Album Notes

Just like the previous instrumental album, this is a project that began in 2000, when Steve began getting serious once again about songwriting. These songs are what he calls his "little paintings". A culmination of 30 years of playing many different styles of music. Just like gumbo in a pot. Take a little country-folk, add a little blues and jazz, stir in some funky roots and simmer for a while, adding some hot creole spice to taste.

Over a two year period the songs began to take shape and whenever Eric Mahar and Dave Norris would come to Niagara-on-the-Lake to appear with Steve at the Angel Inn, they would use that opportunity to record some bed tracks. In between these dates, just like a painter or a chef, Steve would invite the other band members and guest artists to add their layers to these art pieces, or ingredients to the gumbo.

All songs were recorded and mixed the old-fashioned way, "on the fly", without the use of computer-aided editing, pitch correction or automation.

After surviving open heart surgery, veteran bandleader and singer/songwriter, Steve Goldberger released the CD, "Come From the Heart" which was recorded live over three nights in the spring of 2000. As Steve splits his time between Toronto and Niagara-On-The-Lake, he has been dubiously dubbed the "fringe local". These days, in between Steve's other freelance gigs, the Fringe Locals have found a regular home for themselves at the Angel Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Feathers Pub in Toronto, where they appear just about on a monthly basis. The personnel has settled into a regular ensemble of players which varies slightly from gig to gig. The arrangements are tighter yet still have the same fresh adventure.

They are releasing two new albums in 2002. The first of which "THE NIAGARA RHYTHM PROJECT". has just been released (Mar/02) and contains new all original instrumental compositions. It is getting a great response and is already getting radio air play across Canada on CBC and college radio as well as on stations all over the globe. (USA, New Zealand, France...)

The second album, "Gumbo Dreams" is Steve's first album of all original "singer/songwriter" material. Steve was heavily involved in writing music in his Black Creek days (mid 70's) and even won a Genie award for best original score in 1975. Now, finally after thirty years of playing other writer's tunes and a lifetime of experience, he has gotten back to writing again. The songs cover the wide range of styles that have influenced him over the years resulting in a "gumbo-type" mix of roots, country-rock, blues and folk. And if you had to "label" his music with that of other artists, you might be reminded of Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams or Little Feat with some Don Henley thrown in.