Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Bass
I collaborated with Steve (and by this I mean: He helped me create something being incredibly generous with his time) on a couple of projects, most notably the docuseries linked in post #7. We spent a few days filming at his studio, then went to a home game with Steve and his buddies. So many great stories. He was one of a kind, and I don't say that lightly.
A few months later, we flew to Chicago again to film something for a charity Steve helped run. When we were there, they did a 24-hour charity stream where Steve stayed up the whole time, played a live gig at like 5 in the morning, hosted the whole thing, and when he wasn't needed in front of a microphone, he went home and cooked for everybody. I, then 35, passed out before the sun even came up, and when I woke up a few hours later, a 59-year-old Steve was serving everyone breakfast, probably not having even considered taking a nap. When Steve believed in a cause or thought he could help someone, he was tireless. Seemingly everyone we interviewed in Chicago had a story about Steve where he had practically saved someone off the street, accommodated strangers in his house, or whatever it took to help. People know how Steve refused to take royalties, and he charged everyone he worked with the same minimal fee so that everyone could afford him (bands from my town in Finland I had never even heard have recorded albums with Steve!), but most of his charitable contributions aren't even known to the public.
This is their charity. I know the home page isn't flashy - this is a very home-grown organization - but I know for a fact this meant the world to Steve (his wife is the president of the organization). To my knowledge, the Albinis spent every Christmas for 20 years delivering presents to kids in shady neighborhoods from morning until night after spending a good part of the year fundraising. Why would you spend your Christmas at home when you can spend the day saving someone else's Christmas? That was Steve.
Thanks, Chuck Bass, for this post. So much has been written about Steve but it's less likely people, aside from those in his Chicago community, would know about this side of his life. It ain't all about Nirvana, The Pixies and PJ Harvey.
I had a similar experience when I travelled to Electric Audio from Australia, sometime in the early 2010s to record. I noticed the gifts by the snooker table, which were being boxed and sent to kids whose parents couldn't afford to buy them Christmas presents. As well as been a brilliant musician and engineer, Steve was pragmatic about using his influence for good: no ego, no bullshit, just get something done to help others.
I was lucky enough to record at Electric Audio two more times. When Steve came to Melbourne he played a home game I organised with friends. He also played some late 2/5 at Crown Melbourne after a Shellac gig (in his gig overalls and wearing earplugs at the table, relatively anonymous). From memory he ran pretty good that night and insisted on buying a meat pie on the way back to his hotel, at 5am, in celebration of his win (although he did grumble a little about the high rake). I think his band mates were a little miffed that he so was tired the next day, but he nailed the second gig in Melbourne, of course. I'm not sure if those in the poker world fully understand how great Shellac were as a live band.
I've had endless conversations with close music friends about Albini's music and recording philosophy. The way he set-up a session, with much care, especially mic placement, then recorded with no fuss (and deadly honest albeit respectful feedback ), only to tape, not wasting much time on mixing --- it was almost too good to be true, except for the fact that I witnessed it work seamlessly every time. In the independent music-engineering world he is a god, with many in Australia drawing upon his techniques, even building studios based on his principles. I certainly was not the only Melbourne muso to travel all the way to Chicago in the middle of winter to record with Albini.
I must admit I loved the fact a whole bunch of 2+2 books would be lying around Electric Audio, including in the loos (he would often be posting on 2+2 in between takes as well) . When there was a spare moment, Steve would tell me a few things about 7 card stud, particularly as I had sat in a dealer's choice game at this studio my first night there, and had been googling the rules to stud while playing (I only knew PLO and NLH at the time). It didn't occur until later that I was sitting at the table with three WSOP bracelet holders (Oscillator and Brian Hastings along with Steve). Fortunately we were only playing $0.50/$1.00.
Have to say, also,
could he record drums. It's all there on the recordings. The drums sound as they do in the room. No audio tricks: just smart mic placement and other things about gain-stage etc, which I don't know enough about to comment on further, except to say, in my experience, it was kind of magical (although if I said that to Albini he'd probably laugh, tell me exactly what he was doing, then in a gesture of mock false-humility, agree that he was a genius, and move on to the next task).
I'm sure there are many are grieving his loss right now. I certainly am, but trying my best to hold onto what he held dear: playing music with integrity, recording music with integrity, releasing music with integrity; playing poker well, not being an arsehole, ever, at the table, and making sure all know the rules; knowing how to tell jokes, knowing where the good places to eat are, being prepared to make small-talk; being kind when it matters, teaching others about things that matter when you can and so on and so on.
I feel better just knowing he's left a legacy.