Mike Steed Live at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco in March
Hi, Im Mike Steed. I take medication that prevents me from speaking in the third person, which makes it tough to write one of those impressive, self-serving bios - that are meant to look like someone else wrote it. So, I'll just speak to youwrite to youum.type to you as if you were there or.I guess.here, reading this as I speakor type. This is damn confusing.
So, I am a singer/songwriter from San Francisco. I've been doing this for a long while now, starting back in the 90's with a little band called Relay that had one good song, a couple of groupies, and a few laughs. After becoming increasingly bored with normal life, I moved to San Francisco for some abnormal life and to start up another band. In 2001 I released Trampoline with the band Afraid Of Heights. We were pretty good, and did the San Francisco circuit for a couple years - highlighted by performing a showcase at Nadine's Wild Weekend in 2002. That was fun.
Fastforward to 2004(you can do that on your computer now). I met a guy named Rick Lay who's very much a musical genius. Is that how you spell genius? Hmmm. Spellcheck! Okay.
Anyway, He even had one of them college degrees from Berklee School of music. He and I decided to make an independent record without a band. Aha! A new twist! Yep. So, we spent a year making "Mister Success" which came out quite well. Rick and I played all the instruments and did all the work ourselves. It was fun, difficult, and extremely satisfying. We released Mister in Oct 2005 without even having a band together. Then found amazing musicians that wanted to be part of bringing that music to a live stage. The Mike Steed Band played its first show Feb 3, 2006 at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco, Ca to a sold out crowd, opening for The Young Dubliners.
Over the past 2 years, the guys and I have done probably 100 shows give or take. I guess I could click over and count them all. Hang on.
60 shows give or take, and have had one hell of a good time. We have cleverly gone by the name Mike Steed Band as opposed to when I play without the band. Then, I just go by Mike Steed. Although, about 25% of the time they introduce me as Mike Steel. And that sounds pretty cool, so I never really correct them. Perhaps I was a super-hero in another life. Or maybe I'll become one someday soon. Who knows.?
That would bring us to the now, with me working on some new songs today which makes me very happy. Im writing for 2 upcoming albums which Rick and I will start work on in January. The out-takes that don't make the records, will go to publishing for other folks to cut, so I have to write as much as I can. I know, but somebody has to do it! All the stories are true, by the way. If you were wondering. I knew you were.
So, now that you know my entire life story, its time for you to go listen to some music. Enjoy!
Now a word from our sponsors:
Having played Australia, Europe, and Canada, Mike does most of his shows up and down the West Coast. With 3 albums to his credit, and 2 more in the works, the library of stories for this sincere prankster keeps growing.
Body of work:
"Trampoline" - Afraid Of Heights 2002 - Independent Release 6 song EP
"Mister Success" - Mike Steed 2005 - Independent Release 11 song CD
"West of Nashville" - Mike Steed 2007 - Independent Release 3 song EP
In the works:
A new acoustic album - working title "soft in the middle", and another full band record yet to be named.
Mike writes songs that are meaningful, and exceptionally vivid.
These stories layered on pop-melodies delivered with country-fueled rock and roll make for a relentless formula. Key Track: "girl"
Genre - Alt-Country with a distinct Rock and Roll edge.
Performing live with Mike at full band concerts:
Rick English (Acoustic Son, Kingsbury/English) on guitar
Van Spragins (Paula Cole, Dale Bozzio, Headshear) on bass
Hudson Bunce (Bo Diddley, The Association) on drums.
Producer Rick Lay is repsonsible for the exceptional production on the record and sits in on many shows.
Mister Success - Mike's first full length album available now at:
Cd Baby
I-tunes
&
http://www.steedmusic.com
MUSESMUSE.COM REVIEW - GIAN FIERO
Mike's robust songwriting style and narrative lyrics capture insight into virile Americana, conjuring up images of John Cougar Mellencamp in the process. His most commercial track, "Girl," is a fortified radio single that has the potential be a classic with its tight song structure, alternating melodies, and stimulating guitar parts.
Unlike most indie rockers, Mike was meticulous about delicately balancing the amount of "jamming" that he does on his project, with skillful "playing," which he does masterfully on the title track and one of my personal favorites, "Mister Success." This is a bar song that can really get things started.in more ways than one with it's driving percussion and spicy guitar parts which will evoke memories of 80s rock group, A Flock Of Seagulls. With a project that reflects his personality and vast array of talents and skills, Mike Steed will indeed become known as "Mister Success."
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