The Chicago-bred trio’s organic, hard-driving synthesis of gutsy hard rock, gritty Delta blues, soulful backwoods boogie and down-home psychedelia has taken its hometown by storm. The frenzied power of the band's live shows has won them a fiercely loyal fan base, and their last CD Dharmakaya (produced by Sean Slade & Paul Kolderie – Radiohead, Uncle Tupelo, Hole, Warren Zevon) received substantial airplay across the Midwest, including Chicago's influential WXRT.

The Steepwater Band (guitarist / vocalist Jeff Massey, bassist Tod Bowers and drummer Joseph Winters) have played together since their teens in various rock and blues combos. The three musicians united to form The Steepwater Band in 1998, taking the name from a barge Massey spotted in Lake Michigan.

The young trio quickly found their own voice, progressing from covering Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and John Lee Hooker songs to writing and performing their own compelling originals. From the beginning, The Steepwater Band has been a relentless performing unit, playing an average of 125 shows per year -- headlining such prestigious Chicago venues as the Metro and the Double Door -- while expanding their touring base throughout the Midwest and beyond. 

The band made its European debut in 2005, performing at the Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, and has shared bills with acts as diverse as Buddy Guy, Wilco, Govt' Mule, Cheap Trick, Umphrey’s McGee, and Deep Purple.

Revelation Sunday clearly draws the roadmap of The Steepwater Band’s musical drive and direction. The songs on the record range from straight-ahead roots-rockers like “Collision” and “Steel Sky,” to a composition of Indian flavor called “Dance Me A Number.” They even dabble in pop-sensibility on the infectiously catchy “Halo,” along with the beautifully melodic “A Lot Of Love Around.”  Brand new and collectively written as a band, the song sequence on Revelation Sunday takes the listener on an aural trip through the band’s present, while offering a glimpse of what might be in store for their future.

The creative electricity and contagious energy of the band is equally evident in their live performances, as their shows have been well-received by critics and fans alike. It’s the unpretentious devotion to their music, and their commitment to achieving their musical goals without compromising the integrity of their musical vision, that makes The Steepwater Band such a refreshing discovery.

WHAT THE PRESS THINKS ABOUT THE STEEPWATER BAND...

"Classic influences but no nostalgia...these guys are fresher than most of what gets passed off as 'new' these days."
~ Richard Milne, WXRT Radio, Chicago

"Taking a spin with Chicago sons The Steepwater Band and their latest release 'Revelation Sunday' is akin to traversing the backroads of American rock and blues, then crossing the pond for a close look at how certain British rock gods purveyed that music."
~ Ward Meeker, Vintage Guitar Magazine

"On 'Revelation Sunday,' Steepwater sound more focused, more salivatingly hungry than at any time in the past. These are the rawest, heaviest tracks they've ever laid down...Hound Dog Taylor would have loved this, R.L. Burnside, too. It's what you'll put on when you're doing straight shots and engaging in questionable behavior."
~ Dennis Cook, Jambase.com

"Integrity as the only direction when creating music from the heart -- something truly rare these days, but an obvious fact if you're talking about The Steepwater Band."
~ Azkena Rock Festival, Spain

"If Janis Joplin and Ronnie Van Zant were booking a band to play on a serene summer night and the Allman Brothers were unavailable, it would without question be The Steepwater Band."
~ Mack Rawden, Cinema Blend Music

"Not only do these longhairs know their Johnny Winter and their Johnnie Walker, they sure as shootin' dish it out in a nuclear hoedown of dirty fuzztone lead and slide guitar riffs."
~ Creem Magazine

"Jeff Massey’s dirty sounding, masterful slide work reminded me of Exile On Main Street era Stones. The band's sound is firmly entrenched in the roots of the blues; however they also up the ante by throwing tinges of psychedelia and country into the mix and the sound is absolutely massive and in your face at all times."
~ Ryan Sparks, Classic Rock Revisited

"The Steepwater Band is firmly entrenched within the scope of their influences.  If you like hard rock, Delta blues and southern boogie you will definitely enjoy this band."
~ Zane Ewton, RockWorld

"In a time when old-fashioned rock and roll is coming back in style, The Steepwater Band is a cut above the rest of the field."
~ Pop Culture Press, Austin, TX

"This band has traveled a long and winding musical road.  From the Delta to the electrified blues of Chicago, across the Atlantic to the blues-inspired rock of the Stones, Zeppelin and Free before making their way back through the Texas roadhouses."
~ Bluesbunny.com, United Kingdom
 

STEEPWATER BAND ELECTRONIC PRESS-KIT

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