Hey Guys,

I saw this thread and just had to say thanks for your kind words about good ol' South 21st Shuffle. Here is some history and trivia about the tune:

1. This was the first piece of mine that I had recorded professionally. What an incredible thrill to hear it when I got the first mix! I listened to it over and over for days (drove everyone nuts!)

2. Maynard went around the bus one day asking who would like to write what for the upcoming album. When he got to "the blues feature" I said "Ooh, ooh, pick me!" Boss said, "OK, Steve-O's got the blues tune." I was so excited! Then I realized (at this point I was pretty much self-taught and hadn't really listened much during my theory classes) that I didn't even know all the chords in a 12 bar blues progression! I had a boat-load of transcribed licks that worked, but no real understanding of the typical changes involved. So, I asked my buddy Chris Brayman (recent Eastman grad at that time) to illuminate me on the subject. Well, after telling the rest of the band that "Writer Boy" didn't know how to write a blues progression (Chris believed in tough-love...not to mention whoopin up on me whenever possible) and getting a huge laugh...he did indeed hip me to a number of basic variations. I in my neophyte-didn't-really-know-any-better mode stuck on a bridge and the tune began to write itself.

3. The title "South 21st Shuffle" has to do with my family home in Hattiesburg Mississippi. We lived on South 21st Ave. (my mother still does), and played quite a bit of football in the street. Among other skills that we learned doing this (such as how to dive for a pass on asphalt and roll when you hit the pavement so as to not break anything too badly) we got pretty good at dodging cars. This process of getting out of the way for oncoming traffic was the inspiration for the title.

4. The tune began as an instrumental, but for some bizarre reason during those years I fancied myself a blues singer. I had no training in the area, and no skills...but that didn't seem to stop me! So, I came up with some crazy lyrics and "sang" a bit on the piece. The concerts that you mention seeing were probably during this (thankfully) short-lived experiment in my career.

5. The excitement level that night at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco was incredible! I was so pumped that I nearly blew my head off on my solo break! In fact, listen closely to Maynard and I swapping 4's and you will hear me getting lost for a couple of bars. This was due to the fact that I almost passed out after the high note break. Greg Bissonette helped me out by filling the gaps that I made while I was staggering around for a minute. Now THAT'S a perceptive friend!

So, there you have it. Some inside info on South 21st I'm so very glad that you enjoy the recording and thanks for writing about it!

Peace,

Steve Wiest
www.stevewiest.com