FORMER BLACK CROWES GUITARIST
TO HELM LATEST FROM CHICAGO BLUES ROCK GEM
 The Steepwater Band |
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 (check out the JamBase rave HERE). 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 band is also putting out their first live DVD at a celebratory release show at Chicago's Subterranean on March 21st. The concert was shot in Nashville by Firepit Friday and features a full set by The Steepwater Band. Check out a preview of the DVD, which offers interviews from the artists of the evening, then a song from each group.
The Steepwater Band was formed in Chicago - who will be celebrating their 10th anniversary together this year - 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 the 1990s and again in 2005-2006. 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, has garnered critical acclaim, significant airplay and industry buzz. Ford remains a revered figure among blues-rock guitar fans.
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