The Steepwater Band
Chicago, Illinois, United States | SELF
Music
Press
The Steepwater Band has had the privilege of sharing bills with many national -- and often legendary -- artists since 2000. Here's a partial list of those they have performed with or are currently booked to perform with:
~ Gov't Mule
~ Deep Purple
~ Wilco
~ Drive-by Truckers
~ Heart
~ John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers
~ Umphrey's McGee
~ Devon Allman's Honeytribe
~ Bon Jovi
~ .moe
~ Queens of the Stone Age
~ Alvin Youngblood Hart
~ The Lovehammers
~ Rick Richards (Georgia Satellites; Izzy Stradlin & the JuJu Hounds)
~ Ian Gillan (of Deep Purple)
~ Bad Company
~ Army of Anyone
~ Camper Van Beethoven
~ David Allan Coe
~ Lynyrd Skynyrd
~ Buddy Guy
~ Delbert McClinton
~ Ronnie Baker Brooks
~ Savoy Brown
~ Marc Ford (of the Black Crowes)
~ Rich Robinson (of the Black Crowes)
~ Chris Duarte
~ Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies
~ REO Speedwagon
~ The Trews
~ Silvertide
~ Kinsey Report
~ Cheap Trick
~ Bernard Allison
~ Cracker
~ Taj Mahal
~ Fabulous Thunderbirds
~ Hubert Sumlin
~ Rose Hill Drive
~ Ian McLagan (of the Faces)
~ Pinetop Perkins
~ Leon Russell
~ Tinsley Ellis
~ The Doobie Brothers
~ The Redwalls
- ~~~~~~~~~~
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. I've always been able to hear the goodness at the heart of The Steepwater Band. All the nuance of the recording, performance and songwriting that make it easy can be found on Grace and Melody. They're in their finest form yet.
~ Richard Milne | WXRT Radio, Chicago
Everything about GRACE AND MELODY has the feel of natural born rockers determined to get everyone's rocks off. Producer Marc Ford does clean, endlessly effective work here, bringing his years of experience with The Black Crowes and others, allowing individual elements to shine – a groin throbbing bass run, the blue water purr of electric slide. This is the abounding whomp of a band that's always been very good, teetering on the edge of greatness. And by album's end I'd be surprised if you weren't rooting for them to topple all the way into full blown glory.
~ Dennis Cook | Jambase.com
Every record is better than the former, and they always maintain an evolution within the American roots rock. For the moment we can only wonder when they will reach the top of their abilities. Marah and Drive-By Truckers have been dethroned. Everybody stand up to salute their new majesties: THE STEEPWATER BAND.
~ Santino | Solo-Rock.com
Crackling with gritty energy and featuring strikingly direct lyrics, Grace And Melody demonstrates that Steepwater Band is a group with a considerable amount of depth and nuance…most notably the intriguing twin-guitar romp through the 13+ minute, "Waiting To Be Offended," which is vibrant yet clutter-free. Grace And Melody is certainly worth diving into.
~ Rob Turner | Hittin' The Note Magazine
Grace And Melody hints of previous Steepwater Band records, but continues the band's evolution. The songwriting is growing in directions that keep the band attached to the history of rock and roll while they actively expand it. Massey, along with bassist Tod Bowers and drummer Joe Winters, continue to impress as one of rock's shining lights.
~ John Heidt | Vintage Guitar Magazine
Grace And Melody continues the evolution; the record has an updated '70s vibe and the whole album works if you ever wondered what the Faces might sound like in the 21st Century.
~ Mike O'Cull | Illinois Entertainer
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
"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 Band sounds 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
"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
- ~~~~~~~~~~
2008
~ Grammy winner and former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford will produce The Steepwater Band's new album. Recording is scheduled to take place in May 2008 at Compound Studios near Los Angeles, CA.
~ The band released their first concert DVD on March 21, 2008. The performance was shot at The Rutledge music club in Nashville, TN, in 2007.
~ The TV series "Friday Night Lights" used The Steepwater Band song "Revelation Sunday" on the DVD and online versions for one of its episodes (#211).
2007
~ The band returned to Europe in July, 2007, for a ten-city tour that began in Barcelona with Gov't Mule and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and also included a date with long-time Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford. "Songs From the Eighth Day," a limited edition album featuring covers, outtakes, and live versions was released in conjunction with the tour.
~ The band performed for a crowd of 45,000+ in support of classic rockers Heart at the Naperville Rib & Music Festival on July 3rd.
~ NBC Sports picked up the music from the songs "Steel Sky" and "Revelation Sunday" for TV usage.
~ A feature interview with band members was published in Vintage Guitar Magazine's March 2007 issue.
~ The band performed on the Gimme Three Days cruise to the Bahamas in January with Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, American Minor, Blackberry Smoke, Tishamingo, and others.
~ "Revelation Sunday" is named the #1 album of 2006 in the NWI Times daily newspaper and is also named on numerous Top Ten lists in Europe.
2006
~ The Steepwater Band headlined a tour of Spain, playing to packed houses each night. Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites joined the band onstage for three songs at their Barcelona concert.
~ The band performed before 40,000 people on July 3rd, opening for the Doobie Brothers.
~ The song "Autumn" was used in the hit film "Invincible," starring Mark Wahlberg, and the television series "My Name Is Earl" also licensed a number of the band's songs.
~ The band signed with Evangeline Records (U.K.) to release and market "Revelation Sunday" throughout Europe. The album is available elsewhere on the band's own Diamond Day imprint.
~ The CD release show for "Revelation Sunday" was held on August 11, 2006, at Chicago's historic Metro music venue.
2005
~ On September 1st, the band played the Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain, to thousands of European music fans. They also hosted a late-night jam session with Patterson Hood and Jason Isbell of the Drive-by Truckers.
~ The band opened a sold-out show for Bon Jovi at Chicago's United Center on November 5th.
~ In Nashville for a benefit concert, the band made a TV appearance with blues legend Little Milton, who passed away a few months later.
~ The band headlined the Chicago Blues Fest/Best Buy Showcase stage on June 9th.
2004
~ A song from "Dharmakaya" was licensed by Nissan Motors for use in a television commercial. Among other prime-time slots, the commercial aired during the World Series and the NFL Playoffs. Nissan was continuing to use the song as of 2007.
~ "Dharmakaya" was released on May 18. The album was critically acclaimed and received radio airplay, particularly on college stations.
2003
~ In October, the band trekked to Boston to begin recording their second full-length album, "Dharmakaya." Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie (Warren Zevon, Radiohead, The Pixies) engineered and produced.
2002
~ Major opening act slots in 2002 included Bad Company, .38 Special, Dave Mason, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Buckwheat Zydeco, Son Seals, Sonny Landreth, Buddy Guy, Taj Mahal, and the Smithereens.
2001
~ The Steepwater Band released their first full-length album, "Brother to the Snake." The sold-out CD release party was held at Chicago's Double Door venue, sponsored by Jim Beam and Chicago's influential WXRT. - ~~~~~~~~~~
A partial list of music venues and festivals where The Steepwater Band has either performed or are currently booked:
INTERNATIONAL
~ Spain
Azkena Rock Festival (Vitoria-Gasteiz) ~ El Sol (Madrid) ~ Azkena Club (Bilbao) ~ Fantasy Bike Rally (Sestao) ~ Poble Espanyol (Barcelona) ~ Apolo 2 Club (Barcelona) ~ Sala Savoy (Gijon) ~ Sala El Teatro (A Caruna) ~ La Fabrica de Chocolate (Vigo) ~ Coyote Ugly (Alicante)
~ Canary Islands
Club Gabanna (Lanzarote)
~ Bahamas
"Gimme Three Days" cruise with Lynyrd Skynyrd
UNITED STATES
~ Chicago, IL
United Center ~ The Metro ~ Double Door ~ House of Blues ~ Chicago Blues Festival ~ Kinetic Playground ~ Buddy Guy's Legends ~ Hard Rock Cafe ~ Martyr's ~ Abbey Pub ~ Subterranean ~ Retro on Roscoe Festival ~ McCormick Place ~ Red Line ~ "Do Division Street" Music Festival ~ Lebowski Fest ~ Chicago's NYE Party Hyatt ~ Belmont Arts & Music Festival ~ Bash On Wabash Festival
~ Georgia
The Earl (Atlanta)
~ Idaho
Brundage Mountain Jam Festival (McCall) ~ Whiskey Jacques (Ketchum)
~ Illinois
Summer Camp Music Festival (Chillicothe) ~ Fitzgerald's, Harlem Avenue Blues (Berwyn) ~ Pearl Room (Mokena) ~ Chord On Blues (St. Charles) ~ Ribfest Music Festival (Naperville) ~ Underground City Tavern (Springfield) ~ Durty Nellie's (Palatine) ~ The Uptowner (Charleston) ~ Otto's (DeKalb) ~ Canopy Club, Cowboy Monkey (Champaign) ~ Coconut Louies (Bloomington) ~ Marly's Pub (Springfield)
~ Indiana
The Music Mill, Local's Only Arts & Music Club, Birdy's, Melody Inn (Indianapolis) ~ Star Plaza Theater (Merrillville) ~ Cheer's Original Music Club (South Bend) ~ Munster Blues Festival ~ Nick's Music Club, Knickerbocker Saloon (Lafayette) ~ SugarStock Music Festival (Bloomingdale) ~ Doc's Music Hall (Muncie) ~ Shoreline Brewery (Michigan City) ~ Uncle Fester's (Bloomington) ~ Popcorn Festival (Valparaiso) ~ Labor Dayz Festival (Michigan City) ~ Linton Music Festival ~ Drena's (Hobart)
~ Iowa
Nitefall on the River (Des Moines) ~ Iowa City Yacht Club ~ Horse Motorcycle Rally (Sabula) ~ Blues on Grand (Des Moines) ~ Coe College (Cedar Rapids) ~ Red Stone Room (Davenport)
~ Kentucky
Headliner's Music Hall, Rudyard Kipling's, Stevie Ray's Blues Bar (Louisville) ~ Tidballs (Bowling Green)
~ Louisiana
Frosty Factory (Alexandria)
~ Maryland
Ram's Head Tavern (Baltimore)
~ Massachusetts
Harper's Ferry (Boston)
~ Michigan
Upfront & Company (Marquette) ~ Berkley Front, TNT's (Detroit) ~ Czar's (St. Joseph) ~ The Intersection, Billy's Blues Club (Grand Rapids) ~ Mac's (Lansing) ~ The Blue Note (Muskegon)
~ Minnesota
7th Street Entry (Minneapolis) ~ Rascal's (Winona) ~ Narrow's Saloon (Navarre)
~ Missouri
Off Broadway, Cicero's (St. Louis) ~ Davey's (Kansas City)
~ Montana
Sean Kelly's (Missoula)
~ New Jersey
Mexicali Blues Cafe (Teaneck)
~ New York
Tribeca Rock Club, CBGB, The Bitter End, Tobacco Road, Knitting Factory, Kenny Castaways (New York City) ~ Dinosaur (Rochester) ~ Dinosaur (Syracuse) ~ Music Shop Pub (Norwich)
~ North Carolina
The Raven, Burlington After Dark (Burlington)
~ Ohio
The Greenville, Hi-Fi Music Club, Wilbert's Blues (Cleveland) ~ Oldfield's, Ravari Room (Columbus) ~ Pancho's (New Philadelphia) ~ York Street Cafe, Mad Frog, Dirty Jack's (Cincinnati) ~ Longhorn Saloon, Frankie's Inner City (Toledo) ~ The Lounge (Akron)
~ Oklahoma
Roadhouse 66 Music Club (Oklahoma City) ~ Par-T-Lounge Music Club (Tulsa)
~ Pennsylvania
WheelieFest 6 ~ WheelieFest 7 ~ WheelieFest 8 (Rowland)
~ South Carolina
Fiery Ron's (Charleston)
~ Tennessee
Smoky Mountain Blues Fest, Brackin's (Maryville) ~ Exit/In, Mercy Lounge, 12th & Porter, The Rutledge, 3rd & Lindsley (Nashville) ~ Preservation Pub (Knoxville)
~ Texas
Flamingo Cantina (Austin) ~ Continental Club (Houston) ~ The Cavern (Dallas) ~ The Aardvark (Ft. Worth)
~ Utah
The Urban Lounge (Salt Lake City)
~ Wisconsin
Milwaukee SummerFest, Up & Under, Club Garibaldi's (Milwaukee) ~ University of Wisconsin, High Noon Saloon, Madison Blues Festival, The Annex, The King Club, The Frequency (Madison) ~ 324 Live!, Nighthawk's Blues, JB's Speakeasy (LaCrosse) ~ Clark Place (Steven's Point) ~ Bobby Rocket's Music Club (Lake Geneva) ~ Ballyhoo's (Merrill) ~ Great Lakes Dragaway/Harley Shootout (Union Grove) ~ Fillmor, Malarkey's (Wausau) ~ The Green Room (Sheboygan) ~ IQ's (Green Bay)
- ~~~~~~~~~~
Music From THE STEEPWATER BAND has appeared in the following:
~My Name is Earl (NBC TV): “Dead Horse” from Dharmakaya & “Dirty Ol’ Blues" from Brother To The Snake
~Friday Night Lights (NBC TV DVD): Revelation Sunday, Revelation Sunday
~Invincible (Disney Film): “Autumn” from Dharmakaya
~Nissan Motors (Nat’l ad Campaign): “Black Cat’s Path” from Dharmakaya - ~~~~~~~~~~
Discography
~ Clava (LP, 2011) Diamond Day Records (USA)
~ Live at the Double Door (LP, 2010) Diamond Day Records (USA)
~ Grace & Melody (LP, 2008) Produced by Marc Ford (ex-Black Crowes guitarist) Diamond Day Records (USA)
~ The Steepwater Band LIVE DVD (2008) Diamond Day Records (USA)
~ Songs From the Eighth Day (EP 2007), Diamond Day Records U.S. 2007 | Limited edition album of covers, live tracks, and outtakes from the "Revelation Sunday" recording sessions
~ Revelation Sunday (LP, 2006) Diamond Day Records (USA) / Evangeline Records (EU)
~ Dharmakaya (LP, 2004) - Funzalo Records (USA) | Evangeline Records (EU)
~ Brother to the Snake (LP, 2001) - Independent
~ Live...Half in the Bag (LP, 2001) - Independent
~ Goin' Back Home (EP, 2000) - Independent
Photos
Bio
MANAGEMENT
Steven Sime | 815-557-9407
steven@smsent.net
US & INTERNATIONAL BOOKING
Jake Lankheit | 704-358-4777
jake@intrepidartists.com
RECENT NEWS:
~ Signs exclusive booking representation through Intrepid Artists International
~ Recent song placements in major motion movies - One For The Money and Five Year Engagement
~ The Steepwater Band released Clava to rave reviews!
~The Steepwater Band lands endorsement deals with Gibson Guitars, Reverend Guitars, Sonor Drums, D'Addario Strings and Evans Drum Heads.
~ The Steepwater Band signs with Teenage Head Music booking agency out of Belgium. Expect a full blown European tour end of 09/early 10.
~ Grace And Melody getting rave reviews. Please check out the press section.
~ Grace And Melody to be reviewed in the November 2008 issue of Hittin The Note and the February 2009 issue of Vintage Guitar.
~ The bands new album, Grace And Melody, will be released on November 26 with a FREE show at Chicago's own, Double Door.
~ Grammy winner and former Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford will produce The Steepwater Band's new album. Recording is scheduled to take place in May 2008 at Compound Studios near Los Angeles, CA.
~ The band released their first concert DVD on March 21, 2008. The performance was shot at The Rutledge music club in Nashville, TN, in 2007.
~ The TV series "Friday Night Lights" used The Steepwater Band song "Revelation Sunday" on the DVD and online versions for one of its episodes (#211).
~ The band returned to Europe in July, 2007, for a ten-city tour that began in Barcelona with Gov't Mule and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and also included a date with long-time Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford. "Songs From the Eighth Day," a limited edition album featuring covers, outtakes, and live versions was released in conjunction with the tour.
~ The band performed for a crowd of 45,000+ in support of classic rockers Heart at the Naperville Rib & Music Festival on July 3rd.
~ The band performed on the Gimme Three Days cruise to the Bahamas in January with Lynyrd Skynyrd and .38 Special.
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Biography
The Steepwater Band’s latest studio release, “CLAVA”
(pronounced CLAY-va) finds the band hitting their most creative and focused point of their careers. The new record was recorded this past March on the South Side of Chicago at the studio of the same name. Also known as a trinity of stars, CLAVA is a fitting name for the new record produced by the trio along with Colin Sipos, a young, up-and-coming producer/ engineer who has worked with the critically acclaimed Iron & Wine and Califone. Sipos also recorded TSB's "The Stars Look Tonight/My Back Pocket (2010)" single and mixed "Live at the Double Door (2010)." The ten new songs feature some of their most blues-infused, heavy and psychedelic tunes to date. Each song takes you on a musical journey, steeped in tradition, while not being overly nostalgic. On “CLAVA” the band honors their heroes and pays them the highest compliment – continuing the Rock n’ Roll lineage while creating paths not yet explored. This release exemplifies the musical trinity that is The Steepwater Band.
Although The Steepwater Band got their start as devotees of delta blues, they have since been expanding on their musical influences taking on everything from psychedelia to Americana, and of course, hardhitting rock and roll. Formed in Chicago in 1998, the band’s signature sound is at once a nod to earlier rock n’ blues combined with a raw and gusty musical approach. Band members Jeff Massey (guitar & vocals), Tod Bowers (bass) and Joe Winters (drums) have a synergy that comes from years of playing together. The rhythm section is taut and responsive; they flourish to create a perfect canvass. This sonic foundation laid by Bowers & Winters leaves the space for the guitars to soar and vocals to shine. Massey performs with a passion that can belie his virtuosity, while always being true the song at hand.
The band’s infectious energy is equally evident in their live performances, as critics and fans hail their shows as forceful and intoxicating. It is their humble devotion to music, and a commitment to achieving their musical goals without compromising the integrity of their musical vision that make The Steepwater Band such a refreshing find. In 2010, the band released highly lauded live record entitled “Live at the Double Door” which contained tracks from their previous two LPs, “Revelation Sunday (2006)” and “Grace and Melody (2008).”
The Steepwater Band has maintained a grueling schedule throughout the last 10 years, averaging about 125 shows per year. They have toured and shared the stage with acts such as Gov't Mule, Buddy Guy, Wilco, Taj Mahal, Marc Ford, ZZ Top, T-Model Ford, North Mississippi All Stars, Leon Russell, Drive-By Truckers, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Cheap Trick, Bad Company and Heart. In 2005, the band made its European debut, performing at
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