Summer Update
Jul 7, 2010 General
Hi everyone. Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul played our first New York show in nine years last month at The Duplex on June 17. It was a magical night of music helped by a solid week of rehearsals so we felt and sounded pretty tight. We broke out some old ones from the vault such as “Can’t Do a Thing” and “It’s Hard When You’re Hard”, the latter of which was praised for its word-play by none other than Harry Dawson, my former English teacher from Seton Hall Prep. I was quite flattered to hear that from him. Newer songs such as “Beer” and “On My Way Home” also went really well!
There was a major equipment snafu when my capo broke after the third song. A brief reprieve was offered by guest star Brett Every (www.brettevery.com), who heroically used his fingers to hold the broken capo onto the guitar for two songs. He also joined us for three-part harmonies on “Love Hurts” (a classic written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant). Salvation arrived several songs later when drummer extraordinaire Richard Dworkin turned up with a capo he had gone and borrowed from a musician friend in the neighborhood. I will never again show up for a gig without a backup capo! Apparently all acoustic guitar players know that, but I didn’t. Brett also sang one of his own songs, “Deveraux”, dedicated to the recently-departed and much-missed Rue McClanahan.
Paul and I had a wonderful week of just hanging out and enjoying each other’s company like the old days. We’re sure to do this sort of thing again. On June 21, Brett Every and I did a little double bill outdoor performance in Dumbo, Brooklyn as part of the Make Music New York festival. It was a delightful experience!
I’m having a wonderful summer, hope you are too! Probably no gigs for the rest of the summer, but working on some fun stuff for the fall. Stay in touch if you get around to it!
Keeping busy – Happy Spring!
Apr 21, 2010 General, Pete Sturman, Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul
Lots of stuff going on these days: I’m doing a few solo performances in NYC in the next couple of weeks so check out the gig calendar for more info. Paul and I can’t wait to do our first duo show in New York (in June) since 2001. Paul’s coming up for a week-long visit! Hope you’re having a great spring!
FINE RED WINE is up on iTunes!
Mar 30, 2010 General, Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul
Hey folks, we’re excited to announce that after being out of print and unavailable for several years, Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul’s debut CD Fine Red Wine (from 1998) is now available on iTunes! We should have a link here on the website any minute now.
A great night at The Duplex
Feb 23, 2010 General, Pete Sturman
Sunday’s show at The Duplex was a lot of fun! Thanks so much to everyone who came out and helped make it a big success. I was inspired to play “Fun to Be Fem” for the first time in over a decade! I was very gratified to receive this review from guitarist/producer Robert Urban:
“Last night we attended our current featured artist – Pete Sturman’s – sold out solo show at the Duplex here in NYC (my first time seeing him live). A remarkable troubadour/wordsmith – beloved by his audience. Friends and fans called out requests from his extensive catalog of gay-themed ballads, anthems and comedic songs. And Pete graciously pulled ‘em out of his hat on the spot. The crowd seemed to hang on his every word. A lovely vibe was shared by all.
“All during the show I kept thinking to myself: if ever there was a Bob Dylan for the gay community, this guy’s the one.”
New Orleans Report
Feb 10, 2010 General, Pete Sturman, Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul
My trip to New Orleans was wonderful. The Thing About It was really great! While it was not without its flaws (that’s the nature of a workshop, to try things out), it was really fascinating to see and hear the songs done by actors and to see how well the music worked in that context. Bookwriter Brian Sands, director Holly-Anne Ruggiero and actors Ian Hoch, Jamie Wax, Kenneth Thompson and Cliff Thompson should all be proud of themselves. The accompaniment by “Popgun” Paul Cowgill and Galen Marquis was great and it was a joy to watch them bonding together musically on stage. It seems that many of the involved parties would like to see more happen with this musical, so for now let’s just keep our fingers crossed.
The workshop ended with a matinee on Sunday, January 31 and that night Paul and I convened in the All Ways Lounge for a special 3-hour set of many requests and some new songs of mine done solo. Ian and Kenneth (from TTAI) came up and sang “Angel’s Wings” and “Party Zone” with us, then Ian duetted with me on “Tea”. We also did a couple of sets backed up by Galen on keys and our old friend Kathleen Kraus on upright bass. It rocked and has got us thinking we should do an album as a foursome.
Somehow the Pistol/Popgun machine keeps chuggin’ despite our being in different cities, and I believe that somehow we always will.
Off to New Orleans!
Jan 27, 2010 General, Pete Sturman, Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul
I leave in the morning for New Orleans! Very excited to see The Thing About It, to perform with Paul at the All Ways and of course the Brigid Ball, my first since 2006. PP&PP will roll out the old “What If God Was a Homo” or some such chestnut at the Ball. Looking forward to seeing many of you there! New Yorkers, my “big” solo gig is on February 21.
“I Can Hardly Wait” performed on Good Morning New Orleans!
Jan 12, 2010 General, Pete Sturman, Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul
Wowee! Check out this clip from yesterday’s Good Morning New Orleans of new song “I Can Hardly Wait” performed by cast members of THE THING ABOUT IT.
Pete featured this month on Gay Guitarists Worldwide
Jan 8, 2010 General, Pete Sturman, Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul
Check out Gay Guitarists Worldwide where Robert Urban has run a feature on me this month – he reviews Son of a Gun and True Stories and posts a pretty meaty interview. Thanks Robert! And be sure to check out the other talented LGBT artists who are featured there.
Popgun Paul named musical director!
Dec 29, 2009 General, Pete Sturman, Pistol Pete & Popgun Paul
Our collaboration continues across the miles as “Popgun” Paul Cowgill has agreed to be musical director for The Thing About It – A New Musical, the workshop of which will be performed Jan. 28-31 at Southern Rep Theatre in New Orleans. Brian Sands came up with the idea and wrote the book and at this writing it features 24 of my songs, mostly ones you’ve heard done by PP&PP but a few world premieres as well. I can’t think of a more perfect candidate than Paul and wish him success and inspiration in this new position.
Great to hear from you!
Dec 17, 2009 General, Pete Sturman
Keep the emails and comments coming, I’m loving hearing from you all. For the really motivated among you, please consider writing a review on iTunes! The album looks so lonely up there without any stars or reviews.