Stuart Smith

I’ve spent a lot of time at this desk for the past year and a half at Berklee. I was really looking forward to a summer off, but….I had the opportunity to take a course that I can’t turn down. So for the summer term, I’m excited to be studying classical composition through Harvard University. There’s a sentence I never thought I’d say, but so it goes.

Gonna drag some old guitars to Grüv in Belleville, IL tonight to play at 6pm. I adore playing here and it’s always a joyous experience.

Twenty years ago I walked into Due Gatti Coffee Shop (RIP) in Jacksonville, IL on a rainy April night and was surprised to hear blues music coming from the balcony. I’d never heard anything like it around here. Raw, gut-wrenching, dirty blues…in Jacksonville. My friend and I sat transfixed as Ben Cox and some local legends (Stan & Jeff) played through a blistering set of originals, standards, and still the best cover of All Along The Watchtower I ever heard. The set that night was raw, spontaneous, and every word ached with heartbreak. I thought I probably need to be friends with that guy. The recording that night was released on CD and was a treasured possession among those in the know, accompanying my friends and I on late-night drives and just sitting around absorbing the music while demolishing too much alcohol. Little did I know that would be one of the few truly transformative musical moments in my life that would shape my own music in ways I never imagined. I started attending open mics there that year where I’d meet longtime collaborators and where I’d eventually meet my wife six months later (learn to play an instrument, kids- you can wayyy outkick your coverage).

Over the years, Ben and I became good friends and played well over 100 gigs together. We even recorded some tracks together that are seeing the light of day almost two decades later as part of the Room Painted Blue 20th Anniversary edition. This record has never seen a digital release…until now. A couple songs are out and the full record is coming soon. Just listening again took me back to a place where 19 year old me was wide eyed and absorbing all the music I could hear, while forging new friendships through music. In a world where 40% of new music released is A.I. slop, real and raw music still matters because it makes you feel something that only another human communicating from the heart can.

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3lUkmYimZrMbF2P5cWR9TN?si=3pT2B0tvQPug3wBGlIcaOw

I’m taking a break from my social media exile (I still think it’s mostly AI/brainrot B.S.) to let you know that I’m going to be playing some cool shows with The Lovelorn this week. Sunday we’re at the Ramova Theater in Chicago with Nordista as he’s setting a world record for shows. Tickets are 25% off if you use the code LOVELORN. Before that, on Friday, we’re playing a hometown show at the Blue Grouch in Springfield with some great bands including our friends Lavisher from Chicago.
Between those, I’m watching my daughter’s dance recital. It’ll be a beautiful weekend and I hope to see you out there.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family. Hope today and this season finds you with peace and gratitude for all the good things in your life, both big and small.

Mark Baier with Victoria Amplifiers makes amps for a lot of famous guitarists (John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards) and…. I’m not one of them. But Mark is a real one and has always been so cool with me.

Last night, he spent two hours with me before my show disassembling, modifying, and tweaking my amp to do everything I need. This is one reason why buying American matters. These aren’t manufactured on an assembly line cutting corners to meet a price point. They’re meticulously crafted with all made in USA parts in my home state by someone who truly gives a damn. There’s some soul here and most importantly, TONE.
Over the past 15 years, I’ve owned many of his amps and, while I’ll try other amps occasionally, I always come back to Victoria.

Life lately. A fall full of playing some shows, time with family and friends, watching my kids do all the sports, and somehow coming to grips with my son going to college next year.