The Steepwater Band
History & Biography
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.
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 original music. As this transformation took place the band's songwriting drew a close parallel with their own personal roots and influences, which included 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 prestigious 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 heavyweight AAA radio station WXRT and Jim Beam to a packed house at Chicago's Double Door music venue. 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 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, the critically acclaimed Dharmakaya, which was recorded with producers Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie (Radiohead, Warren Zevon, the Pixies) 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 to Present
In April 2005 the band performed on television in Nashville, TN, with blues and R&B legend 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 influential Azkena Rock Festival in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain.
In addition to their own 70-minute set (a set that was widely acclaimed in the European press following the festival), they hosted a late-night jam session with members of the Drive-by Truckers and the Basque band The Soulbreaker Company. Approximately twenty other bands were invited to participate in the three-day event including Gov't Mule, Deep Purple, Queens of the Stone Age, and Wilco.
In November of 2005, the band was invited by legendary 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) to packed houses in Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona, Spain. Rick Richards, guitarist of the Georgia Satellites, joined the band onstage for three songs in Barcelona.
Vintage Guitar magazine featured a half-page review of Revelation Sunday in its January, 2007, issue, and a full-page article/interview with band members in its March, 2007, issue.
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.
Band Members
- Jeff Massey (guitar and vocals)
- Tod Bowers (bass guitar)
- Joe Winters (drums)
Discography
- 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 & Television
- The Disney movie Invincible (2006 film) 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.