SC: And then you get on stage and you play, you finally get to do what you came to do in the first place.
Smitty: Yeah.
SC: And it just sometimes feels like it goes by too fast.
Smitty: We do too when we’re sitting in the audience. (Laughs.)
SC: You know what I’m saying? I mean, I could be up there….now, there’s a certain kind of physical limitation. It’s just like if you’re playing at an intensity level like I like to remain at, after 90 minutes or more, I mean, it’s deep, but when it’s over, kind of the first thing I think about when I get back stage is “Wow, that was quick.” And then it’s kinda like a period of relief where it’s kinda being able to sit down….and normally the guys are back there, the band, and I always end up taking about, I don’t know, 10 to 15 minutes while people are kinda getting out of their seats and going to where they’re gonna go, and if they wanna come and say hi to me or if they want me to sign something for them, it takes them a minute to kinda get situated and everything.
Smitty: Right.
SC: And it’s really just kind of like we finally as a band get to kinda sit down and just take a heavy sigh of relief and just relax for a second and talk about the gig, and there’s always that kinda like “Man, you played blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. Did you hear what he did?” You know, that kind of thing, and there’s a lot of mutual admiration society back there. And then, again, when I sit behind the table and I see that people are lined up and all they require from me is like a smile and a signature and a couple of seconds of my attention, I mean, I feel like wow.
Smitty: Yeah, a photograph, you know.
SC: Yeah, I mean, you know, it still just kind of blows me away that people feel that it’s important enough to them to take the time to come to the shows, to buy a ticket, to pay for the babysitter, to you know what I’m saying.
Smitty: Yeah.
SC: Because that’s with the people making time and money, and I’m in awe of that, so I absolutely love to meet people. I’m never someone who has a time frame for how long I wanna stay out there. If there are people in line, I’m gonna be there and I’m gonna say hi and I’m gonna try and meet everybody because I’m still, even after all these years, so flattered that people think enough of me to show up. (Laughs.)
Smitty: Let me shake your hand, man. You know what? And do me a favor. Never lose that feeling.
SC: (Laughs.) I don’t think I can, man.
Smitty: You know?
SC: I’m like this record….and I’ve been doing this since 1997, you know, making records and going out under my own name, so I don’t think I’m in danger of taking any of that for granted.
Smitty: Yeah, that’s very cool, man. I wish that all musicians would take that same approach and perspective because the fans appreciate that, and like you said, it means a lot to them.
SC: Right, absolutely.
Smitty: And that’s a beautiful thing.
SC: No, and I think that as artists, we have to really understand that in this day and age with the way that the music industry is changing, we can take nothing for granted.
Smitty: That’s true.
SC: And audience development is the most important thing that we can do, and the people that are gonna stick with us are the people who feel as though we’re putting out as much as they’re contributing, you know what I mean?
Smitty: Yes, I do.
SC: And, you know, so…
Smitty: Hey, Steve.
SC: Yeah?
Smitty: Say that again. Say that again. Audience what?
SC: Audience development.
Smitty: I love that, man.
SC: I mean, it’s true. I mean, you wanna take the audience with you, you want people to come with you on a journey through your career, so the one thing that you have to do is communicate with them regularly, you have to be accessible to a certain extent, but you also have an obligation to all of them if they’re going to come with you and they’re gonna follow you through your career. You have to give them something. In the words of En Vogue, give ‘em something they can feel!
Smitty: That’s what I’m talking about! (Laughs.)
SC: I hate to go back to eighties pop, but….
Smitty: No, man. (Laughs.)
SC: That’s actually pretty ridiculous, but, I mean, it’s true. You can’t phone in your records. You have to always, before you undertake to make a new record, you have to make sure that you’re chronicling your absolutely best work and you put your entire heart and soul into it because you have an obligation to the people who are gonna buy it. People aren’t gonna just buy your record because your name’s on it. I mean, they may give you the benefit of the doubt once.
Smitty: Yes.
SC: But if you’re not bringing it every single time, you can’t expect people to be with you for your entire career, and it’s the same thing at the show. You have to bring it every single time.
Smitty: Yes.
SC: People need to come to expect your best.
Smitty: Yes.
SC: And that’s how you get people to come along with you and develop that audience and grow that audience, and that’s what I’m committed to.
Smitty: Well, I tell you what, Steve, I couldn’t have said it any better and my hat’s off to you for what you’re doing and your approach, your perspective on the way a musician should carry himself and how a musician delivers the goods. I think that’s beautiful.
SC: Cool, man.
Smitty: Yeah. As Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell said, ain’t nothing like the real thing. (Laughs.)
SC: Oh, we’re going there, are we? (Both laugh.)
Smitty: Hey, you went back to En Vogue, man. I had to go get one, you know? (Both laugh.)
SC: I don’t know where that came from.
Smitty: Hey, that’s off the cuff and that’s when it’s real, you know?
SC: Oh yeah, that’s what’s scary.
Smitty: (Laughs.) Hey, man, I love this album cover as well. I identify, being a St. Louis native. I used to love to come up to Chicago on my long weekends, so I immediately identified with the skyline, with the Hancock Tower and all that.
SC: Right. You know, it was interesting because at first the album cover….I was a little bit skeptical because, again, kinda the Chicago influence, it’s a subtle thing. It’s definitely there. I mean, that’s who I am, that’s what I’m about, those amazing influences that I’ve had being a musician here playing jazz and blues and R&B and soul music and gospel music in Chicago. But I didn’t want the album to look like a postcard.
Smitty: (Laughs.)
SC: And I think that we really struck a great balance with the kind of imagery on this album cover because Chicago is very much kind of….it’s like a whisper in the visual image.
Smitty: Yeah.
SC: And it’s present, it’s undeniable, but it’s kind of subtle and that’s kinda how I feel about how the music is portrayed in the record, so I was really kinda happy with how we were able to strike that balance between the music and the imagery of the record.
Smitty: Yeah, man, and it follows well with the songs too.
SC: Right.
Smitty: So I’m sure there is a tour in the making.
SC: Yes, absolutely. We’re really starting to put together some exciting dates right now….and at least we were before the entire music industry shut down for the holidays. I mean, I’m talking about the door gets locked on this industry after Thanksgiving pretty much.
