Pearl Jam, Radiohead, and the Beatles (All time Favorites), Lorraine Robinson and Barry Salwen (my brilliant piano teachers) Damien Rice, Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Spoon, The White Stripes, Keane, Muse, the Strokes, Coldplay, Jeff Buckley, Nick Drake, Elliot Smith, James Taylor, Ben Harper, Syd Barret, Leonard Cohen, Sufjan Stevens, Chopin, Mozart, Schubert, Handel, Purcell, Norah Jones, Tori Amos, Fionna Apple, Imogen Heap, Aha, A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Biggie, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, OutKast, Slick Rick, Paul Simon, Cash, Merle, Waylon, Kristofferson, Alabama, Rufus Wainright, Screeching Weasel, Alice in Chains, STP, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage, Tom and Alex Dews (still listen to your stuff fellows), Ray LaMontagne (A current favorite), Ben (Kweller and Folds), Pornos for Pyros (Jane's Addiction), The Minus 5, Ween, Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, the Decemberists, TV on the Radio, the Postal Service, and of course: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, the Beach Boys, Ray Charles...the obvious badasses
Sounds Like
Stephen Jenkins
Live Performance of "Sober Saturday"
I write songs. lots of them. Unfortunately I'm too technologically inept, and not rich enough to have recordings of all of them. I don't follow genres, I simply write what comes to mind. They're influenced by everything. Lately, I've been on a country/alt/ kick. I guess it's because they're so lyrically driven. I also have a space rock side. Dynamics and melody are everything. Oh yeah, I dig blues too, but who doesn't. I play covers to make a living. It sucks, but until you've made it, you gotta do it, and it still beats crossing to the dark side of the corporate world. I just moved to Charleston SC, because I became too complacent in Raleigh, NC. Music turned into a job. That takes the joy from it. Also not cool. I'm definitely the new kid in town. Kind of exciting, kind of scary. There's a lot of cobblestone, and gas lanterns, and old haunted buildings. Very rustic, very inspiring. I live with my girlfriend, and my dog. They keep me sane, though I probably have the opposite effect on them, with all of the late night strumming. At night is when I work best. That's when the world stops, and allows me to pick it apart. I'm a critic/hater. It makes me angry when people become successful by over-promoting themselves, and relying on image. Don't get me wrong, both are important, but you must have the goods musically...period. Unfortanately, this is the superficial world we live in, and it's everywhere in music as well. It makes me sad sometimes, but there are still good souls too. You just have to look a little harder. I'm not going to write in the third person to sound like I'm not tooting my own horn like so many other myspace aficianados. You should be the judge, but not from just the recordings alone (simply because I haven't quite captured a song the way I truly envisioned it from the beginning). Come see a live show before you make your final decision. And if you ask for an original I'll pick you a daffodil.
Glad to see your booked up and doin well. Jess and I will be tying the knot in December, heading to Oz for a month or so afterwards, then reclaiming the trailer park and settling in for a bit down near Folly. Hope to catch you guys out on the town before that though. Tell Ash hello for me. Miss ya'll.....
Hey brother! iI was just thinking about the very first time we ever hung out that day when the music was clicking and the drinking was early....so early that by night fall you got lost somehow:)
Can't wait to see you this weekend! LOVE the Green Levels! I'm listening to it all the time! You are so talented, Stephen!!! I may be addicted to your voice...
Congrats on the great news...I'm really excited for yall. Sad to say that I'll be out of town this weekend and won't get to come see you play :(. Hope to see ya soon, miss ya!!
Thanks, bro! It's oddly coincidental that you left a comment because, as I was doing some editing for my EP yesterday, I was thinking, "I can't wait 'till Stephen gets to hear this." Weird! I think you'll dig it.
Unfortunately, it's probably not going to be finished until April. I've got a small label wanting to help me release it... I don't know. I need to see the contract first.
what up man enjoyed the songs. when you coming this way let's do one together or at least drink and pic. Hook me up with some of that Charelston gigery. Take care bro.
Love the new tunes! Sorry I fucked up the CDs I got some good pics of you and Mazzie- send me your E-mail and I'll get them to ya. Keep those recordings coming! I want a finished copy of Sawdust Shuffle. That's my Shit.
