Steve Barton | See-Saw Hullabaloo

Steve Barton has formed a phenomenal new live band comprising: Steve Barton (guitar, lead vocals), Dave Scheff (drums), Gina Graziano (rhythm guitar, harmony vocals), Janene Mitchell (keyboard, harmony vocals), and Victor Krummenacher (bass). Dave Scheff is from Translator. Gina Graziano was leader of the bands Silver Threads, and Novellas. Janene Mitchell comes from a classical music background and has worked with Steve before. Victor Krummenacher was in Camper Van Beethoven and Cracker.

Steve's forthcoming album — the beguiling See-Saw Hullabaloo — features special guests including Dave Scheff (Translator), Scott McCaughey (REM), and Debbi Peterson (The Bangles). The new album was mixed by Scott McCaughey. And also features a co-write with Steve's friend Casey Neill. The album is due to be released on 23rd October 2026. Steve's new band will play an Album Launch Show at Alberta Street Pub, Portland, Oregon on October 25th 2026; plus shows in Forestville and San Francisco in November - please see below.

One song starts with the wonderful line: 'Blue boys and Mona Lisas come to counterfeit a smile'. And there's one written for an old friend, or it is about Steve himself? "The first verse looks back to my teenage years: 'Hey, old friend I had a dream about you last night / We were playing ‘Hunky Dory’ behind your bedroom door / Trying to chase some kind of light' - this sums up how I felt back then..." says Steve.

"When I was 17, I saw David Bowie & the Spiders From Mars live. I was that kid pressed up against the stage, right in front of Mick Ronson. Soon afterwards, I went to see Bob Marley & The Wailers at a club in LA. Then I went out and got my Les Paul because both Ronson and Marley played one. I still use that guitar."

There are indeed a few appropriate nods to glam. There is also the soaring "Mirrors and Monuments." And a tribute to California, the place that Steve originally hails from: "One day, a desire hit me to write a song about where I was born and where I come from... that day I think I was feeling homesick. I do love California!"

Scott McCaughey says: "I first met Steve Barton in Portland, Oregon, where I reside and it turns out Steve does too. I was pleased! Being a fan of Translator, I had experienced them at a very memorable performance in Seattle... I was especially impressed with a rendition of Plastic Ono Band’s ‘Remember’ in the encore. And it’s hard not to remember the band’s (and Steve’s) classic ‘Everywhere That I’m Not’. Damn, to write an amazing song that follows you around. You see, Mr. Barton is the kind of guy I can relate to."

• For Steve's full TRACK NOTES please see below.

Album Credits

• Written and produced by Steve Barton
• Except for "More Than What Remains" which was co-written with Casey Neill
• Recorded at Cully Gully in Portland, Oregon
• Mixed by Scott McCaughey
• Except for "Hey, Old Friend" which was recorded and mixed by Steve Drizos at The Panther Studio in Portland, Oregon
• Mastered by Paul DuGré in Los Angeles

Album musicians

• Steve Barton: guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals. Drums on "Frail To Be Strong" and "Wilderness Of The Soul"
• Dave Scheff: drums

with special guests...

• Janene Mitchell plays organ on "Holding Onto A Shadow's Hands", and sings harmony vocals on "Worries" and "More Than What Remains"
• "Hey, Old Friend" has Scott McCaughey on bass and keyboards, and Debbi Peterson on drums and harmony vocals
• "Mysterious Creature" has Scott McCaughey on bass and Debbi Peterson on harmony vocals

Release Details

• Live-in-the-studio single: two live-in-the-studio tracks have been recorded by Steve's live band for release as a single on digital and 7" vinyl and also as videos - out now
• Single: "Blue Boys & Mona Lisas" from the album - digital single released 4th September 2026 (see below) - out now
• Single: "More Than What Remains" - digital release due 9th October 2026
• Album: See-Saw Hullabaloo - album release 23rd October 2026
• Album Launch Shows:
• Alberta Street Pub, Portland, Oregon - Sunday October 25th 2026
• Forestville Club, Forestville, California - Thursday November 5th 2026
• Make Out Room, San Francisco - Friday November 6th 2026
• Album formats: Digital and Vinyl
• Album cover image: please see above
• Track notes: please see below
• Label: Sleepless Records

For more info please contact...

Steve Barton's Track Notes

AND I THINK ABOUT YOU

I was walking by the elementary school near my house in Portland. The kids were outside on a break, when one of the teachers blew a whistle. That was the signal to go back to class. These were young kids - it was a bit like organized chaos with lots of excited screaming and shouting. The words for the first verse popped into my head, along with the melody. I went home, found the chords and finished the song that afternoon. I decided to make the rest of the song an existential piece, with the chorus after each verse “You are you-know-who / So am I, so am I / I close my eyes - turn to hide / And I think about you”. Dave Scheff’s drumming is fab on this, as it is on all the songs he plays on. Dave is the most musical, intuitive, creative drummer I know.

BLUE BOYS & MONA LISAS

I had just bought a new distortion pedal which I plugged in to test it out. The chords to the song sort of appeared as a big circle, with an unusual progression. The first line “Blue boys and Mona Lisas come to counterfeit a smile” came quickly. The song wrote itself from there. This is gonna be a single release.

HEY, OLD FRIEND

My thought was to write a song to let an old friend know that they were not alone, even though they might have been feeling that way. The song was brought to life with Debbi Peterson from the Bangles on drums and harmony vocal, and Scott McCaughey from Minus 5 and R.E.M. on bass and piano and some vocal stylings. We recorded this live in the studio with a couple of additions afterwards. The first verse looks back to my teenage years: “Hey, old friend I had a dream about you last night / We were playing ‘Hunky Dory’ behind your bedroom door / Trying to chase some kind of light” - this sums up how I felt back then, and about how David Bowie was a lifeline. Maybe the old friend in the title is also me…? When I was 17, I saw David Bowie & the Spiders From Mars live. I was that kid pressed up against the stage, right in front of Mick Ronson. Soon afterwards, I went to see Bob Marley & The Wailers at a club in LA. Then I went out and got my Les Paul because both Ronson and Marley played one. I still use that guitar.

HOLDING ON TO A SHADOW’S HANDS

For this song, I wrote the word first. I wanted a simple set of chords that anybody could pick up quickly. However, I did add an instrumental bridge that takes it to an unexpected place. Very fun to play live. After the drums and bass were recorded, I felt that it still needed something. Janene Mitchell came up with the signature organ part and the recording was complete.

FRAIL TO BE STRONG

I’ve always loved songs with a descending guitar riff. This one harkens back to the wonderful glam singles from 1972/73 that I adored. I still do. I play the drums on this; I started as a drummer when I was 11 years old.

WORRIES

I wrote this to be played live. I can see myself walking onto a big stage, plugging in my guitar, turning it up and singing it out. I like the rhyme scheme and the way the words scan.

MIRRORS AND MONUMENTS

A song about wanting to be seen. My idea was to have a simple set of chords for the verses, and then have it open up with a soaring chorus. This number is great to crank up and play loud.

MORE THAN WHAT REMAINS

The only co-write on the record. I wrote this with my friend Casey Neill. He came up with the astounding chorus. It is really great how the song starts with a simple organ/mellotron and builds to a beautiful pop sonic wonderland. I couldn’t be happier with how this turned out. Thanks Casey!

CALIFORNIA UNDERTOW

One day, a desire hit me to write a song about where I was born and where I come from. I love being in Portland, but that day I think I was feeling homesick. I do love California! The first lines came and set the tone: “Woke up dreaming about the jewels and jalopies | And the California undertow”

WILDERNESS OF THE SOUL

The title came to me in the middle of the night. I got up at 3am or so and wrote it down. This album is meant to be a let’s-play-it-live record. And it is. But I wanted it to take a breather before the final song.

MYSTERIOUS CREATURE

Meant to be a 2-chord rock & roll groove. Debbi Peterson adds so much to this one with her great harmonies. Scott McCaughey plays organ, fuzz bass. A key line: “Sometimes we are just like strangers / Sometimes we adjust to strangeness”