TO Audio: Steve Warner Carries On

On the local scene we are fortunate to have a wide variety of live music in Jefferson County. Although audiences may be small, the core of listeners—live music lovers—is strong. In addition to area bars and festivals, which feature live music, there are several spots to see live music that are organized and patronized in a grassroots fashion. They are places where listeners and players gather to hear a featured artist and quite often join in via an open mic. One of these unique live music series, First Fridays, was founded by local musician Steve Warner. Warner started the series two years ago hoping to create a throwback to the coffeehouse era. “First Fridays allows us a chance to strengthen our community through music,” says Warner. “The open mic component also offers new musicians a chance to perform in front of a courteous and interested audience.”

As a performer, Warner appreciates what it takes to bring live music to the community. Warner has five CDs under his belt, and with his latest release “Carry On” he has captured the community spirit of the First Friday series by using several local musicians on his recordings. Ed Barney, Jessie Shultzaberger, Don Oesher, Bob Martin, and others lend their varied talents to bolster Warner’s arrangements. “I like variety,” says Warner. “Sometimes I am inspired to write a song that fits a particular style. Almost all I write is influenced by what I listen to and what I like. With the First Friday series we try to book a wide range of artists. With Carry On I tried to expand musically and to incorporate a variety of musical styles. It is always nice to be able to write across the lines of my taste.”

Many of Warner’s influences can be heard on Carry On and in the varied styles of the First Friday lineup.

In addition to the guest musicians on Carry On, Warner has expanded his Rolling Coyotes lineup to include Elliot Simon along with regulars Nancy Lynn and Andy Mosholder. Warner admits that many of the arrangements on Carry On “were geared to what we do live. The arrangements reflect how we like to play live, which is a different approach for me. Even though we used extra musicians we put a lot of effort into capturing the basic Coyote’s sound.”

Warner uses the same thoughtfulness for making music that he does when booking First Friday acts. “In folk music a good arrangement can capture the feeling of the lyric and create tension, loneliness, happiness, and chaos, “ says Warner. He compares arranging a song to decorating a Christmas tree. “On a Christmas tree you put on the ornaments to make it look better without overkill, and sometimes less can be more, but the cumulative effect should enhance the beauty of the tree.”

Warner’s timely lyrics cover a range of current events and political topics. The song “Beer with Jesus” is the most entertaining and poignant example of Warner’s worldview. Several 1920s-style tunes have lyrics that seem suspended in another time and place. Warner credits Lynn with keeping him honest as a songwriter. “In addition to having a great voice, she is astute at picking out lines that don’t work. I am fortunate that I don’t have to go beyond our area to find good musicians. Many of these musicians I have come to know through the First Friday series. The level of local talent is evident from the performances given during the open mic part of each show.”

In keeping with his local efforts as a performer and a programmer, Warner also recorded his last two CDs at Creative Age studio, a local studio just outside Shepherdstown owned and operated by Joe House. “Joe is a good engineer, another set of ears, and makes valuable suggestions. He also speaks the language of music better than I do, which helps when communicating with the other musicians,” says Warner.

I believe a thriving local live music scene is an excellent litmus test by which the health of a community can be gauged. We do not have to look far in our county to find places where local music is thriving or where artists from other communities are brought in to enrich our own local talent. I am also grateful to those like Steve Warner, whose efforts enrich our local music environment both as performers and promoters. There are many among us, and to all of them we owe special thanks for the gift of live music.