I’ve been working hard at finalizing the details for the upcoming See That Gleam album release concert and I wanted to keep you in the loop on the updated details.

- July 31st at Lola’s Room (Crystal Ballroom)
- Doors at 8pm… show at 8:30
- Tickets are $10 in advance (buy here) or $12 at the door
- Free CD with admission!
- 21yrs and up

With the help of Sameunderneath I’m going to bring you the album in its live form and of course, let you take it home with you for free:) I’m looking forward to this special night so please help me spread the word and make it something to remember. See you soon!

link to the event and get your tickets

Sample a song from the album:

It’s confirmed… the new album See That Gleam will be released in full fashion on Thursday July 31st at Lola’s Room in Portland, OR. With the help of Sameunderneath I’m going bring you the album in its live form and feature some very special guests across the evening.

LOLA’S ROOM
1332 W Burnside St
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 225-0047
Lola’s Room is on the second floor above Ringler’s & below the Crystal Ballroom. A beautiful space and a well hidden secret.

Please, save the date! Tell every single person you know and help me release this album with a promising bang. I’m really looking forward to this.

More details to come… Thanks!

This Saturday at 7pm I’ll be playing an acoustic set at Borders Bookstore in Gresham. I’m a first-timer at Borders so it should be an interesting experience for the books. The show is all ages, open to the public and the last one on the concert schedule for quite some time so I hope you’ll grab the young ones and enjoy a relaxing night of music at the Borders Bookstore cafe.

This is the first stop on my soon-to-be Borders tour consisting of Tigard, Salem and Vancouver locations, so if Gresham isn’t your thing, no one faults you and stay tuned for a Borders stop in your area.

The Big Hearts performance from Artichoke Music is now posted to YouTube for posterity. This song was written for some very close friends of mine that have amazing hearts- constantly helping mine grow. Though I could never thank them enough for their grace, let this song be my humble attempt. This is quietly one of my favorite songs so I hope you enjoy it too.

Watch the video then listen to the studio version:

BIG HEARTS

Heaven knows I’d wait to feel another breeze.
To lay beneath another sun.
Germany here I come.

Big hearts are filling up the hemispheres.
Big hearts are warming up the coldest years.
They’ll lay beside me forever more
Cause big hearts make mine grow.

Growing everyday and softly resting miles away.
Heaven is exploding there-
It’s filling up the air.

Big hearts are filling up the hemispheres.
Big hearts are warming up the coldest years.
They’ll lay beside me forever more
Cause big hearts make mine grow.
Big Hearts are Full Moons and Northern Lights
They come full circle to defy science.
Big Hearts are freight trains that push me along-
Shine out the clearer;
Shine on.
Big Hearts are factories of Godlight Beams
That just get brighter as the daylight recedes.

A month ago, I made up my mind that I was going to write a song about Wyoming. The inspiration was there, the love of subject was there and my writing had finally returned after months of drought. I finished it (proudly) last week just in time for the Artichoke concert.

I wanted this song to be deep, heartfelt and human. I wanted it to really express the beauty within the state and the air that flows through it. With that said, it spoke for itself and I had written three of the four verses before finally hitting a wall. In search of some final inspiration, I went to Wikipedia to gain a little insight on Wyoming and her history.

Above is the song’s debut at Artichoke Music. The lyrics to Wyoming should reflect my love but above all, tell a story and pay tribute to the last good plot of land.

I picked up the Artichoke concert DVD from EMA Video on Tuesday afternoon. Between then and now, I’ve managed to cut up the film enough to post a couple songs on YouTube (including this version of Cellophane). I am no video editor but over the next couple weeks I will pretend to be one as I release the Artichoke footage bit by bit. Here is Cellophane from last Thursday’s performance… the rest will come with time.

Last night was my long-awaited PSA Showcase at Artichoke Music. This was truly one of my favorite shows to date and I’m honored that the turn out was so positive. I got an hour to play my music for a captive audience; in an ideal venue and believe it went as well as it could. Thanks all.

I tried something new when I had my lyrics projected for the audience to read along. Despite some technical difficulties it was a nice addition to the intimate setting. I could feel a connection with the crowd as they reviewed the writing on the wall. Logan played bass and I sang tenor and these are the nights I live for…

In February I competed for the title of the PSA Portland Songwriter of the Year and won! Now, in April the PSA is hosting an intimate night at Artichoke Music to celebrate the winner and showcase an hour of my original music.

I’m very honored to have received this award so I’d like to share this evening with those that are closest to me and have supported and inspired my passion.

-Seating is limited (60 people)
-All ages welcome… but no screaming kids:)
-$3 at the door
- Show will be recorded (audio + video)

SHOW SCHEDULE:
Songwriters in the Round: 7:30 - 8:15
Intermission/set-up
Tyler Stenson Showcase: 8:30 - 9:30

Sometime in February, my song Babysitting the Cowboy was featured as a Willamette Week Local Cut of the Day. Riding the momentum of the PSA Award and upcoming album See That Gleam, I’m hoping to get much more press like this one to continue to spread the word. Click here or on the image above to see the full Local Cut post and read the author’s interesting interpretation of the Babysitting the Cowboy story. I always love hearing a third-party analysis of my songs but of course, if you view the comments, I had to leave a note from the writer… telling the true inspiration behind Babysitting the Cowboy.

The Portland Songwriter’s Association just released the winter newsletter featuring the Top Ten Final recap. Dan Lowe wrote a nice summary of the evening and the image above made the PSA newsletter cover with a bold headline. Click here or on the image above to read the entire article about the Top Ten Final and the road to the songwriter title.