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Triple Steves

Read More Delicate Steve Oh Delicate Steve, where do I start? These dudes know how to rock. The guitar band from New Jersey played with the crowd literally last night in New Orleans at the Circle Bar. The last song, the band brought the entire.…

DELICATE STEVE
delicatesteve.com

Round 2. Boys and Girls for the Guitar Marathon. Who wants to see an amazing indie band in a tiny place called the Circle Bar? Yea I know Buku fest is going on but trust me this band is way better then any of those DJ's! Delicate Steve makes another pit stop in the Big Easy! These guys are more that just a guitar/instrumental band. They play funk, reggae, and blend plenty of synth and vocal sound effects to their set.

Delicate Steve has earned it's mark and deserves to try the big stage at outdoor festivals, to see if they can match the sound and become a dominant jam band at the big stage. Steve Marion and crew are currently touring in support of their 2012 release "Positive Force".

Delicate Steve's upcoming tour dates along with SXSW.

03-06 Raleigh, NC - Kings Barcade ~
03-07 Savannah, GA - Savannah Stopover
03-08 New Orleans, LA - Circle Bar
03-09 Houston, TX - Rice University
03-10 Denton, TX - 35 Denton $
03-11-03-17 Austin, TX - SXSW
03-18 Santa Fe, NM - M&J Santa Fe Sol
03-21 Boise, ID - Treefort Music Festival
03-22 Boise, ID - Treefort Music Festival #
03-23 Denver, CO - Hi Dive
03-24 Omaha, NE - Slowdown @
03-25 Chicago, IL - Subterranean
04-04 Amherst, MA - University of Massachusetts Amherst ^

STEVE MASON stevemasontheartist.com Scottish recording artist Steve Mason announced his new album, Monkey Minds in the Devil’s Time, to be released on April 9th via Double Six Records (although Amazon is listing this will be out on Domino Records). The title comes from the Buddhist term for an easily distracted brain.

STEVEN A CLARK stevenaclark.com SPIN Magazine named Steven A. Clark's music a "Most Impressive Releases". Clark recently collaborated with Weathervane Music for his brand new track, "Bounty", for the Shaking Through documentary series. You can watch it online at shakingthrough.com.

brody + vu ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Delicate Steve at Circle Bar, New Orleans (11/29/12)

Read More Delicate Steve Guitar legends Delicate Steve are wrapping up the final leg of their US tour. In support of their summer release "Positive Force".....

DELICATE STEVE @ CIRCLE BAR, NEW ORLEANS
Openers were Rareluth and Aerial Attack.

Aerial Attack hales from Nawlings mixes trumpet and steady guitars to perform some beautiful tunes. Very young band, my guess is there a bunch of cool music students from Loyala or Tulane. Rareluth is based out of Lafayette, and is led by the charming Christine Peirce. On record, she sounds like Emily Haines, of Metric, but live, she hits high notes like Florence + the Machine.

Oh Delicate Steve, where do I start? These dudes know how to rock. The guitar band from New Jersey played with the crowd literally last night in New Orleans at the Circle Bar. The last song, the band brought the entire to pack the tiny stage and rock the night away to the crowd favorite "Butterfly". It gets you in that mood of running and jumping in the air at the same time with cowbells and tambourines. "Afria Talks to You", "Wally Wilder", "Redeemer" were instant classics starting the set. Nothing topped "Tallest Heights", with the Caribbean style drums, electronic guitars flares, and the built up synth and bass had everybody hands waving in the air.

I also got to talk to Steve before the set and said he enjoyed touring with Ra Ra Riot and the bands looking forward to going home for the holidays and start writing/recording the next album. Looking forward to see how this band evolve after releasing their sophomore album this year entitled Positive Force. In 2011 they released Wondervisions, there are a few tracks where these guys sound similar to local natives but for the most part Delicate Steve carries on a style different than any band out there today.

Delicate Steve at Circle Bar, New Orleans (11/29/12)

brody ♥ delicatesteve.com

It came from Luaka Bop

Read More Cornershop IBack in 1993, I first heard about Cornershop doing some sort of protest against Morrissey for his song "Asian Rut". This was really uncall for, because if you listen to the lyrics carefully, Morrissey is singing about an Asian ....

CORNERSHOP
cornershop.com

Luaka Pop alumni Cornershop recently announced their new Singhles Club series: six tracks for £6. I did listen to the preview song, it's a Christmas song.

"Every Year So Different" is the first 'Singhles' single, as Ben & Tjinder (the two main band members in Cornershop) explained, "Forget Santa, we will personally deliver the tracks direct to your inbox at regular fortnightly intervals … Actually, let’s not forget Santa.....Cornershop have collaborated with the much favoured, up and coming Trwbador, to create the first Singhle 'Every Year So Different' - set yourself up with all the wholesome goodness you need for the year ahead: please listen & share."

Cornershop with Ample Play's Singhles Club launches next week, December 3rd. Use code AMPLA7 to get 10% some stuff. You're welcome.

PS, We last saw Cornershop with their cleverly titled Urban Turban on this year's free downloads.

-- Vu  

Read More Delicate Steve It’s taken a little while but Delicate Steve is back with a brand new album set for release on the 15th May on the “Luaka Bop” record label which is run by Talking Head’s front man extraordinaire David Byrne. ....

DELICATE STEVE
delicatesteve.com

Guitar legends Delicate Steve are wrapping up the final leg of their US tour. In support of their summer release "Positive Force", these guys have been touring with the likes of Yeasayer and Tune-Yards. The most interesting part of their story is how they streamed their album. Different bands from the label released a individual song off the release and just posted the stream link on their Facebook page. I think that's a brilliant idea for label mates to work together and share other music. The bands that released Delicate Steve tracks were Ra Ra Riot, Givers, Yellow Ostrich, Yeasayer, Fang Island, Akron/Family, Javelin, Tune-Yards, and Wild Belle.

I was lucky enough to catch Delicate Steve in San Antonio back in 2010 open for Ra Ra Riot. Love the guitar instrumentals morphed into a "Local Natives" type set. If you haven't heard Delicate Steve's current release "Positive Force", it will blow you away like Tame Impala did to our very own writer Jess and many rabid fans.

I can't wait to see these guys play in New Orleans at the tiny Circle Bar, which reminds me of Batman's cave. Last time I was there the band Exitmusic walked out displeased with the sound quality.

Delicate Steve up coming tour dates:

11/25/12 San Diego, CA - Soda Bar
11/26/12 Tucson, AZ - Plush
11/28/12 Austin, TX - The Mohawk
11/29/12 New Orleans, LA - Circle Bar
12/01/12 Charlottesville, VA - Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar
12/02/12 Philadelphia, PA - Philadelphia Mausoleum Of Contemporary Art
12/08/12 New York, NY - The Gramercy Theatre

-- Brody  

brody + vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Delicate Steve: Positive Force

Tour Dates 6/01 Terminal 5 . New York, NY % 6/10 Contemporary Arts Center . Cincinnati, OH * 6/11 Wexner Center for the Arts . Columbus, OH * 6/12 Mr Smalls Fun House . Pittsburgh, PA * 6/13 Town Ballroom . Buffalo, NY * 6/14 Pearl Street Ballroom . Northampton, MA * 6/19 The National . Richmond, VA # 6/20 Orange Peel . Asheville, NC # 6/21 Bijou Theatre . Knoxville, TN # 6/22 Cannery Ballroom . Nashville, TN # 6/23 Headliners Music Hall . Louisville, KY # 6/24 20th Century Theatre . Cincinnati, OH # 8/31 End of the Road Festival . North Dorset, UK 9/06 Hopscotch Music Fest . Raleigh, NC % with tUnE-yArDs, Micachu and the Shapes * with tUnE-yArDs # with Yeasayer Read More Delicate Steve Delicate Steve, who I couldn't wrap my head around an all-instrumental spacey surf band playing with this Africana-rock sound of Khaira Arby and Her Band. But as I watch Steve and his band play, I realized that Steve's music fits perfectly with Arby's band.

It’s taken a little while but Delicate Steve is back with a brand new album set for release on the 15^th May on the “Luaka Bop” record label which is run by Talking Head’s front man extraordinaire David Byrne. Byrne had, for some time, wanted to set up a label that summed up the best in world music as a whole and Steve’s sound seems to fit with his ethos perfectly. A few moments of your time given over to listening to him will show you why.

What Does He Sound Like?

Delicate Steve (his real name is Steve Marion) hails from New Jersey, and is only twenty three years old; incredible when you hear the talent he has.

According to the man himself he likes to channel bands like 10CC and Yes. Maybe throw in a little Stevie Wonder and you’re pretty close to finding what he sounds like. Comparisons have been made with acts like Pavement and really off on a tangent – the Allman Brothers! (Remember Jessica?).

His performances are largely instrumental, very little in the way of vocals but that should in no way put you off. The new album is more or less shrouded in secrecy with not much in the way of track releases given out for sampling. There is however, this one little gem available for preview in which you can certainly hear his awesome style: 

Delicate Steve - Afria Talks To You

It’s a really good, solid track that showcases his guitar style so well and gives you a really intense flavour of what he’s about. He has soul in bucketfuls and such a laid back way about him. In another age, in another time this might have sounded totally wrong or out of place – not here, it just sounds so fresh and cool. In a way maybe as if Carlos Santana was reborn as a fresh out of college kid with edge and attitude!

The track listing for “Positive Force” reads as follows:

1. Ramona Reborn
2. Wally Wilder
3. Two Lovers
4. Big Time Receiver
5. Touch
6. Positive Force
7. Love
8. Redeemer
9. Afria Talks To You
10. Tallest Heights
11. Luna

His Debut Album

His debut album came out in January 2011 and was called “Wondervisions”. According to press for the record it was written and recorded at his parent’s house in New Jersey. It caused what you might call a minor stir among musos who were very taken by his sound and what he was trying to achieve. Strictly speaking that album was a synthesiser and guitar driven festival of pop. Tracks like “Sugar Splash” have such a feel of acts like Paul Simon about them. Beats that you can’t help but want to tap your feet to. You can have a listen to that here at Steve’s Soundcloud page:



There are elements of all sorts of styles in his work; reggae, pop, Afrobeat, psychedelia, funk. Some say he sounds almost cosmic. The joy of what he’s doing is there’s no wrong way to hear it, to assess it, you can take from it what you want. It’s his music but you can put your own personal spin on it. In tracks like “Don’t Get Stuck” there’s a real Beatles-y edge to the guitar work, you suddenly feel like you could be in India with the Maharishi drifting away on a cloud of psychedelia:



Where Can I Buy His Stuff and More Importantly Can I See Him Live?

The new album will be available from all the usual online outlets like iTunes – it’s already up for pre-order on Amazon, therefore all you need to do is make sure you have secure broadband packages so you can browse and download his music safely. Another good place to check him out before you buy is his bandcamp site, which allows you to listen and decide before you commit your money! Always a worthwhile path to take.

You cal also go see him live. He’s got a few dates lined up for early May, but then has a big gig lined up for the 1^st June at Terminal Five, New York. He hops over to the UK for a date in the county of Dorset and then back to play the Hopscotch Music Fest on 9^th September in Raleigh.

If you really want an unusual new musician to try out and have a new listening experience with, if you’re prepared to be open to having lots of different styles almost thrown at you in an edgy and contemporary way, then Delicate Steve is the artist for you. At the relatively young age of twenty three he can only improve, which really bodes well for any future records he makes. Give him a go – you really won’t regret it.

imogen ♥ delicatesteve.com

Khaira Arby and Delicate Steve at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (7/13/11)

Tour Dates 07/15/11 Grass Valley, CA - WorldFest 07/16/11 SF, CA - Grand Ballroom 07/20/11 Los Angeles, CA - The Echo 07/22/11 Tucson, AZ - Club Congress 07/24/11 Denver, CO - Underground 07/27/11 Co Springs, CO - Armstrong Quad Read More Khaira Arby Khaira Arby and Her Band is from Mali (West Africa), and have just received Mali's highest musical honor, 2011 Tamani D'Or Award. Khaira Arby and Her Band has been wowing audiences with their appearances at SXSW.

The Cedar Cultural Center is really the only venue in its class that constantly promote and encourage World Music and make it affordable for everyday people. This year's West Africa West Bank concert series has been pretty amazing so far, with acts like Tinariwen having just came through town. From the looks of things, Khaira Arby will be the last West Africa West Bank band until September, when we see Vieux Farka Touré (Sep 11) and Ballaké Sissoko (Sep 20).

Delicate Steve Setlist Delicate Steve

Opening band for Khaira Arby was Delicate Steve, who I couldn't wrap my head around an all-instrumental spacey surf band playing with this Africana-rock sound of Khaira Arby and Her Band. But as I watch Steve and his band play, I realized that Steve's music fits perfectly with Arby's band.

During one of Delicate Steve's songs (maybe "Z Expression"?), he had Arby's band come on stage to help play the song. Steve would later return the favor by coming on stage for Khaira Arby on three songs.

Please refer to the setlist if you were curious what was played.

Khaira Arby and Her Band came on stage dressed in traditional loose-fitting Mali garb with head covering. Even before Arby came on stage, the sound check was pretty awesome, so everyone knew we were in for a treat.

So, the first thing that hits you when Khaira Arby sings is that she has an amazing voice. It's loud and it's powerful. Singing style, for some reason, I found it to sound very similar to Indian (East Asia), but sung in French and Bambara.

The instruments played were the traditional guitars, bass, and drums, except that they also had a calabash on stage. A calabash is actually a fruit that, when hollowed out and dried, are used as drinking canteens (as seen in old Chinese movies) or used as a percussion instrument. The one on stage was cut in half, with a microphone under the dome, and it produces a loud thumping sound or click-a-dee sound when tapped with sticks.

They ended their set with an extra long song that introduces everyone on stage. You can tell the band was already wrapping things up and ready to call it a night, but the audience was asking for one more song. So Arby indulged us with one last song.

Khaira Arby's latest album is called Timbuktu Tarab, and is out now. She is wrapping up her tour on the West coast this week.

Khaira Arby at Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis (07/13/11)

vu () ♥ myspace.com/khairaarby ♥ delicatesteve.com