Category Archives: Songs
The Warm Auction Preview
The Covid19 pandemic wasn’t all that bad in how it nourished a song writing phase. At some point you have to decide what you’re going to do with the isolatory time you are afforded. I split time between fitness, reading and songwriting. Life changes always bring decisions to your doorstep. Songwriting is never explicit for me. The words always have to travel through a lense of censorship for a few reasons not worth getting into. Understanding who you are, through months of self reflection, can be discussed with people in your “circle” (which gets smaller as we age) or it can simply be written. The Warm Auction was an idea that easily became productive. The songs and ideas came fast. The concept of the TWA was a play on words that created the template for the songs. I wanted to create a warm production sound in my own studio using classic recording techniques and vintage instruments (auction purchased). My only departure was with the drum programming using Logic X Drummer. A modernized tool for sure. You can change the drummer’s playing style by choosing different presets, tweaking the generated pattern using various settings, or having Drummer regions follow the rhythm of another track in the project.
credits
release date: December 23, 2020 on all streaming platforms.
Robby Eldridge– (all words & music)- guitar, bass, programming, keys, banjo, percussion, all vocals
Sam Baldigowski- pedal steel, lapsteel, mandolin
Shawn Mazzei – lead guitar, slide guitar
Mastered by Dan Bozek
Songs:
Loving Well
Hey, how many times, can I drink from the same watering hole?
Well I guess it’s been- close to a hundred days in a row
Ain’t no doubt that it tastes good – at least the way that it should
Well my feet are so sore yea- they done gone through hell
There’s a worn path, back and forth, from your loving well
The way I see it- it seems so clear- when you walk so far
but you seem so near- when your heart belongs to a complex kid-
it’s hard to remember what you did- and our souls won the war-
Yes they done gone through hell- they’re walking hand in hand-
Back and forth- from your loving well-there’s a worn path – back and forth
From your loving well…
Turn it up some heart yea- roll it down to the well yea (repeat)
Darkness, Learn To See
Some sidestep the mourning-never open the door- they just keep walking
Right past it- there’s no healing by looking in it’s eyes-
Or kneeling at the feet- that broke you- my only disguise came from-
Standing in the darkness- with a match in one hand-
and a candle in the other- well I chose the darkness-
it’s where I learned to see- where my mind can be-
A little more like me
(chorus)
and I never feared the alone- still a king but I -lack a throne
A place to call my home – and turn my key
So I took the pass- I walked down the road- it was paved-
With so much meaning-well I dragged my feet-
that were filled with indecision- I was behind- all the living
And I found the race to be long-it was filled with some forgiving
And company with the living-well I chose the darkness-
it’s where I learned to see- where my mind can be-
A little more like me-
(chorus)
Sit In Irons
Behind the eyes- lives the yearning – while the house burns away
Don’t ask why- be discerning- how far can you walk in a day?
Inject some meaning-kick aside that strife- the momentum
Will show the way- so keep on – keeping on- is all they seem to say
(refrain)
The say (repeat)
Soon enough-you’ll turn the corner- find calm water- you sail to prove
Sit in irons- take some time to think- go on liberty- and have a few
Rest your head up- like another hangover- a cool glass of water
Is what you do- so make the most – of your chance- change your colors
Replace the blue-
(refrain)
The blue (repeat)
Coming In Real Thin
The dreams come alive- in my bed- you’re trying to make sense of it all
Just taking in your environment – and you feel left out from the riddle that you told- and there you stand- try to deal with all the banishment- because nothing went as planned
(chorus)
So you’re coming in real thin- yes you’re coming in real thin-
I spent a little time- in my head- trying to make sense of it all
Before I send along my sentiments
I got myself in the middle of the road- with outstretched hands-if you’re coming around looking for punishment- you know these aren’t the right hands.
(chorus)
The Almanac Story
South Fayette educator and coach has the music in him
Rob Eldridge is more than a teacher and soccer coach
By day, Rob Eldridge adopts the mantle of teacher and boys’ varsity soccer coach at South Fayette High School. By night, he morphs into a musician for Steelesque, which will release its latest CD “Toro Toro” at a bash set for 8 p.m. June 23 at Cefalo’s Banquet & Event Center in Carnegie.
“I’m absolutely a goal-oriented person, whether it’s developing a strong soccer program that is competing for WPIAL or state titles or leading a group of musicians in creating art and producing a finished product that we can be proud of,” said Eldridge.
I have a strong competitive spirit and sometimes that needs to be calmed,” he added. “I do that by reading, songwriting and through my music. For me, it’s the yin and yang of life. It works well together.”
Throughout his life, Eldridge weaved sports and music together successfully. A Vermont native, he started skiing at age 5. He began playing soccer at 7 and evolved into an All-American while excelling on the Johnson State College team that competed in the national championships. While earning his masters degree in education, Eldridge helped coach the James Madison University men’s soccer team.
At that Harrisonburg, Va., school, he met his wife, Kim. When she took the lacrosse coaching gig at Duquesne University, the Eldridge family moved to Pittsburgh, where Rob took the assistant coaching job with the Dukes men’s soccer squad in 1996.
In addition, he joined the Beadling Soccer Club as a head coach, directing teams to multiple state championships and one regional title. Between 2002-07, he served as Peters Township head coach, guiding the Indians to three section banners, one WPIAL championship and two district runner-up titles.
Since 2007, he has been at South Fayette, claiming several COTY laurels in consistently guiding the Lions to the district and state playoffs. The Lions won a WPIAL title in 2015.
Music has been with Eldridge every step of the way. Raised in a “classical formal tradition” as maternal grandparents, Elizabeth and Herbet Kenyon, were a concert pianist and opera singer, respectively, Eldridge taught himself how to play various instruments, including piano, bass and electric guitar, which he plays on stage. “Never took formal lessons,” he said.
Eldridge said he started playing because he had written songs – he has more than 100 published pieces – so he decided to learn the instruments to “be in a position to write better what I wanted to sing.”
While his mother, Roxy, is a classical vocalist, his father, Bob, introduced him to the sound he prefers and performs.
“He exposed me to all the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s music,” Eldridge said. “I caught the rock ’n’ roll bug from him. He’s an artist, painter and illustrator. He designed the cover for the release.”
“Toro Toro” features six songs written by Eldridge. The CD was recorded by Mike Ofca from Innovation Studio in Steubenville and Eldridge at his in-home studio, dubbed Sonic Planet Studios.
Eldridge is the lead vocalist. He plays guitar, keys and banjo. His next-door-neighbor, Sam Baldigowski, excels on the mandolin and lap steel. Ron Castelluci (percussion and noise makers), Jerry Courtney (bass guitar and backing vocals), Eric Drake (lead guitar and back vocals) and Bruce Virtue (drums) complete the band, which Eldridge started three years ago in Pittsburgh.
“We’ve had a couple of different lineups but it’s mostly made up of professionals and buddies, all accomplished musicians. I know they were auditioning me as much as I was auditioning them,” Eldridge said of the players, most of whom hail from Weirton, W.Va.
Featuring a blend of genres, Eldridge described the CD as rock ’n’ roll with blues elements. The six-piece ensemble delivers the swagger of bands from days gone by while echoing its own influences. If it has a sound similar to British blues and the Rolling Stones, there is good reason: Mick Jagger and the boys are Eldridge’s favorite.
“I only wish I could perform like Mick,” he laughed. “Usually I have a guitar around my shoulder, so I am unable to move around the way he does.”
During his youth, Eldridge moved around a bit. He started with The Warehouse Band playing music from a range of bands like the Hollies, Stones, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Led Zeppelin, The Cult and Tom Petty. He moved on to the Voodoo Dolls, which included one member that currently plays bass for the “Jersey Boys” production in Las Vegas. The Voodoo Dolls covered more redent bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Jane’s Addiction and supported national acts like Gov’t Mule, the Jayhawks, Blue Rodeo and Edgar Winter. One of his biggest groups was the Spring Heeled Jacks.
Eldridge’s experiences have included encounters with Mick Taylor, who replaced founder Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones after he mysteriously drowned, along with Bob Dylan, Frankie Vallie and Gov’t Mule frontman Warren Haynes, who also played with the Allman Brothers and Phil Lesh and Friends.
“I met a lot of awesome musicians,” said Eldridge, “and it’s been wonderful but not my real desire.”
As he aged, Eldridge said his goals changed. While he has released a solo record on vinyl that can be heard on Pandora and Spotify, written background music for independent films and documentaries, and provided soundtracks for a local outdoor adventure show produced by Joe Rossi of Peters Township, Eldridge’s main focus is his family.
He is a father to three sons. His eldest, Ray, plays football. Heading into his senior season, he already has 15 Division I scholarship offers.
“He’s a self-made kid, good student, hard worker,” said Eldridge. “He did all the right things and followed Joe Rossi’s ground rules, and that had a big payoff.”
Eldridge’s two other boys – Gavin, a sophomore, and Chad, a freshman – have followed in their father’s footsteps and play soccer.
“I have been driven by raising my sons,” Eldridge said.
Through his music, he is driven to expose others to the art of writing songs and performing. Eldridge says that there are other things he wants to do but sharing is foremost on his list. While he’s excited about his CD release and calls it a “celebration and culmination” of the process, he is “pushing” for newer endeavors.
“I have an opportunity to help other artists,” he said. “You know, it only takes one song.”
Read full article here
New Music Coming Soon!
The Magpie And The Muse
New song by Rob Eldridge
Price Of Your Toll- RIE 7.9.14
words and music by Rob Eldridge
dont even know whats right or what’s real
if you add all the years you start seeing cracks in the seal
but the look in your eyes- don’t say wrong
so you do your sidestep- and walk along
ya got your shield up like tough boards on a barn
walking through life leaving hearts ragged and torn
maybe one day you’ll take a look behind
and keep tough in your pocket and dole out a little kind
yea the price of your toll this time cost you one (2xs)
one step in your woods felt like ten
got called home for dinner not knowing when
I got sore legs climbing north to south
i thought i finished up strong but you put cotton in my mouth
ya got your shield up like tough boards on a barn
hiding your nest with a magpie spinning yarn
maybe one day you’ll take a look behind
and keep me in your pocket and call it one of a kind
yea the price of your toll this time cost you one (2xs)
Rooms Full Of Gardens Available Now On iTunes!!
Click Above Image For A Surprise!
Available Now!!
“Rooms Full Of Gardens” Available On iTunes!
Good News Is Good News!
Rooms Full Of Gardens will be released on vinyl. So much gratitude to feel.
Pittsburgh City Paper Weighs In On “Rooms Full Of Gardens”
See review from Pittsburgh City below.
“Rob Eldridge, known for his band Steelesque, departs a bit from his classic-rock roots to present Rooms Full of Gardens. One might guess that in preparation for this solo effort, Eldridge has been listening to more Wilco and The Kinks than The Rolling Stones. The vocals are soft, the lyrics introspective and poetic, and while the percussion is primarily of the machine variety, it adds an edgy element rather than cheapening the experience. Definitely worth a spin or two. “
– Seth Pfannenschmidt – Pittsburgh City Paper
