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The Internet can be a powerful tool for communication and can evaporate distances to unite our vast country. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed an message on the Maplepost newsgroup announcing the release of Steve Schellenberg's first album, Here Goes. I was immediately interested because I knew Steve about 15 years ago, and had long since lost touch. The power of the Internet was that I was immediately able to listen to one of his songs from his website, even though he resides in Winnipeg, and I in Central Ontario.
Steve Schellenberg is a talented multi-instrumentalist/songwriter based out of Winnipeg. He plays guitar, mandolin, fiddle and harmonica, and sings with a sweet, husky, been-there voice. His website lists some of his former occupations as: tombstone designer, dairy farmer, soup kitchen bouncer, and a member of a religious community. Most of all-- Steve Schellenberg is a compelling storyteller.
His independently produced first album, Here Goes contains eight deeply personal songs from the heart: songs of romantic love, songs of spiritual journey, and gently ironic social commentary. Steve is a storyteller in the vein of Guy Clark, Mary Chapin Carpenter, or Harry Chapin. He wrote all the songs on the album and plays most of the instruments himself. The mandolin solo on the first track, "Talking ('bout my baby)" quickly sets the musical tone of the album, which covers the whole folk-blues-country spectrum.
The second tune "Made for Love" combines wry social commentary with deeper spiritual insights, "Are you a man or a number? A hope or a risk? Are you just a little data on a computer disc? Have you any idea how precious you are? Made by Love, Made for Love. Are you doing what you're made for now?"
"Nightfall" captures the excitement, fearlessness and innocence of a village-wide childhood game of hide and seek, the kind best played on a warm prairie night. "Shelter" and "Beautiful Eyes" are two pretty pop-flavoured love ballads which would be high school prom favorites. "Anybody Else" is a happy blues-rocker proclaiming, "I wouldn't want to do it with anybody else but you".
Although this is not a Christian album per sé, Steve's Christian values pervade his songwriting. "Easy Brother" and "Westport" recount Steve's faith experience without preaching. The balance of his message is, "Come on in-- the water's fine."
Steve is beginning to make inroads into the folk and roots music scenes in Manitoba and Ontario. He played the Winnipeg Folk Festival in 2000, and has a number of upcoming gigs throughout Manitoba and Central Ontario.
Steve Schellenberg's Here Goes can be purchased from Erie Bay Records, 35 Erie Bay, Winnipeg, MB, R2J 1Z9 or from his website.
review copyright © Sean McGaughey, 2001
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Canadian.
