Steppin Razor

Artist Information

Biography

Steppin Razor brings original, conscious roots-rock-reggae to the masses of the 21st Century, who not only seek an escape from the monotony, but rather are inspired by positive vibrations. This music is for those who crave something new, but familiar; revolutionary, yet classic. Their 2009 debut CD, Gold in Rule, astonished listeners with its authenticity, originality, and production quality, despite being homemade and produced on a low budget. With their follow-up album, …Against the Current, the band returns with a refreshing and uplifting collection of songs that the worldwide reggae community would do well to embrace.
Beginning in 2005 as a reggae tribute band, Steppin Razor is well-versed in the roots of the genre, and their mastery of traditional riddims has captivated audiences at beach bars and festivals for several years. But since 2008, their current four-member format has thrived on original compositions, songs that speak to perennial struggles and universal joys as experienced by four down-to-earth musicians from the Philadelphia area. A weekly reggae night in West Chester, PA, earned the band a loyal base of fans who follow the music to the Jersey shore every summer, to the heart of Philadelphia on cold winter nights, and everywhere in between. Although they have never catered their songwriting to the ever-growing pop-reggae audiences, Steppin Razor is both humbled and inspired by the continued enthusiasm with which their music is received, wherever it be heard.

Veterans of the Atlantic City casino beach bar stages and college town bars, Steppin Razor are no strangers, however, to the celebrated venues of Philadelphia. The Legendary Dobbs, the North Star Bar, Grape Street, the Khyber, the Pontiac Grille, World Cafe Live, and The Blockley Pourhouse are among the venues that have hosted this new and exciting incarnation of reggae. They have shared stages with foundation artists such as Toots & the Maytals and Barrington Levy, and contemporary reggae stars like John Brown's Body and Cherine Anderson. They have brought their crucial sounds to Arts Fest in State College, Musikfest in Bethlehem, Turkshead Music Festival in West Chester, and a number of events that benefit worthy causes while promoting a healthy appreciation for the arts. While eager to share positive vibrations with audiences in new territories, Steppin Razor hopes to see the continued success of local venues, such as The Note in West Chester, and promises to make lasting musical contributions in the years to come.

As …Against the Current arrives in early 2012, Steppin Razor hopes that the album's message of perseverance and righteousness will invigorate music scenes in Philadelphia and beyond. Artists and critics alike will find inspiration in these recordings, songs which carry a different but equally energetic vibration in live performances. And with even newer material in the not-too-distant future, the band hopes you will continue to join them in support of positivity and quality reggae music.


Venues where the band has performed:

The Mann Music Center - Philly
World Cafe Live - Philly
The Blockley Pourhouse - Philly
The North Star Bar - Philly
Grape Street - Manayunk, PA
The Barbary - Philly
The Pontiac - Philly
The Khyber - Philly
The Reef - Philly
Doc Watson's (both stages) - Philly
Tritone - Philly
The M Room - Philly
MilkBoy - Philly
The Legendary Dobbs - Philly
The Note - West Chester, PA
Summit House - Philly
Spence - West Chester, PA (Reggae Night)
The Social Lounge - West Chester, PA
Rex's - West Chester, PA
Canal Street - Reading, PA
Berwyn Tavern - Berwyn, PA
The Barn at Birchwood - Collegeville, PA
Finn McCool's - Hatfield, PA
Crazy Carl's - Schwenksville, PA
Appetites on Main - Exton, PA
McKenzie's Brew House - Frazer, PA
Fioravante Continental Cuisine - Downingtown, PA
Juno's - Collegeville, PA
Triumph Brewing, New Hope, PA
Triumph Brewing, Princeton, NJ
The Boathouse - Malvern, PA
The Drake - Jenkintown, PA
The Blockley Pourhouse, Philly PA
Coyle's Rox Box, Philly PA
The MarBar, Philly PA
Bootlegger's, Woodlyn PA
Messiah College, PA
Bull on The Beach, Bel Air MD
Mojo 13, Wilmington DE
Deer Park Tavern, Newark DE
AC Resorts - The Beach Ball
AC Hilton - Beach Bar
AC Hilton - Dizzy Dolphin
Trump Plaza - Jezebel's
Trump Plaza - Beach Bar
Trump Taj Mahal
AC Harrah's Pool Bar
Bally's Beach Bar
Ventura's Greenhouse - Margate, NJ
Sand Barron's Country Club - Avalon, NJ
The Boiler Room, Cape May, NJ
The Rusty Nail, Cape May, NJ
Urie's - Wildwood, NJ
The Inlet - Somers Point, NJ
Shennanigan's, Sea Isle City, NJ
Joe's Mill Hill Saloon - Trenton, NJ
Musikfest - Bethlehem, PA
The Getdown Festival - Mebane, NC
Central PA Festival of the Arts, PA
West Chester Restaurant Festival, PA
Turk's Head Festival, PA
HighTide Jamfest, Dewey Beach, DE
Ab 'N Jack's AllBetterfest
Somers Point Bay Fest, Somers Point, NJ
Champps Reggae Fest, Marlton NJ
Live @ 5 on Radio 104.5, Philadelphia
Radio 104.5 Summer Block Party
Rocktoberfest - Chadds Ford, PA(M.S. benefit)
Jam at the Dam - Douglassville, PA (benefit)
The Palace - Lansford, PA (Cancer benefit)

Artists we've played with include:

Jimmy Cliff
Beres Hammond
Luciano
Barrington Levy
Toots and the Maytals
John Brown's Body
Jah Works
Jr. Toots
Lucas Nelson and Promise of the Real
Trevor Hall
Jah Works
Ballyhoo

Instrumentation

Johnny Myers - Bass, keyboards, Percussion, Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
B. Hold - Vocals, Bass, Percussion, Rhythm Guitar
James Hoy - Vocals, Lead Guitar
Mark Patterson - Drums

Discography

2009 - Gold In Rule

Gold In Rule, the first musical snap shot of Steppin’ Razor, is a collection of roots, rock, and dancehall inspired Reggae riddims, woven together with socially and spiritually conscious lyrics, dynamic solos, and uplifting vocal harmonies. Years of study and hundreds of hours of rehearsals and performances have been captured in their studio, and are presented in the West Chester, PA based quartet's debut CD. In an attempt to recreate the true essence of “roots music,” the entire record was done in house, and is a tribute to anyone who can appreciate the virtues of dedication and hard work.

2012 - ...Against the Current

Following up their 2009 debut, Gold in Rule, Steppin Razor proudly presents a stronger, more textured and mature album. …Against the Current is a collection of twelve songs composed and adapted over several years, each band member contributing his own trademark songwriting to this diverse exhibition of conscious reggae innovation. While the band's non-reggae influences are perhaps more evident on this follow-up effort, Steppin Razor's loyalty to genuine roots-rock-reggae remains undeniable. These authentic yet original riddims underlie uplifting messages of hope and conviction for a world desperately in need of both, especially in the music industry.

Official Website

http://www.steppin-razor.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Website
• Jambase
• ReverbNation

Audio

• United Nation mp3
  Listen  
• Rise Up mp3
  Listen  
• All Dem Have mp3
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• Against the Current mp3
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• Rockers mp3
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• www.soundglare.com review [+ Show ]
  

  There’s something special about a guitar solo that’s so perfect it moves you, or the subtle nuances ...There’s something special about a guitar solo that’s so perfect it moves you, or the subtle nuances of a singer that you can’t explain, but you just know they’ve got it! The same holds true for a band that plays a specific genre, and when it comes to Reggae, Steppin Razor has got it! Rich rasta tones blended with smooth vocals and a drummer so dialed in that if he were on stage alone with his set, you could name the tune. Wether it’s the punchy pop of Rebel Music, or the easy flow of Love The Life You Live, Steppin Razor plays in a way that is true to the genre, yet unique to the band.

• The first Gold In Rule review [+ Show ]
  

  ... on their debut album Gold in Rule, the references to ganja, spliff, and societal ills are plenti...... on their debut album Gold in Rule, the references to ganja, spliff, and societal ills are plentiful, but so then are the sincere dedications to the true art of reggae.
  
  http://www.muzikreviews.com/reviews.php?ID=602

• HGMN weighs in on GiR [+ Show ]
  

  Steppin Razor dabbles in funk, roots rock and reggae to create an interesting, well-executed debut a...Steppin Razor dabbles in funk, roots rock and reggae to create an interesting, well-executed debut album.
  
  Philadelphia-based Steppin Razor formed from the ashes of a Bob Marley tribute band that had dissolved in 2005. Johnny Myers and Mark Patterson decided to form a new band; they joined up with Ben Bean and James Hoy to further pursue their passion for making reggae music. They have played many shows throughout the Northeast in the meantime, and have set their sights on a larger touring schedule in the year to come. Their shows incorporate a mixture of reggae classics and their own originals. After several years refining and enhancing their sound with weekly Wednesday night shows and a host of performances in various venues across the Northeast, the band resolved to record an album of reggae originals. The resulting 2009 package, “Gold In Rule” signifies the next step in this band’s emergence, as they present an inspired collection of reggae originals with this recording.
  
  The album begins with “Overstanding,” as Myers’ voice complements James Hoy’s expressive guitar quite nicely. “Gold In Rule” saunters along with smooth lyrics, a nicely layered groove, as yearning guitar colors the later measures of the song. There is a definite political and/or humanistic awareness in these first songs, as those overtones then segue into the smooth pro-cannabis awareness of “Jah Herb.” Myers’ keyboard playing gains prominence as the song lopes along, extolling the virtues of “Jah Herb” and meditation. The unusually named “Dankzegging” features a spiritual message of “Thanksgiving” for those small pleasures that we may overlook or not fully appreciate. The song seems to have a mildly sardonic tone at times, encouraging one to praise the “sand” if one is trapped in the desert. There is a carefree, light-hearted quality to this song that contrasts significantly with the previous tracks.
  
  “Human” strikes with a strong anti-racist statement, claiming there is no “black man, white man, brown man…only HuMan!” Crystalline guitar complements the inspired message at the core of this song, as Ben Bean’s bass playing keeps things honest and forward-moving. The opening notes of “Guidance” feature rollicking bass lines, Myers’ trademark vocal skills, and accentuation from Hoy’s guitar. Ben Bean also contributes nice backup vocals for this track, and his voice contributes an entirely different quality than Myers’. “Coming Home” begins with an energetic funk groove before ambling into more traditional reggae waters. This song is punctuated by nice interplay between keyboards and guitar and features energetic vocals that close the album with an optimistic flourish.
  
  When listening to this album, I am impressed by the quality of the songwriting, the excellent playing and vocal arrangements, and the inspired social message at the core of many of these songs. Johnny Myers contributes excellent vocals, interesting keyboards and melodica, and is supplemented ably by his band mates. The varying vocal deliveries of Myers and bassist Ben Bean create an interesting synergy on the album. The playing of Mark Patterson and James Hoy also contribute to make a sonically interesting package that dabbles in funk and roots rock in creating socially conscious reggae. The rhythms at the core of this album are well-constructed and well-executed. With plans in order for a second album, Steppin Razor has positioned themselves for more shows and wider-reaching audiences in the years to come.
  
  - by J. Evan Wade

Setlist

Single sets of primarily original or multi-hour shows of a mix of covers and original material can be accommodated.

Sets can last 45 minutes to an hour and a half or longer depending on the situation. The cover repertoire is performed in a reggae style and can include any of the following songs:

Bob Marley and the Wailers

Could You Be Loved
Stir It Up
Lively Up Yourself
Trenchtown Rock
Natty Dread
War
No More Troubles
Burnin’ and Lootin’
Comin’ in from the Cold
Africa Unite
Sun is Shining
Rat Race
Small Axe
So Much Trouble
One Drop
Bend Down Low
Soul Rebel
Exodus
Rebel Music
Iron Lion Zion
Zimbabwe
Concrete Jungle
Dem Belly Full
Keep on Movin’
Bus Dem Shut
Hypocrites
Cornerstone
Want More
Who the Cap Fit
So Much Things to Say
Guiltiness
Johnny Was
Kinky Reggae
Running Away
Crazy Baldheads
Night Shift
Soul Shakedown Party
Slave Driver
Hammer
Positive Vibration
The Heathen
Rastaman Chant
Time Will Tell
Caution
Bus Dem Shut
Zion Train
Forever Loving Jah


Other artists

Steppin’ Razor (P.Tosh)
Legalize It (P. Tosh)
Whatcha Gonna Do (P. Tosh)
Downpressa Man (P.Tosh)
You Can’t Blame de Youth (P. Tosh)
Ketchy Shuby (P. Tosh)
Brand New Second Hand (P. Tosh)
96 Degrees (Third World)
Uptown Rebel (Third World)
We A Rockers (Inner Circle)
Natty Takeover (J. Hinds)
Pawn Shop (Sublime)
Smoke 2 Joints (Sublime)
Doin' Time (Sublime)
Behold (Culture)
Pagan Pay Gone (Midnite)
Love The Life You Live (Midnite)
Here I Am (B. Levy)
Black Roses (B. Levy)
Little Bit More (B. Levy)
Satta Massagana (Abyssinians)
One Tree Hill (U2)
Graduation in Zion (Kiddus I)
Kingly Character (Garnett Silk)
Night Nurse (Gregory Isaacs)
Revolution (Dennis Brown)
Marcus Garvey (Burning Spear)
Time Tough (Toots and the Maytals)
Silver & Gold (Luciano)
Living In Love (I Wayne)
That Day Will Come (Capleton)
Waterpumpee (Seeed and Anthony B)

Basic Requirements

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