Edward Milton Hays

Music by Steve Leonard
Lyrics by JP Garwood

Steve Leonard – Guitars, Vocals
Steve Graham – Lead Vocals
Don Frio – Piano, Organ, Vocals
Steve Leroy – Bass
Ryan Krieger – Drums

Recorded by Steve Leonard, Ryan Krieger, Don Frio, and Steve Leroy (2022-2023)
Mixed and mastered by Steve Leonard (Dec 2023)

Earlier this year, our musical brother and Mindface drummer, Ryan Krieger, moved on to another plane. Ryan was a great friend, father, and musical force of nature. His talent, focus, and friendship inspired every heart he touched. Last year, Ryan recorded some drum tracks for a few songs I wanted to produce, including the ol’ Mindface track “Edward Milton Hays”, which I wrote with lyrics by JP Garwood. I always dug this song, especially how Ryan played it, slathered with extra mustard. He played everything that way and continuously demonstrated what it means to pour your heart into the music and into life. He showed everyone he played with how to treat music-making with the same regard and attention he did. While we miss Ryan’s presence, every beat we continue to make will forever be shaped by the powerful and loving vibration he shared with us.
-Leonard

DOWNLOAD MP3

Never did the sights and sounds dilute your memory
Nor did the passing of time affect your ears
You were thinkin’ of better days
You were thinkin’ of better days
Weren’t you?
When you were younger

I don’t believe it’s a crime, you lying ’bout your innocence
Pretending you’re not what you seem to be
A simple old man don’t get much praise
Now does he Edward Milton Hays?
For some strange reason

Never did the mindless world stop to remember
Nor did the passing of time reduce its speed
It just keeps movin’ on, it’s just keep movin’ on
And suddenly, find someone else to take your place

So close your tired eyes
Leave on your disguise
Live happy in your lies, they will sustain you
You’re not the only one
Who knows it isn’t fun, to just remain you

If these be the final days
Of Edward Milton Hays
Forget a world that pays no mind
It will only drain you
If these be the final days
Of Edward Milton Hays
Never will the world stop to remember
That’s why no one ever stays
That’s why no one ever stays
That’s why no one ever stays
That’s why no one ever stays

Goodbye Edward Milton Hays
I’ll see you later

Mindface, The Saint, Asbury Park, NJ 2002

New Album The Good Wheel Available Now!

“The Good Wheel,” the brand-new album by Steve Leonard, is now available across all popular digital music stores and streaming platforms. The album showcases Leonard’s unique blend of rock and reflective songwriting, with musical contributions from notable musicians, including Eric Slick (Dr. Dog) on drums, Dave Dreiwitz (Ween, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) on bass, John Skehan (Railroad Earth) on mandolin, and more.

“The Good Wheel” features 12 new original songs, including crowd favorites Be Like Alfonso and On Our Way Home. Drawing inspiration from John Denver to Frank Zappa, Leonard’s music flows with instinctive rock desires, balanced by reflective songwriting tendencies and an impulsive need to catch a groove. The album cover features stunning hand-drawn psychedelic artwork by artist Josh Levy (Asheville Art Family), bringing Leonard’s vision to life.

To find “The Good Wheel” on more platforms, visit https://snd.click/8uq3 and browse the links below.

Bandcamp

Digital downloads of the album “The Good Wheel”, CDs, and limited edition prints of the album cover are available now at https://steveleonard.bandcamp.com/album/the-good-wheel

Apple Music

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-good-wheel/1678635048

iTunes

https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-good-wheel/1678635048

Spotify

The Good Wheel is now streaming on Spotify.

Amazon Music

Trains Are Runnin’

In addition to the album release, Leonard has also released a video for the song “Trains are Runnin’” on YouTube, featuring collaborations with Eric Slick (Dr. Dog), Dave Dreiwitz (Ween, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), and John Skehan (Railroad Earth). The unique track combines rock and bluegrass elements in a charged number that highlights Leonard’s versatility as a musician.

When The Floodgates Open

Music and lyrics by Steve Leonard

Can’t get away from the trepidation
Nobody knows what to do
Must be a bug in the simulation

There’s a ship on the horizon
One that we have yet to see
One day we will ride it through the storm
And we will finally be free
And when that time comes, you’ll see

I’ll be there when the floodgates open
You might be surprised
When the floodgates open
The strange truth will be realized
When the floodgates open
We’ll become the light that’s shining through
When the floodgates open
Once again, the world will be brand new

When the floodgates open
When we become the rain
When the floodgates open
We’ll wash away all the pain
When the floodgates open
We’ll find out that nothing is for real
When the floodgates open
And just let go of the wheel

When the floodgates open
We’ll remember this very moment
When the floodgates open
When we all could sing along
Oh, when the floodgates open
There will be nothin’ left to do
When the floodgates open
And I’ll be drowning
I’ll be drowning next to you

When the floodgates open, oooo oooo
When the floodgates open, oooo oooo
When the floodgates open, oooo oooo
When the floodgates open, oooo oooo

When the floodgates open
We’ll drift away to another shore
When the floodgates open
Where we’ll never want for more
When the floodgates open
All of history gets washed away
When the floodgates open
It never mattered anyway
It never mattered anyway
It never mattered anyway
It never mattered anyway

Press Release: Steve Leonard Releases New Album “The Good Wheel”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Steve Leonard Releases New Album “The Good Wheel”

Steve Leonard, the renowned guitarist for the popular Queen tribute band Almost Queen, has released his brand-new album “The Good Wheel” featuring 12 original songs, now available on popular digital music stores and streaming platforms.

“The Good Wheel” showcases Leonard’s unique blend of rock and reflective songwriting, with musical contributions from notable musicians including Eric Slick (Dr. Dog) on drums, Dave Dreiwitz (Ween, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) on bass, John Skehan (Railroad Earth) on mandolin, and more. The album cover features stunning hand-drawn psychedelic artwork by artist Josh Levy (Asheville Art Family), bringing Leonard’s vision to life.

Leonard, who has been touring and opening for Almost Queen at renowned venues such as The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY and Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, NJ, has been playing guitar and writing songs since his early days attending rock concerts in New Jersey. Drawing inspiration from John Denver to Frank Zappa, Leonard’s music flows with instinctive rock desires, balanced by reflective songwriting tendencies and an impulsive need to catch a groove.

In addition to the album release, Leonard has also released a video for the song “Trains are Runnin'” on YouTube, featuring collaborations with Eric Slick (Dr. Dog), Dave Dreiwitz (Ween, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), and John Skehan (Railroad Earth). The unique track combines rock and bluegrass elements in a charged number that highlights Leonard’s versatility as a musician.

“The Good Wheel” is now available for purchase and streaming on popular digital music stores and platforms. For more information and updates on Steve Leonard and his music, please visit https://steveleonard.net/posts/new-album-the-good-wheel-available-now.

About Steve Leonard: Steve Leonard is a guitarist, songwriter, and performer known for his work as the guitarist of Almost Queen, a popular Queen tribute band. With his unique blend of rock and reflective songwriting, Leonard has gained a reputation as a versatile and talented musician. His new album, “The Good Wheel,” showcases his musical prowess and features collaborations with notable musicians. For more information, visit https://steveleonard.net.

Contact

messageinthenoise@gmail.com
steve@steveleonard.net

Steve Leonard Website / Social Media / Links

https://steveleonard.net
https://www.facebook.com/steveleonardmusic
https://www.facebook.com/steve.leonard.39
https://www.instagram.com/steveleonardmusic
https://twitter.com/steveleonardgtr
https://www.thecapitoltheatre.com/garcias-at-the-capitol-theatre/events/detail/steve-leonard
https://thebasie.org/events/almost-queen-club-performance/?mc_cid=cb75e26fad&mc_eid=887550499b

The Good Wheel Audio Links

https://steveleonard.net/posts/2023/03/24/new-album-the-good-wheel-available-now
https://steveleonard.bandcamp.com/album/the-good-wheel
https://open.spotify.com/album/1yRKvpEy11LGN4WpGW0sbW
https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-good-wheel/1678635048
https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0BZB28VSC
https://snd.click/8uq3

Trains Are Runnin’ Video

https://youtu.be/mYvry8EBofo

Download Assets

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Of6X7LIXfWOSK9zq6Nnk8IVTBLQPu6Qp?usp=share_link

Photos

Download photos from Google Drive.

New Album SYZYGY Now Available on Bandcamp

“This is like if Metallica went to Epcot and played Morocco”
-Bob Wischusen
about the track Whiff

“Steve Leonard embraces his psychedelic hard rock desires on his new album SYZYGY. The self produced follow up to the 2018 album Break The Code, SYZYGY changes course to take you on a kaleidosonic journey laced with heavy rhythms, rock attitude, and unabashed shredding. From the catchy hooks of Flow and Patron Saint of Irony, to the reflective aura of Whiff and You’re a Star, SYZYGY defies expectation and oozes with fervor.”
-Artie Fufkin • Polymer Records

Click here to buy SYZYGY on bandcamp.com!

All songs written and performed by Steve Leonard
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Steve Leonard

Released October 30, 2020

Steve Leonard – Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Keyboards, Programming
Don Frio – Organ on The Building Across The Way
Joe Vernazza – Drums on Patron Saint Of Irony
JP Garwood – Lyrics on Blow It Out, Patron Saint Of Irony, and What Can You Do?

New Video for ‘Whiff’ Off Upcoming Album Release

A future lies before you, culminating once and for all
but as you approach it, it curves into nothing at all

“This is like if Metallica went to Epcot and played Morocco”
-Bob Wischusen

I’ve been working on some new music during the great quarantine of 2020. Some of the songs are brand new, and some have been in the works for a while. The song ‘Whiff’ was written back in 2018, after a 10 hour round trip excursion to Watkins Glen, NY for Phish’s Curveball festival. We arrived to the festival site and as soon as we finished setting up, it was announced on the radio the festival was cancelled due to water contamination from local flooding. We looked forward to this festival for months, and planned out all we would need for our time there. It was gonna rock, but alas, it didn’t happen.

Lethargic from the long round trip home, and disappointed our plans did not turn out as we thought, I started playing around with my old Yamaha SY55 synth, and came up with ‘Whiff’. Lyricizing about what had just happened, within a dark musical vibe, the song came together quickly. It felt good that something came out of the failed excursion, and the sentiment has echoed during the past 6 months, with so many things planned and looked forward to, but didn’t happen.

Though the festival was cancelled, a new song was reeled in. Like that day, though so many of my shows were cancelled, and so many celebrations and plans for this year didn’t happen, something else happens. It’s certainly a huge bummer, I was so psyched for what was supposed to happen this year, and though it’s hard, it’s up to us to make something of our change in course, no matter the significance or impact.

I used some of the unplanned time off to finish a bunch of songs and recordings, and learn how to have more fun with some A/V software. As a result, I’m finishing up a new album of original music and made this video for the track ‘Whiff’. You can tell I love the infinite video feedback effect (aka that infinity thing that happens when you point a camera at a screen projecting the camera’s output), and had a blast playing around with the Star Wars-like hologram effect. Hope you enjoy watching, I’ll be sharing more music and video from the new album soon.

We Were Young | D.D. Verni

Last year D.D. Verni, bassist and founding member of fabled thrash metal band Overkill, released a solo album Barricade that featured many guest guitarists. Growing up in NJ, Overkill was a mainstay on my favorite radio station at the time, 89.5 FM WSOU, New Jersey’s hardest rock! Their albums from the ’80s were among my earliest CD purchases. Overkill was up there with The Big 4 in terms of heavy metal prowess, and that was what it was all about for me around the time I first started playing guitar.

Fast forward some decades, after meeting a friend of his after an Almost Queen show in Westbury, NY, D.D. contacted me about recording a Queen-esque guitar solo on the track We Were Young for the solo album he was working on. I jumped at the chance to collaborate with someone influential to my musical upbringing and did my best with my BMG Red Special replica to evoke a solo reminiscent of the good Doctor Brian May. I like how it came out and am glad D.D. asked me to contribute. Overkill’s influence still resonates around the world, as one of my current favorite bands, from Australia, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard cites drawing from Overkill as a source for their new thrash album, Infest The Rats’ Nest.

You can listen to the entire album Barricade on the Tube and at Amazon Music. For right now, I cued up the guitar solo I laid down on We Were Young, check it out…


We Were Young by D.D. Verni from the album Barricade, guitar solo by Steve Leonard (Almost Queen)

Break The Code: Stream tracks on Bandcamp

Break The Code is now available for purchase on bandcamp.com as a digital download and CD.


https://steveleonard.bandcamp.com/album/break-the-code

All Songs Written, Recorded and Mixed By Steve Leonard
Recorded At Omnijam Studio, Linden, NJ And The Hole, Oakland, NJ
Mastered By Ed Brooks, Resonant Mastering, Seattle, WA

Steve Leonard – Guitars, Lead Vocals, Bass, Percussion, Synth, Programming
Don Frio – Piano, Organ, Vocals
Michael Parillo – Drums
Joe Vernazza – Drums
Steve Leroy – Bass
Paul Kates – Piano, Vocals
Lizzy Kates – Violin, Vocals
Steve Graham – Whistle, Vocals
JP Garwood – Lyrics 1,6