Steve Romig

There's not a single thing you could flaw in this recording. It really is a quietly confident and beautifully executed piece of work. Romig has managed to capture some incredible 'real' sounds, especially in the dynamics and tones of his guitar playing.

You could file "Touch" under any branch of adult oriented music you like, and you still couldn't put a finger on what it is he does. Fans of anyone from Simply Red, Simon and Garfunkle and the modern gospel/ blues- influenced acts will find him a real treat. He is undoubtedly a gifted singer and songwriter, and I have to say, tracks like 'Sometimes' have enough to make you close your eyes and reconsider things in your own life. Any piece of music that can do that is testimony to this man's heart.

There are funkier bloozier tracks that definitely have groove and a sense of fun- but Romig's true talent shines in the slower moments where it's just his soulful husky voice and resonant strings of his instrument.

I advise those of you after the kind of music they just don't make anymore to seek him out on www.steveromig.com. You will be rewarded in the listening.

- Mixdown Magazine Nick Snelling Editor~

After a long apprenticeship as a backing musician and opening act for Renee Geyer, Tommy Emmanuel and Daryl Braithwaite, singer / songwriter / guitarist Steve Romig finally takes centre stage with his excellent debut release. A singer / musician of Romig's caliber could have taken the easy route on his first journey into sololand, Instead he?s shown flair and imagination in his choice of arrangements on fourteen original songs.

The gospel / blues inspired 'Daddy Come Down' features a sparse dobro. Acoustic slide accompanies his voice on "Sometimes".

Mike Rudd's bluesy harmonica bobs up on "Night And Day" and there's a Chinese violin on "Take You Back".

"Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" is a nod to Big Joe Turner, while "I Wanna Touch You" and "Old Friend" are vehicles for Romig's strong, melodic voice.

One of this year' standout debuts heralds the arrival of a talented all-rounder.

~Bill Pinnell~ - Music Australia Guide

International Blues Award to Aussie Winner !!

Melbourne singer-songwriter Steve Romig has won the first prize in the Blues category of the prestigious International Song Competition run out of Nashville, the songwriting capital of the US.

Romig's winning song "Way Down Homeless Blues" was inspired by the plight of the homeless in Japan where Romig spent several months performing in 2003.

Almost 15,000 amateur and professional songwriters from 82 countries participated in the 2005 competition, consolidating ISC's status as the leading songwriting event globally. It is one of the few competitions to have a Blues category without putting it together with Jazz or some other style.

Judges for the competition included Tom Waits, Steve Vai, Macy Gray, Joss Stone, LeAnn Rimes, Charlie Musselwhite, Bruce Iglauer (Founder/President, Alligator Records)and Thomas Brooman (Co-Founder/Artistic Director, WOMAD.

The prize is a timely windfall for Romig who says "Now I can afford to get my album mastered ".

Romig also won a national Musicoz Blues Award last December. His album "The Friday Sessions" is due out later in 2006 and on the strength of these awards it will draw interest nationally and internationally. He has written songs covered by John Farnham, and played with many luminaries of the Australian Music scene including Tommy Emmanuel, Darryl Braithwaite and Renee Geyer. His website is www.steveromig.com .

Visit http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/winners.htm to hear all of ISC's winners.

- Press release ISC/many papers/sites carried it.

STEVE ROMIG
The Friday Sessions
Independent.
Melbourne Blues Association Society "BluesLetter"
www.steveromig.com

Well, what a pearler of an album. It has all the essential ingredients, wonderfully written and composed songs, great musicianship, spot on production and the man can sing! From the opening track you are hooked. Reminiscent of Ry Cooder’s work on the Crossroads soundtrack, Romig heads deep into the south, merging blues and gospel with “Way down homeless blues.” It introduces you to his rich, earthy voice, meaningful, emotion inspiring songs and his talented support crew. The crew includes Mike Kelly, backing vocals, percussion, keyboards, bodhran, drums, washboard and hammond, Kaye Harrison, backing vocals, Chris Prank, piano, piano accordion and stalwarts, Jim Keays on harmonica and Wilbur Wilde on sax. Romig himself though is no slacker, taking on vocals, guitars, drum programming, bass, contrabass, percussion and pens 11 of the 14 tracks. I can see some eyes rolling with the mention of drum machine, but this album proves what soulful music can be achieved via the digital medium, it can highly enhance musicality, if used wisely.

Even the three covers on the album fit like a glove. A reworking of the Masters Apprentice’s classic “Turn up your radio” gets the Romig make-over, being respectful to the original whilst leading it astray! Big Bill Broonzy gets the nod with a traditional version of “Key to the Highway” and cohort Mike Kelly adds a track “Mama’s little babies,” showing just what a talent he is too!

It is certainly a musical journey, there are some killer blues tracks but the whole spectrum of roots music is covered. Romig uses the blues as a solid trellis with everything from gospel through to soul, reggae to jazz, folk to r’n’b, all entwining in and around the trellis, just as it should. A variety of people and instruments come on board but are well captained by Romig’s voice and lyrics, every song produces something new and different and you are soon waiting in anticipation for the next track to see what unfolds.

There’s no point in describing all the songs, I’d be writing a thesis, this album just needs to be listened to.

For a snap peak check out some of the tunes at www.myspace.com/steveromig

Rooster
- MBAS