NEW ALBUM WELL UNDERWAY

Hey, I've been a bit remiss in not adding any blogs for a long time, relying too much on good old social media. So, that's going to change....

The main thing I wanted to let you know is that the making of my new album is well underway. The writing process for me is completely organic, to coin that often over-used phrase, but that really is the case. I go through long periods where I don't write anything, especially when I'm touring, but then ideas just start to bubble up to the surface, I get woken up more often in the middle of the night with lyrics and melodies, and songs will start to flow.

That's been happening this past 12 months or so, and I've been writing and demo-ing in my studio off and on during that time. The thing I am really excited about with this new record, is that it's a band album. As you know, WRONG TRAIN RIGHT STATION was very much a DIY affair, where I was very focused on playing, producing everything myself, including drums (and I'm NOT a drummer, believe me..) But it was something I had to do.

Then I started touring to promote the album, and I put together The Train Rex to help me get things out there. Unlike the GREEN SIDE UP tours, where I had a revolving cast of great players, I really wanted to keep the same band for all the shows I was doing for the WRONG TRAIN tour. And the band was such a beast, that we have kept it together to play all the shows we have been doing since the tour.

So I decided I really wanted to record with the band in the making of the new album. And what a blast it has been. It has been so good to have the guys in the studio, working arrangements out as a band. The stuff we have recorded so far is just awesome, I am so happy. The Train Rex rhythm section is comprised of my longtime sidekick John Barr (JB) on bass -- JB is in Rough Red of course, and has done most of the live stuff for my other albums with me, and is surely one of the finest players in the country --- and another old friend Andy Kirkcaldie on drums. Andy I first played with some thirty plus years ago, and he has since developed a reputation as one of Sydney's hardest-working rock drummers. But the subtlety and passion he brings to these songs is just amazing. He and JB together make a formidable combination.

Rounding out the band is another dear old friend, guitarist Ian Shawsmith (Sal to his mates). Sal has flown under the radar for many years, but in recent times has gone through the roof with his electric and slide playing. He is adding some beautiful stuff to these songs.

We have recorded all the beds to the songs, and Sal and I are in the process of adding guitars, mandolins and whatever else we think works for the particular track. Hopefully by early 2020 we should have the finished product in hand. We have already released a couple of completed tracks as singles this year, with another one to follow very soon.

The band isn't playing any more shows this year, but I have a bunch of solo gigs in and around Byron Bay over the next few months. so I look forward to catching up with you somewhere along the way. The band will be out and about next year with tour dates for the new record. See you then...!

Cheers, Steve