Tuesday, June 24, 2025

#40: Another Day in the Life

The show at Don't Tell Mama last Thursday was fun and exciting. We have some video footage, so I'll do a full report soon. Meanwhile, I had another of those unbelievable Sundays. I will include the full diary entry below. Here is a summary in case you don't want or can't read the whole thing.


SUMMARY: Steve's Sunday took an unexpected turn when Gavin informed him they were hired to lead a peace march. After busking and resting his voice, Steve, in his pink satin jacket, met the eccentric Tony at the New York Historical Museum, learning they'd be playing with a saxophonist named Tequan from St. Thomas. The "march" ended up being a lively, impromptu street performance near Central Park, where they jammed on Beatles songs, chalked peace messages with passersby, and spread good vibes before Tony concluded the "gig." Steve reflected on the unique, adventurous nature of his life in the city, taking such serendipitous musical encounters for granted. SUN JUNE 22

Gavin texted me that we had been hired to lead a “peace march from Lincoln Center to Central Park.” And something about going to Frederick Douglass’ statue and singing “Rise Up, Frederick Douglass, Rise Up.” (?)


I wondered, “Wow! How did a choir at Lincoln Center find out about that song?” I remember Bill Goffi told me he had tagged our St. Clement’s video to choirs around town after hearing it at our Juneteenth show.


Confused and excited, I went early down to Union Station to find out. 


It was humid/hot and rainy when I first got out. My bag was heavy but I went past the subway entrance at 43rd and 8th, turned the corner and went to the 7/11, past the homeless man who stands there and opens the door for you so he can beg for change on your way out.


I pushed past him and up to the Indian man at the counter asking if he had an umbrella. He did. I left my last one at Don’t Tell Mama.


Down in the L station, between the two trains, Gavin had set up farther down because they’ve now turned on the big overhead fan. He said the hurricane force hurt his ears. 


I went and tested it. He was right. The fans are hanging in cages which are coated in that black-crusted oil/dust that permeates the ceiling and pipes in the yellow-painted station.


And they feel fantastic. First day of summer and it’s a hot one. But you can’t sing under it.


Gavin was sitting, backed up to a round metal trash can, facing a staircase, Two hot white girls in very short shorts suddenly started dancing freely while trying to sing along to All My Loving, which I sang directly to them. They were keeping up the hook,, but I didn’t know if they actually knew the song.


As we ended, they said, “Tell us the name of the next song so we can look it up.”


I think we sang Blackbird. They sang and made videos of themselves dancing. If I were straight I probably would have found it extremely provocative. Gavin’s only comment was they seemed very free.


Finally, they took a group selfie with us and disappeared into the train.


But we were facing away from the larger space. We moved to the other side of the black canister and suddenly, we had a platform filled with patrons coming and going. 


I recall a hot young 20s couple with big smiles. He was in shorts and had such beautiful legs I had to keep looking away from them! Gave us a dollar.


But after about 45 minutes, I could feel my voice was tired. I was tired. My left ear kept popping on my m’s and n’s, which makes singing Hey Jude’s chorus na-na-na’s painful. It’s a sinus thing but it happens when I’m tired.


I knew if we were gonna do some big event, I’d need some rest. 


I quit after an hour, then trained home. Gray L to Blue C to 42nd. 20 minutes to a half hour. Jim was asleep so I crept onto my beloved couch and fell promptly to sleep. (And scared him later when he went to pet the cat and the couch moved.)


As I rose, I wondered what was expected of us. 


All I knew was to be at CLARA, a restaurant in the NY Historical museum on 77th and Central Park West. Jim and I had been there before for an Al Hirschfeld exhibit. Nina (whose name is inscribed in each of Al’s drawings), was there. 


Out front on the landing as you enter the door? A life-sized statue of Frederick Douglass. I snapped a selfie.


Inside, through glass doors, past the two security guards who looked in my bag, I turned left into CLARA.


It looked very elegant. A very, kind attractive young woman approached me so I told her I was looking for a group. She asked me what name. I said, “I don’t know. Some guy named Tony.”


She continued, “We don’t have a reservation, and we’re about to close.” She was trying to be helpful. “Across the hall is the cafe in the gift shop.”


Over there, the girl and guy behind the counter offered me a glass of ice water. Everyone was being so nice.


Then I remembered I was wearing my bright shiny pink satin Sgt. Pepper jacket with the bright yellow epaulets, dangling fringe and gold buttons surrounded by sparkly lines of embroidered rickrack.


Suddenly, in comes the hurricane that is Tony. I’m standing at a counter against the wall with my ice water in a paper cup. 


He rushes up to me and says, “Oh, good. You’re here. Let’s push some tables together there in the corner. I got a saxophone player, too. And some people are coming.”


Ignoring the several groups of ladies already seated, quietly sipping their tea and sandwiches, Tony bulldozed into the corner and directed me to drag some tables together. They were heavy.


As soon as I saw him, I knew exactly who this mysterious Tony was. 


THAT Tony!


In our first busking days at Strawberry Fields, he once, out of nowhere, stood up and proclaimed to everyone in the circle, “This guy knows more about the spirituality of The Beatles than anyone on earth.”


Tony is cool. He also never stops talking/suggesting/planning/meeting people. He's a friendly and kooky-in-the-best-way free range psychiatrist who dresses in browns, is always excited and is always writing in chalk on the concrete. 


He excitedly and as if making it up on the spot, explains he has planned a march, hired us to lead it, and he’s invited people to join us, but he’s not sure how many. 


I asked Tony what he wanted us to do. He looked at me and said that he wanted me to do all the talking. 


“Talking about what?”


“You know, that stuff you usually say.”


Me: Blank look on my face.


Gavin arrives in his bright green jacket carrying guitar and amp. Soon, we are joined by a sunglasses-wearing Black guy in a maroon polo shirt and black-colored jean jacket. I asked him if he was crazy in this heat. He shrugged and smiled.


He said his name was Tequan and he was from St. Thomas.


The saxophonist! Tony had met him the night before (?). He was stage managing a concert at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. And they got to talking.


Finally, two friends, an elderly couple with great energy joined us at the table. We bonded over her shoulder surgery and his recent hand surgery.


Tony said we may get one more, dialing his phone.


He pulled out two books. One was a compendium of Jewish Comedians and their stand up jokes and the other was a book of quotes by musicians about music.:“From Bach to Tupac.”


He said, “Maybe you can read some of those.”


I looked through it while he told us a joke from his book. Something about a farmer and a Jew.


I saw the workers peeking behind the counter with their phone, taking photos of us. We smiled.


Finally, after trips to the loo, as Gavin would say, we exited the museum, snapped a few more shots with Frederick Douglass and crossed CPW onto the sunny side of the street.


How long is this march? Where are we gonna play? 


We walked down to a shady bench between 75th and 74th street. The stone wall at our backs, facing an elegant stately Gilded Age apartment building way across the boulevard with two doormen.


Tony said, “Here. Play here.”


First of all, it’s illegal to play amplified music in NYC without a ticket. But the cops don’t usually approach you unless someone complains. 


I was on cordless mic, Gavin to my right with his Telecaster plugged into a small amp. Tequan was to my left on the next bench, bright brassy sax hanging from his neck.


We started with “Love, love, love… All you need is love.”


Tequan was brilliant. I learned later he had graduated music school and moved here from St. Thomas. He had jazz chops and even though we play our songs in different keys from the originals, fitting them to my vocal range, he found the right keys and played some incredible solos!


Tony and friends began chalking up the sidewalk with messages of peace, peace signs, no war, etc.


Passersby were amused. Many took a chalk and wrote something. “Paz Y Amor.” “No más guerras.” (Peace & Love, No more war.)


One guy in particular came along with a camera and began taping us. Then he and Tony had a long conversation on the side. 


Meanwhile, people across the avenue waved at us, people in pedicabs pedaling up Central Park West waved at us, people gave us the peace sign, and we just jammed our butts off, the three of us having a blast as musicians.


After about an hour, Tony said, “Okay, I’m ready to go.” And he grabbed his bag, along with two kites he had planned to fly, and took off.


We looked at each other and said, “I guess that means the gig is over?”


The three of us walked down to 72nd, eagerly enjoying a review of our jam session, promising to stay in touch. 


I love saxophone.


Got home, found a great chicken meal with peas and gravy from the other night, zapped it and we watched “Slow Horses” until I passed out on the couch. Took my pills at 10, went to bed.


I never dreamed, living in Buna, Texas that one day I’d be here having these adventures and completely taking it for granted, like, of course people meet guys named Tony, march down the street with four senior citizens and sing Beatles songs with your South African guitarist and the saxophonist you just met from St. Thomas. 


Doesn’t everyone? 

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

#39: A Day in the Life

Getting ready for our show on Thursday, I thought you might enjoy an insight into a normal day. So, here is my Sunday.

SUN JUNE 15

I woke up depressed and angry about only 11 reservations. I complained to Jim, "I’ll be so glad when this next week is over." I ate the last of my keto breakfast muffins.

Then I stuffed my blue Sgt. Pepper's jacket into my bag. Got on the train and went to the L station at Union Square. I was feeling kind of down, of course, and Gavin was also a little bit down, because we were bemoaning our previous night at Strawberry Fields, which got kind of rainy and dark. So it was a short gig and there was nobody there.

So now we’re standing on the platform of the L train. There are two trains between us. No, we are between two trains. One goes to eighth Avenue and the other goes to Brooklyn so the people getting off the train on the right are going up the staircase, and the people that get off on the left are also going up the staircase.

But when they come down the staircase, they run right to us and the majority of them are wearing earbuds or talking or engaged in some kind of avoidance activity, we do get people who smile and start to dance, or, not dance, their body starts to move. And the knees of the feet or the upper body.

The trains come at about three minute intervals if that long.

Half the crowd leaves with every train. Sometimes both trains arrive at the same time. And, poof! We’re alone.

This morning it was slow. Single bills trickling in. Maybe one every other song. Our backs were hurting, my neck had a knot from me turning toward him for harmonies.

Starting about 9:30. Going to noon. It was miserable hard work, especially since I have to do it with a smile and a playful camp counselor attitude.

But then, ten minutes to noon, a group of women saw us and started dancing. Singing along. That got the passengers going and we had about a 5 or 6 minute Beatles party.

Suddenly, all my aches were gone. It felt like I could do this for four more hours.

One older lady came up to us from behind and said I have been riding this train for 15 years and this is the best thing I have ever heard underground. And she threw down a $10 bill.

Two trains went by. And we were alone.

It was time to go. But I needed to pee. Gavin said there was one in the station so the balancing for me was do I try to find it or do I hold it out long enough until we get to Brooklyn to rehearse with Jake, which was our next stop?

I decided to go find the bathroom. First, I went up some steps and it was another train platform so I thought it was the wrong place so I went down and I went back to Gavin and then he said no, it’s on the platform up higher, so then I went back up to steps and then got more steps and then I found on the other side of the gate or there is a booth and there was a service worker in there so I asked him where there was a bathroom and he pointed me down the hallway.

I went all the way to the end of the station and I didn’t see a bathroom so I made my way back and it found the same guy but this time he was unloading a trash can. So I asked him again where the bathroom was and he said no, you go down this hallway and stay completely to the right. Just stay completely to the right.

So I went down that hallway and sure enough there were these two open doors that I could tell were bathrooms, male and female.

All good, we got on the train to eighth Avenue to catch the C train down to Brooklyn. Jake's apartment is this tiny little bedroom with a kitchen area and all of his musical gears on the walls. I love this guy so much.

The challenge of writing a show — I hate the word “show” — is that to do it right, you have to figure out who you are. Which means a lot of novel gazing, the kind you don’t do in public because it’s boring to other people.

I mean, some people may enjoy it, but for the most part, it’s the boring personal stuff that you have to figure out. Who am I? Why am I here? Who am I speaking to? What is my message? Do I have a message? Why do I do the things that I do? What is it that has put me in New York City at Strawberry Fields? And is that even significant?

And how is that related to who I am? I can tell the story of having played on John Lennon’s Piano, but what does that got to do with the small town Baptist boy whose first exposure to the outside world was the music of the Beatles? Well actually, it was the Monkees. Because of TV.

Timelines are confusing in my mind because in the world of Steve, they are my peers, meaning I think of them as my pals. Like distant friends who I know intimately and they know my songs just as well as I know theirs.

Every single time I meet a Beatles fan and they know some intimate piece of information about them, I feel almost personally violated. It’s totally stupid. Those are my friends. How dare you know as much about them as I do?

But what I have discovered is by singing three times a week for one to 2 to 3 hours at a time my voice is becoming very strong. I have the advantage of not needing to project. So I sing sometimes so softly I sing as softly as I possibly can, and I’m learning new techniques.



ADDENDUM: Our reservations, thanks to friends and Jim shaking the trees, have been climbing rapidly, so now I know Thursday is going to be awesome. I'm so relieved. But remind me to never do this again.


Until the next time.

#38: When Musical Magic Happen

It was magic.

There I was at my friend Jane’s piano. Sitting next to me is the beautiful pop star Corina. She had agreed to guest star on my show on the 19th and this was our first real rehearsal.


Could we find common ground? Her big dance pop chart hit, “Temptation” was nothing like my music. Also, she was born in the South Bronx, Puerto Rican — her new album is called Spanglish! — and I’m a white guy from a rural town in Texas.

But then we started to sing together and yes, it was magic. I'll cut to the chase and link to the video I made of our rehearsal. Just listen to it and I'll tell the full story below of how all this happened.


https://youtu.be/qiUY1DzfKWY

Total New York story. Gavin Gold, my partner in our Beatles act, was busking alone in a subway station playing guitar solos. Corina heard him from across the tracks and eventually ran up to him and said how she'd love to work with him. She and her husband, filmmaker and actor Joachin, had us over for a beautiful meal and we all became fast friends.


As we sat together and planned how we might work together on a show for her in September featuring her material, I casually mentioned I was doing a show on June 19th and would she be open to being a guest singer. She immediately said yes, but then I wondered what songs of mine would work for her.


When we finally met, I ran through a few numbers and we bonded as if we'd been singing together for years. We settled on my two newest songs, both of which I've released over the past month or so. But it was "Something I Meant To Do" -- the song I released only a week ago -- that really sealed the deal. It was so powerful and beautiful.


So now June 19th is all set. We do our final rehearsals this week and then next week, whoever comes is going to be truly blessed by what we've put together.


In BEATLES news, Gavin and I have been having a blast in Central Park when we're not getting rained on. Last Saturday evening, the sky was clear and we had a huge crowd when suddenly a rainstorm passed over us. It didn't drown us, but we did get wet and everyone flew away. But it passed quickly and by the time we started back up -- in our new pink and green jackets -- the park was filled again with Beatles fans.


On Sunday, we sang a set at a Jewish senior center and that was really rewarding to watch the faces light up as each new song brought up memories in their faces. Smiles and laughter and dancing! It was so fun.




RESERVE YOUR TICKETS for June 19th at Don't Tell Mama!
https://tinyurl.com/steve-dont-tell-mama


[This is the hand-crafted non-bot newsletter of Steve Schalchlin. If you wish to be removed from the list, send me an email. If someone sent you this and you want to be added, write me at steveshack@gmail.com]--



Steve Schalchlin

Living in the Bonus Round

#37: Renewal Summit Video

Today, I shall be behind a piano at my friend Jane's place. First, I'll tune it and then I'll get down to putting together the show for June 19 at Don't Tell Mama. https://tinyurl.com/steve-dont-tell-mama I also have to sell tickets! Not easy but I'm working on it!


I have new songs, new singers and my great band, of course. Bonus Round Band with Rebel Nerds. 

On Thursday, I'm going to meet with special guest Corina Ayala on Thursday. She's an electrifying performer who's had chart-topping hits as well as her own successful one woman show. We already met once and developed a great rapport. So, I'm excited to see what we can cook up together.

RENEWAL SUMMIT:
The big news was how much fun it was to be a part of the Renewal Summit produced by the Three Tomatoes. They posted all the lectures -- as well as my short musical presentation -- online. So that's today's link. 

Scroll down to find me, but do look at the other videos. They are fascinating and informative. Then plan to come in person next year! Cheryl Benton has led an incredible team. 


See ya next week! And thanks for your support.


Steve

#36: Our 40th Anniversary & A Beatle Surprise

This past Saturday at Strawberry Fields, as we started our set at 6pm, the crowd was a bit chaotic. I wasn't sure if anyone was listening. The guy before us was a great musician but didn't talk much. So, when I announced, at the top, that we'd later on gather everyone around the circle of the mosaic and sing "Imagine" together, I didn't know if anyone was listening.


The past two times we've done this, it always took a little encouragement when we got to that moment because people are naturally shy and no one wants to go first.


About an hour into our set, I announced we would sing "Imagine" next. But I didn't say anything about joining into the circle because I had planned that for later in the night at dusk.


But, suddenly, everyone got up out of their seats and walked over to the circle and joined hands! What could I do but join them? It was so beautiful!


40 Years Together
Jim and I celebrated our 40th anniversary this past weekend. Didn't we meet just yesterday? Sure seems like it. We had a beautiful lunch with friends on Sunday and another one on Monday. I love free food!

SAFE AND SOUND
A friend said to me that she listens to my song "Safe and Sound" every night before going to sleep. This song also explains one of the reasons we're able to stay together: Because we create a safe home that lets us grow and live in peace.


We don't fight. We barely even argue. And back in the early days, when we did have little arguments, if either of us said anything funny, we'd table to fight to laugh at the punchline. And by then, the air was let out of the moment.


SAFE AND SOUND
by Steve Schalchlin


Safe and sound
Home
Found
Here on the ground


Safe and sound
Safe and sound


Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/safe-and-sound-feat-steve-schalchlin-blake-zolfo/1701338261


Spotify Link:
https://open.spotify.com/track/0OPbi5eKesFnakBVAcc32x?si=8ce6fb0769e84e75


YouTube:
https://youtu.be/eeQKCUDrvbA?si=F4ZusgHmVDzhzoqa


JUNE 19:
This is the week that I'll be setting the promotion for our June 19 show at Don't Tell Mama in motion. It's always greatly stressful doing a show these days. Because of my fall and shoulder destruction several years ago, it's taken me years to get my arm back up to functionality. I've been doing little salons and informal appearances on the ships building up to this year.


But that means I don't have a big promotional team or a line-up of steady customers to draw on. Still, thanks to friends, I did manage to get a bunch of critics to the first show in March where we got great reviews. Hopefully, I can leverage this to get more people attending.


So help me spread the word! Come and bring friends!


New Show on June 19th at Don't Tell Mama!
https://tinyurl.com/steve-dont-tell-mama


You are free to stream the songs below but purchasing them is the best way to support independent artists such as myself. Or if you have the means, you can make a small donation through PayPal or Venmo using my email address: steveshack@gmail.com.


And please share this with friends!


[This is the hand-crafted, no-AI, non-bot newsletter of Steve Schalchlin. If you wish to be removed from the list, send me an email. If someone sent you this and you want to be added, write me at steveshack@gmail.com]--



Steve Schalchlin

Living in the Bonus Round







Spotify Links

2024 Songs https://tinyurl.com/3su9t85m

Love Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevelovesongs

Personal Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepersonal

Comic/Humor Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevehumor

Inspirational Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/steveinspire

Meditation Music by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevemeditate

Political Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepolitics

Rebel Nerd Songs - lyrics by Steve Schalchlin

https://tinyurl.com/steverebelnerd

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

#35: Kidney Stone & A Sad Song




I love a sad song. I really do. Whether it's Eleanor Rigby or (horrors!) "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro -- which I secretly loved as a kid but, as an adult, cannot bear -- put on a sad song and watch me go into instant bliss.


As a songwriter, I'm famous for making people cry with my songs such as "Going It Alone" but that's not so much sad as it is a love song with a heartbreaking premise and a beautiful resolution about the mutuality of a love relationship.


This week, I wrote and produced a new song called "Something I Meant To Do." It's a song about regret but I hope it also serves as a song that inspires you to actually DO something you always meant to do but hesitated to for whatever reason. So, get out your tissues and have a bawl-fest. Or just enjoy it for what it is. I make no apologies!


As for my kidney stone from last week, I was up all night last Monday in excruciating pain because I didn't have any pain pills. So I put on some wild music -- an insanely great jazz piece called "Escalator Over the Hill" by Carla Bley, recommended by my friend, songwriter, singer and musician Norman Salant.

I let the chaos and wild energy of that piece distract me as I spent the night pacing back and forth playing with Leo the Cat. Well, Pope Leo the Cat, now. It was torment but the music kept the pain at bay because it distracted my brain so effectively. (Thanks for all your notes, by the way, expressing sympathy for my condition.)


Thankfully, the pain went away on Wednesday (just after I finally got some pain pills) and I'm doing really well now. I was able to perform at the terrific "Renewal Summit" by the Three Tomatoes Production group (where I did sing "Going It Alone") and it was a beautiful gathering. I hope you'll plan to attend next year.


But back to the new song! Not only did I record it this week, but I recorded it live in my studio with the cameras rolling. Normally, while I do like to record vocals in as few takes as possible, this was the first time I rolled the video and actually taped the performance in real time, and then made zero changes to the performance.


Something I Meant To Do
©2025 by Steve Schalchlin

Greeting you at sunrise
In our villa in Spain
Running arm and arm with you
While dodging the rain

Whispering at midnight
I’m so glad to have you
Something I meant to do
That was something
Something I meant to do

Watching as our kids grow up
So smart and so strong
Demonstrating how a love can
Last so long
Driving to the therapist
To learn to work through
Something I meant to do
Something, Something I meant to do

But instead I’m curled up tight
Drowning in the TV light

Lost in thoughts of nothing but
The memory of you
Calling you to find out
If you feel this way too
Hearing you say our dreams
Will finally come true

Something I meant to do
That was something
Something I meant to do


YouTube Link:
https://youtu.be/PkdudjXS89c


Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/song/something-i-meant-to-do-feat-bonus-round-band/1814771887


Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/album/6o4YOqaAlNUuSVpyq4ZJHJ?si=l1zYqTGqTCyEU30v_INQtg


New Show on June 19th at Don't Tell Mama!
https://tinyurl.com/steve-dont-tell-mama


You are free to stream the songs below but purchasing them is the best way to support independent artists such as myself. Or if you have the means, you can make a small donation through PayPal or Venmo using my email address: steveshack@gmail.com.


And please share this with friends!


[This is the hand-crafted, no-AI, non-bot newsletter of Steve Schalchlin. If you wish to be removed from the list, send me an email. If someone sent you this and you want to be added, write me at steveshack@gmail.com]--



Steve Schalchlin

Living in the Bonus Round







Spotify Links

2024 Songs https://tinyurl.com/3su9t85m

Love Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevelovesongs

Personal Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepersonal

Comic/Humor Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevehumor

Inspirational Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/steveinspire

Meditation Music by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevemeditate

Political Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepolitics

Rebel Nerd Songs - lyrics by Steve Schalchlin

https://tinyurl.com/steverebelnerd

#34: Kidney Stone Pause

 No newsletter this week because I'm in intense kidney stone pain.

Tuesday, May 06, 2025

#33: Beatles Moment, AI & Animated Gulf of America

Saturday May 3, we were scheduled to busk at 5pm.

Phone rang at 3:15. It was Gavin. "Dave asked us to start early at 4."

I had just showered so I threw on my clothes and my costume, hit the subway uptown to 72nd Street.

We performed for four hours straight. I do all the lead vocals and all the talking. Still, by dusk, I still felt vocally okay but I was tired.

Finally, at dusk, I stood up, walked over to the IMAGINE mosaic and invited people to join me in a circle. I had never done that before. Hesitantly, they came, then reached out and held each other’s hands and I said, “This is what John was singing about. When we stand together, strangers from all over the world, there is no rich nor poor, no nationalities, no religion. Just human beings singing a beautiful song.”

We were living out the song in real time. It was beautiful and they were believers.

(Unexpectedly, there was a man with a video camera. He documents all the people who sing at Strawberry Fields. We just popped up on his channel for the first time! https://www.youtube.com/@stuartm.6828)

MY NEW VIDEO
You might have listened to the satirical song I wrote a couple weeks ago called "Gulf of America." I got obsessed with turning it into a video, so I spent three or four days hunched over my laptop doing this. It's silly and funny, while not being so silly and funny.

https://youtube.com/shorts/65tylF-ARhQ?feature=share


For you nerds who want to know the process:
I made the Gulf of America video by conceiving the scenes first in my mind and describing them in plain language to ChatGPT. Then ChatGPT refined the prompt that would give the best results which I used in Sora to generate the images. Then got a new prompt from ChatGPT to describe what action I wanted from the still image. I put those images into both Kling and Hailuo to animate them after inserting the new animation prompt.


https://youtube.com/shorts/65tylF-ARhQ?feature=share


And that's it for this week! I have appearances coming up as well as my new show on June 19th.


I'm encouraging everyone to support Urban Stages, where we debuted our new "Steve and Friends" concert series. Benefit on April 25. https://www.urbanstages.org/benefit2025


I'm honored to perform again this year for the Renewal Summit 2025. It's a fantastic day of presentations, food, drink and me! May 16.


https://www.thethreetomatoes.com/renewal2025

New Show on June 19th at Don't Tell Mama!
https://tinyurl.com/steve-dont-tell-mama


You are free to stream the songs below but purchasing them is the best way to support independent artists such as myself. Or if you have the means, you can make a small donation through PayPal or Venmo using my email address: steveshack@gmail.com.


And please share this with friends!


[This is the hand-crafted, no-AI, non-bot newsletter of Steve Schalchlin. If you wish to be removed from the list, send me an email. If someone sent you this and you want to be added, write me at steveshack@gmail.com]--



Steve Schalchlin

Living in the Bonus Round







Spotify Links

2024 Songs https://tinyurl.com/3su9t85m

Love Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevelovesongs

Personal Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepersonal

Comic/Humor Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevehumor

Inspirational Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/steveinspire

Meditation Music by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevemeditate

Political Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepolitics

Rebel Nerd Songs - lyrics by Steve Schalchlin

https://tinyurl.com/steverebelnerd

#32: AI, Stress & Music

My friend JD wrote me about a question he posed to an AI program about how to "fix" America. (Not his word). And the AI wrote a reasonable and progressive answer about wealth inequality, voter suppression, corporate capture of government, and what was needed was civic awakening, empowering technology, a new movement, public financing of elections, universal education, etc.


He asked me what I thought about this and also the rational fears of AI. This was my response, and I want to share it with you.


JD,
I love that you're embracing new technologies. Those are the tools by which we will be able to lead, participate in and effectuate any changes we want to make in society.


But for me, when I sing my Beatles songs at Strawberry Fields, I tell people, as we sing Imagine together, that it starts with us putting that positivity and love from the music into our hearts -- then spreading that love and good vibrations to everyone around us. It's the one thing I can do -- that I feel is my primary mission in life.


What I caution everyone -- you included -- to remember that it is self-destructive and self-defeating to allow the ills of the world to become tangible stress on and in your body. The things I cannot change -- Trump ain't calling me for my advice -- must remain in their proper place, below the things I can do.


Worry is not action. It can lead to action, but stress defeats our bodies and our minds. I should not stress over that which I have no control.


I always tell the story about the moment, after I came back to life in August 1996, when I was still in the glow of rebirth, I suddenly had this tangible worry about the national debt. Like a bird had flown into the room and dropped this on me. And I thought, why am I suddenly worried about the national debt? What can I do, standing here vacuuming, about the national debt and then I had a realization, "Oh, is this what it was like before? And what other stresses am I carrying that I'm not even consciously aware of?"



Up until a few weeks previous, while we were doing our first workshop of The Last Session, I was expecting to die. I had a new drug, but there were no guarantees. It was unknown. Experimental.


As we reflected in the character of Gideon in the musical, "knowing" I was going to die had completely freed me. I realized I had no control over it so I just allowed myself to surrender (while still fighting) to the acceptance that my time was coming soon.


It was so freeing, I was powerfully engaged in just trying to eke out every last bit of LIFE.


I was still in that glow when that thought, that absurd thought, about the national debt dropped into my head, spoiling the party.

But the point was that it was nothing more than a thought.


That thought changed my body chemistry. It twisted up my stomach ever so slightly. It gave my brain something to fry in. I've spent all these years since reminding people that everything in our body can change with a single thought. We don't have to live in stress.


So, yes, embrace the tools. Don't be fooled, however, into thinking there is a "person" doing any "thinking" in that computer program. It's a word prediction algorithm. Perhaps, in the larger media, the good news is these principles about how to make change are so pervasive, that the AI reaches for them first after someone asks it these questions. It could just as easily have spit out Fox News propaganda.


It's a confusing world, but what you and I can do is put out music, love, positivity, energy, inspiration and the knowledge that you are not alone.


But I will be using every tool I can find to do it.

#31: News and a Revised Song for Dad in his passing

I almost didn't write a newsletter this week because, since my father passed, I've felt unfocused and a bit lost. I had one big crying jag but it happened in my sleep in the middle of a dream. I woke up sobbing and said to myself, "The dam broke." I had taken his death without a lot of emotion since I was ready for it, but I guess there are larger feelings going on way deep beneath my calm exterior.


Also, I took a look at the song "My Daddy's Room," which I released after we moved him into that assisted living facility. I decided to rewrite the last verse to bring the song up to date and celebrate his passing with a little humor along the way, of course.


I haven't had time to release it as a single, but I revised the video I made of the first song and included all the family photos -- and him and the cat that fell in love with him. Maybe it'll only be meaningful to my immediate family, but here ya go:


https://youtu.be/sAEG7Hg4tVA



MY DADDY'S ROOM 2

©2022 SCHALCHLIN




THE GIRLS HUNG UP THESE PICTURES OF HIS

NOW-DEPARTED WIFE

ACROSS THE ROOM HIS SHIP MATES

FROM HIS CRAZY NAVY LIFE


CHURCHES AND MY BROTHERS

FROZEN SMILES IN BLACK AND WHITE

MOM THERE IN THAT POLAROID

THE LOYAL PREACHER’S WIFE


IN MY DADDY’S ROOM


THERE'S A MENU, SOUTHERN COOKING

DEEP FRIED OKRA ON TONIGHT

DOWN THE HALLS ARE WIDOWS

HE’LL AVOID WITH ALL HIS MIGHT


THREE SCORE AND TEN YEARS

WHERE TWO HAD TRULY GROWN AS ONE

SITTING HERE AT NINETY THREE

A NEW OLD LIFE BEGUN


IN MY DADDY’S ROOM

MY DADDY’S ROOM


HE DROVE US 'CROSS THE COUNTRY

BACK WHEN I WAS BARELY FIVE

ON ROADS THAT EISENHOWER HAD JUST

BUILT FOR FOLKS TO DRIVE


HOT BALONEY SANDWICHES

MOM BUILT RIGHT IN OUR FORD

DESERT HEAT WAS NOTHING

WE’D BEEN CALLED THERE BY THE LORD


TWO YEARS ON, THE CAT LIES

NEAR HIS BARELY BREATHING CHEST

SURROUNDED BY THE FAMILY

TELLING HIM HE WAS THE BEST


NOW HE’S DREAMING OF HER

THAT SHE’S WATCHING FROM ABOVE

THE TWO OF THEM COMMUNING

BY THE POWER OF THEIR LOVE


WE WAIT AND WE WONDER WHEN HE’LL

TAKE HIS FINAL SIGH

TRYING TO CALL DIBS ON ALL HIS DRUGS

AS THEY GO BY


THINKING WHEN IT’S MY TURN

THIS IS HOW I WANT TO DIE


IN MY DADDY’S ROOM

MY DADDY’S ROOM


WE DROVE HIM DOWN TO TEXAS

WHERE MET HIS YOUNGEST KIN

LITTLE GIRLS ALL GIGGLING

AS HE WATCHES FROM HIS CHAIR




NEWS: I'm encouraging everyone to support Urban Stages, where we debuted our new "Steve and Friends" concert series. Benefit on April 25. https://www.urbanstages.org/benefit2025


NEWS: I'm honored to perform again this year for the Renewal Summit 2025. It's a fantastic day of presentations, food, drink and me! May 16.


https://www.thethreetomatoes.com/renewal2025


Thursday, April 10, 2025

#30: Something Funny

>
I knew when I asked Sidney Myer, a legendary comic performer here in NYC recently featured in the NY Times in an extensive article about the art of cabaret, to sing "Vacationing in Syria," in my show this past March that it would be very special. But until we all saw it with our own eyes, I had no idea how hilarious it would be.

In fact, we didn't even have a rehearsal. We briefly met at the piano just before the show, but mostly to clear up a few questions he had. Luckily, my friend Magda Katz was there with her video camera. So now I've made a short video using his performance as a teaser video for our new show coming on June 19.

It's only about a minute long, but you are getting the first glimpse. After this week, I go into full on marketing mode. Click if you dare...

https://youtu.be/2ZdoIqiriVk

And if you want to dive even further, my friend Blake found this disco version I did several years ago. I was still learning how to use my recording studio software so I was making all kinds of wacky recordings back then. I was also learning to use new graphic arts tools so I made a lyric video of it, too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrZdCSgKGv0

In other news, my dad will be laid to rest this week in Little Rock. Here is his memorial page if you wish to leave a comment. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/north-little-rock-ar/neil-schalchlin-12322524

For the many, many who have reached out with sympathy and stories and love, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart. As I said before, I'm glad I was able to spend time with him over the past few years so that we could reconnect after many years apart. It was healing for me and for my family.

See ya next week!

Wednesday, April 02, 2025

#29: A Gentle Soul Passes



For a gentle soul
In a brutal world


My dad, as expected, passed away a couple of days ago. He was surrounded by love and in complete peace.


My brothers and other family members and I have become close, which is a relief after I spent so many years kind of hiding my life from them. We’ve had great, hilarious conversations. Death brings life.


I wasn’t consciously thinking of my dad when I wrote this week’s song. I was actually thinking about what a warlike atmosphere has been created in public media, politics and religion.


Where does the gentle soul go to find comfort and peace? Is there even a home for peaceful hearted people?


Must I raise my hand?
Must I clench my fist?


My dad could be fierce if he wanted to but his was a gentle soul who served the people in his church. Fixing hot water heaters. Us babysitting all the kids in a family whose parent has to go far away for a medical treatment. Our house had an open door policy and everyone was welcome and cared for who walked through those doors.


This is a very quiet, very gentle song, piano, voice and some rich sounds to enforce the flow of the music. I hope it brings you a moment of peace and quiet and healing.


Gentle Soul
©2025 by Steve Schalchlin




For a gentle soul

In a brutal world

I must change they say

Or I won’t survive


It’s the angry voice

And the squeaky wheel

Who get things done

Who will stay alive


Shall I give up hope

And just let it go

Can we find no home

For a gentle soul


But what kind of life

Do I have to live

If I have to beat

Other people down


Must I raise my hand

Must I clench my fist

Are there peaceful streams

In a stormy town


Shall I give up hope

And just let it go

Can we find no home

For a gentle soul




But if I withdraw

From a wounded world

Does it only prove

What they’re telling me


If I turn away

If I step aside

Does the chaos reign

Does the anger hide


Shall I give up hope

And just let it go

Can we find no home

For a gentle soul


Can we find no home

For a gentle soul

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/track/0jgsqsve6fQt9I0ydLsklS?si=b285bc1e32e340ba



Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/gentle-soul-feat-bonus-round-band-single/1805171784


YouTube Music:
https://youtu.be/D8N5PmM-2og?si=9JcbuJvu8-QRJHMi

#28: The Reviews are In!

My dad is still hanging in there. He is surrounded by my Texas family and the hospice worker who comes to my brother's home says he can hear them so they are lavishing him with praise and positive words. It should only be a few more days.

I'm feeling positive about it -- we all have to go sometime -- but I still feel this emptiness or sadness or something lingering and it's keeping me from being all that productive. My dreams are weird and disturbing, but this too shall pass.


Meanwhile, I promised you the reviews of my show! I've provided the links below but here is a summary.


And here is some footage taken by Magda Katz.


FOOTAGE:

https://t2conline.com/steve-schalchlin-a-genre-bending-night-of-music-combining-cabaret-heart-with-beatles-harmony


Steve Schalchlin's recent performance at Don't Tell Mama was met with enthusiastic and nuanced praise from multiple critics. Bart Greenberg captured the essence of the show, describing it as a "very satisfying evening" that successfully blended diverse musical genres through Schalchlin's remarkable "charm, charisma and enormous talent." Despite the potential challenges of mixing styles from country-western to punk rock, the performance maintained a cohesive and engaging quality that delighted audience members.

The songwriting emerged as a particular highlight of the evening. Alix Cohen noted Schalchlin's ability to transform various experiences into compelling musical narratives, praising his versatility in creating songs that could be "wry, tender, observant, or... rockabilly fun." Critics were especially impressed by specific tracks like "I Only See You Young," which was described as "a ballad for the ages," and "Someone to Get Groceries With," a charming piece that captured the universal desire for companionship.

Guest performers played a significant role in the show's success. Blake Zolfo, Sidney Myer, and Natalie Douglas were singled out for their exceptional contributions. Zolfo's performance of "My New York Life" and his co-written "Someone to Get Groceries With" were particularly praised, while Sidney Myer's comedic delivery in "Vacationing in Syria" drew special mention for its unique and entertaining approach.

The Bonus Round Band provided exceptional musical support, with Charlie Viehl's violin work receiving special recognition. The band's ability to navigate multiple genres - from folk to punk - demonstrated the group's musical versatility. While one review suggested some potential for editing, the overall consensus was overwhelmingly positive, highlighting Schalchlin's impressive songwriting and the show's warm, collaborative spirit.

Ultimately, the reviews painted a picture of a multifaceted musical experience that showcased Schalchlin's talents as both a songwriter and performer. From romantic ballads to comedic numbers, the show offered a rich tapestry of musical storytelling that left critics and audiences alike thoroughly entertained and impressed.
https://nitelifeexchange.com/the-multi-varied-universe-of-steve-schalchlin-entertained-brightly-at-dont-tell-mama/

https://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/playing-around/steve-schalchlin-and-the-bonus-round-band/


https://www.broadwayworld.com/cabaret/article/Review-STEVE-SCHALCHLIN-AND-FRIENDS-Shines-at-Dont-Tell-Mama-20250313

If I didn't know me, I'd go see that guy!

Thursday, March 20, 2025

#27: Lost in Space Animated!

This week's newsletter is short because I've been playing around in my AI sandbox by taking the video we released last week and animating it! Last week, this wasn't possible!


Here is the original so you can compare them:
https://youtu.be/QuZRK9xLaHU


This is the new one where all those stills are animated:
https://youtu.be/NKF0oIp00b4


Then I had the idea to take one of Jim Brochu's drawings of Times Square 1964 and animate that! It's only 5 seconds long, but check it out!


https://youtu.be/He4lpNAT6m8


I'm just having way too much fun these days.


Personal note: You may recall that we took my aging dad down to Texas to live with my brother, Scott and his wife, Annette. Well, he's now under hospice care. 95 years old. He lived a good, long life and now that he's near the end, it's bittersweet, of course. But he's being doted on constantly and even one of their cats, who refused to go anywhere near a human, has chosen him as its companion. Sleeping near him and letting dad stroke him.


So, being surrounded by love in your final days? Not the worst way to go.


Tuesday, March 11, 2025

#26: Great Show & New EP!


I'm happy to report that our show, Steve Schalchlin and Friends at Don't Tell Mama, was a resounding success. I wrote on social media that it was the best night of my whole life.

The room was packed, they laughed at the funny lines and cried on the sad ones. I heard there were no less than four critics there. I'll do the reviews next week after they come out. Cross fingers they liked it.

BUT THE BIG NEWS
Gavin Gold, my partner in the Beatles project, and I have released a new 6-song EP. These didn't quite fit into Rebel Nerds or Bonus Round Band. And they're a bit bent, I think. He brings out a twisted side of me. We met at the Jack Hardy Songwriter Exchange and I began writing lyrics for him, on deadline, every week. Or he'd have a half a lyric and I'd finish it up.

Here's an example: There's a song called "Lost in Space." Because Gavin has a tender heart for animals and aliens, he started this fantasy song about them coming to earth and becoming zoo animals, put on display. So I took that and extended it to a man feeling so poorly about this that he fantasizes making a deal with the aliens to go to their planet as a volunteer zoo animal and they split the profits.

Here is the link to the rather disturbingly silly video: https://youtu.be/QuZRK9xLaHU

This is a link to the full Schalchlin/Gold EP.
https://open.spotify.com/album/47VnVumQhD8hQ60aSl5XBM?si=Hl-W64F2TcqraV14OjDFjg

You are free to stream the songs but purchasing them is the best way to support independent artists such as myself. Or if you have the means, you can make a small donation through PayPal or Venmo using my email address: steveshack@gmail.com.

And please share this with friends!

[This is the hand-crafted non-bot newsletter of Steve Schalchlin. If you wish to be removed from the list, send me an email. If someone sent you this and you want to be added, write me at steveshack@gmail.com]--



Steve Schalchlin
Living in the Bonus Round

Spotify Links

2024 Songs https://tinyurl.com/3su9t85m
Love Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevelovesongs
Personal Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepersonal
Comic/Humor Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevehumor
Inspirational Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/steveinspire
Meditation Music by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevemeditate
Political Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepolitics
Rebel Nerd Songs - lyrics by Steve Schalchlin
https://tinyurl.com/steverebelnerd

Tuesday, March 04, 2025

#25: Almost Here!

Today, I was composing a final press release to go out later this morning and I was trying to describe our show on Friday at Don't Tell Mama. (https://tinyurl.com/Steve-DTM)


Using an app, it asked me questions. Specifically, what is this show? Is it a show? 


I answered the question by describing how it was taking shape: In front of people in small spaces in casual settings, like the afternoon lounge aboard a ship or in our friend, Jane Goldman's, living room, then a few numbers at the Actor's Temple, then suddenly and unexpectedly on stage at the Urban Stages festival, where we all laughed together, cried together, felt love together, remembered love together and left with a greater appreciation for life.


I even did a version of this show for two people on the ship who couldn't get to the appointed time! They were from Australia. Hello, Jane and Richard!


It feels like the show is driving me! That's when I realized what this show is all about. It's about that loose living room warmth and telling stories.


And that's all it has to be. If there is something larger there, I believe it will emerge just as The Last Session emerged from the songs. What I do know is that this group of songs are relationship/love songs, the first set I've ever tried to write -- and I've been writing them since before the pandemic.

So here's part of the press release:

"Join composer and performer Steve Schalchlin and his cherished friends, including special guests legendary cabaret comedian Sidney Myer, jazz virtuoso Natalie Douglas from Birdland, and rising star Blake Zolfo, for an intimate evening of music and connection in "Steve Schalchlin and Friends: Two Things Too" at Don't Tell Mama NYC on March 7, 2025. This isn't just a performance; it's a warm gathering, a living room concert where hearts meet and music heals.

"Imagine friends gathered around a piano, acoustic guitars, a violin, and a chorus of voices, creating an atmosphere of pure musical camaraderie. Steve Schalchlin, whose deeply personal and genre-bending music has been praised by The New York Times for its "triumphant and very touching" blend of humor and emotion, invites you to experience his latest collection of original songs."

Does that work?


I had a great rehearsal on Sunday with the Rebel Nerds, Gavin Gold and Jake Adams, the punk band that's going to merge with the rotating casts of my Bonus Round Band, which now consists of me, Blake Zolfo and new-in-town violinist/music director Charlie Viehl.


We have a vocal rehearsal on Thursday and then Friday night at 7, we are on! I'm vibrating with nervous anticipation.


One of the songs we'll be singing is a minor hit by Rebel Nerds for which I contributed most of the lyrics. It's called Sooner or Later and it will charge up your morning with joy! Stay tuned for more exciting music news. So that's our link for the week.


YouTube Music
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=WSLbpUtDGeA&si=wJyhjtbqgbjXdgqW


Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/track/5TbFH1N5FH7lVkPn7ctCzl?si=892ac2f5c4b3448f


Amazon
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0BBPFJ62P?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_1rqbUadI2Dz4StnCcynLI82f


Apple Music
https://music.apple.com/us/album/sooner-or-later/1571781221?i=1571781226


You are free to stream the songs but purchasing them is the best way to support independent artists such as myself. Or if you have the means, you can make a small donation through PayPal or Venmo using my email address: steveshack@gmail.com.


And please share this with friends!


[This is the hand-crafted, non-bot newsletter of Steve Schalchlin. If you wish to be removed from the list, send me an email. If someone sent you this and you want to be added, write me at steveshack@gmail.com]--


Steve Schalchlin
Living in the Bonus Round


Spotify Links

2024 Songs https://tinyurl.com/3su9t85m

Love Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevelovesongs

Personal Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepersonal

Comic/Humor Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevehumor

Inspirational Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/steveinspire

Meditation Music by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevemeditate

Political Songs by Steve Schalchlin https://tinyurl.com/stevepolitics

Rebel Nerd Songs - lyrics by Steve Schalchlin

https://tinyurl.com/steverebelnerd