Lunar Stew
Lunar Stew Trio believes in the principals of the Sixties...Peace, Love, Understanding, and lots of great music.
The ‘Tipster’, is a veteran of many bands including the well-loved 'Tribal Stew'. Jeff is originally from P.A. and plays electric and acoustic guitars plus writing many of the band’s wonderful songs. A former drummer, the Tipster has a unique grasp of rhythm, plays amazing solos, and he also sings lead and backup vocals.
‘Uncle brother’ has been touring the east coast for over 20 years as a musical raconteur. Originally from Los Angeles this “little angel” writes unique songs with twists that delight. Playing bass and the fool, he sings lead and back-up vocals. U.b. has shared stages with Tom Chapin, Mary Chapin-Carpenter and The Impressions to name but a few.
Special Ed is a DC area native and the youngster of the group. Influenced by Peter Rivera of Rare Earth (and now a friend), he has played with the Classic Rock All Stars and been a member of bands like ‘The Obsessed’ and the ‘Regulators.’ Awesome drumming is his specialty as is adding tasty harmonies to the Stew.
Lunar Stew Trio plays a variety of music not often associated with one group. Their exciting original songs have been compared to a mix between The Grateful Dead and Hootie & the Blowfish, meets Third Eye Blind and Rusted Root. Their influences range from Harold Arlen to Frank Zappa. The Stew blends tasty harmonies and timely songs and steeps them in wild jamming Roots Rock and Reggae rhythms.
Lunar Stew Trio has released ’A Bowl of Lunar Stew’, this is their second all original album of 14 exciting new tunes. More fun than puppies, their first self-titled album is still available (for a limited time) at shows and on-line.
Lunar Stew
The Tipster
The Tipster lived a charmed childhood in a small town in Pennsylvania. In spite of living above a pet store and being able to run the streets with relative low risk, he still managed to suffer. He struggled with a small town country club environment that embraced the sex and drugs part of the counterculture and all but forgot the progressive social values that went along with it . At the time, he studied both and embraced the brotherhood and social justice of the antiwar movement, the civil rights struggle, feminism, and the music that went along with them. “Today”, he laments, “the politics are even worse but the graphics are better”.
The Tipster’s professional career began in 1970 when he made 20 bucks at a high school dance playing drums with a local rock band. It was through this experience that the Tipster contracted “Musicians’ Disease” and began a long journey of writing, performing, teaching and recording music. After ‘74, the Tipster switched instruments and began teaching and playing guitar professionally. His move to West Virginia in ‘94 came when his recording studio business, 4-Winds Studios, found better digs in Hedgesville.
After over 30 years of performing, the list of rock bands he has played with includes the Leftovers, Tumblin’ Run, Thunder Rose, Sidestreet, and Ghost Dancer (when he was located in Pennsylvania) and Tribal Stew in West Virginia. His current band, Lunar Stew, began performing in 2002. Their first CD, Self Titled, was released in 2004 and their second CD, A Bowl of Lunar Stew, was released in 2006. Lunar Stew continues to hide in the hollars of WV, gigging practically anywhere with a solar panel and some batteries, and recording at Lunarstewdios in Hedgesville. On the Web at: www. lunarstew.com
The Tipster has been writing songs since the 70’s and Lunar Stew performs many Tipster originals. The songs come in various styles, grooves, and formats but all try to convey the underlying principles of tolerance, understanding, justice, and equality for all. According to the Tipster, “the way to help create a world without war for our children is to love one another. So remember to just say no to politicians and religious fanatics trying to start another war.” After all, they do call him the Tipster.