Hello good people! Time sure gets away from me; this is only my second newsletter this year! It's nuts, really. I have been busy as usual, writing like mad (have a couple of new songs almost done, one of them is titled "Awkward"), performing shows, working on my book and tending to all sorts of business. My song "Sad Song #217" was supposedly chosen for a TV project, but I am waiting for the official word/contract on that and holding the excitement in check. Also, we will wrap up the recording of "Beer and Wine" shortly, my first "party song." I'll give you guys a sneak peek as soon as possible. Upcoming shows if you are in the St. Louis area include a Neil Young tribute show (my band for that purpose is called SHAKEY DEAL) at Naked Vine in Chesterfield on Sat., June 15 at 8pm, an appearance in Waterloo, IL at Vintage Wine Bar on June 22, 5-8 pm; a solo appearance as part of Acoustic Night at Imperial Pub & Club in Granite City, IL on June 27, a big rocking "Kevin Renick Band" appearance at OakGlenn Winery in Hermann, MO from 6-10pm on July 13, and then a rare theatre show for Shakey Deal on July 19 at the Jacoby Theatre in Alton, IL. Got my hands full for a while. Mostly that's a good thing for a musician! By the way, if you are interested in booking me or Shakey Deal in your town, please contact Trish Cook at Everywhere An Entertainer, LLC. It might be easier than you think. I can be had! :-) https://www.facebook.com/everywhereanentertainerllc/?rc=p If you're like me, you wonder what professional musicians listen to in their fleeting moments of spare time. Well, I give plenty of playtime to Brian Eno and Neil Young, of course. But my actual favorite band, the group I listen to more than anyone else, is a Norwegian girl group called Ephemera. It wouldn't be accurate to merely say I LIKE this band. I REVERE them, in fact. I regard them as creators of a sound that is so melodically bright and soothing, so rapturous, that it literally alters my view of reality. I can be in the worst mood imaginable, and if I listen to Ephemera, I soon feel better. I'm not likely to get in the habit of promoting other artists here, but for this gifted Nordic trio I will happily make an exception. Here's a link to the official music video of their song "On the Surface": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfPPJQ69iUo&t=1s That song is from their album MONOLOVE, which I recently decided is my favorite album of all time. Yes, that's how much I love it. Ephemera have had an unusual career trajectory. They were super active in Norway from 2000-2005, releasing four killer records in that time, winning various awards and conquering the hearts of fans everywhere. Then they simply vanished for 14 years. They were doing normal things like raising families, but there was no particular reason to think they'd be back. And yet they finally ARE in 2019, with a killer new single called "Magic." A great word to describe this transcendent trio. Check them out if you like lush, beautiful, female-driven pop music. I launched my own discussion group for them on Facebook. THAT's fan-ship, right? You know, a lot of people don't buy CDs anymore. I personally love them, especially for road trips, but I'm constantly told there are way more popular methods of listening, especially for "younger" folks. But there's just something about having an object you can hold and look at, with a COVER illustration, the artist's image, lyrics and credits, that I will always cherish. I'm proud to be old school. And I'm glad there are still some record stores around where I can obtain these things! I've got a handful of them out under my own name, and I'll sure be grateful to any of you who purchase them. As an experiment, I want to offer all five of my released CDs to the first 5 people who write to me, for only $25. THAT is a bargain. You can either send a check made out to me, to PO Box 31785, Des Peres, MO 63131, or pay via Paypal, to: kevinrenickbusiness@gmail.com. Add the words "Ambient Lift" to your order, and you will also get a free copy of my upcoming ambient collaboration "Lost In Familiar Territory." The thing has been in the works for two years. We are just trying to wrap it up. Everything takes TIME. You all know that, right? I'll close with my non-musical message to everyone, really. Be KIND to each other out there! Spread love, friendship and compassion. There is too much divisiveness, ignorance and hate in the world right now. It pains my heart. Remember the chorus of that classic old Youngbloods song? "Come on, people now/Smile on your brother/Everybody get together, try to love one another right now." What could possibly be the down side?