Just me - Steve Reed, guitars/singing. Always on the lookout for brilliant musicians to work with and would like to get some production and a great band on the new songs especially... watch this space.
Influences
Suede Brett Anderson Bernard Butler The Beatles Paul McCartney Clapton unplugged Simon & Garfunkel Billy Joel Crowded House Beach Boys Adrian Millar Rachmaninov Handel Strauss Paganini Bach Elvis Costello Nina Simone The Nevilles / Aaron Neville Gary Kemp The Beautiful South Foo Fighters Green Day
...also not really influences but I love Hendrix, Tenacious D, Keane 1st album, Fonda 500
Sounds Like
"Sunny, bright and deliciously unpretentious" (Sandman Magazine)
"A natural...Beautiful and passionate" (Hull Daily Mail)
"...a great voice...wonderfully warm...rich melodies..." (The Bath Chronicle)
"A pleasure to listen to" (KC Stadium)
"Exquisite and quite frankly beautifully crafted...one hell of an ear for melody..." (Indreamsrecords.com)
"...a McCartney-esque appreciation of how to construct and deliver a simple, yet paradoxically complex song" (thisisull.com)
I taught myself to play guitar using the tab for Eric Clapton’s unplugged album so this is how I came to start off writing fingerpicking songs.
These weren’t exactly in the same style as friends’ bands The Raywells and The Paddingtons who I began supporting but it was a good place to start and I gradually became a regular fixture in the Hull music scene in my own right.
Branching out I played Leeds, Bath, Liverpool, London, Paris, Germany, California, and started to accumulate some good reviews for the gigs and also the recordings I made (see ‘sounds like’ for some reviews).
One of the songs that moved me up another level really was the Spanish inflected ’52 Cards’. I was selected by arts company Arts-Stra for their 20-20 Vision project with backing from Leeds Uni, Channel 4 and BBC and was paired up with the brilliant Little Northern Light film production company – check out the resulting music video below.
This song on a collection with another 9 demo tracks attracted the attention of old school music manager Adrian Millar, who launched The Babys with Chrysalis in the U.S in the seventies.
Adrian was a great friend and mentor and the process of forming a band with him was an exciting time, we had some great musicians in place but sadly this was all cut short when Adrian suddenly passed away in December 2006.
Subsequently I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting or speaking to many people connected with Adrian; his family, colleagues in the industry, friends and musicians… I hope this long continues and that my list grows. I miss him a lot and everyone has different stories to tell about him.
In the Spring of 2007 I took the difficult decision to move to London after having been travelling up and down so much for meetings and gigs and so on. Whilst working full time in my regular job (and then some!) I’m also working hard on the music and am continuing to write in the vein of Adrian’s band as well as the intricate acoustic songs I’ve always loved.
Since moving I’ve performed some really enjoyable gigs including the honour of playing support at Bush Hall for my friend Laura Critchley who recently toured with Boyzone, The Sugababes and Deacon Blue.
I’ve been playing a series of showcase gigs at the beautiful Grand Hall in Notting Hill’s Cobden Club to give the songs an airing; I’d love to get some band backing and production on them.
I preferred to write this in first person rather than third person, never been a fan of writing “Steve did this, then he achieved that” when I’m writing it myself. So I might as well finish off with some of the things I’d love to do. Guy’s gotta dream:
Make a career from songwriting; Record and perform my songs myself as well, preferably with my very talented friends as my band; Have Ed Buller produce my stuff; Work with Brett Anderson; Work with Bernard Butler; Write for Robbie Williams; Write for Andrea Bocelli; Play Hull City Hall; Create a band album, an acoustic album and a classical album simultaneously, possibly interlinking them with different versions of some of the same songs; See Hull City become a permanent fixture in the Premiership.
Enjoy the music and please feel free to drop me a message.
Hey there, we know it's last minute but we thought you like might to
know that we're playing at Madame Jo Jo's in soho tomorrow night at 8.30pm. We
will be supporting Red Box Blue, and then afterwards there will be a
burlesque show! It Will be a very unique gig - hopefully see you there! x
Hi, Guys, nice tunes!! You may have added, or accepted a friend requested from us in the past? If you have not had a chance to listen to our music, pop by and let us know what you think?
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Thanks so much for the picture comments. They made me smile..and giggle. I can't wait to go to Italy!! Im assuming that you hate being a "tourist".hehe. As do I. I have not gotten the piercing yet. Ive been putting it off for some time. Im just a little hesitant on getting it because I feel comfortable with my body as is, without the piercings. You are NOT old. old to me is when the childlike qualities of a person dies down; the spontaneity; the curiousity; the drive/determination......a free spirit. you know? I'm guessing you are about 25 or 26 at the most. that is not old at all. Am I right? :) ..and if you think you are old, then I guess im going to have to start saying Im into OLD men.lol.jk. ;)
I will definately be sure to let you know the dates I will be in London. It's thoughtful of you to consider organizing a gig so I could watch you perform-it would be the coolest thing ever!And I think you mentioned that you went to Italy& Spain...which place did you enjoy the most?
I'm not sure what I am going to do for my birthday either. To me, it's just another day.Nothing extravagant...How old will you be this year?
...The wedding sounds breathe taking. ;)
Guess what!..I will be getting my belly button pierced in a few days.I'm so nervous...I hope it doesn't hurt. :( Do you think others will get the impression that I'm less "lady-like" if I have it pierced???
Great music, Steve! Thanks for your friendship, and welcome aboard the Redline ship. Looking forward to sharing the journey ahead with you. Take Care, and thanks again. Peace, Karl
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