After mastering straight ahead Blues rock and the nuances of acoustic Blues as well, Hamilton's Steve Strongman has decided to kick thing up a notch with his latest, No Time Like Now(fromSonic Unyon Records/Sony Music Canada). His sound's extremely energized, funky and ready to take on anything that crosses its path!
This unstoppable Blues train will hit you head on with its adrenaline-pumping power and shake you to your foundations, only to soothe you with the two beautiful final tracks. No Time Like Now is one hell of a sonic experience!
Helping Steve with his great new sound are some of his usual talented co-horts: drummers Dave King/Adam Warner, bassists Rob Szabo/Alec Fraserand keyboardist Jesse O'Brien. The album also features a stellar guitar cameo from Randy Bachman playing on a reborn version of his classic You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet.
So get your but down to one of his fabulous live shows and pick up a copy of this CD or go online to Amazon.ca,
iTunesor eMusicto get your recommended dose of high-octane Blues.
With The Lights Behind, the wonderful new album from Kitchener's Shannon Lyon you'll get something old and something new. This Busted Flat Records release features four brand new tracks and re-recordings of his earlier songs. Either way, there's a ton of amazing music to be heard.
Call it Roots Country or Americana - this CD has a sweet roughness to it both lyrically and musically. Shannon's expressive voice will send chills down your spine. The Lights Behind will definitely affect you emotionally.
The first thing you'll notice while listening to Hamilton folk duo Ash and Bloom's first full-length album, Let the Storm Come, is how amazing their vocal harmonies are. These two fabulous singer/songwriters work extremely well together.
You'll bask in the harmonies, the melodies, the musicianship and the superb songwriting. They show a great sense of humour on a couple of tracks as well. The album includes great co-writes with Peter Katz, Caroline Brooks (Good Lovelies), Julie Crochetiere, Karen Kosowski, and Rob Szabo.
You can purchase a physical CD at their incredible live shows or though cdbaby. The album can also be downloaded through iTunes and cdbaby.
After proving his amazing acoustic talent (and even winning a Juno last year) with the CD, A Natural Fact, Hamilton's pride and joy, Steve Strongman, has changed gears and revved up again. The bluesman's electric sound is back with the latest album, Let Me Prove it to You (through Sonic Unyon Records) and he's sounding more powerful than ever.
If this CD doesn't get you up and dancing, you must be dead. The band's energy is infectious and they know how to groove. Steve and the gang throw in funk, soul, rock, a little country and more into the mix and keep it raucous!
Toronto/Mississauga Bluesman Sean Pinchin's enlisted some amazing local talent to back him up on his current CD, Rust Bucket. The result is a highly entertaining and polished disc.
You can hear Sean's awesome slide guitarwork and his marvelous voice everywhere on this collection. His lyrics are very passionate and personal as well.
Area musician Mark McIntyre offers up his substantial bass skills to the album. Also helping with the bottom end is superb drummer Adam Warner. Toronto singer/songwriter, Emma-Lee handles backing vocals with style. Juno winner (and Hamilton boy) Steve Strongman joins in the fun by showcasing his extensive guitar and harmonica chops on the track Wanna Stay in Bed. Producer Rob Szabo (also a Juno Winner) gave everything a live off the floor feel.
You can pick up this marvellous CD at Sean's gigs, on the 'Net through his online shop or cdbaby. It can also be downloaded through cdbaby andiTunes.
Hamilton's Steve Strongman continues to rack up the kudos for his incredible work. His duet with Suzie Vinnick, Leaving (co-written by Rob Szabo) has landed him a spot as one of the finalists in the International Songwriting Competition (Blues category). He will be up against musicians from around the world including Canadian blues performers 24th Street Wailers, Layla Zoe, and Bob Tunnoch. Good luck Steve!
25 Places - Tim Lothar (Denmark)
Devil In Me - Oli Brown (England)
Don't Blow My Cover - William Troiani, Haykon Haye, Ian F. Johannessen, Alexander Pettersen(Norway)
High Gas Prices - William Morganfield - Big Bill Morganfield (Stone Mountain, GA,)
How Long To Heal - Nicolas Toussaint (France)
I'm So Shallow - Darren Watson (New Zealand) Leaving - Steve Strongman, Rob Szabo (Hamilton, ON) Let's Get Crazy - Layla Zoe, Henrik Freischlader (Montreal, QC)
Longtime - Ash Grunwald (Australia)
Love Spell - Teeny Tucker, Robert Hughes (Columbus, OH)
Nothin' In Your House - Gina DeLuca (Baltimore, MD) On A Mission - Lindsay Beaver (24th Street Wailers) (Toronto, ON) She's Trouble - Bob Tunnoch (Toronto, ON)
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FOLK/SINGER-SONGWRITER
Be Kind To Boston - Thomas Smith - An Atlas to Follow (Knoxville, TN)
Before My Time - J. Ralph (New York, NY)
Blood And Bone - Wes Carr (Buffalo Tales), Eric Silver (Australia)
Burning Daylight - Sam Eliot (England)
Dreams And Country Lanes - Russell Joslin (England)
Festival Song - Tim Easton (Nashville, TN)
Fire Escape - Matthew Mayfield, John Paul White (Birmingham, AL)
Golden Hearts - Teejay Terblanche (Black Handed Kites) (South Africa)
Happiness Comes In A Box - Joshua Hanson (Yellow Red Sparks) (Yellow Pine, ID)
Hell And Back - J. Ralph (New York, NY)
Hit Me With Your Heart - Sam Buckingham (Australia)
Jesus Was A Rollin' Stone - Tony Villiers (Ireland)
Mercy - Ben Kyle (Minneapolis, MN)
Monsters With Misdemeanors - Joshua Hanson (Yellow Red Sparks) (Yellow Pine, ID)
One Little River - Clare Bowditch (Australia)
The Calendar - Kara Francavillo (Nola Wren) (New York, NY) Tinman - Andy Brown (Fredericton, NB)
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AMERICANA
All I Recall - Catherine Britt (Australia)
Audrey's Song - Harry Hookey (Australia)
Circus Comes To Town - Sara Petite (San Diego)
Collide With Me - Rebecca Haviland (Mamaroneck, NY)
Dangers Of The Night - Matt Ellis (Australia)
I Can't Stop Thinking About You - Marshall Chapman (Spartanburg, SC)
La La Blues - Pokey LaFarge (St. Louis, MO)
Learn Those Lessons - Kieran Glasgow (Australia)
Love Inside A Jar - David Garnham - (Australia)
Not In Kansas Anymore - Jokull Jonsson (Iceland)
Pieces Of My Mind - Philip Beach (Southbury, CT)
Roots - Brandon Clark (Cumming, GA,)
Sally Bones - Catherine Britt (Australia)
The Devil Drives - Stuart Earl (England)
When You're Dreamin' - Ed Romanoff, Josh Ritter (Brooklyn, NY) You Might Come Around - Dale Boyle (Dorval, QC, Canada)
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COUNTRY
Anonymous - Rachel Honza (Nederland, TX)
Bone Dry - Marc Christian and J.C. Andersen (Brother Slade), Victoria Shaw (Franklin, TN)
Car That Runs - Lisa Torres, Karleen Watt (Nashville, TN)
Classic Rock And Jesus - Jon D'Agostino, Jason Eustice, Adam Searan (Holmdel, NJ)
Cold October - Savannah Berry, Zac Maloy, Kevin Griffin (Houston, TX)
Coming Home - Paul Cowderoy, David Carter, Jane E Robertson (Australia)
Find A Way To Fly - Bill DiLuigi, Mark Carson (Nashville, TN)
He Said - Tiffany Kuenzi, Liz Rose, Keith Follese, Adrian Follese (Silverton, OR)
Home - Troy Cassar-Daley (Australia)
I Wish I Could Hate You - Jaylene Johnson, Heather Longstaffe, Wendy Wills (Winnipeg, MB)
I'm A Dreamer - Lee Bowman, Paula Bowman, Julian Sammut, Simon Ross, Jason McCoy - Jetty Road (Australia)
It Gets To Me - Kirsty Akers (Australia)
Prove You Wrong - Chelsea Gill (Grand Ledge, MI)
The Suitcase - Liz Hengber, James Dean Hicks, Anthony Smith (Franklin, TN) This Ain't A Love Song - Denis Dufresne and Lynae Dufresne (Pear), Bryan Wayne (Calgary, AB)
Wings - Brad Cunningham (Columbia, MO)
Steve Strongman is known around the world for his high powered, high energy electric guitar sound. For his latest CD, A Natural Fact, this Hamilton boy's decided to show that he's equally adept with an acoustic guitar.
This ain't no collection of slow, introspective, ballads though. The stripped down feel allows his great voice to show off it's energy and power (especially on Haven't Seen It Yet and The Mood). Plus, the boogie he's always had is still here.
Steve also takes advantage of the acoustic format to explore some older blues vibes on a few numbers (while still maintaining a foot in the present). You can hear this from the quasi-gospel sound of I Forgot, to the jazzy, old-timey Full of You, and the rawness of Just One Thing
Though a few tunes are just Steve and his guitar (as well as harmonica), he had a few musical pals to keep him company: Jesse O'Brien, Alec Fraser, Rob Szabo (who also produced the CD), Dave King, and Suzie Vinnick(who duets with him on Leaving).
The CD is available at his live shows and as a download on iTunes.
Below are live performances of songs from the CD. Courtesy of IndieEyes
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