Steve Broderick - new CD Shamrock Eyes

Steve Broderick, best known for his singing with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the past 10 years has just released his second indie recording entitled Shamrock Eyes.   

In the 5 years since the last Steve Broderick CD Steve has –

Sang in front of a few million people on the TSO tours.  Become a father to two daughters.  Played ‘Dream On’ with Steven Tyler at the Meadowlands.  Performed to over 80,000 people in just 2 days in Cleveland Ohio.   Did the DA DA part of ‘Pinball Wizard’ with Roger Daltrey at the Nassau Coliseum.  Hung 6 gold and platinum records on the walls.  Moved from urban New York City to rural Connecticut.   Closed more than a few bars singing three sets a night and sometimes having to cave on “Brown Eyed Girl.”  And stockpiled about 100 song ideas that have way more in common with Ryan Adams than Siberia.  

George Bernard Shaw said ‘A true artist will let his wife starve, his children go barefoot, his mother drudge for his living at seventy, sooner than work at anything but his art.’ And Steve says – “man am I glad he wasn’t my father.”  

“I will always be humble and realistic enough to know true artist might be stretch from where I am coming from, but I am for better or worse a musician, and down for life” says Steve.   “But I am coming from a place of trying to balance real life with the realities of being a musician.  Becoming a dad was the most important thing ever for me, and I’ve never taken anything more serious but still somehow there was a way to balance tours, and recordings, and gigs of every shape and size.  I realized I can’t help it, and I love the music whether it is at a sold out arena or happy hour bar, it’s who I am.”

The new CD Shamrock Eyes owes a debt to the amazing programming of AAA Hampton’s radio station 96.9 WEHM which comes in crystal clear on the coast of Connecticut where Steve has settled after years of living in Manhattan.  There was a revelation in hearing hip new rootsy artists like Amos Lee and Ray LaMontagne right alongside the best of Exile on Main Street and Neil Young.   Steve explains, “A lightbulb went off hearing amazing new and relevant music being made drawing from the same influences and passion for the music I love most, and balancing the new and the old.”

Without consciously trying to ‘write an album’ Steve found himself with a ton of material all documented in moments of inspiration.  Coming from the notoriously small apartments of New York City to a house in Connecticut, Steve suddenly had a dedicated space and would sneak down there when the muse struck.  It coincided with getting involved in the local music scene in and around Mystic Connecticut and striking up friendships and mutual admiration societies with local players.  Informal jams were set up, songs from the first CD kicked around alongside some of the new ideas like “Couldn’t Hold A Candle” and “Round The Bend” that would eventually become Shamrock Eyes. 

Shamrock Eyes also is the result of a lifetime spent in music and crossing paths and rubbing elbows with a fabulously freaky and talented cast of musician characters.   The disc is produced by Joetown, the triple threat from Steve’s old band American Trash.   There are musician cameos from household name prodigies, and others who deserve to be – including players from The Black Crowes, TSO, and the legendary Roomful of Blues.   Broderick always quick to quote Tom Waits lets slip “I am grateful for these friends I do receive.”

Lastly, this music is going to be played live.   There are already enough gigs throughout the northeast that double the time spent on the first CD for which live playing got derailed with other commitments. Broderick, a natural born performer is someone worth getting off the couch and going down the street to check out.  

www.stevebroderick.com

Steve Broderick is a FORMER New York City based singer-songwriter who, besides being a well-known figure on the New York regional club circuit, has been a touring member of the multi-platinum, arena-filling Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) for 10 years. His solo disc, simply titled Steve Broderick, is his first recording as a solo artist.

The Steve Broderick solo disc is the culmination of years spent in the rock n roll trenches. Steve’s many bands have ridden the rock n roll roller coaster from the grimiest clubs in the East Village all the way to touring with legends like Bad Company and Lynyrd Skynryrd. His new album spans those years of ups and downs, including the exhilaration of being signed to a label… and the frustrations of being dropped. In fact, two songs on the new record, “Love Is Wasted On Me” and “Dripping,” are from Steve’s catalog and are the songs that made the industry first take notice of Steve’s instantly identifiable voice and incisive songwriting. And he’s still in the trenches, every day, writing, recording, and playing live -- and even performing at a sold-out Madison Square Garden with Trans-Siberian Orchestra on December 27 of 2004, a dream gig for this New Yorker, and, it’s safe to say, for anyone who has ever picked up an instrument with dreams of rock n roll stardom.

Broderick was heavily influenced by the Rolling Stones as well many of the newer roots rock singer songwriters and the album draws upon those influences but also pushes further into deeper waters. Steve says: “The players involved with TSO are from many different genres including rock, jazz, Broadway and classical. Being exposed to their level of musicianship encouraged me to step it up and study and learn more about the craft, and to experiment, especially with some mellower music.” Steve Broderick’s new album features twelve original songs, all written or co-written by Broderick, plus one special cover.

Steve’s collaborators are an accomplished group. Steve says, “I met Mike Lutz, the album’s producer, when my band was opening up for Ted Nugent. Lutz was in Brownsville Station and wrote the classic ‘Smokin’ In The Boys Room.’ Mike, being a Detroit guy, was friendly with Blue Miller, the guitarist who spent years in Bob Seger’s band.” Blue also has recently been involved with writing and producing India.Arie. Steve, Blue and Lutz collectively wrote “Sometimes I Can’t Believe You’re Real,” a standout track on the album. The disc is fleshed out by guitarist Joel Hoekstra, who Steve had seen in the long-running off-Broadway show Love, Janis, about the life of Janis Joplin; and drummer/studio whiz Mark Ambrosino, a real find who tours and records with many artists including Stevie Wonder and Michael McDonald.

Steve tips his hat to his friend and former manager David Krebs (confidant of AC/DC, Aerosmith and many other rock legends) for suggesting the cover “Never A Day Goes By” by 1970s rockers Artful Dodger. Krebs also introduced Broderick to Paul O’Neill, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra mastermind, writer and producer, who encouraged Steve to really push his emotional connection to the songs that he wrote about hope and redemption.

Broderick’s honest and thought provoking self-titled independent album is now available at www.stevebroderick.com.