Steve Hood & the Ornaments
Music that hopefully demonstrates signs of intelligent life. Imagine that Danny Elfman was distracted by Tom Petty and bumped into early Elton John in a bar, who then tripped into members of the Fray, who had previously been involved in a philosophical debate with Cold Play and Radiohead. Yeah.
Biography
Steve Hood and the Ornaments are making music you can really sink your teeth into. And Hood really does know a lot about teeth. After all, he is a Harvard-trained dentist, who now practices high-technology, family, cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry in Loveland, Colorado. Dr. Hood met the original Ornaments, Fred Koslov, Jon Hilton, Fernando “Pup” Martinez and Alex Martinez, when he lived in Upstate New York, through a mutual friend who heard Hood’s demo tape. “I searched for seven years to find a group of compatible musicians with their level of talent,” says Hood.
Indeed, Hood began his search for musicians many years ago, when he began writing music. After graduating from dental school in the early 90’s, the good doctor was commissioned as a Dental Officer with the Indian Health Service in Reno, Nevada. The daily hour-long commute was spent listening to the radio. “I hadn’t listened to radio for ten years. I completely missed the 80’s, because I was in school studying!” Steve was disappointed by much of the “new” music. As a result, he was inspired to write his own brand of music, which blends some familiar influences with Hood’s distinctive rock style.
Coming from a musical family, Steve was well aquainted with the basics of making music. His mother played piano and sang for their church, and it was from her that he obtained his passion for music and theater. Steve’s mother had even acted with James Dean in her high school plays in her hometown of Fairmount, Indiana. As a youth, Steve had training in both the piano and violin. However, he eventually gave up his pursuit of music as a profession, as he knew too many “starving” artists. But you can never escape your passions!
In February 2000, Steve’s love of music and his persistence started to pay off. “Steve Hood and the Ornaments” recorded two of Hood’s songs at Todd Hobin Studios, in Syracuse, New York. Kodi Carter expertly engineered this session, and their first song, “I Can Wait” was released to rave reviews of the local press and radio. The title song of Hood’s ongoing CD project, “Bloom”, was subsequently released, and received “Honorable Mention” in the 2001 John Lennon Song Writing Contest.
Appropriately, Hood’s project has evolved into a collaborative effort of many talented musicians. In the summer of 2001, Steve recorded two more songs at the renowned Pyramid Sound Studios of Ithaca, New York, utilizing the skills of Syracuse rock musicians, Joe Precourt, Dave Huyck and Rick Basha. Assisting Hood with his production efforts during this session was Alex Perialas, owner of Pyramid Sound Studios, who previously had gained national attention for engineering and producing such acts as Anthrax, Genuwine, Testament, and guitar virtuoso Joe Bonamossa. The resulting tunes, “One More Beer” and “Big Red Lips”, have drawn the attention of a number of music industry executives, including a MTV vice-president.
Currently, Hood is promoting his material to film, television and advertising firms for commercial use. Oddly enough, Dr. Hood may be the only dentist around who can make you feel better by opening his mouth!
Lyrics
One More Beer
Written By: Steven J. Hood
On the delicate subject of sorrow
I've become an expert
Through years of diligent study
And application of its rules
We're all fools
On the basis of close observation
I've drawn a conclusion
That the emotion of love as we know it
Is a frustrating illusion
We're still fools
One more beer, one more beer
Might drown away tomorrow
One more beer, one more beer
Happiness comes in bottles
If you were here, if you were here
You'd chase away my sorrow
One more beer, one more beer
Please understand that I'm willing to throw out
All my data and theories
For one shot left at a love life
With no hassles of worries
I'm no fool
One mor beer, one more beer
Might drown away tomorrow
One more beer, one more beer
Happiness comes in bottles
If you were here, if you were here
You'd chase away my sorrow
One more beer, one more beer
Big Red Lips
Written By: Steven J. Hood
Those big red lips
launched a thousand ships
And you were sent to tempt me
Paint lipstick on
Wet colors run
Your lips were made to taunt me
Want to kiss your big red lips...
The shape attracts men like flies
The color tells no lies
There is danger when you kiss me
Paint lipstick on
Wet colors run
Your lips were made to taunt me
Want to kiss your big red lips...
Bloom
Written By: Steve Hood
Bloom
By Steven J. Hood, ©1998
I’ve been staying up all night
Wondering why I’m here
When nothing goes quite right
I wonder if You’re near
I think that You’re out there, or maybe inside me, I don’t know
But I feel I’m part of the Great Plan, part of the future
And I know there’s something inside me ready to bloom
Please teach me all you know
But understand I’m frail
It may take a while to show
That the good you share can’t fail
I’ll keep it inside me, and shine it on others that I know
And I feel I’m part of the Great Plan, part of the future
And I know there’s something inside me ready to bloom
Will something help you see (I’m always watching you)
That I’m losing all my faith (You can do so, if you choose)
‘Cause you haven’t answered me (I will be with you, my son, forever)
So how long must I wait
I think that You’re out there, or maybe inside me, I don’t know
But I feel I’m part of the Great Plan, part of the future
And I know there’s something inside me ready to Bloom…
I Can Wait
Written By: Steve Hood
I Can Wait
By Steven J. Hood, ©1998
I’m waiting on the Novocain
But it won’t dull the pain
And it won’t go away until you say, “I love you”
I’ve talked to Wells about his time machine
He says he’ll take me where I want to be
And that would be the day when you would say, “I love you”
Father Time is my best friend
But he’ll be dead before I give in
‘Cause I can wait forever for your love
I can wait, I can wait, I can wait…for your love, for your love….
When hell freezes over
I’ll ice skate to your door
And escort you to my igloo built for two
I’ve learned the secrets of Methuselah
But you don’t seem enthused so far
Don’t let me waste away before you say, “I love you”
Father Time is my best friend
But he’ll be dead before I give in
‘Cause I can wait forever for your love
I can wait, I can wait, I can wait…for your love, for your love…
Sun Girl
Written By: Steve Hood
Sungirl
By Steven J. Hood
© 2000
Started building the arc tonight
‘Cause it’s been raining all my life
I’ll float above my troubles, wait and see
Counting animals, two by two
This situation’s made a monkey out of you
And no dry ground as far as the eye can see
You’ve always been my Sungirl
Will you smile away the rain
You’ve always been my Sungirl
You’re the one that keeps me sane
If I could write a country song
It’d be one where everything goes wrong
My dog drowned and the flood washed my life away
But that’s not all, my ship’s begun to sink
And I’ve been bailing out, but now I’m on the brink
‘Cause it’s been raining all my dog-gone life
Discography
More songs than I can count...I'm working on this one.
Set List
It varies, but I have approximately an hour to an hour and a half of music...
