Tony Stives is a musician/songwriter from eastern PA. You may remember him as the guitarist for The Red House in the 1980s or the band Brother Eye, which he's been in since 1998. On October 2, 2024, he released his third solo record, The Corner of 62 and 3rd. New Jersey Stage reached out to him to learn more about his latest release.
You've certainly been writing and recording quite a bit in recent years with Compositions released in 2022, Wake Me If I Sleep in 2023, and now your latest release. Did anything spur on this creativity? Or have you been writing/recording all along and just decided to put the songs out?
I’ve actually been creating music for several years now. Mostly doing demos for my band Brother Eye which have been included in the band’s last four releases. I would send the music and arrangement via email to the boys ahead of time, then Tony Artur our singer would apply the words and the melody. At rehearsals along with Bob Nicol, those demos eventually became complete songs. When Covid closed the door on Brother Eye I found myself wondering what to do now. I’ve always wanted to be a songwriter and thought why not give it a shot. So, with the encouragement of my wife Ruth, I purchased a condenser mike, updated my PC and purchased some recording software and equipment. After a short period, I got over the intimidation of writing lyrics and hearing my voice coming through the monitors. Once I felt like I had a pretty good collection I decided to share it as a solo artist.
Were you the songwriter or one of the songwriters for Brother Eye?
Tony Artur was the main songwriter when I first came into the band. So, I was basically just a guitar player like I was in The Red House. However, the band was very open to my ideas and were receptive to the music I was bringing to the table. As forementioned, I supplied the demos, and the band made the songs complete. This band really changed my life musically.
Brother Eye in the studio
Brother Eye's last album was in 2016, but the band has done shows since then. Is the band still active? I was wondering if that might have been something that led to your solo releases?
Covid basically put the brakes on any momentum we had going. We’re currently in touch and trying to find time, but life and responsibilities often get in the way. Over the last couple of years, we have probably met up just a few times but nothing steadily. We are looking to change that. I miss playing with those boys, but it did allow me to turn within and do my own thing. I enjoy creating and arranging music on my own, but I sure do miss getting loud in a room with a full band with different minds kicking around ideas.
In many of your songs, I hear dreamy pop/rock that reminds me of bands like Big Star, XTC, and The Beatles. Who are the artists that influenced you?
First off, WOW. The fact that you can hear those bands in my music is very heartening. I love Big Star. One of my favorite songs ever is "The Mayor of Simpleton" by XTC, and of course The Beatles, the band that set the bar in music I feel will never be reached. Hard to say which specific artists influence me the most, but what really inspired me were the bands that came out of the 70’s. I just love the songwriting and arrangements that came out of that period. You see, I grew up in a family of 9 with different musical tastes. My oldest brother was into Deep Purple, Sabbath and Creedence, my sister had Jim Croce, Elton John, and Motown, and another brother was into The Eagles, Jackson Brown and Fogelberg. Dad liked country (when it was actually country). So, I absorbed everything, but what really got me into music was the Prog Rock Era. Bands like Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, and Genesis really peaked my interest. Still to this day. However, I sound nothing like them, but they are inspiring to me. Also a big fan of Guided By Voices.
Are there any artists with new releases that you're into?
For newer bands not really. I am mostly absorbed in my own work. I think I have reached a point for me where I know what I want to hear, and often revisit those familiar places. Ignorant I guess, but it takes me to a place where I am happy. I do think the latest release by Vampire Weekend is very interesting, Boygenius is pretty cool, and I have ventured through the streaming sites sampling stuff, but for the most part it just doesn’t always stick. There are some modern prog bands that I like such as Porcupine Tree, The Flower Kings, Spock’s beard, and Big Big Train that have released stuff over the last couple of years, and I’ve recently purchased the new Jon Anderson and David Gilmour. Oh and of course, Guided by Voices who release about 3 albums a year.
Your Red House bandmate Bruce Tunkel released a deeply personal record last year called sixtyandthensome and earlier this year you released a song from the new album that seems deeply personal - "Of a Certain Age". Is there something about turning 60 that leads one to start seeing their life in a different way? Did losing someone help inspire the track? Health issues?
The song is not particularly auto biographical, but there are pieces of it that mirror what I have lived through and have witnessed in others. What happened? How did I get here, and what do I do now? I have lost some friends in the last few years, some close, but I never had my own kids that I watched grow up. My bones crack a bit more, and I’m unrecognizable to myself when I pass the looking glass, but pretty healthy. When you hit that number, it really makes you start to think about everything past, present, and future. I actually had that song in the queue right before Bruce’s “I’m Slowing Down” came out. So it just goes to show in my circle of friends we are all thinking about that milestone. It is not the new 40.
Along the same lines, you were on a record with James Deely last year - someone that played the same clubs as Red House back in the 1980s. What's it like to have musical friendships that literally last a lifetime?
First off JD is an incredible talent and all around good dude. After all he’s been through personally, he found time to offer my wife Ruth encouraging words when she was going through her cancer treatments. Sending her books and stuff. A truly stellar man. He was always a blast to have around back in the day. Never a dull moment with JD.
How was playing with him now compared to back in the day? Did it bring back some memories?
Well, he actually sent me a track to play on, so we weren’t in the same room, and I haven’t physically seen him since back then. Just buds on Facebook. When he reached out for a guitar part on a new tune, I was more than happy to do it. Took me away from my own work for a while and let me focus on the guitar.
You once told me you wished Red House would be remembered as "a band ahead of its time". On social media, it seems like someone still posts something about that band nearly every month. Does that make you happy or a bit bittersweet considering how things turned out?
It makes me happy that the music we made back then still matters to a lot of folks. I really don’t spend a lot of time wondering what could have been these days. I was just happy to have been a part of that band at that time.
I think it's terrific that you, Tunkel, and Deely are still putting out great records. I know of artists who largely stopped putting out records because the industry burned them out. Is making music therapy for you? Or is it just something you need to keep doing?
Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in (Ha Ha). Music is therapy for sure, so I must keep doing it. It’s become somewhat of an addiction, and keeps me up at night sometimes due to ear worms, but I love the creating process and the results. It brings me joy.
Do you actively promote your records? I know Lazlo from Blowupradio.com has played them. Have you heard from any other radio stations, djs, blogs?
When I did my first “Compositions” it was really just an experiment to see how it would turn out. I needed to convince myself that I had what it took to be a solo songwriter. So, I didn’t really push it. I did send the record to Mike Marrone who played a couple tunes on his MixCloud show. For “Wake Me”, I reached out to Lazlo as well and he featured 3 songs from it and gave the record multiple thumbs up. I was also featured on Lee Mrowicki’s Radio Jersey. For The Corner of 62 and 3rd I’ll be sending not only to them but looking into other new music podcasters throughout the country to see if they would be interested in giving it a spin.
What is the hardest thing about promoting records on your own?
Finding time. Period. I do have a day job plus home stuff to keep up on.
I saw you were asking people on Facebook about whether or not you should release a physical CD. What did you decide?
I’m going to have about 100 made in case anyone is looking for product. I personally still like to have a physical object in my hand rather than just streaming. The same way I feel about books. I look at screens all day for a living and when I record, so it’s a nice change. Also looking to mail out to radio stations, podcasters, and hand out to good friends.
It's weird how people long ago gave up on vinyl, but then vinyl records made a comeback. Maybe CDs will have their day again as well.
I’m sure The Corner of 62 and 3rd will make that happen (Ha Ha). I have been buying vinyl myself lately, and I thought about doing it for the new one, but it’s just not in my budget.
Finally, what would you like people to know about you? Anything about your life non-musically, regular job, hobbies/interests, etc.
By day I’m a computer programmer and provide support for a well-known Apparel Company. I also like to tinker around the house doing repairs and what not. I actually built an office for work in my basement while I was on furlough during Covid. I like taking walks with my sweetie and kicking back to a good movie when we can find one. I’m a full blown Stephen King fan and have reread his books many times, but try not to read them too much before bed.
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