Hey there,
OK, it's Friday, day before the big CD Release Show. I've been printing reserved seating signs, CD's for $15 signs, and getting ready to put together the mailing list form to print. I've been on the radio twice this week, first live with John Carney on KMOX 1120am with my friend and co-heart, saxophonist Jim Stevens. We had a great time and John is always alot of fun. The other show played Thursday morning with Smash on KLOU 103.3fm. I had the guys (John Coatney, John Mondin, Curt Sharkey, Pete Ruthenburg and Jim Stevens) as well as myself do (as requested by Smash himself!) the first tune off of my "It's Your Life" CD, "Get Up". It couldn't have sounded better, kudos to the band and to the magic of KLOU and Smash! Had a very nice chat with Matt Rodrigues for the online Post Dispatch. He seemed very nice...although, somehow I have a daughter.... which my three sons find endlessly funny....ha ha.... The say any press is good press, right? No real harm done, and I do appreciate the coverage! Had a great meeting with Sandy Rotrammel about food requirements for tomorrow's show. We both agreed that it should be healthy, while being "comfort food". A great combination of well-being and real good fuel should help to ensure what is already shaping up to be the makings of a wonderful night of music. I couldn't be happier with the band and their willingness to help me present this material. They are not only learning chord changes and arrangements for these songs, but learning background vocals to boot! Practically everyone sings, and is capable of being a lead vocalist in his own right, so I'm honored to have such a capable group of singers as a bonus. I have always loved harmony vocals, and to be able to portray that love, not only on the CD, but live as well, is such a treat. I spend most of the rehearsal time we have grinning like a kid. I can't wait for you all to hear these guys. We've had a little extra polishing time since our last B.B.'s Tuesday night gig, and the results are stunning!
So.... going over to the Stagger Inn tonight to sit in with the guys and do another hit of the tunes in front of an unsuspecting audience. If you're lucky enough to read this and make the effort, you'll get a treat to a preview of some of the show tomorrow night. Don't forget....
The Chapel, 6238 Alexander, St. Louis, MO 63105
$10 admission. All ages welcome.
Attendees will receive two complimentary drinks...your choice of wine or beer, water or soft drinks, (how about that for style!)
www.chapel-venue.com for more information and directions.

See you tomorrow night (if you know what's good for you!)
I guarantee a wonderful time. And you have the additional bonus of Kevin Bilchik and Joe Meyer to get things warmed up.
Such a deal!
R. Scott

Hey there, Well, today finds me on the other side of a fairly busy "press day". Yesterday, myself and the guys (John Mondin, John Coatney, Curt Sharkey, Pete Ruthenburg and Jim Stevens) got up in the am to tape an interview and live performance with Smash of Clear Channel's KLOU 103.3 FM in St. Louis. We came in like storm troopers and set up a bass drum, organ, cajon, 5 vocals, handclaps and railroad hardware! At first, I got the sense we threw Mr. Smash a curve, he wasn't expecting a pile of musicians! The performance, however, was magic and he totally got into it. We did "Get Up", which was the tune he requested we do off the new CD It's Your Life and then I did a solo, bluesy version of "Get Back", a Beatles classic, done with a delta blues twist. Anyone who has been to see me live knows the version I'm talking about. Smash is a big Beatles fan, and considering it was a Clear Channel station, it was on the condition that I do a "cover tune" that allowed me to be on the air at all. OK, so I got to play a great tune I love to play anyway, and gained the opportunity to break down a barrier for a moment. Everyone had a good time, the band kicked butt and hopefully a bunch of great St. Louis folks get to listen to some of their own play "music with heart, from the heartland". I have to admit to feeling a bit victorious, like the "My Generation" roots I come from maybe just had a win with the system. Very satisfying.... Took the guys to breakfast at the Courtesy Diner on Hampton (they did a fine job indeed). Later that day I then did an interview with the Post Dispatch for their electronic paper online. That seemed to go rather well and Matt was a pleasure to talk to. Took a break for a nice dinner with Debbie and then Jim Stevens and I met at KMOX am 1120 to hang out with John Carney, son of radio legend Jack Carney, (and quickly becoming a legend in his own right). Had a great time. John is a drummer, so we share a love for rhythm and have some history, as do he and Jim Stevens. Classic case of "it's a small world". We spent a good 45 minutes or so with John on the air. He played excerpts from the new CD, specifically "Get Up" and "King of the Playground", as well as a couple of live tunes on the air. I did my version of "Traffic Jam", the classic James Taylor tune, and Jim and I jammed a little bit on the classic blues tune "Stormy Monday" which turned out to be quite soulful. Kudos Jim Stevens! And Kudos to John Mondin, John Coatney, Curt Sharkey and Pete Ruthenburg... you guys showed up in the am and brought your game! It was a pleasure and a thing of beauty...thank you, you are helping to give my songs real life and I greatly appreciate it! I can't wait for the CD Release show for you all to hear what has been going on. These guys have been practicing and learning not only musical parts, but practically everyone sings as well, so there's the double duty of learning vocal parts on top of that. I must say everyone has been enthusiastic and been very good about coming prepared. I think you will be pleased with the results. I already am.
Well, I need to get back out and put up some more posters, rehearse with Jim a little and get ready for tomorrow (I have a meeting with Sandy Rotrammel about the food preparations for a hungry bunch of musicians the day of the show). Be sure to check us out. That's Saturday, April 4th, at the Chapel, 6238 Alexander Drive, St. Louis, MO 63105. Doors open at 7pm, the performance starts at 8pm. Admission $10, all ages admitted, 2 complimentary beverages with each ticket. Red Pill labelmate Kevin Bilchik along with Joe Meyer will be the evening's opener.

Hey kids,
It's me again.... thought I'd give you a little update on things with the CD Release Party on April 4th at the Chapel. Well, Paul Graves and I went to the Chapel for a visit on Tuesday, March 10th before running over to play with the rest of the guys at B.B.'s for our regular 2nd Tuesday of the month hit (more about that later). Many thanks to Colin at the Chapel for his gracious hospitality in letting us do our "pre-show/pre-pro" meeting. Paul seemed happy (as am I!) about the venue and available sound resources. This is going to be an intimate setting and I want the musicality of the evening to come through the instruments with sound enhancing only what is necessary. Paul is totally on board with that thinking, which I find great. Paul is a fine musician himself, and brings alot to the party when we're on stage. Kudos Paul! Artwork is done and things like posters and tickets are about ready for putting up and selling. Pre-sales are available already here on MySpace through Nimbit. Also this week I completed some live recording and videotaping of some solo performance work for uploading very soon. I would also like to thank Ruthie for taking the time to shoot some photos on Monday. We had a great time and have some new shots to present soon. Rehearsals, gigs, interviews.... I will be performing Friday, March 13 with Kevin Bilchik at Sqwires, who, by the way, will be the opener for the CD Release Party....again.... April 4th , 2009. Doors at 7pm, Show starts at 8pm with Kevin. Be sure and don't miss Kevin, he's really great and, heck, I might just sit in on a couple of tunes...... if he'll let me!

Later on down the road,

R.Scott

Hey there, it's been a bit since I have last written and there's been alot going on! Had to start a new blog!
As many of you may (or may not) know, I have a new CD that has been released entitled "It's Your Life" and I'm having a concert to introduce everyone to the new material with some help from an extraordinary group of musicians.  I guess it all started with a call from an old friend I hadn't talked to in quite a while... saxophonist, Jim Stevens. Out of the blue he calls and has gotten together with a group of guys he's raving about and wants to record a demo presenting them in a form that could lead to some gigs (of course!). He asked if I would like to get in and play some percussion for the sessions. Sure! It's what I do! In the process, I, in turn, invited Jim to play on a couple of tracks on my new album. That's him on "King of The Playground" playing a very fine tenor sax, as well as part of an ensemble of horns for "Charlie" playing some very nice baritone sax as well. Kudos to Jim for his excellent work... and support. He's the first one out of the gate to promote my work to thers and at gigs and it was he who brought in the ensemble of John Mondin/guitars, vocals • John Coatney/drums, vocals • Curt Sharkey/bass, vocals. We needed a keyboard player so I introduced Pete Ruthenburg/keyboards, vocals into the mix. We've been performing at B.B.'s Jazz, Blues & Soups on the 2nd Tuesday of the month, doing an earlier (and very successful, I might add) 7:00 - 9:00pm, dinner time slot and having a bang up time! (www.bbsjazzbluessoups.com/)
So, in the meantime, I've not only been doing my solo, singer/songwriter performances, but have been playing with the Jim Stevens Group and doing some trio gigs with Jim and Pete as well, which has been alot of fun.
OK, so now there's this groovy bunch of players all getting to know each other and having a great time playing together (and a willingness to work up my material as well :) to get ready for the big event on Saturday, April 4th at The Chapel • Refuge For The Arts, 6238 Alexander Drive, St. Louis, MO 63105. (www.chapel-venue.com) Doors open at 7pm and I'm happy to have my friend and fellow singer/songwriter Kevin Bilchik (whom I also love to perform with!) as the concert opener, beginning at 8pm with R. Scott Bryan and Friends to follow. Two complimentary beverages will be offered... your choice of wine, beer, soft drink or water. Such a deal! I am also excited about performing in The Chapel. It is a beautiful "refuge for the arts", totally renovated with a very nice stage, sound and lighting. It's suprisingly intimate and acoustically very pleasing as well. Stop by, you won't be dissapointed! Admission is $10. I'll keep you posted about advance ticket sales, and it appears they are already going to go fast, so get ready!

So.... I will continue with the further adventures in putting on a CD release show. Next stop... a visit to the site for pre-production purposes with Paul Graves.... more details later. Oh, and don't forget to stop by B.B.'s Jazz, Blues & Soups and see me on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7pm with The Jim Stevens Group!

Later kids,
R. Scott

P.S. We haven't even begun talking about what's going with the Peter Mayer Group!  You saw the March 20th, Beyond Abbey Road concert date on my site here, yes? (or check out www.rscottbryan.com) You love the Beatles? You gotta be there!