Steve Ewing spills his guts on life after Urge

You might think that after fronting one of the most popular bands of the '90s, a tired rocker might be content to rest on his laurels.

But St. Louis native Steve Ewing has never been one to slow down. After disbanding The Urge in 2001, Ewing barely took a breath before beginning his solo career with the aptly titled album "Here We Go Again." He's now on the verge of releasing his third album, "Pacific Standard Time," and touring the Midwest with fellow St. Louisians Lojic and L.A.-based songwriter Zack Hexum (brother of 311's p-funk crooner Nick.)

The tour will stop at Breakaways in Cape Girardeau on Sept. 23, as an independent show during the City of Roses music festival.

Ewing spoke with OFF! Magazine about touring, producing, his new record and his favorite Cape Girardeau band.

You're from St. Louis originally, but now you're living in California. How is it different?

It's a far bigger city. Musically, there's not really that much of a difference. I mean, there's still tons of bands, you know?

I guess it's just a different scene; there's more industry, obviously, because that's where all the industry resides - all the record labels, management companies, things like that. But I think when it comes down to the bands, there's not that much of a difference.

How often do you come back to St. Louis?

A lot, actually. I've been back and forth all year, since I've been working on producing some bands from the region. There's one band out of St. Charles called the Moodio, and I just got done working with a band called Seraphim's Curfew. And with the touring and everything, I'm back quite often.

You describe your music as the "love child of Sly Stone and Seal." Do you have problems defining yourself as a genre? It seems like you work outside of genres.

Always. I've always had a problem with genres, and I really don't care. I guess for a while I did, you know? But deep down, I really don't care.

I know that in order to do something important, or to do something that's going to break through, it has to be out of a genre or it has to create its own genre.

Do you feel like you have more freedom to do the kind of music you like now that you're on your own?

Definitely. This new album, "Pacific Standard Time," is on SAS - that's my label, actually. There's a couple bands I've produced that are gonna come out early next year on the label.

It's kind of a fledgeling thing right now, but it's gonna be pushing off really strong next year.

How is it different from working with a major label?

Obviously, since you're independent, you're gonna have to do more work. It's a whole lot of work. The same amount of work that three or four or five people might do, you're gonna have to do on your own.

And, you know, obviously there's less money than, say, Sony Distribution or someone like that. But since it's independent, you make more money per record per sale.

So you can actually sell less records and put more cash in your pocket.

What was it like when you started out, making the transition from being a "St. Louis band" to something bigger?

Well, we're all from St. Louis, you know? And I guess we all consider ourselves to still be from St. Louis. But we just didn't stay around the area. We toured everywhere. We stretched a good six to nine months out of the year, all over the world. So at that point, it doesn't really matter where you're from. You just have to go out and tour like crazy.

Are you familiar with any of the Cape bands?

I don't know very much about most of the bands, but I do know the Tone Def All Stars. I'm really good friends with those guys. Darren used to come out and see the Urge shows in Carbondale and we'd hook up then.

Have you been to Breakaways before?

Oh yeah. The Steve Ewing Band played there a few times. I think the Urge did Cape Girardeau one time - and I think it was in the school gymnasium. But the guys from Tone Def turned me on to Breakaways when we were looking for a venue. They told us about this place - this bar that they could turn into a concert venue when bands come through. So the first time we went down there we had a crazy packed house. It was insane. And we've been going back ever since.

How would you describe the new album for someone who hasn't heard it?

Gosh, the stuff on the new record is like heavy rock mixed with electronica and soul music. If you're into drum 'n' bass or the new electronic stuff like Radiohead, and you're into heavy rock like Deftones, you might be into it.

This new album is made up of a lot of songs that I wrote and recorded while I was doing the last two albums. A lot of them weren't finished, so I decided to wrap them up and throw some of the instrumental things on the record. So it's kind of a hodgepodge, like a B-side album.

How did you end up with your opening acts?

Lojic's awesome. I produced their last record that just came out and we've been touring together pretty steadily for the past few years.

Zack is great; we've done a couple shows here in L.A. together. I like Zach's music, and we have the same circle of friends. It's just a matter of time before he breaks off and does something really huge.

So what are you looking forward to on this tour?

Everything. (Laughs) I'm actually looking forward to having a record out.

Some new music to play, some new material to play live. It's always fun to tour with a package deal and have three or four bands that go out at the same time. It's like your own little rolling family.

What advice would you have for rockers from Missouri who are trying to make it big?

Tour. Live together if you have to. Save on the rent and keep putting money you make back into the band. Keep touring. Keep releasing albums. Buy a van.

And just keep humpin'.

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Just the facts

What: Steve Ewing, Lojic and Zach Hexum

When: Sept. 24, 9 p.m.

Where: Breakaways

Info: 335-9449