Steve Betz: News

Hey everybody,

Sorry I've been away from the web site for a while.  Just taking a much needed break and now I am ready to get back at it.   I've talked to Dan Nicoles at Soul Tree Recording and we're ready to start laying tracks in December for the newest album.  I have 7 songs written and will be working on others as we move toward our goal of another recording.  I always wonder if I have another album in me, but God keeps shoving material at me.....so I guess...........here we go again.

The web site still continues to get a moderate amount of hits everyday.  There must be a few left out there searching cyberspace for new songs.   Thank you !

I will keep you all posted.........never fear.....I haven't forgotten you all out there. !

We are fast approaching our 1 year anniversary on our web site in April, www.stevebetz.com  and we are already at 30,000 hits!  We are happy with the success of this site.  Thank you  so much for visiting us.  We've been trying to keep it updated with new material and new looks to make it more fun and interesting for you all.  We welcome any suggestions you may have to make it better. 

We are also lining up a busy summer playing around this beautiful state of Montana at some of our old favorite places as well as new venues, to showcase our music.  The Steve Betz Trio has officially changed our name, but not personal , to "Track 31"    We feel the name change is a good thing as it more accurately reflects the dynamics of the group.   We chose the name because much of our original music reflects our Christian values........thus a reference to the Trinity (the 3 in 1)  and we like to feel that when we play, we are 3 musicians playing as 1. 

Again, thanks for your interest in our music and site.  We appreciate all that you do.   Hope to see you at one of our shows around the area. 

Steve ~

Hey,

Just a short line or two about some exciting weekends coming up soon.  We'll be at the Symes Hotel in Hot Springs, Mt. on Friday the 22nd of January and the following night 3 miles south of Victor, Mt. at the Hidden Legend Winery.  Check out the photos tab for pics of the last parties we had there. Lots of fun.

Then on the 30th of January, a Saturday evening at 8:30, we'll be back at Riley's Irish Pub in Helena, Mt.  And on the 6th of Feb. we will be playing again at the Leaf & Bean in Bozeman.

Also , we will be booking some gigs soon at the Montana Club  in Helena.

Check out our Calender page for times and dates. Hope to see you there. We are adding lots of new material all the time and each show has a different feel because YOU are there !!! You are terriffic...we are always blessed by your presence!

The best,

Steve Betz Trio ~

"Helena singer/guitarist Steve Betz, who calls his music 'Feel Good Americana with Christian threads' , gathered a cadre of Queen City musicians for his new CD, Without Love.

Players include producer and drummer Dan Nichols, Mike Killeen , guitars, Terry O'Hare, bass, guitars and background vocals, and Michael Kakuk, harmonica and saxaphone. Jim Schultz plays acoustic guitar on "Without Love", Johnny Moore plays keyboards; Carrie Stewart seasons a few songs with violin, and Laurie Budlong-Morse and Jennifer Ruggles sing background vocals.

Betz says he "grew up under a 'glass half full' way of looking at life, " and it's obvious. He writes with the optimism of a teenager about love, and the feeling of freedom it gives him.

The first number, "The Journey" is a gallopy two-step that opens with Kakuk's cool, moody harmonica licks. "Susie(I still think about you" , has a catchy guitar opening and snappin' drums, and great high female harmony accoumpanies the title track, "Without Love".

"Plant it deep" is an admonishment to use one's God-given talents, and a Mexified feel infuses the soul seacher, "Waiting To See The Light". Betz plays synthesizer here to recreate a marimba sound.

"Live in Me" ,a song as prayer, is a nice slow dance tune, and more Kakuk talent abounds on the sax-styled wailer, "There Will Be A Light" . The finale features Riley Quigley reading 1st Corinthians 13:1-2, which segues into a reprise of the title cut.

Fans of Betz will appreciate his mix of sacred and earthy. And it's dance music too. Visit him @ www.stevebetz.com
Mariss McTucker ~ www.livelytimes.com

We have scheduled a few more release venues in the near future and are in the process of booking more.
Aug. 26 - Riley's Irish Pub, 8:30pm, Helena, Mt.
Sept. 18 - The Symes Hotel , 8-10 pm, Hot Springs, Mt.
Oct. 10 - The Leaf & Bean, 8pm, Bozeman, Mt.
Oct. 22 - 1st Christian Church, 7pm, Helena, Mt.

The Oct 22 gig will be a full band with Mike Killeen, Terry O'hare, Dan Nichols and myself, and will be a fundraiser for Helena Food Share will all proceeds going to the cause !

Steve ~

Last night , July 14, we gathered a large portion of the best musicians in town for some great music ! Many people were not able to make it , so the crowd was small, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I know we musicians had a blast ! I always feel privileged to be able to be on the same stage as the likes of Mike Killeen, Terry O'Hare, Dan Nichols and Michael Kakuk. It doesn't get any better than that. If you missed it, you missed some real talented people jammin and groovin' to some cover tunes and many from the new CD, Without Love.

We have been talking about doing it again sometime this fall. Summer days are busy in Montana. We gotta get out there while the sun is shining and enjoy it. Fall may be a better time. Hope to see ya there when we do !

I would like to publicly thank all who have made this CD a reality! So many have contributed to this album....and it wouldn't be what it is without all of them ! Dan Nichols, Mike Killeen, Terry O'hare, Michael Kakuk, Mike Leidle, Steve Halferty, Jennifer Ruggles, Jim Shulz, John Moore, Lauire Budlong- Morse, Carrie Stewart and Riley Quigley. You are a gift from God. Many blessings!

More later............Steve ~

PS: I will be posting pics from the Rathskellar soon on my web site.

As of July 1 the CD's are in hand and are being distributed to retailers in the Helena area. I hope to have it available very soon on cdbaby.com........
We hope to have the CD marketed in other region citys at some point.....working on that !

If you need a CD before the release events in July and August, you can contact me via my email, stevebetz@stevebetz.com

Thanks.......

We have the master disc, the artwork and photos for the CD finished finally ! It will go to the printers @ Disc-Makers hopefully on the 8th of June. Hoping to have it back before the 1st of July and in the stores and homes immediately after that ! Stay tuned. We will be sending out a notice via our email list where you can get your CD.

Steve ~

Jst to let you all know.....we have a preliminary mix on the "Without Love" CD. Just a little tinkering on that and we can begin the mastering process. Looking at the last part of May for sending things in for re-production.

Steve ~

Just finished up all the tracks today (4/22/09)...a real great feeling. Dan & I will start the mixdown process this coming Saturday ( 4/25). We are close enough to start setting up more realease events. There's a light at the end of the tunnel.....Yip , Yip , Yahoo!!!
"Without Love" will be out soon !!!

Steve ~

We are steadily making progress in completion of our 3rd CD, Without Love. We are hoping to be finished sometime in early June. We feel this album is the best we have done in production and song writing. Steve Halferty, my long time friend , has co-written with me 5 of the songs. I think we have a new sound you will all hopefully enjoy. Again, as with the last CD, we have the same foundation players...the very best, and I feel fortunate to have had them on the CD. Mike Killeen (Helena Blues Project/Ironfront Band, Terry O'hare (every band that plays anywhere), Dan Nichols (Soul Tree Recording), John Moore (Eratze Bros) and many more!
I will keep you posted as to release dates. Thanks for being a part of our team. Each and every one.

Steve Betz