The prodigal son has returned from travels across the vast desert
of silicon valley(not literally).  Yes, I have been sailing the seas of
the Internet, caught up in status updates, picture uploads, grade
school classmates, and even in virtual contact with many of you fine
folks on this rather archaic(haha!) e-mail list.

Sorry for dropping off and leaving you all hanging on the next adventures of Steve and Erin in Japan.
It's
weird, what once was so foreign and new, can easily transform into your
"normal" life.  So goes our status these past many months still here in
Japan.  And, just as soon as all seems normal, we are ready to flip our
lives upside down once again by returning back to our home sweet home! 



Yeah, if you haven't heard, this is our last year in Japan. 
We'll be returning to the good ole USA at the end of this summer! 

What
times we've had here in Japan!  We sure will miss it, but in the same
breath we are happy to come back to friends and family who we've missed
so very much.  And, let's not forget about Chicago pizza, hot dogs,
Lake Michigan, cheap concerts, cheap movies, and the mass of the
population speaking a language you can understand. 


One thing that I am grateful to come home to is to see my family. 
I have been missing them so very much.  I did have the great
opportunity to travel to the Philippines this past January and meet my
cousins, aunts, uncles, and extended family there, which was such an
unbelievable experience!(you'll have to read the blog for that story)

But, I am most looking forward to seeing my mom back in Cal City. 
While
living here in Japan, my mother was diagnosed with ALS.  It's been
torture for me to know this and not be able to be there to help out. 
Though, my brothers and sisters and family friends have been utterly
supportive and doing an amazing job taking care of my folks.  My
mother, as humble as she is, has the strength of a lion in her heart,
and her unwavering devotion to prayer and spiritual guidance will get
her through the challenges that come with ALS, also known as Lou
Gehrig's Disease. 


To do my part in supporting my family and my mom, I've joined my
sister's team for the Chicago Walk to Defeat ALS.  Though, I cannot be
there in June for the walk, I've registered as a virtual walker and am
taking donations for this cause.  Please check out my personal page
here, 

http://web.alsa.org/goto/..Stephen_Munoz
I
know times are tough back home, and money's tight.  But if you can find
it, any amount would be greatly and graciously appreciated, to show
support for my mom, my family, and all those who have been affected by
this disease.  Please take the time to visit the page and read a little
more about my mom and ALS.  And, please spread the love and pass this
link onto anyone and everyone. 


You know, usually I ask and thank you all for your support you've
given me throughout my musical career and personal endeavors, but this
time I ask for your attention to support my mother, Soly Munoz, and her
fight against ALS. 


Thanks everyone!  Sending you all the love from Japan! 

Peace and love,

Steve

Happy New Year everyone!  To start out 2009, I've uploaded two new tracks I just recorded this week.  I finally got around to recording these songs properly, and I'm submitting them to hopefully be chosen for a compilation CD being created by Chicago Pinoy Music Scene, a grassroots organization promoting Filipino artists from Chicago.  The two songs I submitted and posted up are "Blue-collar Blues" and "Lady Elaine(Ballad of a songbird)".
You'll hear that I added a few instruments to round out the sound, and of course layed down some tasty but tasteful lapsteel licks on each track.  Can you guess the percussion on Lady Elaine?  Nothing makes you more creative or resourceful than when you're home recording.  I played everything and mixed and recorded everything as well, in a few days(just in time before we leave for the Philippines!)

Take care all.  Much appreciated if you take a listen to the tracks and drop a comment or message and let me know what you think of the recordings.  Thanks  a ton as always for your support! 

Wishing all a healthy and prosperous New Year!!!!
Much love,
Steve

Happy Holidays!  I hope everyone has a good time during their holidays.
I'll leave with a quoted greeting I just saw on a Japanese tv show this evening, "Happy Merry Christmas!"
-Did you know that Christmas as celebrated in Japan is more akin to Valentine's Day or New Year's Eve, one of the biggest nights for couples to go out on dates.  It's not so much a family holiday.  Also, KFC is quite busy this time of the year, being the official Christmas food of Japan.  One the opposite note, New Years is mostly spent with one's family.  Most businesses are closed for three days during the first days of the New Year, so people can go back home to spend time with their families and eat lots of food.

To all my friends and family back home in Chicago,
The documentary, "That Asian Thing" comes home to Chicago for the Filipino American Film Festival in November. Spread the word, come on out to the Portage Theater with friends and family to watch this film which I(and my parents) took part in being interviewed. Along with many other talented and intelligent Asian American artists and educators who shared their talents and thoughts in this documentary, we hope this film will shed some light on the subject of the Asian presence(or lack of) in the arts and entertainment world in the States.
Although I will not be there in person, you can bet I'll be there in spirit with all the support. And, you can also see me on the screen(with much shorter hair than I currently have... haha!)
I'm proud to be a part of this film, and all the love and support goes out to my boy Jonald Reyes who conceived the idea for this documentary, wrote directed, and even filmed some of it himself. Big ups to independent film and independent arts and music in general! Spread the word and love for "That Asian Thing" in Chicago next month!

Steve

Hosted By: Chicago Filipino American Film Festival
When: Saturday Nov 08, 2008
at 1:00 PM
Where Portage Theater
4050 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60641
United States
Description:
Chicago Filipino American Film Festival

Click Here To View Event

So, after all the "racey" game/talk shows with cute bikini-clad Japanese girls either doin' some sorta physical stunt that conveniently shows off her boobs or butt, do you ever wonder what's .. that? Regular(and by regular I mean, not cable or satellite TV) Television in Japan is pretty tame I'd have to say.  A lot of the shows revolve around food, TV celebraties, them eating food or traveling somewhere, two-man comedy called Manzai, and some game shows usually only played by said celebraties.  There are also many shows that teach things, whether it's different languages, other country's cultures, arts and crafts, or things about Japanese culture. 
What I'm watching right now, at 2:50am, while I'm writing this is a video of a train ride through some rural countryside in Japan.  That's all it is.  Also, late, late at night, you can sometime catch a video from a camera on top of a building somewhere in Osaka, looking down a section of the city, lights twinkling like stars, the streets empty except for a random car now and again.  In these late hours(I still haven't shaken my night owl habits), these videos are very calming and meditative to watch. 

Last note, my absolute favorite show is also on late at night and it's called Super Chample.  It's an off-the-hook dance show hosted by these too-cool-for-school Japanese cats who I think used to be pro dancers or choreographers at some point in their lives.  You should YouTube it, but last time I checked for some reason a lot of the Super Chample vids have been taken off.  It's cool, trust me. 

Okay, my random 2cents about Japan. 

Here's two new vids I just made, both cover songs.  First is an Otis Redding tune, Sittin' at the Dock of the Bay, and second is Jolene, a song by Ray LaMontagne a great current American singer/songwriter.  I love the lyrics on both these songs, so I thought I'd share my interpretations of them.  You'll see that I'm playing a new instrument on these songs.  It's called a guitalele, and it's been my weapon of choice these days(I feel that the tuning seems to suit my natural voice).   
I also tried a little something different with the video, I filmed it in color accent mode on my camera.  First time I tried it, and honestly, I didn't even know I could do movies with that option.  I think it looks pretty cool with the instrument accented, and a few things in the background. 
Hope you dig these songs and drop a comment and let me know what you think.  Thanks always for the support.  Hope ya'll are doin' well!  Drop a line anytime. 

Steve
Goido Sessions: Dock of the Bay



Goido Sessions: Jolene

Hey guys,
I know it's been ages. But this past August I had the great adventure of climbing the most famous and tallest mountain in Japan, Mt. Fuji, with Erin. It was a great experience I'd love to share with you all. Check out my blog about the adventure,
Climbing Mount Fuji, Japan!

http://japaneriffic.blogspot.com/2008/09/climbing-mount-fuji.html

Hope all is well. Still workin' on music daily, been playin' mostly my guitele.

Ciao,

Steve

A few weekends ago I had a performance with a few friends for this International Arts and Culture Fest, hosted by the city of Kawanishi and JET Programme(the company Erin teaches for).  I took part in this event last year as well, with some dear friends who no longer live in Japan.  So, this year, was a new "band" we put together to perform 4 soungs.  The players were Jack G. on electric guitar and backing vocals, Gillian H. on piano, guitar, mandolin(and bass drum), and backing vocals, Craig S. on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, and me on bass, mandolin, harmonica, bass drum, piano, and backing vocals. 
..
So, my very good friend Chetan from Cape Town South Africa, took this candid shot of me while we were playing our last number, Let it Bleed by the Stones.  I vaugely remember being in eye shot of Craig, and, as we slowly built up the intensity of the song, I gave him a look and stuck out my tounge in a fun, carefree gesture, as I'm often moved act while performing.  You can see Gillian in the foreground concentrating on playing the mando and bass drum simultaneously, a feat that's not very easy to do, especially if you haven't really played much mandolin or drums for that matter.  This girl is a natural musician. 

So, our whole set: 
..I Don't Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats; Gillian on Piano, Craig lead Vox, me on bass, and Jack and me on backing Vox
Karma Police by Radiohead; Gillian on Piano, Craig lead Vox and acoustic guitar, Jack on lead/noise electric guitar, Me on bass and backing vocals
..Black Country Woman by Led Zeppelin; Craig on Vox and open G acoustic guitar, Gillian on acoustic guitar, Jack on lead electric guitar, me on mandolin, harmonica, bass drum
Let It Bleed by The Rolling Stones; Craig on lead Vox and acoustic guitar, Jack on lead electric guitar, Gillian on mandolin, bass drum and backing vocals, and me on piano and shouting

It was a great performance and a lot of fun to share music with these guys. Unfortunately, Craig will be returning back home to Vancouver at the end of the summer, but Jack and Gillian will still be here to make more music.  I'm glad we had the chance to all play together. 

Check the same blog with pics, A Man Dropped in Japan: International Arts and Culture Fest 2008

So, this past weekend was sparked by an opportunity to play my music for an event at Mad Kafe in Amemura at moment's notice, and ended in a surreal progression of events due to sharin' good music, meeting cool people, drinking too many energy drinks mixed with alcohol, dancing, lack of sleep, rain, acting, and in the end, talking to a potato.

Read the FULL story,  A Man Dropped in Japan: Mr. Potato Man visits Osaka

Thank you Mark for sharing this.
Now, I want one too!