The Steepwater Band

Infobox musical artist |
Name = The Steepwater Band


Landscape = yes
Img_capt = The Steepwater Band, 2007. From left, Tod Bowers, Jeff Massey, and Joe Winters.
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Chicago, Illinois, USA
Genre = Blues-rock
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = Evangeline, Diamond Day
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.steepwater.com www.steepwater.com]
Current_members = Jeff Massey
Joe Winters
Tod Bowers
Past_members = Michael Connelly

The Steepwater Band is an American rock band formed in Chicago in 1998 by the trio of Jeff Massey (guitars and vocals), Joe Winters (drums), and Tod Bowers (bass). The band took their name from a cargo vessel that Massey sighted in a port on Lake Michigan.

History and biography

1998 to 2004

Initially the band concentrated on playing their own versions of classic blues songs, particularly electric Chicago-style blues, and performed their first concert at Phyllis' Musical Inn in Chicago on October 29, 1998.

The band quickly progressed from covering blues tunes to writing their own music. Their influences include the Allman Brothers Band, Free, Cream, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, and Humble Pie, in addition to blues artists such as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and John Lee Hooker.

In 1999 the band met singer-songwriter Michael Connelly, who collaborated with them on their inaugural effort, the five-song EP "Goin' Back Home". The Steepwater Band returned the favor by performing on Connelly's project, "Bottles of Wine". Connelly officially joined The Steepwater Band in 2000.

The years of 1999 and 2000 saw the band performing relentlessly in Chicago and the surrounding region. During this time they continued to write new material and hone their gritty guitar-based blues-rock sound. The buzz in the local music community increased and on June 8, 2000, The Steepwater Band performed at their first Chicago Blues Festival, kicking off that year's event at high noon.

The band released its first full-length CD in 2001. Titled "Brother to the Snake," the CD was released with the support of radio station WXRT and Jim Beam to a packed house at Chicago's Double Door. During the year the band also released a live-in-the-studio album, "Live...Half in the Bag."

The band continued to play in the Midwest in 2002 and 2003, often being selected for opening act slots for international acts including Bad Company, 38 Special, the The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Sonny Landreth, Buddy Guy, and Taj Mahal. The band also signed a recording, management, and publishing deal with Funzalo Records/Mike’s Artist Management during this period. This relationship resulted in the production of one album, "Dharmakaya," which was recorded with producers Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie (Radiohead, Warren Zevon, the Pixies, Uncle Tupelo) in Boston and released on May 18, 2004. Connelly departed in October, 2004, and the band and Funzalo/MAM ended their relationship in early 2005.

2005 - 2007

In April 2005 the band performed on television in Nashville, Tennessee, with Little Milton, who passed away a few months later. In June, for their fifth time playing the Chicago Blues Festival, they received a headlining slot on the Best Buy Showcase Stage.

In September, The Steepwater Band performed their first European concert at the Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain..

In November 2005, the band was invited by Chicago rock radio station WLUP to open for Bon Jovi at the sold-out United Center.

In 2006, in addition to their own heavy touring schedule, the band performed at various festivals and concerts with Umphrey's McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Keller Williams, the Doobie Brothers, Ian Gillan (Deep Purple's vocalist), and Cheap Trick.

The band’s third full-length CD, "Revelation Sunday", was released on August 15, 2006. The album is being distributed by Evangeline Records in Europe and on the band’s own Diamond Day imprint in the United States. The CD release concert for "Revelation Sunday" was held on August 11, 2006, at Chicago's historic Metro music venue.

In September, the band headlined three concerts (with The Soulbreaker Company as the opening act) in Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona, Spain. Rick Richards, guitarist of the The Georgia Satellites, joined the band on stage for three songs in Barcelona.

The band performed on the "Gimme Three Days" cruise with Lynyrd Skynyrd, .38 Special, American Minor, Tishamingo, Blackberry Smoke, and other blues-rock, southern rock and country artists aboard the Carnival Cruise Lines "Fascination" in January, 2007. The event was produced by Sixthman LLC of Atlanta, Georgia.

In its March issue, Vintage Guitar magazine published a full-page article/interview with band members.

In July, the band returned to Europe for a tour of Spain and the Canary Islands. The tour began with a concert in Barcelona, Spain, on July 5 with Gov't Mule and John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, and also included a date with long-time Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford.

In conjunction with the tour the band also released the "Songs From the Eighth Day" CD, featuring covers of Neil Young's "Cortez the Killer", Bob Dylan's "Phantom Engineer", Big Bill Broonzy's "Key to the Highway", Robert Johnson's "Walkin' Blues", a live version of "Collision", and two new Steepwater Band songs.

Recent Events

The band released their first concert DVD on March 21, 2008. The performance was shot at The Rutledge music club in Nashville, TN, in November, 2007.

The band announced in March, 2008, that they would be entering the studio in May with Grammy Award winner and long-time Black Crowes guitarist Marc Ford on board as producer. The recording and production is to take place at Compound Studios near Los Angeles. The band expects to release the new album, tentatively titled "Grace & Melody," in late summer or early fall, 2008.

Band members

*Jeff Massey (guitar and vocals)
*Tod Bowers (bass guitar)
*Joe Winters (drums)

Discography

*2008 - "Grace & Melody" (tentative title)
*2008 - "The Steepwater Band" Live Concert DVD
*2007 - "Songs From the Eighth Day" (USA: Diamond Day Records)
*2006 - "Revelation Sunday" (USA: Diamond Day Records; Europe: Evangeline Records)
*2004 - "Dharmakaya" (USA: Funzalo Records; Europe: Evangeline Records; Canada: True North Records)
*2001 - "Brother to the Snake" (Independent)
*2001 - "Live....Half in the Bag" (Independent)
*2000 - "Goin' Back Home" EP (Independent)

Film and television

*The television series "Friday Night Lights" used the song "Revelation Sunday" during a football game sequence in a 2007 episode (online and DVD versions).
*The Disney movie "Invincible" starring Mark Wahlberg contained the song "Autumn" off the band's 2004 release "Dharmakaya."
*Nissan Motors has been using the song "Black Cat's Path", also from "Dharmakaya", for a long-running national television advertising campaign (2004 - current) for their full-size Titan pick-up truck.
*The television sitcom "My Name Is Earl" has used the songs "Dead Horse" ("Dharmakaya") and "Dirty Ol' Blues" ("Brother to the Snake") in episodes.

External links

* [http://www.steepwater.com Official website]
* [http://www.sonicbids.com/thesteepwaterband On Sonicbids.com]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thesteepwaterband On Myspace]