For a trio of lank haired white boys from Chicago,
Steepwater Band sure channel the holy hellraisin' spirit of the blues. Their amp-rattling ruckus is full of crossroads and judgment days, moonshine and dark city steel, sweet baby girls and heavy hearts grappled into boot shufflin' shape.
Revelation Sunday (Diamond Day), is new classic rock – 11 cuts ready to take on the James Gang at high noon and then chase down ZZ Top with a pair of rusty barber shears. Steepwater keep it greasy. There's nothing too gussied up, the songs' skin and bones right there for everyone to see.
A trio now after years as a quartet, 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, which is saying something given the excellence of Dharmakaya (2004) and Brother To The Snake (2001). The departure of singer/guitarist Mike Connelly means less pastoral digressions but more gutbucket snarl from guitarist/singer Jeff Massey, bassist Tod Bowers and drummer Joseph Winters.
This has the headlong rush of a steam train making a final run down a tough grade – they might hit the brakes in time, then again, they might not. You feel this surge in the cowbell clap of "Steel Sky" and the strip club wiggle of "Government Graffiti." It's in the remorseless beat of the aptly titled "Collision" and the backwoods howl of "Mercy." When they do slow on "A Lot Of Love Around" they could be Free in their fighting prime. In fact, Massey's guitar frequently recalls Free's Paul Kossoff, enjoyably rough yet capable of eloquent tenderness.
Revelation Sunday should delight anyone who's had their skirt blown up by
The Black Crowes, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals or
Backyard Tire Fire. 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.
The Steepwater Band represents everything you look for in a bluesy
throwback band, but sadly, never seem to receive.
The trio of Chicago musicians, consisting of Jeff Massey
(guitar/vocals), Tod Bowers (bass guitar) and Joe Winters (drums), is
quite possibly one of the best bands you’ve never heard of. And their
second major studio release, Revelation Sunday, proves that they
would rather continue kicking ass on their own terms than saunter up the
charts at the expense of their music and devoted fan base.
Revelation’s biggest con is also its biggest pro: There’s no
single. Every song flows effortlessly into the next without the
slightest crack in overall, cohesive flow. It’s a near-perfect
accompaniment to a relaxed night with friends or an unlawful evening of
illegally mixing moonshine. I’m not sure which.
Steepwater’s sound echoes back to a simpler time--a moment in history
where millions naively assumed that the beer would never stop flowing
and each magical moment would stretch into eternity. 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.
The two real standout tracks here make up the album’s final 13 minutes.
"Indiana Line" and "Baby, You’re On Your Own" combine for one vicious
encore. The ultimate two songs take the throwback riffs of the first
nine gems and beat them over your head like a savage Lynyrd Skynyrd-obsessed
Yeti, until, bleeding and broken, you’re finally forced to admit that
this is a damn good CD.
This album is for the guy two fisting a cigarette and a cold Coors
Light, while still rocking out to Free’s "All Right Now." It is not for
your asswipe, Simple Plan-addicted son. If the idea of one more
three-chord, prepackaged piece of MTV bullshit visibly sickens you, then
this compact disc is more than worth your $15.
Hard driving modern
rock collides at full speed with the blues on The Steepwater Band’s 3rd
full length release Revelation Sunday. Proving that the art of the power
trio is still alive and well, these Chicago based rockers serve up
plenty of energetic, genuine ass kickin’ jams worthy of catapulting them
into the upper echelons of classic rock.
Guitarist / vocalist Jeff Massey’s dirty sounding, masterful slide work
on tracks "Collision", "Steel Sky" and "Indiana Line" reminded me of
Exile On Main Street era Stones and the four minute plus coda on the
disc’s final number "Baby, You’re On Your Own" is worth the price of
admission alone. The bands sound is firmly entrenched in the roots of
the blues (check out the fantastic acoustic "Slow Train Drag" for
further proof); however they also up the ante by throwing tinges of
psychedelia and country into the mix for added variety. Massey’s vocal’s
are full of swagger and bravado and at times draws comparisons to The
Cult’s Ian Astbury. Revelation Sunday has a brilliant, live off the
floor feel to it and the sound is absolutely massive and in your face at
all times; just what you’d expect from one of your all time favorite
classic rock records.
- Ryan Sparks
of CLASSIC ROCK REVISITED
**NEWS**
03.14.08
Former Black Crowes
guitarist to produce next album by The Steepwater Band
Marc Ford
will team with the Chicago roots-rockers following his success with altcountry
newcomer Ryan Bingham’s CD “Mescalito”
The Steepwater
Band and
Marc Ford will enter the studio together in
May to record the follow-up album to the band’s 2006 effort, “Revelation
Sunday.” The band plans to release the album, tentatively titled “Grace &
Melody,” in late summer or early fall and tour the United States and Europe
extensively to support the album’s release.
The recording
and production will take place at
Compound Studio near Los Angeles.
Although the
members of The Steepwater Band have long admired Ford’s music and musicianship,
they did not formally meet until the summer of 2007 when both were booked to
perform at a festival in Spain. Band members, including Marc’s son Elijah,
jammed together onstage – a scene that was repeated when Ford’s band toured
through Chicago in July. The mutual admiration of each others’ musical tastes
and styles opened the door to working together in the studio.
The Steepwater
Band was formed ten years ago in Chicago by current members Jeff Massey
(guitar,vocals), Joseph Winters (drums), and Tod Bowers (bass). While the band
has three acclaimed full-length albums in their catalog, their creative
electricity and contagious energy is equally evident in their live performances.
This has given the band dozens of opportunities to perform with some of the
biggest names in rock and blues, and to establish themselves as a popular draw
in the Midwest and overseas in Spain.
Marc Ford spent
several years touring and recording as a member of the Black Crowes during their
peak years in the 1990s. Following his departure he released two albums of his
own and also toured and recorded with Ben Harper, for which he won a Grammy. His
previous production effort, alt-country newcomer
Ryan Bingham’s 2007 release “Mescalito”
(Lost Highway Records), has garnered critical acclaim, significant airplay, and
industry buzz. Ford remains a revered figure among blues-rock guitar fans in the
Black Crowes, Gov’t Mule, and other like-minded music communities.
02.12.08
This just in...
MARK YOUR
CALENDARS! The Steepwater Band will be releasing their first Live DVD
on March 21st at the
SUBTERRANEAN in Chicago. The footage was
shot by our lovely friends at
FIREPIT FRIDAY in November in Nashville and features a full-on
set of Steepwater Band music. For a preview check out the podcast they put
together of the show (see news below 1.21.08). First is an interview from the
artists of the evening, then a song from each group.
So we hope you
can join us and if you can't spread the word to those that can!!
MARCH 21 @
SUBTERRANEAN
~LIVE DVD RELEASE~ w/ special guests THE LOFT, LONELY H & THE GETOUTS
Blues meets the
moon.
01.21.08
FIREPIT
FRIDAY PODCAST
You can check out a little STEEPWATER BAND without leaving the comfort of your warm, cozy chair. The lovely people at
FIREPIT FRIDAY have put together a little PODCAST for ya. Back in November the guys cut it down at The Rutledge in Nashville and you can watch it now.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE QUICKTIME MOVIE. If you have iTunes
CLICK HERE and you can download the episode FREE and watch it anytime from your Video iPod!
ALSO A NEW W MYPSACE PAGE DEDICATED JUST TO LIVE MUSIC OF STEEPWATER BAND HAS BEEN LAUNCHED!! CHECK OUT THE TUNES, FRIEND UP & ADD A TUNE TO YOUR PAGE! THE STEEPWATER BAND LIVE!
12.04.0707
REVELATION SUNDAY TOUR COMES TO AN END
After over 150 shows in the
past year and a half, THE STEEPWATER BAND ends their ‘Revelation Sunday Tour’
with three Chicago-land shows in as many days.
The final three: DOUBLE DOOR 12/20, HARLEM AVENUE LOUNGE 12/21, and THE QUEST
12/22 are the ‘END OF TOUR HOLIDAY JAMBOREE SHOWS.’ As our gift you, were giving
away a limited edition poster, especially designed for each show by DOOBSTER
LTD. There is a small supply, so get there early.
As for the upcoming year, the boys are going take the first few months pretty
light. There will be a few shows, but the focus is going to be writing,
rehearsing and recording a fresh batch of tunes. If all pans out well, the guys
should have a new disc out by end of summer. Check back with us soon as there
are more details coming in the imminent months.
The Revelation Sunday Tour couldn’t have been without certain folks. We can’t
thank our fans enough for the support and love you give us. But we’d also like
to thank a few individuals for the undying effort they pour into The Steepwater
Band: Steve ‘Turtle’ Sime, Mike ‘Amitty’ Kucic, Jim Winters, Chris ‘The Professor’ Ferguson,
Willie ‘In the Can’ Book, Tom Lounges, Nate Arling & Double Door, Joe Shanahan &
Metro, Richard Milne, Chris Payne, Edu & Vincent @ Funhouse Productions, Nick
Miller & Jam Productions, Mary & House of Blues, Tim & Sherry, Chris & Kelly,
and all of our Friends and Families.
Here’s to 2008, Cheers.
05.28.07
SPANISH REVELATION TOUR 2007
The Steepwater Band returns to Spain this July
for a 10 day tour that will feature club shows, festivals and theatre gigs and
bring the band to the big cities as well as new places, small towns & resort
areas. The Spanish Revelation Tour 2007runsJuly
5 – July 15,
kicking off and wrapping in up in Barcelona. Tour highlights include opening
night in Barcelona at
B-Estival Poble Espanyol, which features
SWB opening for
GOV'T MULEand blues legend
JOHN MAYALL & THE BLUESBREAKERS,
as well as a festival gig at the Fantasy Show Bike Ciudad de Sestao
with long-time Black Crowes guitarist Marc
Ford! Also on the agenda is the band’s first ever visit to
the Canary Islands for a club show atPub Gabanna. To commemorate
the tour, a special limited edition CD entitled 'Songs From the Eighth Day'
will be issued and available at the shows only, featuring a collection of
unreleased songs from the Revelation Sunday sessions, as well as a
couple of live tracks. Keep checking the live page
here at steepwater.com for confirmed dates as they become available…
05.10.0707
RICK RICHARDS IN CHICAGO
On Tuesday, May 22, and guitarist extraordinaire
Rick Richards (Georgia
Satellites, Izzy Stradlin & The Ju
Ju Hounds) will team up for a one-off
gig at
Double Door in Chicago. The show will
feature Rick & SWB performing together on stage all night, as they plan a set
list that’s sure to include a couple of Georgia Satellites classics, Steepwater
favorites, and few possible surprises too. SWB & RR first met when The
Steepwater Band opened for The Georgia Satellites at a festival in Iowa, in May
of 2006. In October, Rick joined SWB on stage at Apolo 2 in Barcelona, Spain
where they ripped it up and received a great reception from a very rock ‘n roll
Spanish audience. They met again when a jam broke out on board the Gimme Three
Days Cruise in Nassau, Bahamas in January. Now, Rick & The Steepwater Band have
decided to get together for a show here in the States, and have chosen Chicago
as the place to do it. The show also features our good friends
The Wabash Cannonballs (it’s Gary
Camaro’s birthday show) & Chicago’s hottest new young band, Hollus! We
hope to see all of our Chicagoland fans & friends at this one, so please mark
your calendars! This will be a night in Steepwater Band history not to be
missed.
04.03.0707
STEEPWATER BAND HONORED... On Saturday, March 31, The Steepwater Band was honored at the Midwest
Beat Magazine Awards Show, taking home the award for Favorite Record of 2006 for
'Revelation Sunday', as well as awards in the categories of Favorite Guitarist &
Blues Artist. In, addition, a special Publisher's Award was presented to
recognize SWB as a "FOUR STAR TALENT, and an inspiration to all who are part
of the Midwest Music Community." A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to Midwest
Beat Publishers Tom Lounges & Kent Follet, Editorial Assistant
Lisa Sortiros,
Columnists Eric Steiner & Shelly Harris and the entire staff at
MIDWEST BEAT
MAGAZINE! Your undying Support over the years has helped put THE STEEPWATER BAND
on the map in Chicagoland & the Midwest, and we are very appreciative. Kudos!
Join Jeff THIS THURSDAY, April 3
for and intimate evening of acoustic blues & originals at the Harlem Avenue
Lounge in Berwyn, IL. Showtime at 8pm.
Also this week, the band returns to the
land of cheese, beautiful Wisconsin, for two rocking shows. The first at
Clark Place in Stevens Point with
Devin Allman's Honeytribe on Thursday. And Yes, that's
GREG ALLMAN'S kid. On Friday the band debut's at LaCrosse's JB Speakeasy.
Just added!! The band will be rocking it Flo-style THIS SATURDAY, April 7 at the
KENWOOD TAP on Kennedy Avenue in Hammond. Come out for some Easter Eve rock n' roll just east of the Indiana Line!
Here's the
details:
4.03 @ Harlem Avenue
Lounge
- Berwyn, IL (Jeff Massey Solo Acoustic Show)
4.05 @
CLARK PLACE - Stevens Point, WI (w/
DEVIN ALLMAN'S HONEYTRIBE)
4.06 @
JB's SPEAKEASY - LaCrosse, WI
4.07 @ KENWOOD TAP - Hammond, IN
Hope to see
you all out! BLUES MEETS THE MOON.
03.26.07
Thank
you, Thank you, Thank you.
We really want to thank
each and everyone of you who came out to the CUBBY BEAR on Friday. The
place was packed and a rocking! We'd also like to thank our MC Richard Milne and
93XRT for supporting the show all week long!
This week we have our annual Steepwater Band & Highway weekend party in
beautiful Crown Point. We've been close friends with the Highway boys for years
now, and these show never disappoint. The bands will swap set-times each night
(we'll fill you in later this week as to which times), and the late-nite jam
sets (complete with two drumsets) are always surprising and special.
Here's the details...
Friday & Saturday, March 30 & 31
STEEPWATER BAND &
HIGHWAY
@ GATORS
Crown Point, IN
Showtime 10pm
Hope to see
ya out! Cheers!
03.17.07
Coors Light presents the 93XRT Local
Anesthetic Live show @ Cubby Bear
93XRT's Richard Milne
and Coors Light want to bring you the best in local Chicago music. And they're
doing just that with the 93XRT Local
Anesthetic Live Show at
Cubby Bear!
This Friday, March 23 come to the Cubby Bear in Wrigleyville (at the corner of
Addison and Clark in Chicago) for a cold Coors Light and live music from your
Steepwater Band,
with
Something Ordinary,
and
Soundframe,
starting at 9:30pm.
**Also, tune into 93.1FM WXRT
this week on Tuesday at 8:45PM and again on Thursday at 10:45PM as Richard Milne
plays a track from Revelation Sunday.
Bands who play Local Anesthetic
Live can win the chance to record at one of Chicago's top recording studios,
Uptown Recording. Your band can win three days of recording time, including an
engineer in one of two spectacular studios. State of the art equipment and
killer gear will be at your disposal for three 8-hour days! So, head to Cubby
Bear to support your friends' bands, and give them a shot at free recording
time!
Use the Flyer below for a
$4 admission, and to support THE STEEPWATER BAND!
Click on Flyer to print.
03.06.07
TUNE IN THIS THURSDAY FOR
STEEPWATER BAND RETROSPECTIVE...
The
AXECALIBER SHOW on 87.9fm out of Rochester, NY is devoting their show to
THE STEEPWATER BAND this Thursday, March 8th. The two hour show begins at 10pm
eastern time. For all of you listeners outside of the upstate NY area, you can
tune in via the internet at
www.heavyrock.com.
01.16.07
EXTRA,
EXTRA, READ ALL ABOUT IT... Check out the brand new issue (March
'07) of Vintage Guitar Magazine
for a FEATURE written by Ward Meeker, editor of the rag. Published
monthly since 1986, this huge magazine has the most vintage information on the
planet! The article highlights Jeff & Tod's beginnings, influences and gear.
Also check out the January '07 issue for a amazing review of Revelation
Sunday.
FREE
TICKETS TO TONIGHT'S SHOW AT METRO... Our
good friends over at METRO
have given us FREE tickets to give to you for the all ages ARMY OF ANYONE /
STEEPWATER BAND show tonight, Tuesday December 5th.
The new band features
former Stone Temple Pilots members Dean and Robert Deleo,
along with singer Richard Patrick of Filter, and
drummer Ray Luzier. They're on tour in support of their brand new
self-titled CD - see them at METRO
first!
10.16.06
VOTE
FOR STEEPWATER BAND... We
received word today that The Steepwater Band has been chosen as one of the
semi-finalists for a performing slot on the Gimme Three Days cruise. The
cruise leaves from Fort Lauderdale, FL, on January 5th, stops in the Bahamas,
and returns January 8th. Artists already booked include Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38
Special, American Minor, Blackberry Smoke, Tishamingo, and others. All the info
can be found here: www.gimmethreedays.com
Starting Monday, October 16th, fans can register their e-mail addresses. Every registered e-mail address is allowed one vote per day until
the contest ends on November 15th.
JUST
ANNOUNCED....
STEEPWATER BAND TO OPEN FOR IAN McLAGAN Fitzgerald's
Night Club in lovely
Berwyn has just invited the boys to open for rock n' roll legend Ian McLagan.
Ian, the keyboardist for one of the most influential rock bands THE FACES,
brings his group 'The Bump Band' to Fitzgerald's for three shows in
October, the 11th through the 13th. The Steepwater Band will join the
bill Thursday, October 12th. Ian carries on the spirit of the great rock bands
like the Faces, a spirit that is lacking today in most rock music. So come on
out, join the party and dig into a living legend. Click on the video below to
check out The Faces, in their prime, performing one of their biggest hits.
OLD
SWB TUNE IN NEW HIT MOVIE Just as Revelation Sunday hits the month mark and
the seasons change, an old Steepwater Band songs hits the big screen. 'AUTUMN'
from the 2004 release DHARMAKAYA is heard in the brand new Mark
Wahlberg movie INVINCIBLE.
8.10.06
PRE-ORDER
revelation
SUNDAY
TODAY! Why wait to 8.15 to order your copy when you can pre-order and get
this brand new album delivered to your door the very second it is available.
Visit cdbaby.com right now!!
CLICK HERE!
8.09.06
TWO
LABELS ARE BETTER THAN ONE... In addition to Diamond Day Records releasing 'revelation
SUNDAY'
here in the States, the band has recently inked a deal with Evangeline
Records, who
will distribute the record in the United Kingdom and through all of Europe.
Evangeline has previously released both 'Dharmakaya' and 'Brother to the
Snake'.
7.31.06
STEEPWATER
BAND ON RADIO THIS WEEK... Tune in this week to both WXRT & Q101 as both stations will
have a look into the new album revelation
SUNDAY...
'REVELATION
SUNDAY' SET TO BE
RELEASED AUGUST 15th
(UPDATED
7.24)
Diamond Day Records is proud to present REVELATION SUNDAY, the brand new album from The
Steepwater Band, which includes the tracks Collision; Dance Me A
Number; Baby, You're On Your Own and the title track, just to name a few.
The record hits the streets Tuesday, August 15, but the first place to get the
new disc will be at the CD Release Show Friday, August 11 at the historic METRO
in Chicago. The guys are celebrating the release by sharing the bill with some
of the best new Rock n' Roll bands Chicago has to offer...SUFFRAJETT(Cobra/Universal
Records)
& THE
SLEEPERS (Rock
Sauce Records). Be sure to mark your summer calendars
for one of the highlight concerts of the season. It's also a rare 18 and over
show!! Keep checking back for more
details of the new album, as well as the show.
Cheers.
3.31.06
BIG
SPRING - SUMMER DATES ANNOUNCED!! (UPDATED
7.10) This
years Spring - Summer Tour looks to be one of The Steepwater Band's
busiest and biggest yet. Mark you calendars now for these big festival
performances...
*SUMMER
CAMP FESTIVAL - May 26 - Three Sisters Park - Chillicothe, IL feat. Moe. / Umphrey's McGee / Keller Williams / Rusted Root /
Groovatron and more
*NAPERVILLE
RIBFEST - July 3 - Naperville, IL feat. Doobie Brothers
*FESTIVAL
OF THE LAKES - July 21 - Hammond, IN feat. Cheap Trick
*SUGARSTOCK
III - July 29 - Bloomingdale, IN feat. Highway, Goat Motor, Bedlam Brothers and more
Visit
the LIVE
page for links to the websites of the above shows and all the dates on the
Spring - Summer Tour. Better Living through Rock N' Roll Music...
2.21.06
JUST
ANNOUNCED - HOUSE OF BLUES! The
Steepwater Band has been added to a show THIS THURSDAY (2/23) at House
of Blues, as
the opening act for zydeco music legend Buckwheat
Zydeco. This is
an 18+ show that is being presented by WXRTradio. Join
us, as we celebrate mardigras rock-n-roll style in Chicago. See you
there!
1.28.06
Take
a Ride on the Magic Bus to Kinetic Playground Highway
is having a party bus to Kinetic
Playground in
Chicago for our show the boys and Goat
Motor. This
great night of music is one not to miss! Tickets are only $25 and include Coach
Bus, Cover and "Refreshments" on the bus.
Call 219.662.1616 for DETAILS and TIX!
WHAT
HAPPENS ON THE BUS STAYS ON THE BUS!
Hope
to see ya there.
Blues
meets the moon.
1.12.06
Vote for Steepwater
Band on XM Radio In
November The Steepwater Band performed on the first leg of the Bon Jovi tour
along with 23 other bands. One of the 24 bands will be selected THROUGH INTERNET
VOTING as a finalist. The ultimate winner will open for Bon Jovi at Giants
Stadium in New Jersey next summer and also secure a demo recording deal.
PLEASE NOTE: Our shot at accumulating votes will last only ONE WEEK.
It looks like we'll be competing in Week #2, which should run from Monday,
January 16th to Sunday, January 22nd. Here's all you have to do and it's pretty
simple:
There's also a live audio and video clip to
check out of SWB performing "Collision" live at the United Center.
cheers.
1.02.06
HAPPY
NEW YEAR!! HAPPY NEW MUSIC!! Check
out the MUSIC
page for a new SWB release DOWNLOADABLE for the first time!
12.21.05
NEW YEARS EVE ROCK N' ROLL CIRCUS! This is
gonna be the way to bring in 2006! Come celebrate an end to a great
year for SWB which included performing overseas for the first time, and playing
in front of a sold out United Center audience.
KINETIC
PLAYGROUND
OUTLAW FAMILY BAND
FRANK BANG'S SECRET STASH
OLD NO. 8
THE STEEEPWATER BAND
THE 8TH GRADE 5
Bands / 25 Bucks / 1 Dollar PBR and more specials
1113 W.Lawrence Ave Chicago, IL
(directly across the street from the Aragon Ballroom)
HOPE
TO SEE YA THERE!
11.04.05
EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOAD AT MYSPACE.COM...
"COLLISION" one of the brand new songs from the highly anticipated
follow-up to 2004's DHARMAKAYA is available for an exclusive limited-time download
at
www.myspace.com/thesteepwaterband.
So please visit SWB's myspace page, download "COLLISION", dump the
tune in your fav MP3 player and enjoy this new tune wherever you go!!
11.03.05
THE STEEPWATER BAND TAPPED TO OPEN FOR BON
JOVI NOVEMBER 5th...
Chicago's Rock Station, WLUP, 97.9 FM, has tapped The Steepwater Band as the
opening act for this Saturday night's Bon Jovi concert at the United Center. Bon
Jovi is in town for two sold-out performances on Friday and Saturday as part of
their "Have A Nice Day" tour. The Steepwater Band's 30-minute
performance will begin at 7:30 p.m.
09.08.05
New Venue, New Songs... On Saturday September 24th Rolling Rock and the
Hard
Rock Cafe
present The Steepwater Bandwith
Highway and special guests
Fifth
of Paradise. It's the boys debut at the Hard Rock, and
they'll be performing a slew of brand new songs. Also the show marks the
release of Highway's brand new disc So come on out, grab a drink, and
enjoy the music!!!
07.15.05
Crossing the Pond...
The Steepwater Band is very excited to
announce our very first European concert date ever - and it's a big one.
SWB has been invited to perform at the 2005 Azkena Rock Festival in
Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. Taking place Sept 1 - 3, the festival
features a slough of other bands from the USA including Wilco, Govt
Mule, & Queens of the Stone Age, as well as a headline performance from
legendary rockers Deep Purple. The Steepwater Band is scheduled to
play opening night September 1 on the main stage with Basque rockers Soul
Breaker Company and a "surprise American band" to be named the day
of the festival. For more information check out
www.azkenarockfestival.com.
02.18.05
TWANG OFF CHAMPIONS!!! On early Friday morning (i'm talking early) The Steepwater Band was
crowned 2005 TWANG
OFF champions. The competition was fierce!
The
Outlaw Family Band kicked off the night with an incredible set of
their brand of harmonizing country rock. In toe, Earlfrom St. Louis, crushed a mean stomping set of good ol' rock n' roll
straight from Keith's veins. The Steepwater Band ended the night with 7
tunes climaxing with a 15 minute rendition of Little Walter's "Mean Old
World". Congrats to the boys for winning a good clean
fight!!
02.15.05
WWW.STEEPWATER.COM
gets a face lift
Hope you are enjoying the newest version of The Official Steepwater Band
Website. Please be patient with the construction as we wish to bring you a fully
updated web for 2005.
02.03.05
The Steepwater Band advances to the
TwangOff finals on February 17
They started off as one of 27 bands that jam in the roots, alternative country, bluegrass, and southern rock genres and have advanced to the
final three. But to take home the title, The Steepwater Band must first fend off some very tough competition against the Outlaw Family Band and
Earl.
The year-long quest to crown the TwangOff winner will be determined at
Martyr's
(3855 N. Lincoln Ave.) on Thursday, February 17, and the members of The Steepwater Band are looking forward to both the
competition and the camaraderie that will inevitably spring from this epic battle.
"I love this event," said Tod Bowers, bass guitar. "All finalists
will be at their very best because there's no margin for error and no room for a letdown. All three bands will be at their peak."
"No doubt about it, the two bands we'll be facing are terrific," noted
Joe Winters, the band's drummer. "But we're going to be right there in the thick of it, slugging it out, because we want that title as badly
as they do. I think anyone who is at Martyr's for the finals is going
to see and hear the Super Bowl of music in Chicago that night."
The Steepwater Band advanced by winning their two preliminary rounds in November 2004 and January 2005. The band's gutsy mix of blues-rock,
southern rock, and country stomp won over audiences and judges, and helped them vanquish some very worthy opponents in the process.
"The basis of the TwangOff is an awesome idea that we wholeheartedly support," said lead
guitarist and vocalist Jeff Massey. "The kind of music the bands play goes right to your roots and right to your soul.
It's not the kind of music you can easily find on the radio anymore."
Tune in Thursday morning...
Jeff Massey will be live "on the air", well actually "on
the net" for a interview / performance on the Ghetto and Bill Show. You can
"tune in" at 11 o'clock in the AM through
www.fearlessradio.com.
11.10.04
STEEPWATER BAND
RETURNS TO A THREE-PIECE LINE-UP The Steepwater Band began as a
three-piece band in 1998 and it's tothat line-up they
will once again be returning. After 4-1/2 years,
2 albums, and countless live performances, Michael
Connelly has parted
ways with the band. We knowyou'll join us in wishing him the best of luck.
His many talents will be missed.
The rest of the boys are currently
in rehearsals and will be
returning to the stage starting
with the Thursday, November 18th show atMARTYRS'(Chicago,
IL) for the TWANG
OFF! competition. Following that, The
Steepwater Band has
two shows at theSlippery
Noodle(Indianapolis,
IN)on the 19th and
20th of November, and then threeNorthwest Indiana shows over Thanksgiving weekend.
The Steepwater Band's
fans have always been incredibly supportive and the
band feels privileged to have met so many wonderful
people through our music. The
guys are looking forward to getting back onstage and
seeing you all again soon.
09.16.04
This just
in... The Steepwater Band has been added to a show THIS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th at McCool's in Valparaiso,
IN as the opening act for J-RECORDING artists
SILVERTIDE.
The show starts promptly with SWB kicking things off at 8:00pm.
We haven't played around Indiana in a while, and hope to see some
folks out for a hot Sunday night rock show!
In
other news, The Steepwater Band has been invited to open
for Black Crowes' guitarist RICH
ROBINSON when he comes to Chicago for
an 8:00pm show at
Double
Door. Rich is on tour supporting his
debut solo record, PAPER, which hit stores in late
August. So come out early for this show (SWB hits the
stage at 8:00pm) and stay late and hang with us for some
cocktails & rock n' roll.
And
don't forget the big festival of the year is right around
the corner - Sat, September 25 is WHEELIE
FEST 6 in Roland, PA! This
killer show features THE SCREAMING
CHEETAH WHEELIES, along with
SUPER
400,
PUSHING
ZERO,
THE
TREWS & SWB! Make the trek and
camp out with the SWB boys for a night not soon to be
forgotten!
Another Cold
Letdown...
Due to health reasons Willie Nelson
has canceled his show in Ottawa, IL, along with most of his
current tour. We apologize to anyone who was making the trip to
see the Steepwater Band open for the Red-Headed Stranger.
Trust us, the boys are just as disappointed.
Get better Willie!
06.20.04
Tune in to
WXRT this week 93.1
FM Radio
Chicago will be playing a cut from
Dharmakaya this week.
Tune in this Wednesday, June 23rd at
9:45pm and again on Saturday,
June 26 at 4:45pm.
06.01.04
WXRT gives
Dharmakaya it's Chicago Radio Debut Sunday night on Richard Milne's
Local
Anesthetic
the Steepwater Band's "Dead
Horse" from the new CD, made it's Chicago on-air
debut. Richard was very excited to play the new track, and
said there's plenty more to come. So be sure to tune in to WXRT
93.1FM on Sunday nights @ 7:30pm, and call the XRT
request line @ 773.777.8881 often and ask them to
play Steepwater Band.
05.20.04
Dharmakaya
Goes Radio Bound
(*list updated
weekly) As the album makes it's national release, many radio
stations across the country have added "Gettin' By" and
"Oh I Wept" among other tracks to their play
lists. Check the chart below for a station near you and
request The Steepwater Band often!!!
I-94
boasts the route for two big shows in June. First, on Saturday,
June 26th come help celebrate the release of the band's debut
album for Funzalo
Recordsat
the
Double
Door
in Chicago. The band's CD release for 2001's BROTHER TO THE
SNAKE was a near sell-out
at the Double Door, so be sure to
buy your tickets now! Click
here!
Second is the band's debut at Milwaukee's Summerfest
on Tuesday, June 29th. The boys are performing on the Harley
Davidson Stage at 2:30pm. Keep checking back for more
details.