October 2, 2010

Hello Friends,

It’s day #3 here at Falls View in Niagara.  After a little over 3 weeks off, everyone was ready to return to STYXworld, refreshed and looking forward to setting up and seeing some fans in seats.  
 
We’ve been rehearsing during the afternoons here, putting the final touches on the material for the upcoming Grand Illusion/Pieces of Eight Tour.  It’s a real treat to deconstruct these songs, especially ones we haven’t played in years and even more importantly the ones that have not been performed since they were recorded in the studio in 1977 and 1978.  
 
On our first night here this past Thursday we added “Superstars” to our set, making it the first time an audience has ever heard that one performed live.  It’s a fun song to play, especially the harmony guitar solo I play with JY.  His carnival barker rant at the end was downright spine tingling.  He never ceases to amaze and inspire me.
 
Last night (Friday) we played “Queen of Spades” for the first time in 10 years!  Lawrence’s brother Pat told me he remembered us playing it at Lulu’s, a club outside Toronto, and I believe that was either in 1999 or 2000.  Can you believe Gowan just played his 12 summer with STYX?  
 
I recently completed a new solo album that I plan to release next year.  It’s a bluegrass album that I snuck up on, beginning in 2003 when my friend Brad Davis suggested we get together and give it a try after I sang a high harmony on a bluegrass recording of his.  We wrote and recorded a couple more songs over the next few years but were both too busy to commit to an album project until last year when the opportunity presented itself and we jumped in.  
 
Once the songs were written and recorded, Brad returned to his busy life as songwriter, recording artist, live performer and studio owner.   Will Evankovich came in to help me with post production, cutting my lead vocals, solos, and adding some additional guitar and background vocals himself as we went along.  I’ve always loved the sound of Will’s American Drag recordings and convinced him to mix The Great Divide.   I love working with Will and his involvement was the cherry on top.  
 
Now that it’s in the can we're doing our homework, looking at different scenarios, conceiving our plan to introduce the album next year and starting to let it be heard by friends in the music industry as we move towards releasing it in 2011. 
 
It might come as a surprise to many of you that I’d make a bluegrass album, but I’m confident that when you hear this record, you’ll understand that it’s sincerely a labor of love and respect for the form and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it.
 
Love y’all,
 
TS