M-Theory. San Diego, CA (CANCELLED)
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen
Notes: This is a free in-store appearance. This show was cancelled due to a death in Steve's family.7/19/03 Alterknit Lounge (The Knitting Factory). Los Angeles, CA (CANCELLED)
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen7/20/03 Parkside. San Francisco, CA (CANCELLED)
Also on Bill: Marc Olsen
Notes: This show was cancelled due to a death in Steve's family.7/25/03 Wild Buffalo. Bellingham, WA
Supporting: Jon Auer
Supported By: Marc Olsen8/6/03 The Old Firehouse. Redmond, WA (30 min)
Attendance: 15
Supporting: Marc Olsen
Set: The idiot Blues, Living Through the Mistakes, A Beautiful Winter, Zero on the Scale, Searching For Melody, Smart Operator, You My Girl, Dimebag Blues, The I-5 Corridor, Greenback Dollars
Notes: This was a free outdoor solo show on a beautiuful day. Steve is playing a red Guild semi-hollowbody and mentions that it's his first time performing with it. Greenback Dollars is prefaced by saying that he promised that he'd play a real folk song so that people know where he's coming from, adding that he thinks it was even a hit for The Kingston Trio.8/14/03 The Blackbird Theater. Portland, OR
Supported By: Marc Olsen, Downpilot8/15/03 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (20 min)
Attendance: 50
Supporting: Rosie Thomas
Supported By: Ben London
Set: Searching For Melody, Not Only You, Smart Operator, A Beautiful Winter, I Love My Guitar, The I-5 Corridor
Notes: This early show - prior to a different show that night at The Sunset Tavern - was a benefit for Martin Fevyear, who recorded some of Since We've Become Translucent. Johnny is here tonight. Before A Beautiful Winter, Steve mentions Seattle's "burgeoning skate-folk scene" and how "I've been doing it for years...a year."8/28/03 EMP Liquid Lounge. Seattle, WA (50 min)
Attendance: 40
Supported By: Christopher Blue
Set: The idiot Blues, Living Though the Mistakes, Searching For Melody, Smart Operator, Not Only You, Painting a Picture, Zero on the Scale, Greenback Dollar, A Beautiful Winter, The I-5 Corridor, Dimebag Blues, Nothing But the Blues, Take Care, Move Ahead, The Parting Glass
Notes: Steve opens by introducing himself: "I'm Steve Turner. I'm a day laborer. I'm also a reverend. Some people are here from the wedding I performed last week...I don't need a soundcheck. That's the beauty of folk. If I never hear a drum check again, it'll be too soon. Before Greenback Dollar, he imparts some wisdom: "This is the second most important thing about music I've ever learned. The first was the fuzz box. The second was the capo. Both make everything sound better."8/29/03 M-Theory Music. San Diego, CA
Notes: Steve did a free in-store performance before the Mudhoney show that night.9/5/03 The Tractor Tavern. Seattle, WA (30 min)
Attendance: 100
Supporting: Dead Moon, The Nightmares
Set: Zero on the Scale, Painting a Picture, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, (additional song?), Greenback Dollar, Dimebag Blues, I Love My Guitar, You My Girl, Living Through the Mistakes, Searching For Melody
Notes: Steve does a set heavy on material not on Searching For Melody, and introduces several songs with, "Here's another one that's not on the record." There might have been an additional song played after A Beautiful Winter.9/14/03 The Hemlock Tavern. San Francisco, CA
Supported By: Nik Freitas9/15/03 Spaceland. Los Angeles, CA
Supporting: Dance Disaster Movement
Supported By: Nik Freitas, Pearlene, Lion Forever9/16/03 Cask 'n' Cleaver. Visalia, CA
Supported By: Nik Freitas9/17/03 True Love Coffee House. Sacramento, CA
Supported By: Nik Freitas9/18/03 John Henry's. Eugene, OR
Supported By: Nik Freitas9/19/03 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA
Supported By: Nik Freitas9/21/03 Dante's. Portland, OR
Supported By: Nik Freitas9/30/03 The Tractor Tavern. Seattle, WA (5 min)
Attendance: 150
Supporting: Evangeline (others)
Supported By: Larry Barrett, Ben London, Radio Nationals (others)
Set: Suicide Child
Notes: This show is a benefit to raise medical funds for Alejandro Escovedo. All artists perform his songs. Steve gets on stage and says, "I wanted to do Decadent Jew, but I couldn't make out any of the lyrics, so I learned Suicide Child."10/9/03 The Aladdin Theater. Portland, OR
Supported By: I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In the House, Richmond Fontaine, Spigot, Mark Lemhouse
Notes: Steve performed with Ian Moore.10/21/03 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (15 min)
Attendance: 30
Supported By: Paul Kimble, Mike Clark, Bryan Cohen, Steven Rossen, Meanwhiles
Set: The Grand Introduction, Zero on the Scale, Smart Operator, The I-5 Corridor, Searching For Melody, A Beautiful Winter, Take Care
Notes: Near the end of his set, Steve remarks that he prefers these nights at The Sunset Tavern when many people are on the bill because it means shorter sets, adding, "I don't know if I could stand listening to me for an hour." After Steve finishes, Mark Olsen and Shawn Smith each get up to do a few songs.10/24/03 Western Washington University. Bellingham, WA
Also on Bill: Mark Olsen10/25/03 (A House). San Jose, CA
Also on Bill: Jon Auer, Goldenboy
Notes: This show took place at a house party.11/9/03 B-Side. Spokane, WA
11/10/03 Ritz. Missoula, MT
11/12/03 Ralph's Corner Bar. Fargo, ND
11/13/03 400 Bar. Minneapolis, MN
Supporting: Natalie Lovejoy, Steve Cardinal11/14/03 29 Steps. Green Bay, WI
11/15/03 Cactus Bar. Milwaukee, WI
11/16/03 The Empty Bottle. Chicago, IL
Supported By: Marc Olsen11/17/03 The Mill. Iowa City, IA
Supported By: Marc Olsen11/18/03 Rocket Bar. St. Louis, MO
Supported By: Marc Olsen11/19/03 The Brick. Kansas City, MO
Supported By: Marc Olsen11/21/03 Larimer Lounge. Denver, CO
Supported By: Marc Olsen11/22/03 Kilby Court. Salt Lake City, UT
Supported By: Marc Olsen12/5/03 KEXP Studios. Seattle, WA (5 min)
Set: Painting a Picture
Notes: Steve and Johnny, along with many others appearing at the benefit show this night go on KEXP-FM to promote the show. Additionally, Steve gives a very brief interview.12/5/03 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA
Also on Bill: (many, many people)
Notes: This was a benefit show, with many people on the bill.12/16/03 Iota Cafe. Arlington, VA
12/17/03 Mojo/Tattoo Bar. Baltimore, MD (45 min)
Attendance: 9
Supported By: Slowloader
Set: Zero on the Scale, Not Only You, Searching For Melody, Smart Operator, I Want You in My Arms, You My Girl, Painting a Picture, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Dimebag Blues, The idiot Blues, Living Through the Mistakes, Greenback Dollar, I Love My Guitar, Take Care, The Parting Glass12/21/03 The Mercury Lounge. New York City. New York
1/9/04 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA
Supporting: Ian Moore2/7/04 The Crocodile Cafe. Seattle, WA (30 min)
Attendance: 60
Supporting: The Minus 5, Eddie Spaghetti
Set: Zero on the Scale, Living Through the Mistakes, Not Only You, (Painting a Picture), You My Girl, Painting a Picture, A Beautiful Winter, The I-5 Corridor, Searching For Melody, Smart Operator, Take Care
Notes: This show was put together at the last minute, after the band that was booked cancelled with little notice. Before Searching For Melody, Steve and Johnny have a lengthy discussion about whether the song is about both skateboarding and girls or just girls. The talk then turns to how it's also the title of his record, and he announces that his next will be titled Steve Turner and His Bad Ideas.3/16/04 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (30 min)
Attendance: 50
Supported By: Kim Virant, Brian Cohen
Set: Zero on the Scale, Living Through the Mistakes, You My Girl, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Searching For Melody, Smart Operator, I Want You in My Arms, I Love the Sound of My Guitar
Notes: This is the first performance of Steve Turner and His Bad Ideas, with Kevin Warner appearing on drums (using brushes and mallets). Johnny plays bass on six of the songs (all but The I-5 Corridor, Searching For Melody and I Love My Guitar), filling in for the missing Bad Idea, Jim Sangster. Before Living Through The Mistakes, Steve promises upwards of six Bad Ideas in future incarnations: "Imagine the possibilites." I Want You in My Arms is introduced as a Bo Diddley song.5/7/04 The Crocodile Cafe. Seattle, WA (25 min)
Attendance: 300
Supported By: The Young Fresh Fellows
Set: Take My Brain Away, Teenage Dogs in Trouble, Unimaginable Zero Summer, Hang Out Right, Sharing Patrol, Do You Wonder How it Ends?
Notes: Steve plays bass in a band fronted by Johnny at a Young Fresh Fellows tribute show. Rounding out the group are Mike Maker (vocals), Conrad Uno (percussion, vocals), Emily Bishton (vocals), Cassady Laton (drums) and Andrea Witkins (keyboard).7/30/04 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA
Supporting: Rob Benson
Notes: This was the early show at The Sunset Tavern this evening.8/6/04 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (45 min)
Attendance: 225
Supporting: Ian Moore, Steve Turner
Supported By: Mark Pickerel
Set: Zero on the Scale, I Want You in My Arms, Painting a Picture, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Searching for Melody, You My Girl, Smart Operator, Living Through the Mistakes, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, Someday Baby, Greenback Dollar
Notes: Muddy Waters' Someday Baby is performed for the first known time (he called the song Trouble No More). This is a Bad Ideas show and a benefit for Youth Care. Steve and the Sangsters ditch the chairs and stand for the show. Steve switches off between an electric and an acoustic guitar during the set. Before Someday Baby, Steve says that he's carrying on the folk tradition by learning the song from some white guys who learned the song by listening to Muddy Waters. He adds that he showed the Sangster brothers the song minus some chords and lyrics and they showed it back to him the proper way.10/22/04 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (55 min)
Attendance: 125
Supported By: Whiting
Set: Zero on the Scale, A Beautiful Winter, The I-5 Corridor (w/Anne Marie Ruljancich), Smart Operator, Searching for Melody, Living Through the Mistakes, Dimebag Blues (w/" "), Greenback Dollar, Painting a Picture, I Love My the Sound of My Guitar, I Want You in My Arms, Move Ahead (w/" "), Someday Baby
Notes: This was the record release party for Steve Turner and His Bad Ideas, and the earlier of two shows that took place at The Sunset Tavern that evening. Steve is backed by the Sangster brothers. Mark and Guy are in attendance. Steve says that the next record will be titled "New Wave Punk Asshole," "no matter what it sounds like." Several songs have a new feel, with Jim playing dobro or Anne Marie singing on them.10/23/04 Sonic Boom Records (Ballard). Seattle, WA (35 min)
Attendance: 40
Set: I Love the Sound of My Guitar, I Want You in My Arms, Someday Baby, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Dimebag Blues, Living Through the Mistakes, Zero on the Scale, Greenback Dollar
Notes: This was a free show at a record store. Steve takes several opportunities to exhort the crowd to see Holly Golightly - who performs on the new record - perform the following Tuesday. A young child in attendance does an uninhibited interpretive dance at the front of the stage for the duration of the set. Steve is backed by the Sangster brothers.12/11/04. KEXP Studios. Seattle, WA (30 min)
Set: Zero on the Scale, The I-5 Corridor, Greenback Dollar, I Want You in My Arms, Painting a Picture
Notes: This show was broadcast live over the radio. Steve is accompanied by the Sangster brothers. In between songs, the guys speak with the DJ for a little while.1/14/05 Nine Pound Hammer. Seattle, WA (60 min)
Attendance: 150
Supported By: Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter, Tom Brosseau
Set: The Grand Introduction, Zero on the Scale, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, I Want You in My Arms, Painting a Picture, The I-5 Corridor (w/Anne Marie), A Beautiful Winter, Smart Operator, You My Girl, Living Through the Mistakes, Searching for Melody, Greenback Dollar, Someday Baby
Encore: Nothin', Move Away (w/Anne Marie)
Notes: Nothin' is played live for the first known time. This show was with the full Bad Ideas. The guys stand for this performance, and Steve switches off between a semi-hollowbody electric and an acoustic. Despite a public proclaimation prior to their performance that he would do the contrary, Johnny is quite talkative. Steve introduces Living Through the Mistakes with the observation that, "A mistake is just an opportunity that's lost." Johnny calls him a hippy and he responds, "I don't hate hippies," to which Johnny retorts, "That's because you are a hippy." When they come back for the encore, Steve says that they're going to exhaust the songs that they know as a group. While they're playing Nothin', two dogs run through the crowd and on stage before meandering back out.2/4/05 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA
Supported By: Whiting Tennis
Notes: This was the early show at The Sunset Tavern, with a late show by other bands following.2/28/05 Northcote. Melbourne, Australia
3/1/05 Hopetoun Hotel. Sydney, Australia (50 min)
3/25/05 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA (40 min)
Attendance: 150
Supporting: Lou Barlow
Supported By: Graham Travis
Set: The idiot Blues, Painting a Picture, (Searching for Melody), Searching for Melody, Smart Operator, I Want You in My Arms, Not only You, Nothing but the Blues, The I-5 Corridor, Greenback Dollar, A Beautiful Winter, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, Zero on the Scale
Notes: Steve notes that there are supposed to be all of the Bad Ideas present, but instead there's just his first Bad Idea, Johnny. He breaks a string early into Searching for Melody and while he changes it, he solicits hecklers and Johnny leaves the stage for a drink. Another string is broken during Zero on the Scale, cutting the set short by a song.9/18/05 The Cube Microplex. Bristol, England
9/20/05 Windmill Brixton. London, England
Supported By: Hellicar Cargo Lewis-Lloyd & Friends, Duke Garwood
Set: The idiot Blues, Living Through the Mistakes, Searching for Melody, The I-5 Corridor, Smart Operator, You My Girl, Not Only You, A Beautiful Winter, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, (new song), Painting a Picture, Zero on the Scale, Greenback Dollar, No One Gives a Shit, Cold City (setlist out of order and possibly incomplete)
Encore: Take Care, Nothing But the Blues
Notes: No One Gives a Shit and Cold City are premiered. Steve plays the set on his Gretsch semi-hollowbody electric guitar he says because there's no room to bring his acoustic on the Mudhoney tour. At various points, he touched on capoes, how much he hates fake punk rock like Pennywise, how he's given up folk to be a punk rocker row, and his baby. Before A Beautiful Winter, he says, "This one's meant to be a duet, so ladies and gentlemen...Miss Holly Golightly!...is playing somewhere else tonight," and then laughs about his joke for a good 30 seconds. Someone shouts for I'm 37 which he says he won't play because he's no longer 37.4/8/06 Dante's. Portland, OR
Supporting: John Doe4/19/06 The Tractor Tavern. Seattle, WA (10 min)
Also on Bill: The Press Corps, Gary Heffern, Peter Blackstock, Whiting Tennis, Jake London
Set: Reject the Future, Everyone's an Ex, No One Gives a Shit
Notes: This show was a going away party for Gary Heffern, a local musician. Many bands played short sets. Steve debuted Steve Turner and His Bad Ideas Mk II, a far more rocking version of the band. Steve is playing with distortion, and Johnny is on the Farfisa organ. Reject the Future and Everyone's an Ex are played for the first known time.4/29/06 The Comet Tavern. Seattle, WA (55 min)
Attendance: 100
Supported By: Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands, The Levitators
Set: (unknown), No One Gives a Shit, Cold City, I Know You Scorpio, Somewhere I Have Some Friends of Mine, Oh Paula, The Party's Over, Reject the Future, Zero on the Scale, Baby Baby Baby Baby, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, A Beautiful Winter, Someday Baby, Everyone's an Ex, Sex Date Saturday Night, Stupid Blues, Off-Ramp to Nowhere
Notes: Most of the songs in the set are played for the first known time: I Know You Scorpio, Somewhere I Have..., Oh Paula, The Party's Over, Baby Baby Baby Baby, Sex Date Saturday Night, Stupid Blues, and Off-Ramp to Nowhere (a Rod McKuen/Henry Mancini song). Steve breaks a string during Oh Paula, and after the song, as he's trying to get someone to change it for him, he pulls out the Mudhoney chestnut, "We're losing momentum." He calls Everyone's an Ex his version of The Germs' What We Do in Secret. Johnny plays keyboards (not the Farfisa, which he couldn't get to work, but the synthesizer he borrowed from Mark Pickerel's band) on Zero on the Scale, and Someday Baby, and guitar on the other old songs. Something goes wrong with Steve's second guitar, so he uses Johnny's Gibson SG for Off-Ramp to Nowhere.6/14/06 Neumo's. Seattle, WA (30 min)
Supporting: Tom Verlaine
Set: The idiot Blues, Searching for Melody, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Painting a Picture, Zero on the Scale, I Know You Scorpio, Smart Operator, Someday Baby, You My Girl
Notes: Tom Verlaine stated that his opening act was not to have drums, so its just Steve and Johnny tonight. Steve breaks a string during You My Girl, so they cut the song, and the set, short.7/31/06 The Sunset Tavern. Seattle, WA
Supporting: Kelly Stoltz
Notes: This show was a record release party for New Wave Punk Asshole.2/2/07 The Funhouse. Seattle, WA (55 min)
Attendance: 75
Supported By: The Press Corps, Waterbeds
Set: Zero on the Scale, Reject the Future, Stupid Blues, Somewhere I Have..., Searching for Melody, I Love the Sound of My Guitar..., The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Painting a Picture, Living Through the Mistakes, No One Gives a Shit, Everyone's an Ex, Baby Baby Baby Baby, Sex Date Saturday Night
Encore: I Know You Scorpio, Cold City, The Party's Over
Notes: Steve talks about the hardcore punk band they're forming aimed at the middle-aged set - S.C.A. or Sudden Cardiac Arrest. The guys then explain the difference between a Bad Ideas song and a S.C.A. song: While the Bad Ideas have a song called I Love the Sound of My Guitar, S.C.A. would write something more along the lines of I Hate the Sound of My Guitar.3/28/07 The Crocodile Cafe. Seattle, WA (45 min)
Attendance: 150
Supporting: You Am I
Supported By: The Young Sportsmen
Set: Zero on the Scale, Reject the Future, Stupid Blues, Searching for Melody, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Painting a Picture, No One Gives a Shit, Everyone's an Ex, I Know You Scorpio, Baby Baby Baby Baby, Sex Date Saturday Night, Happy Birthday, The Party's Over
Notes: Steve plays a show on his birthday. A Beautiful Winter has a new ending, and Steve says that he still can't figure out how to end it. Jim says that way is perfect, so Steve decides to do it that way from now on. Steve talks about how No One Gives a Shit describes the same emotions for both someone his age and someone the age of his seven year-old son. After that, he starts introducing every song with a folk singer shtick ("This one is called I Know You Scorpio. I wrote it down in Carmel." "Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby is a song I wrote the last time I was in London, and I busked in the Underground."). Steve's former label boss, Barbara Mitchell, brings out a cake and people sing Happy Birthday to him. Steve says he'd been talking about cake earlier, "as in, 'not another fucking cake," and adds that there's been a lot of birthdays and a lot of birthday cake in the Turner household lately. Being thusly recommended, the audience is welcomed to come be served a piece at the foot of the stage.3/30/07 Dante's. Portland, OR
Supporting: You Am I, The Makers, The Village Green4/5/07 The Funhouse. Seattle, WA (45 min)
Attendance: 30
Supported By: Chales Leo Gebhardt IV, Sycamore Smith
Set: Idiot, Living Through the Mistakes, Searching for Melody, I Love You Scorpio, Painting a Picture, Smart Operator, Zero on the Scale, Not Only You, You My Girl, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, I Love the Sound of My Guitar, Stupid Blues, Take Care
Notes: Steve plays solo acoustic. Before Searching for Melody, he references late-night TV commercials with "Is that capo rock? Then turn it up!" He says that I Love the Sound of My Guitar doesn't sound as good when he plays it solo, so it's more like I Like the Sound of My Guitar, and then has some problem getting to the high notes, since he's playing a dreadnaught. After that song, he talks about how he wrote Stupid in 1991 with the Sad and Lonely(s), but when he does it acoustic it becomes Stupid Blues.12/6/07 Mississippi Studios. Portland, OR
Supporting: Gerald Collier3/19/08 Slabtown. Portland, OR
Supporting: Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands
Supported By: Sterilize Stereo
7/29/09 "Songs for Eating and Drinking". The Sorrento Hotel. Seattle, WA
Also on Bill: Mudhoney, The Dutchess and the Duke, Rocky Volotalo, Dave Bazan, John Roderick, The Blakes, Sera Cahoone
Set: The I-5 Corridor (set possibly incomplete)12/19/09 Slabtown. Portland, OR
Supporting: Michael Hurley, Pendejo
Supported By: Double U, Flash Flood + the Dikes2/7/14 Al's Den. Portland, OR
Also on Bill: Mark Pickerel, Catherine Feeny
Notes: This is part of Mark Pickere's "A Week in the Den" series of shows at Al's Den, with different Portland-area guests each night.6/18/14 The Hawthorne Theatre. Portland, OR (35 min)
Supporting: King Buzzo
Set: Zero on the Scale, Painting a Picture, I Know You Scorpio, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Searching for Melody, "When We're Dancing", "Little Bird", Idiot, Living Through the Mistakes, Everyone's an Ex, Smart Operator
Notes: 'When We're Dancing' and 'Little Bird' are two Phantom Ships (Steve's side project) songs that he doesn't know the titles of. So, he uses the opening lines, even though he's pretty sure his bandmate who wrote the songs would disagree.6/20/14 Neumo's. Seattle, WA (35 min)
Attendance: 175
Supporting: King Buzzo
Set: Zero on the Scale, Painting a Picture, I Know You Scorpio, The I-5 Corridor, A Beautiful Winter, Searching for Melody, "When We're Dancing", "Little Bird", Idiot, Living Through the Mistakes, Everyone's an Ex, Smart Operator
Notes: When Steve comes out, longtime collaborator Johnny Sangster is front and center, and Steve greets him, then talks to him or about him during much of his banter. He introduces most songs, VH1 Storytellers style. For 'The I-5 Corridor,' he talks about how it was the road that led him to Portland (he moved from Seattle to Portland right around the time he was originally doing his solo gigs). Then, for 'A Beautiful Winter,' he says, "It's a duet, but Johnny wouldn't sing it with me," and Johnny very quickly and firmly adds, "No" to the thought of singing a duet with Steve that's between two former lovers. Someone starts shouting for Green River songs near the end of the show and Steve says that, "I should learn 'Baby Help Me Forget' (a Mr. Epp song that Green River and Mudhoney both played), but not today."4/2/16 Al's Den. Portland, OR
Supporting: Barton Carroll
Notes: This show was part of Barton Carroll's weeklong residency at Al's Den, similar to Mark Pickerel's in 2014, which Steve also played at for one night.7/8/23 "Hot Off the Press Book Fair". (12th Ave S and S Vale St - outside the Fantagraphics Gallery). Seattle, WA
Attendance: 100
Supporting: Lisa Plank
Supported By: Late Unpleasantness
Set: Living Throught the Mistakes, I Know You Scorpio, (unknown), (unknown), Searching for Melody, The I-5 Corridor, Move Ahead
Notes: Steve plays a free show on a temporary stage as part of a book fair, and then does a reading from his Mud Ride. The unknown songs are part of his standard repertoire, rather than new songs or covers. Lots of people are there - Dan, Matt, former Mudhoney tour manager Danny, Thrown Ups bandmate Ed Fotheringham, and Charles Peterson taking photos of it all.
