<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<rss version="2.0">
<channel>
<title>steveconte's Journal Entries on JamBase</title>
<description>Go See Live Music!</description>
<link>http://www.jambase.com/fans/steveconte</link>
<item>
<guid>http://www.jambase.com/fans/BlogPost.aspx?UN=steveconte&amp;StoryID=19606</guid>
<title><![CDATA[Bio: The Crazy Truth]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Named for a Charles Bukowski poem, The Crazy Truth began to unfold in 2005 when Steve ran into high school pal Lee "Leeko" Kostrinsky on the street in New York City. Leeko's punk, reggae &amp; indie rock influences were a perfect foil for Conte's love of the blues, classic rock &amp; roll and 60's garage bands. Rounded out by Scarborough's Phil Stewart on drums, the trio played their first show in NYC within a few months - a T Rex memorial concert where they performed a cover of Marc Bolan's classic "Rip Off" and 9 new S.C. originals.

Working between records &amp; tours as lead guitarist/backing singer and co-songwriter with the legendary New York Dolls, Conte has produced his band's debut album, a scorching 11 song rock &amp; roll disc called simply – "STEVE CONTE &amp; THE CRAZY TRUTH". It features guest performances by Dolls front man David Johansen on harmonica, the soulful voices of Nikki Richards (Tina Turner/Madonna) and Catherine Russell (Al Green) and horns by Danny Ray (Sylvain Sylvain/ Johnny Thunders), Tom Timko (Stevie Wonder) and Kiku Collins (Beyonce).

Sonically, The Crazy Truth lies somewhere between garage rock and punky blues with hints of Latin-soul played in a dark, smoky lounge. Stooges &amp; Stones meet Morphine &amp; Waits. Classic roots with modern twists. It’s the kind of rock &amp; roll that swings. Steve Conte brings the power, soul and raunch; a guitar hero on the edge of falling apart - with the voice of a derelict angel. Drummer Phil Stewart is equal parts Max Roach and Keith Moon while bassist Leeko was weaned on The Clash and old school reggae. 

Conte says: "This album sounds like a band playing LIVE because it is -- drums, bass &amp; guitar together in one room, solos recorded live on the basic tracks, rough and tough. It was like doing a gig - and I love playing live with this band because we don't just deliver the songs...we JAM! It's all about interplay and the moment." 

Lyrically, the songs reflect two decades of life and excess in New York City...the attractions troubled souls seek out to fill the emptiness. Dive bars, gambling, sex-and-drugs ...but not celebrated with the usual macho rock attitude. Mostly it's about redemption. With Steve Conte's unique perspective he sings, "I'm always putting the last things first, that's why I'm starting out with the second verse" and "drag queens, drama queens, future ex-porn stars, we're all looking for lovers with beautiful scars". Whether he's the morally bankrupt guy "coming downtown in a Gypsy Cab" or riding a "Busload Of Hope" to Atlantic City, Conte offers optimism - "In the end we transcend - we're divine"...."

The Crazy Truth record was mixed by Niko Bolas (Keith Richards, Neil Young) and mastered by Richard Dodd (Tom Petty &amp; The Heartbreakers), yet Conte was determined to keep the album's production rough and raw. Fans of New York Dolls will be pleased that this album embodies the spirit of those early Dolls records with it's seat-of-the-pants performances.

********************************************************

REVIEWS... 

Steve Conte, the cat who was man enough to step into the big shoes of the New York Dolls’ long-standing guitarist vacancy, tells us that while never so much a Thunders fan, he surely shared in some of his predecessors influences whilst growing up in the Big Apple. That claim certainly rings true on this bluesy outing which gracefully meshes the classic sights and sounds of the city with Conte’s own experiences and soulful playing style. Knowingly or not, one of the first things ‘The Crazy Truth’ hits you with is a song Thunders and Patti Palladin made their own on covers album ‘Copy Cats’, as it laces elements of ‘Uptown To Harlem’ through the original handclapping blues tumble ‘Gypsy Cab’. It’s a neat nod, and starts a theme picked up again toward the end of the record in ‘Indie Girl’s horn infused take-off of The Specials’ ‘Hey Little Rich Girl’, which is set a landscape of self-promoted shows played for pennies, and for the sheer love of playing, finished with some sumptious guitar flourishes. 

Having declared the tradition he’s working within Conte has some fun with the formula, effortlessly switching from the earthy swamp blues grind of ‘Texas T’ to trawling mean city streets populated by “drag queens, drama queens, future ex-porn stars.. all looking for love in the bar”, with a harmonica-honking David Johansen at his side on ‘The Goods Are Odd’. As deftly as he deals the blues the established guitarist shows his considerable trash rock hand on closing dive into gritty rock’n’roll ‘Junk Planet’. An appreciation of the Dolls is by no means a pre-requisite for enjoying this album, but an understanding of the frequent hardship and freakish beauty of the street life which both bands commonly portray will certainly help in feeling the full effect of the strange truisms Conte succinctly serves up.
--Alison B, writing in Bubblegum Slut zine 32

“New York Dolls guitar ace, Steve Conte and his band ‘The Crazy Truth’ has it all - amazing songs, attitude aplenty, looks and most important, they have rock ‘n’ roll running through their veins. This will stand up to anything that Conte’s done in the past, either with the Dolls or his other projects…(Conte is) a songwriter of the highest order...(and) has a wonderful vocal range. Loud and snarling guitars against a wall of massive drums and bass…this will blow you away with its power and urgency… sheer bliss!!”
-- Chris Rockson (Soundcheck Magazine)

"Hearing Steve Conte and The Crazy Truth is like a journey through the past with hopes for where the future is headed. Great songs, great hooks, 11 slices of dirty rock n roll. if that's not a winning formula - I surrender!"
-- Keith Roth (DJ - Sirius Satellite Radio)

“I love this song (Gypsy Cab) It's so so so -- booze bottle sophisticated. I must hear more...Love the photo too..It's perfect…”
-- New York Dolls Myspace

"I forgot to mention how much I like your CD. Great tunes and starting 'with the second verse' is genius! Bravo!"
-- Dennis Dunaway (Original Alice Cooper Bassist)

"For those who like their rock 'n roll down and dirty and drippin' with attitude, soul and monkey love, you gotta hear this....T-Rex meets the early Stones at the House of Blue Light. Great rock album...Really great playing, writing, singing, production and overall vibe. Loved it."
Willie Nile (Legendary NYC Singer/Songwriter)

"I've been diggin the record. That Phil dude plays his ass off. Good stuff." 
-- Brain Delaney (Drummer - New York Dolls)

"Love it...reminds me of Iggy Pop...rock n roll!" 
-- Kyf Brewer (Singer/Songwriter/Musician - Barleyjuice)]]></description>
<pubDate>Thu, 10 Sep 2009 06:54:00 PST</pubDate>
<link>http://www.jambase.com/fans/BlogPost.aspx?UN=steveconte&amp;StoryID=19606</link>
</item>
</channel>
</rss>