With a sound steeped in the sunlit tones of Laurel Canyon, the mid 60′s pop and R&B of the Brill Building, and the lo-fi synths of early prog rock, Los Angeles resident Steve Taylor makes heartfelt soul music that pushes the envelope of the singer/songwriter genre. A multi-instrumentalist with a remarkably diverse background, including stints in black gospel churches, avant-garde psych-rock bands, The Jackie Greene Band, and the Brushfire/Universal band Rogue Wave; he layers vintage organs, pianos, analog synthesizers, and dead drums, creating a sound that’s both modern and thoroughly informed by 70′s AM rock.
His new album “Has the Size of the Road Got the Better of You?” was recorded by the likes of Aaron Prellwitz (Neil Young and Crazy Horse) and Jay Pellicci (Deerhoof), both at home and at the venerable Tiny Telephone Studio in SF. The new record shows the expanded influence of gospel music, something he explored while he was a guitarist and organist (and often the only white person present) in a number of prominent African American congregations. An almost completely solo record, he also invited his friends from New York’s math rock via jazz outfit, The Benevento Russo Organ and Drums Duo to guest on the Philly soul revival track “Felicity”.
Performing solo and with his band, Steve has played hundreds of shows, including a headlining slot at The Independent in San Francisco, The Hotel Café in LA, The Living Room in NYC, and The Hope & Anchor in London. An avid busker, he has made many new fans the old fashioned way, through singing his heart out and pounding out his songs on his portable Helpinstill piano, an electrified acoustic remnant from the 70′s. In addition to being an active solo artist, Steve has played as a keyboardist or guitarist with an incredibly diverse range of collaborators, including Jackie Greene, Avi Buffalo, Nicki Bluhm, He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister and Vetiver, as well as sharing the stage with members of Wilco, CAN, The Hawkins Singers, Deathcab for Cutie, The Shins, and The Dirty Projectors. In between tours, a new CD is being recorded, entitled “The Land of Milk and Honey”. A sparse, moody, acoustic album, it is being prepared for a summer 2012 release. Stay tuned for further info!
