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It has been three years since new-age artist John Staedler's last creation, "A Conscious Alternative," but he hasn't exactly been musically celibate. In fact, he's been expecting for some time now.
"You just want it to be over with," said Staedler, who likens the writing and recording process of his new album, "(The) Radical Love Frequency," to pregnancy.
To honor the occasion, Staedler and fellow touring mates, The Musical Brewing Co., threw a CD release party Saturday at 1078 Gallery.
The sounds of Staedler's band poured from the speakers onto the art gallery floor, enveloping the audience. Alto saxophone, drums, djembe and bass guitar penetrated the hearts and minds of the audience, amounting to a sum much greater than their individual parts.
"Filled with light" Music courtesy of John Staedler
The fusion of instruments, along with Staedler's diligent use of on-the-fly digital looping, allowed him to grab hold of the audience, letting go at his own discretion.
His repetitions enabled him to simultaneously record, at any time, one of three instruments in his arsenal: voice, saxophone and acoustic guitar. Relying mostly on a cascade of background vocals, Staedler weaved in and out of lyrical or hummed passages deftly.
As difficult as this all may seem, Staedler still managed to flail his arms wildly before audience members.
Staedler fan Donna Love took his advice to get up and dance among the mostly sitting crowd.
"John is a spaz, but a good spaz," said Staedler fan Donna Love. "I just love his geeky dancing."
Keen to his acoustic environment, Staedler eased away from the microphone while releasing sharp, shrill notes from the butt of his saxophone, drawing closer and trailing off in a faint vibrato.
Staedler knows his instrument well, citing a thin reed and a thin mouthpiece as responsible for the diverse sound.
This comes in spite of his high school band teacher telling him early in his musical career that his music was "the most god-awful thing he'd ever heard," Staedler said.
Many of the songs performed at the show featured vocal contributions from The Musical Brewing Co.'s Alli Battaglia, who provided a warm and soothing contrast to Staedler's zany-yet-composed style.
Staedler's message is one of love and pain, emphasizing the heartaches of being alive on Earth but also the pleasures that come with it.
Lyrics such as, "If you trust enough and all of your intentions are pure, if you love enough, it will appear," speak of self-realization and love for others.
Fans were as touched by Staedler's vibe as he was in projecting it.
"The cosmic pauses are monumental," said Ed the Dread, an avid Staedler fan.
Dread's name is fitting, considering he and many others that night shared thick, mid-back-length dreadlocks.
Many of the songs would seemingly end, only to bizarrely flare back up, from hushed vocals to all out boisterous yelling at times, and back again to wispy chanting.
"Because of the way John fades in and out, whispering his message, the crowd gets to applaud three times," Dread said.
In one instance, Staedler breathed long and deep, exhaling into the microphone in a groan-like fashion. Slowly and therapeutically, he released the breath, as if to expel negative energy from his body. His colorful orchid-laden pants and tie-dye shirt exhibited a free-spirited artist endowed in individuality.
For some, it was a riveting introduction to Staedler's performance style.
"It was awesome, very captivating," said junior Desi Hatton, who is majoring in community sustainability.
Hatton got a copy of "(The) Radical Love Frequency" for herself, which was on sale alongside bumper stickers and other merchandise.
The CD is a dual-disc release that contains a music video for the song "Live Life Today," which was shot in Chico. Staedler involved close friends in his video, including his mailman, who plays the role of the boss.
Staedler's journey began with his new album and release party, and will take him on a tour of Northern California and Oregon over the next few months. The tour will conclude with performances in Chico at the beginning of October.
Shea Cardinalli can be reached at scardinalli@theorion.com
John Staedler - Live Life Today Video from YouTube
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