Here's one talented but as yet unknown musician who doesn't need a promoter. If his relentless pursuit of journalists proves fruitful, he'll be collecting his Grammy in no time.
Here's one talented but as yet unknown musician who doesn't need a promoter. If his relentless pursuit of journalists proves fruitful, he'll be collecting his Grammy in no time.
Steve Schuster, chairman and founder of Massachusetts-based tech PR firm Rainier, describes his sound as 'John Prine-ish.' His self-released debut album, called Pure Audio, hits store shelves this week. (Actually, more precisely, a record shop in Holden, MA, and a liquor store in Princeton.)
While it may have limited distribution, the CD has culled some rave reviews.
At least, at Rainier - not surprisingly, since Schuster is, after all, the boss. Nonetheless, he says, 'People here have it and they're taking it home and their kids are singing it like crazy, because it's very lyrically friendly.'
Animal Noises is billed as a 'veiled paean to sexuality,' although we think it's a veiled paean to his life in PR. In one verse he sings: 'Some people say I'm the conversation king/ Ready to express myself about any and everything/But I won't say something off the wall/And I'd never grunt like some neanderthal.'
And in I'm One, he seems to ponder his secret life as weekend rock star: 'I got a Gibson/ Without a case/But I can't get that even-tanned look on my face/Ill-fitting clothes/I blend in the crowd/Face too simple/ Voice too proud.'
Now age 40, Schuster started strumming and singing as a teenager - mainly Beatles tunes and arena rock. He still gets together with his garage band, The Surfing Stud Puppies, once a week to play cover tunes and 'blow the doors off.'
'It's a great avenue for telling a story,' says Schuster. Beats writing press releases, now, doesn't it?
