Back home from October tour. Such a fantastic trip! I drove 6200 miles in 19 days through 6 states for 16 gigs in 16 cities. Thanks to everyone who made it possible. I played a lot of new places for new audiences. This journey was my first time playing solo that far out west. I was a long way from home and grateful to have the support of Music Export Memphis. Because of them, I was able to share my music with a wider audience, and let people know about all the great things happening in Memphis. Proud to be a MEM Ambassador!! Gonna get some rest and then start planning for 2020. See you soon!!!
Tour update #3
The final week of shows out west was fantastic. Lots of cool new venues and fun stops along the way for photos of the beautiful scenery. (Pics below.) Heading home soon to get some rest and start planning for 2020.
Truckin’
Taliesin West by Frank Lloyd Wright. (Scottsdale, AZ)
Living room at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliensin West. (Scottsdale, AZ)
My chariot awaits. (Guadalupe Mountains, TX / NM)
White Sands National Monument in New Mexico.
Tea time at Meow Wolf. (Santa Fe, NM)
Western sky. (Santa Fe, NM)
Santa Fe reflections.
Road house.
Snow day at Cadillac Ranch. (Amarillo, TX)
Autumn in Wichita.
Sunset over Kansas.
Vipassana Meditation x 10
On this date in 2009, I completed my first 10-day silent Vipassana meditation retreat at Dhamma Dharā in Shelburne Falls, MA. Ten years later, and I still meditate every day. Find out more at dhara.dhamma.org
Indie Memphis Film Festival
I made a video for the first song on my latest album, Begin the Glimmer. The song is "Made of Puzzles" and the video has been officially accepted as part of the lineup for the 22nd annual Indie Memphis Film Festival this October 30 - November 4! Details at indiememphis2019.eventive.org/welcome
Tour update #2
Solid run of gigs (and great sightseeing) last week in Texas. Pics below. This week I’ll be in Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, and Oklahoma. See where on the SHOWS page.
Water Wings (Glaveston, TX)
Walking in Waco.
Trek through the mountains.
I put on new strings because the old ones had blood on them.
Car & Truck
Row row row your boat. (Austin, TX)
West Texas
YIELD (Guadalupe Mountains National Park)
Good morning Terlingua.
Cactus Beetle (Terlingua, TX)
Mansion on the hill. (Terlingua, TX)
This is where Buddy Holly wrote “That’ll Be the Day”. (Lubbock, TX)
How much is that doggie in the window?
Rock Philosopher podcast
Last weekend, Dave Crimaldi interviewed me for the Rock Philosopher podcast. Listen here…
https://www.mixcloud.com/davecrimaldi/rock-philosopher-podcast-stephen-chopek-memphis-tn/
Tour update #1
October tour started last week in Rogers, AR then headed to Texas. (Pics below.) I’ll be in the Lone Star State all week. See where on the SHOWS page.
Crossing the Mississippi River from TN to AR.
Well, if you say so.
Follow that cow.
I played an outdoor patio gig on the night that summer officially ended.
Post-gig vegan pizza.
Texas blues.
Driving music.
Road side red house.
Interview with Dave Crimaldi for the Rock Philosopher podcast in Denton, TX. (Link coming soon.)
Special guest Mike Flores aka Edgar Derby at the podcast interview.
Galveston, TX sunset.
Tour starts tomorrow!
October tour starts tomorrow. First stop is Arkansas, then I’ll be in Texas for the rest of the week. Details on the SHOWS page. See you soon!!
It's official...
I made a video for the first song on my latest album, Begin the Glimmer. The song is "Made of Puzzles" and the video has been officially accepted as part of the lineup for the 22nd annual Indie Memphis Film Festival this October 30 - November 4! Click HERE for all the details.
Go West! (next week)
I’m heading west next week to start my October tour, and pleased to announce that I'll be representing Memphis as a Music Export Memphis Ambassador! I had the privilege of partnering with them for my UK / Ireland performances in June, and I'm honored to be working with them again!! They are a great asset to the city’s music scene by helping Memphis artists get to were get to where they need to be. See the SHOWS page for details.
Sam Fender
Today I’ve been listening to Hypersonic Missiles - the new album from Sam Fender album. It’s excellent, and I highly recommend listening if you haven’t checked it out yet. At certain points, his vocal tone and phasing reminds me of Jeff Buckley. Speaking of which, yesterday I went on an afternoon stroll through Memphis and passed by the house Jeff lived in while he was here in 1997.
October tour dates!
In honor of the first day of Autumn, I’m excited to announce my upcoming tour in October! More details coming soon!! Here’s where I’ll be…
Cooper-Young Fest (part 2)
Cooper-Young Festival 2019 was a huge success! Read all about it from the Daily Memphian link below, followed by event poster and photos (by Sarah Bell) from our performance.
dailymemphian.com/article/7462/Despite-heat-thousands-turn-out-for-cool-Memphis-festival
Cooper-Young Fest (part 1)
Super fun gig yesterday in Memphis (with a full band) at Cooper-Young Fest! Here’s the setlist and an article in the Commercial Appeal. Live pics on the way!!
Memphis Machine
I had a fun conversation on Tuesday with Jonathan Bass and Carl Caspersen (behind the laptop) for the Memphis Machine Podcast. New episodes coming soon!
I Was Here (summer 2019)
Poster Boy
Backstage Archive is LIVE!
I’m working on a photography project called Backstage Archive. In the early 2000s I was obsessed with disposable cameras. I had one with me wherever I went, especially while on tour through America and around the world (playing drums with Charlie Hunter, John Mayer, Marc Broussard, Jesse Malin, The Alternate Routes and more.) I recently dug them out of storage and got some developed. Check out the pics on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Summer Tour Recap
Home safe from summer tour. Had a blast! I drove 5300 miles during 24 days for 24 gigs through 22 cities in 11 states. Big thanks to all the venues and everyone who came to the shows. I’ll be heading west for more dates in October. Details coming soon.
Tour update #4
Final week of summer tour was a great run of shows through Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. Pics below. Stay tuned for more gigs (and photos) in October!
Road hog
Piano Man
God Bless American
Sea of Sunflowers
Sell sell sell!!!
Illinois sunset
Abraham Lincoln’s home before the White House - Springfield, IL
Whole Lotta Love’s
Man In The Mirror
Good morning Saint Louis
Cathedral Basilica - Saint Louis, MO
Tennessee bound
Home Sweet Home
creepy critter
And sometimes the venue has a baby possum living under the stage. #tourlife
