GREGG SARFATY: Vox, guitars and master joke teller
JANO JANOSIK: Drums, percussion, and spatial guru
LUKE STOREY: Bass and f**king funny ass comments
FRANK LEE DRENNEN: Guitars, mandolin, harmonica, vox and gratuitous nudity.
Influences
Anything with passion and soul... Little Richard, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Son House, Chet Baker, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, Son Volt, Wilco, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Cat Stevens, Nick Drake, Bob Marley, Mahalia Jackson, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, John Denver, Merle Haggard, Dio, Thin Lizzy, UFO, RunDMC, OutKast, Django, Gipsy Kings, U2, Supergrass, Hendrix, Doves, Ray LaMontagne, Patty Griffin, The Killers, The Who, Led Zep, The Faces... basically, between the four of us we own everything from ABBA to ZZTop. What's more interesting is the music we collectively HATE such as Steely Dan, Limp Bizkit, anything P-Diddy touches and every last American Idol.
Sounds Like
A perfect blend of The Band, The Heartbreakers, The Faces, and Wham!
A "stew" is a slang term for a brothel or flophouse. The stewboss was the right-hand man of the madame. His job was to provide protection to the madame and her boarders, helping to eject unruly patrons as well as settling disputes between the girls and their clients. We find the irony of his occupation both laughable and compelling—defending the honor of those with little or no honor to defend. We also can't help but feel a certain kinship towards the stewboss, given the nature of our own profession—fighting to defend the integrity of music in a business environment where telling the truth and displaying integrity are considered unprofessional and "backwards".
2. When are you coming back to play more shows in (fill in the blank)?
We can't wait to get back to (fill in the blank)! Check our gig listing. If (fill in the blank) isn't on there, check back in about three months.
3. Would you consider coming to (fill in the blank) to play a show?
If you've ever been to some of the places we've played, you'd know that we entertain all offers. We've been places most bands have never heard of. We've been places many people living within a 10-mile radius have never heard of. So, YES, we would consider coming to your podunk little town (like Montreal for instance), so by all means keep inviting us and we will get there at some point.
4. Can I get the lyrics to (fill in the blank)?
The new website will have a lyrics archive with every Stewboss song in it. Feel free to peruse it at your leisure.
5. Are you all really gay or do you just act that way?
Oh, here we go. Well, the fact is, only one of us is really gay and the rest of us just act gay to make him feel more comfortable.
6. So which one of you is really gay?
Listen, a person's sexual orientation is personal to him and we would hope that our fans would respect that fact. We would never "out" a band member, especially since we are all close friends who have learned after years of touring together how important it is to respect each other's privacy. That said it probably wouldn't be any harm to give you a little hint... it's not Gregg, Jano or Luke.
7. What is that little guitar Frank is playing in the "No One" video?
It's actually an electric mandolin made by Rickenbacker. There are very few of them in existence and they have a very distinct sound we just can't get enough of.
8. If you were a soft drink, which one would you be?
All right, let's just say for this little exercise that U2 is Pepsi, The Rolling Stones are Coke and Prince is Grape Ne-Hi. In this situation, we'd be Naked Juice.
9. OK, but who's Dr Pepper?
Um... The Red Hot Chili Peppers.
10. Oh. Then who's 7-Up?
Tupac.
11. What about Red Bull?
We don't know, some metal band. Are we done with this?
12. Who are your favorite bands, musicians and/or influences?
There are far too many to list here. In truth, we are more influenced by each other and life around us than by other music.
13. Do you all have girlfriends?
No. Some of us have wives; some have girl-acquaintances.
14. Can I be a girl-acquaintance?
Are you sure you know what you're asking, sir?
15. Is "Pilgrims and Runaways" ever coming out?
We know, we know. The "Pilgrims and Runaways" recordings have been lingering on for about 3 years now. We've made two full-length albums since starting "Pilgrims and Runaways", but trust us; it'll be done soon.
16. Did you know Brian Wilson said the same thing about "Smile" and it didn't get released for another 20 years?
Yeah, we're aware. "Pilgrims and Runaways" will certainly be available before the close of the decade. We swear.
17. Can you send me a signed photo of the band?
You're cute. OK, for you we'll send one, but don't tell anyone where you got it.
18. Can you send me the chords for (fill in the blank)?
Chords and tablature for many Stewboss songs will be available in the coming months. Please check back soon.
19. Do you guys have day jobs?
Yes. Any musician without a day job is a starving musician. Even Bono has a day job.
20. What? Bono doesn't have a day job!
He works for a non-profit organization called (RED).
21. But he doesn't get PAID for that.
No offense, but you're very naive.
22. So what do you guys do for your day jobs?
We work for a government agency.
23. Is it the CIA?
That's classified information.
24. Is it the FBI?
It's classified.
25. Can you give us a hint?
Ugh... it has three initials.
26. The ATF?
C'mon.
27. No, you c'mon!
Fine, it's the IRS.
28. You guys all work for the Internal Revenue Service?
Every American works for the Internal Revenue Service. Can we move on?
29. OK, where is your favorite place to play a gig?
Anywhere the other three members of Stewboss are playing.
30. No really, it's The Borderline in London isn't it?
It is absolutely NOT The Borderline.
31. What do you think of Britney Spears?
Why do so many of you ask us this question? Do we look like we care what Britney is doing? We think she has a serious case of post partum and Tom Cruise should help her out.
32. Who do you think would win in a fight, Stewboss or Son Volt?
Listen, we're not going to fight Son Volt, we like that band.
33. No but hypothetically, do you think you could take them in a fight?
Yes, but don't be a dick and go running off to send Son Volt a "Stewboss says they can kick your ass" email.
34. OK fine, but what about Stewboss vs. Tegan & Sara?
Tegan and Sara are girls.
35. So?
So they'd beat us to a bloody pulp.
36. You guys are such pussies!!
Yes. Are we done yet?
37. No. Is Borat really a Stewboss fan?
Yes.
38. Have you guys played Kazakhstan?
Yes.
39. Did they pay you?
Yes.
40. Really? With actual money?
You're being rude.
41. Sorry. So, what's your favorite color?
Are you serious?
42. Is it black?
It's periwinkle.
43. That was our next guess!
Hey, good job.
44. If I were to start a band, where would you recommend I start?
At the beginning, with decent instruments, people you love spending time with and great songs.
45. So why aren't you guys HUGE?
We eat right and exercise.
46. No, like why aren't you the biggest band on the planet?
Because we don't have to be.
47. What's wrong with wanting to be famous?
Nothing. Just remember that once you have the desire to be famous, you can never be famous enough.
48. Speaking of wanting to be famous, who was "Fill Station" written about?
One of Gregg's ex-girlfriends. She's no one you know.
49. So is "Joy" really about Nelson Mandela?
It's not about him specifically, just inspired by his story.
50. Did you really write "This Is A Love Song" just for me?
HERE ARE SOME OF THE NICE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ABOUT STEWBOSS AND THEIR MUSIC...
“It made me laugh, dance, sing along and sit down to pore over the song lyrics and liner notes like I haven't done since I was a kid…it's alive, vibrant and genuine. Sweet Lullabye is a masterpiece.” — Sam Wereb, Rockzilla magazine
“True American music, comparable to Springsteen and Tom Petty.” Bob Harris, BBC Radio2
“Sarfaty’s earnest, reedy vocals deliver the goods with unselfconscious passion, and the band boasts more than enough firepower to drive it all home.” — No Depression
“One of the most pleasing pieces of underplayed but authentic American music I’ve come across in many a long month.” — Dorset Echo
“An elegantly simple brew of earnest guitar pop and homespun melody…(Sweet Lullabye) is a fine, unfussy little masterpiece of an album.” — Manchester Evening News, UK
“Stewboss’ first album Wanted A Girl – a glorious piece of sepia-toned Americana – became a firm favourite with listeners to Bob Harris on (BBC)Radio2.” — Jim McGhee, Daily Record
“The tremendous Wanted A Girl album was one of the most overlooked, great LPs of the year, so it is good to see that (Stewboss) has maintained the same high standard. 4 stars!” — Bristol Eve Post
“Straddling the lines between love and hate, anger and calm, and joy and sadness, Stewboss delivers a turbulently emotional album of roots-rock songs for a whiskey-swilling Saturday night.” — The Music Box
“At several points during their show, the songs were so good people were shaking their heads in reverence to them.” — Music Connection
“Singer/songwriter Gregg Sarfaty is the unknown, undiscovered Van Morrison, Robbie Robertson, and Adam Duritz all in one.” — Lazyeye
“An extraordinary record…complete with intelligent lyrics and some great sound quality as well.” — hEARd Magazine, Australia
“By the end of the night there was no doubt they could have played it all again and still have had a packed house. If you missed them this time round, next time you have no excuse - you’ve been told.” — Manchester Evening News
DOWNLOAD A STEWBOSS RINGTONE FOR YOUR PHONE.....US and UK only.
This is Chris from Kent, England. Now living in Oslo playing with Casa Murilo. We have just recorded our first EP and are Norway..s band of the month on the worldwide Music Alliance Pact - http://eardrumsmusic.com/
Four more little sonic gems for your August pleasure are now available on the site. Blitzen Trapper, Boulder Acoustic Society, Jay Brannan and The Wiyos. Yet another fine quartet even though we say so ourselves as picked them out.
Thanks for adding us!! If you are in the Hollywood, CA area this saturday July 25th you should check out our 3rd Annual "Evening of Independence" featuring some awesome musicians!!! It starts at 6pm at the Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood.
Glad to see things are progressing well with Stewboss. We are in the studio for the first time on Sunday and we played an absolutely banging concert on Saturday for Oslo Musikkfest. Keep in touch sir....
Good to have you as a friend! So great to see the internet in action this way, shortening distances between people.
I hope all's well with you and that you enjoy checking out my web site some time.
For occasional, new, refreshing, insightful and (possibly?!) valuable content, I encourage you to sign up for my free newsfeed/email newsletter (using the form on site at page right - high quality, low quantity, no spam!).
Take care and keep in touch.
Best, Faber.
"Just a guy trying to make the world a better place. "
Yes, it's that time of the month again when your listening pleasure can be enhanced by heading off to the AUK Myspace site where you will find folk whimsy from The Travelling Band, poignant thoughfulness from Waylon Jennings, The Butless Chaps (don't you just want to know what they sound like?) and the sweetly swinging (and singing) Tish Hinojosa.
Hi Guys, just realized it's been ages since I've looked at your site ... ages since I've been on myspace at all. Any dates yet for the spring uk tour? You can crash here again... but only if I don't black out the next day and get to keep my license lol ;-) Your last visit is definitely one I'll never ever forget. Lots of love xxx
Hello. For our final update of 2008 we have a track from the wonderful Todd Snider, classic sounds from The Snakes, the spellbinding voice of Kate Campbell, the atmospheric Iguanas and some leftfield rock'n'roll from Slithering Beast. Merry Christmas/Solstice/whatever and a Happy New Year!
