Aside from being my standard catch phrase to end every show, this sentence is now true. Holy Smoke Blues played our last show on Oct. 11th, 2008.

There were several reasons that I needed to move on, all of them good. For one thing, I’ve got my first child on the way in January. Secondly, I have had unexpected levels of success teaching blues guitar lessons at my website StevieSnacks.com. This is an opportunity I can not ignore. Lastly, I have realized that my real passion with music (aside from teaching), is songwriting, and creating music. I haven’t done much of that as we’ve been playing out over the past year or so, and I hope to get back to it.

Too many good things all at the same time in life can be overwhelming. I’m a young man who wants to do a few things, and do them well. Sometimes, that means that certain things have to be put down.

I am proud of the way the band performed over our last summer together. Easily the best gigs we played ever. And that’s exactly how I’d want to go out. On top of our game.

Anthony
08/16/08