News
Soul of the River Makes me Tingle all over!
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May 13 2008
We have the 5-10-08 Show at Trevi Entertainment Center, Lake Elsinore CA available for streaming or download at
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=510390
It's like the 9th song down. Or just go to www.souloftheriver.com and scroll to the 9th song.
Listen to the Longtown Sound Radio Show/Podcast
Uncle Shag has been very good to us playing Soul of the River numerous times, and his radio show is also a podcast, where "As I Sing" is on the latest one. You can Check it out here:
http://wlso.fm/wordpress/archives/1052
He plays great unsigned music you will definitely dig it.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Inland Empire Music Awards Nomination
We are nominated for "Best Pop Rock" for the 2008 Inland Empire Music Awards which takes place this Thursday (We are not performing)
The Generation, our brother band, was nominated for "Best Classic Rock"
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Interview on "On the Horizon" radio show
An interview with Brett and Rene is featured on the most recent episode of the "On the Horizon" radio show. It has already aired, but you can listen to it by going to this link.
http://www.newartistradio.net/podcast/p.php?file=2008-01-17_2007_1_17_oth230_1_17_2007.mp3
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Man behind our Incredible recordings
Phil O'Keefe at Sound Sanctuary studios is a wizard. He's the one that recorded Sweet as the Sky, Sex in the Morning, As I Sing and We've Gone Crazy as well as the rest of our future album.
(We're still working on it). He's the reason thsese songs sound so good.
http://www.myspace.com/philokeefe
Monday, December 10, 2007
1st Live show for free streaming or download!
Go to http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_music.cfm?bandID=510390
and scroll down and go to angels 12-6-07. We'd put it up on myspace, but it is too big (23 minute show)
I got a cool digital recorder that makes good stereo recordings so this is the first of tons of live shows, jams etc. that we will be uploading for your downloading pleasure.
This show is at Angels in Corona CA December 12 2007.
Steve's not in this one, so we have no bass player, and we're playing as the funky acoustic duo. Brett is playing the bass and guitar at the same time so that's why you sometimes hear bass.
For best results listen very Loud.
We hope you dig it.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The Album
Hi How's everyone doing? We went to the studio this last weekend again. Saturday we finished the mastering of "Sex in the Morning" which is now up on our page. If you haven't heard it,
check it out! Sunday we tracked "Friends" which we'll keep under wraps until the album comes out.
We give all of our songs away for free downloads or on CD's at our shows (Free Downloads are at www.soundclick.com/souloftheriver ) But we're not going to give the whole album out free.
We have about 16 songs on the upcoming album, and we'll probably have two more that we will release for free, but to hear the rest you gotta buy the album. Where can you get the album
you say? Nowhere. It's not done yet. We don't know when it will be done, we were hoping for the end of the year, but we still have a long ways to go.
So far we have four songs done:
Sweet as the Sky
As I Sing Here
Sex in the Morning
We've gone crazy.
We've gone crazy we are going to re-record because I'm not feeling the country vibe of it, and it's too slow. So we're going to re-record that one to be closer to what how we play it live, and
change the lyrics. But if you want to hear it in its current state, listen to the newest episode of the Furtive Wangler Podcast, at www.myspace.com/furtivewangler
The rest of the songs that will be on the album are: (in no particular order)
5 Souls
Catch a Day
Daylight Honey (new version)
B-Side to Honky Tonk Woman (new version)
Rider
Short Song
Friends
I feel Alright
They Just Don't Get It (new version)
And of three songs that you have never heard before.
I wonder if any of you care about this. I know some of you live too far to see us play and have no idea what these songs are, I'm sorry I wish we could get out there. If you sign the mailing list
we'll send you a free CD and a DVD of a show, just email me your address and email address, but it takes about a month for me to send out the DVD's because I get busy with shows etc.
So anyways back to the studio, we have Steve's Bass parts done and the Drums done for every song, but the reason we're lagging on getting the album done, is I have to save up for the
studio time. We don't have a label, or any backing, so it takes me a minimum of 2 months to save up the money for studio time. Otherwise the album would be done already. But the album is
turning out to be a masterpiece. Every song is great, we're crazy for putting 16 songs on a self released album, and trust me there are lots of songs that didn't make the cut. We would have
less songs on the album because it would be done faster, but we can't trim the fat anymore, every song has to be on there. Oh yeah there's a ton of surprises in the album as well.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Wierdos in our Garage.
Category: Music
We were asked earlier to write an interesting story about a show or road trip and I couldn't really think of anything. Most all shows are the same, sometimes its packed, sometimes its
empty, sometimes you're playing horribly and the crowd thinks you're awesome, and other times you're playing great and the crowd could care less. But I thought of a few things that were
worth mentioning.
Ever since we first started rehearsing at our new rehearsal space, (which isn't in the best part of town) we've had a constant visiting weirdo hanging out at every rehearsal. Its like when
you're living with roommates, you always have that guy on the couch. You have a buddy that asks to crash on your couch "Just for a couple weeks" and a couple weeks turns into six
months, when you finally get them to get their own place, a week later you have another friend asking to crash on the couch "just for a few weeks". It's sort of like that.
We seem to attract weirdos when we rehearse. And don't get me wrong, they're always very good-natured wierdos, but they all have a few things in common. They talk incessantly. Nonstop
nonsensical gibberish. They're always there right before the band shows up, waiting with a few tall cans, already well on their way to being wasted, talking faster than Speedy Gonzales.
Before, after, and especially between songs, when you absolutely must to get to work, they start talking about nothing and never ever stop. And for a while you're just struggling to
understand what the hell they're talking about. No matter who they are, they're always really nice, so you don't want to be a dick. But after a while you just have to completely ignore them
while they continue talking and get started on another song. And at the end of the night you've only got half what you wanted accomplished, because most of the time you were trying to
make sense of what this maniac is saying, smiling, acting like you understand. They're going on enthusiastically about how you should go from "that one part, into another thing that goes
dah dah dah, then do a Queesnryche-kinda thing". Queensryche?!
They ALWAYS want to play the drums, never know how and never ever take the hint that its time for them to stop. Rene has to hound them for 20 minutes to get them off his stool. They
change the dials on your amp to "fix your tone", so you have nothing but treble so it sounds like a tin can, or are wasted, knocking crap over, or singing ideas they have to add to your songs
that were written two years ago, that sound like a cat in heat with a serious love of 80's glam-rock. Or the best yet, is when one tries to work their way into being your new
singer/guitarist/bass player/manager even after you sit down with them and try to explain that you're not looking for new members. And the thing is, once one stops coming around, a week
later another shows up, first appearing normal, knocking on the garage door, saying, "Hey sounds great! I'm digging you guys, can I hang out and have a beer?" And then you find them
waiting out front the next day, and the next, and before you know it they're crashing on your couch.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Show Saturday, Songwriting Finals, and a Podcast!
Category: Music
YEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!
How You all doing? We're back!"They Just Don't Get It" was featured on the Musicians Cooler Podcast www.musicianscooler.com (Money Making Music Websites episode) and the Lyrics
to "Right Right" is in the finals for the American Songwriter Magazine's lyric writing contest!
Make sure to check out the podshow The Musicians Cooler at www.musicianscooler.com it is a great podcast about promoting bands, managing etc. and of course one of my (Brett)
favorites
Also we are going into the studio at the beginning of May to start recording our first American classic album. So we won't be playing many shows for a while so you have to catch them while
you can.
Here's the lyrics to "Right Right" that are in the finals for the American Songwriter Magazine's contest. We haven't played it in a while because I went through a series of revisions, and we've
finally decided to just play it the way we used to. If it ain't broke don't fix it. We might play it this Saturday, but you never know unless you go. Nonetheless here are the lyrics:
Right Right
Towns wrapped up in chains
Ain't got no name
Everything's all the same
We got sprawl like a spreading disease
Through the cities
Multiplex movie screens
And it's all around
Stucco and brown
Exact same restaurant
From town to town
And these Mom and pops
Make cool little shops
All these hopes and dreams
they put a stop
Yeah Tract Homes and cell phones
Soccer mom with a great new pair of
Silicone
New Ring tone
Credit cards and a brand new bank loan
same house new day
toy box or boat
parked on display
in the driveway for the weekend,
new turf gonna get some sprinklin
Right right
Worry how you flurry
Keeping up with the trends
Display the name brands
So you know whos your friend
..[endif]-->Right right
Hurry how you scurry
Gotta get what you need
Brand new SUV
And flat screen tv
Runny kinda funny
Keeping up with the elite
Guzzle need a muzzle
Feed all your gluttony
Well It's a damn shame
The land has been maimed
Corporate names
aren't only ones to blame
It don't smell so right
We put up no fight
Smog drowns the sight
Apathy all the time
So who's to blame
Its all the same
Afraid of any change we want the chain
We entered our "Sex in the Morning" video in the KLOS Mark and Brian contest and I
received a phone call yesterday that we are in the top 16! This is Huge! Friday morning they
decide amongst themselves the top 8, then they post them on their website and visitors
vote. So if we make it to the top 8 we will need you to vote for us, and get your friends to vote
as well.
We'll let you know (and see the video) as soon as we find out. Then the top 4 compete live at
the Key Club live on the morning show, and the winner opens for Lynyrd Skynyrd at Soboba.
So cross your fingers. I also want to thank Nick Masarro for making the awesome video.
Also grab this week's IE Weekly that comes out today because we're the band of the week! If
you're outside of the Inland Empire you can read the article online here:
http://www.ieweekly.com/cms/story/detail/soul_of_the_river/1277/
Jessica and Kady Bell wrote a great article, we're definitely stoked on that. Actually, I'm
definitely stoked, I haven't had a chance to tell Steve and Rene about the article or the Mark
and Brian contest, so you know before them!
Straight for '88 you suckas,
Brett
Soul of the River
2009 IE Music Awards
We had a blast at the 2009 Rock for the Cure! All of the bands blew the roof off the
place, and we raised around $3000 for the American Cancer Society. Thank you to
everyone that made it out.
Also it’s time for the Inland Empire Music Awards again and we are nominated for:
Best Indie Rock
Best Classic Rock
Best Alternative
Best Hard Rock
Best Rock and
Best Song
2009 Inland Empire Music Awards
June 5 2009 (We are not performing)
Riverside Municipal Auditorium
3485 Mission Inn Ave
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 788-3944
New song up on Facebook! "My Rebecca"
Hey Hey Hey!
Whats happening everyone? We went to Phil’s studio last night and he showed us some more songs mixed down, and they
sound amazing! But what you really want to know is…There’s a new song up available for free download! posted today on
Facebook! “My Rebecca” You may remember a few months back we re-wrote the lyrics to “We’ve Gone Crazy” and sent you all
the lyrics and asked you to submit what you think should be the name. We got a ton of great ideas, but our friend Margie
suggested “My Rebecca” as it was the anniversary of her sister’s passing when she saw the lyrics, and she said so many elements
of the song totally reminded her of her sister. It looked like the song was about Rebecca, we just didn’t know it yet. So here it is
http://apps.facebook.com/ilike/artist/Soul+of+the+River This song is for you Rebecca, Margie and family.
Here are the lyrics:
Tomcat stares into the high grass Song of leaves float on like a cool breeze Soft magnolia nights
Porchswing groans and creaks the evening Old quilt would hold their warming sweet souls Loving afterglow
She would shine like the world now Make the whole town Smile and sigh lost in her eyes
And her laugh would warm your soul now Sweet golden somehow Neverending skies in her blue eyes
It scares him when those feelings well in Sits and stares across the old dirt road Rows of pecan grove
The moonlight glows on like a porchlight Breaks apart that old pecan grove How they stand alone
And she would light up a room now He cant explain how She was so fine life was so kind
It rushes in like she's there now The smell of her hair now Sitting on the swing crickets would sing
Every Sunday his daughter calls in, he says he's happy alone But the truth is darling he really can't let her go
And she knew he loved her with his heart and soul Loved her right while she grew old Always by her side
He goes back he thinks back on those old times It seemed like such a simpler life the world he saw as a child
Last Friday we won for the "Best Classic Rock" category for the IE Music awards. We've been rehearsing
every night since so I haven't had time to post this. We are definitely stoked to have won. Our Brothers the
Generation also won "Best Indie rock" and "Best Live Band" We had a great time, and met alot of cool
people. Steve wasn't able to make it. We're totally in the clouds about winning.
We didn't expect to win and were totally caught off guard. Here's a quick video of us accepting the award.
In case you cant understand: Brett says, "First off i want to thank those guys over there for losing their minds about everything" referring to
Buddha Bomb who cheered like crazy for everyone, then he says, "I would like to thank God, my wife, and Phil O'Keefe at Sound
Sanctuary Studios for working the magic" that's where it gets cut off on the video. Then he hands the mike to Rene and he says, "Thank
You! I don't know what to say" (we were totally caught off guard and hadn't prepared speeches)
We are currently nominees for two categories in the 2007 Inland Empire Music Awards:
Best Classic Rock band, and Best Live Band. We play the Finals Saturday January 6, 2007
with the other finalists that made it to the final top ten.
Michael Zavala Show Podcast
www.themichaelzavalashow.com on the indiespot,
you can download a podcast of the Michael Zavala Show, with an interview with Brett.
www.themichaelzavalashow.com You don't need a MP3 player you can listen to it on your
computer Click here for to go there.
July 13, 2006
Okay now that we actually have some news, we never update this thing. We're playing
shows like crazy, and booking more, so please do what you can to make it to see us. We
and They Just Don't Get It. It should be completed within a couple months. In the
meantime, we have a CD of our interview and acoustic set we did on The Vinyl Hours radio
Show on KUCR 88.3 FM (It's on every mon from 7-9, you can stream it on www.kucr.org, so
make sure to turn your TV off and tune in every Mon.) So if you missed the episode with
us, let us know and we'll send you a CD. Also we have a CD we recorded in our garage of
a rehearsal, that we give to friends, and if you'd like one don't be afraid to ask.
March 19, 2006
We have a new full time drummer, Rene Felix! We have jammed with Rene from time to
time, through the years so we're excited to have him. We have been rehearsing overtime
working on getting him dialed in, and fine tuning some of the songs and introducing new
ones. Also we recorded a live 5 song CD live in the studio with our original Drummer Jeff
Moody, the song list is:
1. Friends
2. They Just don't get t
3. As I Sing Here
4. B-Side to Honky Tonk Woman
5. I Feel Alright
January 18, 2006
We are getting close to finished with the home recording. Although we’re close to getting
done, it doesn’t mean much, because every little thing friggin’ takes forever. It’s just the
nature of recording when you don’t know what you’re doing. So far we have an new one
Honey almost complete, and we haven’t started with B-Side to Honky Tonk Woman. After
we’re done we will take them into a studio to have them mixed and mastered. Then we will
order a pressing for our demo/1st EP.
February we have Jeff sitting in for us, and we are playing Angels Roadhouse in Yucaipa,
mostly be for fun. Jeff helped start the band and was in the band for so long, we would
like to get down a recording of what we sound like with him. If the recording turns out
decent we will order a small pressing, as a special EP for fans and friends. At that session
we are not going to record our best songs, but we are going to focus on the songs that
shine better live, where a track by track recording process would kill the vibe of the song.
We plan on recording: She’s My Babe, Friends, an new one Brett just finished, that will
definitely get you grooving. As well as whatever else we feel like recording at the time.
Maybe Folsom Prison Blues.
Then we are going to start our search for another drummer. We’ll get him dialed in and
start playing shows regularly, and after May go into the studio on a piece by piece basis
and start work on a full album.
In the meantime we might play a show here or there, to give you all your jollies.
January 6, 2006
are once again without a drummer. But in the meantime we are busily working on recording.
No really. It’s long overdue to get a good recording of some of our songs. So we have been
focusing entirely on recording. We have two songs almost ready to be mastered and mixed
the studio at the beginning of February with our original drummer, Jeff Moody to record some
tracks. We have been talking of possibly playing a show or two in the meantime, and having
Jeff of Rene fill in for us. We are not planning on looking for a permanent drummer until the
recording is done, but if you know someone who would be great for us, let us know.
As a side thing, I (Brett) am joining a hobby band with Jeff as well, so if you know of any
musicians that may be interested in joining let us know, we will rehearse one day a week at
Jeff’s. So anyway, we just wanted to keep in touch and let you all know what we have been
doing.
October 29, 2005
We have a new drummer, Colin Riner so say hello when you see him. We’re
working on home recording again, but I know you’ve heard that before. Jeff Moody
just got married to the beautiful Julie Helms, so send your congratulations if you
haven’t already and a really expensive present as well!
I (Brett) still Jam with Jeff on a regular basis, and we may get another project
started.
We're Playing Worthington's November, then plan one show in December, then we
plan on scheduling a slew of shows in the new year. We're using the time Nov-Dec
to record and work on an acoustic set.
July 23, 2005
It's been a while since we last played a show. We stopped scheduling shows way
back, to make time to go to the studio, although we never made it. We played a few
parties, but as far as public shows, we haven't done much.
We have three new songs that will blow your minds. We had some shows scheduled,
and if you have caught word of those, we have cancelled them. Jeff is taking a break
from the band. With work, kids and planning a wedding, things were getting tough to
juggle all that along with a band. So if you know of any drummers looking for a band,
point them our way. Steve and I are trying out drummers as we speak. We have a
keep and I'll just play a short solo opening set, Steve may join me. I'll be playing from
7:30-8:00 than after me is a great original band called Neon Fields. It's free, and all
ages, check the website for more info.
Other news, we finally have some music posted. The recordings are of a rehearsal, so
the recording quality is far from the best, but at least it will satiate your Soul of the
River tastebuds.
June 8, 2004
We have three new original songs that are incredible, we can't wait to play them for
you. We are getting interviewed for Digress Magazine this Thursday, so look for us in
ignore what I said before. We will I promise. I have some video clips of us live and a
few songs to post for download or streaming on here but can't get it to work, If you
have any ideas on how, let me know, webmaster@souloftheriver.com
April 23, 2005
Since the last show at Universal Bar and Grill, we decided that we will not schedule any
nice, relaxing, coming home to a normal life, not constantly working at being the
greatest band in the history of the world. Steve used some leftover royalties from his
previous band, Menudo, and spent the time in Bali. Jeff starred as Batman in the new
previous band, Menudo, and spent the time in Bali. Jeff starred as Batman in the new
Batman beginnings and as Darth Vader in the new Star Wars flick, both in costume
only. Brett spent most of his time picking fights with junior high kids. Dennis put the of
pirhanas, and a secret maze of death for unwelcome visitors.
We all got started rehearsing for the studio, when Brett got sick. We plan to get started
a third time this week and have the demo recorded within a month.
Jan 24, 2005
We're going into the studio, to make a real CD, so you can brag and show your
friends that you knew of us before them. Then they will ask for a copy and you will
burn them a copy, instead of having them buy a real one from us, and you will never
tell us, even ten years from now, although we wouldn't give a crap.
Jan 8, 2004
The Show at Pepito's went great, we wanted to thank everyone for coming out
and having a great time. You guys ROCK!!!!
December 24, 2004
Still doing the home recording. Steve and Brett performed an open mic at Racers
December 22, 2004, and had the crowd chasing them home screaming for more.
They had to hide behind newspapers at a bus stop like the Beatles to get away.
Brett did a solo acoustic open mic at the Coffee Depot Dec 23, 2004 and will have
a live recording of the performance.
September 12, 2004
We are now recording studio quality recordings of our songs, which is very time
consuming, so it will be a while until they are completed. And we are also recording
live rehearsals, which will not sound as good, but we will at least have something for
you to listen to until the studio tracks are done. Yeah I know I know, we lag. But Jeff
is dilligently on our case to "Finish it already!". But if you haven't heard us, then
when they are completed, you will see that we are truly as great as we say we are.
May 20, 2004
Brett and Steve are busy recording the rough tracks for some of the songs, so you can have
something to listen to while you should probably be doing something more responsible. But we do it
