April 2009
In August of 2006, we had the opportunity to perform at a Borders Bookstore in Kansas City. The literature we were given led us to believe this was an important step in putting Stephen’s CDs in every Borders store in the midwest. We were to send pictures for promotional material in the store, and the marketing manager would meet with us personally when we arrived. It was considered an audition.
The family traveled to Kansas City, checked into our hotel rooms, and got some supper. Stephen met with the store manager and set up for his gig. There were no materials in the store. There was no marketing manager. The store manager stopped the concert at one point to ask that Stephen turn the volume down. After all was said and done, the store manager said he would be happy to have Stephen back, and the next time he would be willing to put Stephen’s CDs on the shelves.
That was all we heard from Borders Bookstore. However, the customers who stopped and listened seemed to enjoy themselves.
March 2009
The Coffeehouse Series:
Steamers Coffeehouse May 2005
Back when Stephen and I were dating, he gravitated toward different locations rather than setting up a regular venue. This was one of those gigs. It was a trendy little coffeehouse in Lincoln, Nebraska. As with many older buildings, with its dark wood floors, narrow staircase, and old-fashioned soda fountain set-up, it seemed to have a life of its own.
We filled the place. Family and friends came from far and wide, including my college roommate and her family. One of the regulars made the ladies roses from dried buds and pruning wire. Stephen sang many songs I had never heard, and I was a groupee. I can’t exactly vouch for the coffee drinks, but I would do it again in a minute!
The highlight of the show for me was a song about the consequence of sin. It was called “Becky”, and it was not one of his mother’s favorites. It is from the perspective of a man on his death bed apologizing to his wife for his past indisgressions. I loved this song because it illustrated that people are complicated, and sin is real. What is important is recognizing our sins and atoning for them before it is too late.
February 2009
The Coffeehouse Series:
Scooters Coffeehouse February 2007 to November 2007
Stephen’s bandmate Mike promised to keep his ear out for anyone interested in hosting a concert. A local Scooters Franchise was opening up, and they were open to something different that might help them build patronage. The owners were Christian, and seemed like a good fit. Stephen’s concert was such a success that they asked him to come regularly and offered to pay him ten percent of the sales during his performance.
Family, friends, parish members, and people from the neighborhood faithfully came. The children played and colored in coloring books, while the adults took time out of their busy schedules to listen and allow the music to touch them. It was a way to reconect with each other and invite God to work as we rested in HIM.
One woman from our community really had an impact on Stephen and his music. Belinda is a Methodist minister and math teacher for OPS. She was writing a book about a woman who had overcome terrible abuse and hardship and one of Stephen’s song resonated with her. Jericho is a song about God’s love waiting patiently for us to accept it. The tale is about a woman who hides behind her garden walls while a well-intentioned suitor seranedes her and lets her know that she is in fact worthy of his love. Through some persuasion Stephen agreed to write the song from the woman’s perspective. Why was she hiding behind her garden walls in the first place? Inside the Walls was written for Belinda. Belinda knew that woman. This was the woman from Belinda’s book. There was another song that finished the story. Knock It Down was written much earlier, but shares the theme of moving through barriers to find and accept love, be it God’s love, the love of a spouse, family, or friends.
January 2009
The Coffeehouse Series:
MoJo’s Coffeehouse May 2006 to October 2007
Every year Stephen enjoys playing a special concert for his birthday. On this particular occasion, I set up a concert at a nearby coffeehouse instead of the Catholic Campus Ministry offices, where it had been in the past. Unbeknownst to me he had known the owners, and they asked him to become a regular performer.
We came every first and third Saturday morning, bringing our faithful crowd with us. We were a humble community, enjoying coffee and baklava, and listening to songs about the going to the circus and getting out of the rain.
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