My friend Jon Stein is featuring me on his radio show. Hootennanny Café. That will broadcast October 25. More info to be found at:
https://talentconnections.com
Moving on to recovery, when I start getting multiple PMs a day inquiring about how I am doing, I know it’s time to post something. I’d like to thank everybody for their concern and well wishes, really quite overwhelming! My friend Alex tells me “Steve a lot of people love you, just get over it and post something!”
After repeatedly being told that I’m looking at a six to eighteen month recovery, and being nearly fourteen weeks after the date of the accident, I know how my progress is moving. I’m no spring chicken! For the record, I can’t pick up a set of car keys with my left hand, nor can I lift my left arm past horizontal. And believe me, that takes some effort!
So I sold a bunch of PA gear.
If you want to read the whole post go to this link
Let me restate that I’m very very fortunate. I have an incredible medical team. This includes a great shoulder doc, an incredible hand and arm doc, a brilliant neurosurgeon, and now a highly regarded brachioplexus specialist has been added. These people are the best the Cleveland Clinic has to offer and believe me that’s saying something.
The occupational and physical therapist I have been going to are remarkable, but I did take a couple weeks off therapy after the craniotomy. I figured I deserved the break. We will resume all of the therapy sessions next week. My friend Kelli has left her massage table in my barn and kindly worked on me for several weeks, but I took a break from that too!
I have a few close friends that are helping with some errands and needs. My yard is being mowed by my brother-in-law, Norman, and brother-in-law Scott, cut the meadow. I got a tree crew lined up and scheduled to come to take down a bunch of dead and dying trees. Another buddy is coming to split wood for the barn stove, blow leaves out of the gutter and that sort of thing.
I had a great visit from Dan and Faith, who were in Cleveland to play a Folk Net gig. They are delightful duo, and you can find out more about them on their website: https://www.danandfaith.com
Back to PA gear, I sold the best PA rig I’ve ever owned!
Let me start off by saying QSC makes fine gear. Even their entry level stuff is incredible. I opted for buying their CP8’s, four of them to be exact, and two of their K series 112 subs. That was the most flexible, and powerful rig that I’ve ever owned. The small speakers were only 22 pounds a piece and rated at 1000 Watts. The subs were a different animal. They were 2000 Watts each and significantly heavier, but still very manageable. I could use one 8 inch speaker for a small venue and upgrade as needed from there. With the full rig I had no problem with hosting a full acoustic band at a large party or small festival. To get a comparable sound back in the 70s or mid 80’s it would require a van load of equipment. The PA I just sold produced better sound and would fit in my Rav 4. The advances and audio gear are truly remarkable.
At the rate my recovery was going, I didn’t want to leave the powered speakers sitting in the barn over the winter. It’s clear that I would not be using them until next summer at the earliest, and that’s being optimistic. I really don’t know what this means for my performance schedule. I hope to continue to write songs and share them. I also hope to get back to recording, but I sincerely doubt I will resume the same performance schedule.
I have had some people ask me “are you giving up?”, and the answer is no. However, practically speaking, passing this gear on seemed like the prudent thing to do. I also enjoy knowing it’s all in good hands. It makes me a little melancholy, but I still have an electro voice evolve, 50, which is a very nice rig too!
My instruments on the other hand have safely migrated from their summer range to the winter range, thanks to the help and support of Matt Harmon. I was fortunate enough to enjoy play a few gigs with Matt before the crash. What a talented fellow, and simply a great guy!
I am going to miss jammin with John Barile and Dan Mills at the infamous Greenville Tavern. They are scheduled to play in November. I might stop by just to harass John.
This week I was supposed to be playing listening gigs in southern Ohio and southern Indiana. Oh well.
To stay musically, engaged, I created a page on my website; Songs From The Heartland. I’m posting reviews of record projects. My next one will be about the recent release made by the Bent String Band. From what I’ve heard so far, it’s incredible. They were at the benefit show at the Beachland Ballroom and simply wowed people, but then again, there was a whole lineup of wonderful musicians at night!
Man, I am a lucky guy!
Thanks again for all the concern, and well wishes. I sincerely appreciate it.
Hope to see you on the trail!
Steve