News from SteveBalsamoFan.com Unofficial Fansite

"Exposure" - New Musical

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:04:34 +0000

Hi All,

Some of Steve's friends have co-written a new musical entitled "Exposure".

We understand that they've already done a showcase for it, have done some fine tuning and are currently working to get it up and running.

Steve has done a couple songs for it that are on the show's website.

Main website home page:
http://www.exposurethemusical.com

Catch a short clip of "Love Comes Knocking" on the radio player in the Sound & Vision section:
http://server1.hostd...d/sound-vision/

A full song with Steve is available in the Sound & Vision section under "Photography"
http://server1.hostd...photography.php

We understand that after Steve finishes some of his dates with Jon Lord, he will return to the studio to record some more tracks for the soundtrack. Artists that are planned to appear on the soundtrack include:

- Steve Balsamo and Fred Johansen (from Jesus Christ Superstar)
- Hazel Fernandez (Esmeralda in Notre Dame de Paris)
- Rohan Reckord (Sammy Davis Jr in Rat Pack)
- Charlie George (Oliver)
- Mike Dyer (Narrator in Blood Brothers)
- Matt Willis (formerly of the group Busted)

More news when we have it!

Kind regards,
NeeCee

Oystermouth EP "Five Songs For Jen" + artwork news

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 17:10:27 +0000

Hi All,

Steve has said on his official forum that the Oystermouth EP "Five Songs For Jen" is nearly ready.

He said he's quite into lino printing recently (that was the way he did the artwork for The Storys "Luck" album) and he's thinking about doing a very short print run (like 5 or 10 prints for each of the 5 songs) depending on demand, which will still be collectable but will keep the price down.

He also said he wasn't sure if a full Oystermouth album would be made (I suppose it is more difficult to schedule time to work on things like this when Rob/Steve/Andy/Ben all have so many other projects they are working on now.)

That being the case, don't miss out on getting a copy of the EP thinking that there will be an album, when it just may not happen. (Been my experience that songs on EPs are usually a bit different from the versions that end up on the albums anyhow, so even if they do a full album at some point, it's probably going to be worth getting the EP when it is released anyhow.)

Check out Oystermouth on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/oystermouth

and this clip on YouTube:

More news on the release of the EP and the artwork as we have it!

Kind regards,
NeeCee

Steve duets with Sandy Hill - out now!

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:33:50 +0000

Hi All,

Steve has recorded a duet with Sandy Hill which appears on her newly-released album "Tickled Pink".

The song is entitled "Your Long Journey" (many of you may remember this track from the "Raising Sands" album by Alison Krauss and Robert Plant - I know Steve has mentioned before how much he loves that album). Essentially it's a song about saying goodbye until you meet your loved one again in the afterlife. (Sorry - great song but it sets me off every time I hear it!)

It looks like the track and the album are available for download on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and iTunes, and the physical CD is due out soon. The album is produced by Sam Brown and includes contributions from Jools Holland and Joe Brown as well as Steve.

Here are a few links:

Sandy Hill website: http://www.sandyhill.co.uk/
Her Facebook http://www.facebook....118016084898488

Links to buy:
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.co...1452415&sr=8-16
Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co...455335&sr=301-1
iTunes: http://itunes.apple....ink/id385986762

To refresh your memory, here's the Alison Krauss/Robert Plant version on YouTube

Kind regards,
NeeCee

Brian speaks about The Storys' split & other recent press

Sun, 18 Jul 2010 01:02:17 +0000

Hi All,

There are a few articles in the press this week that I felt were worth reflecting on collectively.

With the news that Robbie Williams will be returning to the "Take That" fold, WalesOnline have posted an article online about bands splitting up and reforming.

They've included some comments from Brian Thomas (former drummer with The Storys and currently working with Alan Thomas on Eaglesbush), in which he comments about why he thinks The Storys split up.

In the article, Brian is quoted to have said,
"It got to the stage where we were all doing other projects and the unity of the band suffered as a result of that. It was a natural progression which involved the band splitting up..."

Link to full article:
http://www.walesonli...91466-26871245/

============

Also on WalesOnline, earlier this week they had an article about Charlotte Church and her "ExFactor" - finding inspiration to write songs after her recent split with Gavin Henson.

In the article, Steve comments about catharsis of writing after a break up:
"The feelings that result from a break-up can be so deep and visceral that they spark a tremendous creativity and make you write something you really connect with emotionally � which is what every songwriter worth their salt tries to achieve."

Link to full article:
http://www.walesonli...91466-26832035/

============

And by now many of you have also probably seen on The Storys official forum that there is a 4 star review of both The Storys "Luck" and Rob Thompson's "Dust" in the August issue of Maverick magazine. In the review, they also comment as to why they think The Storys never quite "made it".

You can order the August 2010 issue online at the moment http://www.maverick-...ssue/4533673013

(Once it is no longer the current issue it will go into the back issues section of the store.)

============

Just seemed that these articles made a little more sense in the context of The Storys when they were all spoken about collectively. Personally I don't think the side projects should be "blamed" for the band splitting - but I do think the band splitting could end up being that moment that leads to the catharsis that will help some of these side and solo projects become something that will connect with people and perhaps eventually bring the masses to see how good the band really was. And maybe at that point they'll decide to get together again.

I suppose time will tell...

Kind regards,
NeeCee

Did any of you catch this?

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 21:12:20 +0000

Hi All,

I've just spotted this from the BBC Press Office:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/nations/wales/wapiwk23.pdf

It sounds like Steve was scheduled to do a duet with Mal Pope on The Evening Show on BBC Radio Wales as part of their celebration of Tom Jones' 70th birthday. Did any of you hear it and record it? Unfortunately I've only just stumbled upon it now- more than a month too late! I didn't see anything about it on the official site either. I wonder if it went ahead?

If any of you know, please feel free to update us so we know. Thanks!

Kind regards,
NeeCee