Steve Welner

Fourteen Feet "Running Hearts"
This NY-based band draws its inspiration from the country-esque rock of Uncle Tupelo and The Bottle Rockets. This release captures the spontaneity of the performance, leaving in the honesty and soul of the songs. Steve Welner's slighty- reedy vocals, similar to Brian Henneman's vocal work with the BRox, works well with both the barnstorming electric tracks as well as the more sensitive country songs. This CD is jukebox-ready from start to finish as it creates a smoky bar vibe by going from heart-felt weepers to rockers and back again. -
Reviewer: Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music
- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music

Steve Welner is the inspirator of the alt.country/folk/blues/roots band Fourteen Feet, which originates from New York. With the motto, "Make Songs Not War" he happily swims in the roots-pond with big fish like Uncle Tupelo, Bottle Rockets, Son Volt, the Hangdogs, Georgia Sattelites, and Drive-By Truckers. Even traces of Tom Petty, and last but not least John Hiatt are clearly noticeable in his approach to, and performance of the eleven self-written songs which you can find on 'Running Hearts'. The opener, 'Far From Here', 'New Star', and 'Angeline' sound a bit similar to Hiatt, opening the way for the roots-rocking, 'American Atom' (+slide guitar) and 'Red Hot Tires' which now already seems to be framed into the soon to be launched 3rd album which is taken care of by no-one less than Eric "Roscoe" Ambel and Tim Hatfield. Title-track, 'Running Hearts' is another jewel on this record that Jeff Weiss, Miles Of Music, rightly regarded, 'A jukebox-ready CD from start to finish as it creates a smoky bar vibe by going from heart - felt weepers to rockers and back again'. The harp on 'Whatdayaknow' puts the bluesy side of 'Fourteen Feet' into the spotlight whereas with 'Bad Karma', Welner and his comrades Mike Breier (bass), and Rich Lanahan (guitars) dive into rock & roll-history ending up somewhere in the neighborhood of Buddy Holly and Sonny Curtis’, 'I Fought the Law' (big hit for Bobby Fuller Four). Whether with Steve Welner a 'New Star' is arising…'You Never Know'…time will tell, but 'Running Hearts', successor of 'All You Need', released in 2001 and currently out of stock, is a very deserving attempt which is probably less than 'Twenty Five Miles' away from the definite break-through.
Reviewer: Francois (SWA) Rootstime June 2007
(translated from Dutch to English by Cora and Rainer, thanks)

- Francois (SWA) Rootstime

On this occasion, even though their drummer was not able to make it here tonight, Steve and company delivered a rousing solid set, featuring cuts from their upcoming second album Running Hearts, due to be released this September, capping a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Reviewer: Huntington Folk Society Sept. 2006
- Long Island Folk Society

Fourteen Feet "Running Hearts" (Independent 2006)
Rock-based country master class
Recorded in a basement recording studio, Fourteen Feet made a country-rock album that manages to sound modern whilst still keeping the classic country template. Consisting of a match of up-tempo (‘American Atom’, ‘Bad Karma’), and medium-paced (‘Whatdayaknow Blues’, ‘Running Hearts’) songs, the 2 standout tracks on the album have a rocky edge that is concurrent with the sound of the album. The opening chords of ‘Far From Here’ hint at an edge first touched upon by Uncle Tupelo, and by the time ‘I-95’ comes along there is the feeling that similar methods have been applied. With an undercurrent of country used, ‘Fourteen Feet’ overlays it with a rocky sound, giving it a more modern feel while still allowing great song writing to come through. A consistently good album, and plenty of good thoughts to suggest that the next album will again be a blessing.
Date review added: Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Reviewer: Aled Roberts, Americana UK
- Aled Roberts, Americana UK

One of the fun things about writing CD reviews is giving some attention to bands that doesn't get a lot of press. Fourteen Feet is a New York band that has been together playing music since the late 1990s. Running Hearts is the bands 2nd full-length CD. It was self-recorded and produced in a home basement studio. The band is presently in the studio recording their third CD. How come the name “Fourteen Feet”? The band says Fourteen Feet is the distance that Curly fell through a laundry chute in a 3 Stooges episode. If the Stooges are involved you've got my attention. The band plays a no frills brand of Americana centered by the guitar playing and vocals of leader Steve Welner. Basically we're talking guitars, bass and drums here. The band currently features Billy Cairns (drums), Steve Welner (lead vocal, guitar, harmonica), Rich Lanahan (guitar, vocal), Mike Breier (bass, vocal), and Carmine Cacioppo (drums), although neither drummer plays on this CD. Harmonica and organ make a few cameos on the disc as well. The CD opens with the lively toe tapper “Far From Here.” The required Americana CD “song with a girl's name as the title” is “Angeline” in this case, a jangly tune about....Angeline! My favorite song on the disc is the title cut which has a country feel with banjo and organ added to the basic line up. I liked the additional instrumentation and would like to see more of it on the new CD. Other highlights include “Twenty Five Miles,” a catchy rockin' tune with a driving guitar beat to match the traveling theme of the tune; and, “New Star,” a softer mainly acoustic number that is a very pretty tune. The band's website is www.fourteenfeet.com. If you like straight forward Americana without a lot of flash, or are looking for a CD to play when you host a Three Stooges marathon, then check out Fourteen Feet, and look for a new CD from the band sometime soon.
- Don Zelany: American Roots, 3/04/08

"It's a fantastic record, as good as anything I've heard this year. When I sat down to think what couple of songs I'd put to air first it was just to hard to pick so I figured what the hell it's my show I'll play as many as I like! Hopefully they have a radio up above and Billy got to hear them being spun down under. I'm sure he'd be happy for you guys and what he's hearing !!
- Colin Fielding, 3INR (96.5 inner fm)

Fourteen Feet have the Uncle Tupelo/Bottle Rockets sound down pat. The addition of Eric Ambel behind the board has given the band the feeling of the White Freightliner barreling down the interstate across America's heartland. Steve Welner's reedy voice skips across the top of his and Rich Lanahan's rubber-laying guitars. Like a long haul trucker passing through small towns, the band takes it down periodically, presumably, to gibe the listener a rest before again putting pedal to the metal. Stole Away... The Billy Sessions -- named for the band's late drummer Billy Cairns -- should be played on endless repeat as you travel America's highways.
- Jeff Weiss, Miles of Music 2008

Fourteen Feet have a unique sound amidst LI’s mostly homogenous and predictable bands. They pump out roots and Americana in the Alt country vein. The music they make could easily have poured out of Gram Parsons, the Flying Burrito Brothers or even REM meets Tom Petty meets Dwight Yoakum (minus the twang). Released in memory of their recently deceased bandmate/drummer Billy Cairns, the album is almost a concept disk about life, hardship, loss and the unfortunate realities of Bush Amerika. These guys have a rare ability to say truths and verities with a pulsing beat, organic drive and an unmistakable connection to the rootstock of American music. Witty lyrics and visual song writing make this listen special. Not only is the song “Jesus Loves You (only he could)” fine but the lyric’s biting wit is killer. “Stole Away, Gone” could easily have come from the pen of the Florida bard, Mr. Petty and it flows throughour with energy and shining guitar work. The rest of the disk equals any national work in the Alt arena and I strongly urge you to check the disk and the band out.
- Doc Blues L.I.B.S. 2008

The boys of Fourteen Feet have placed my review of their previous album "Running Hearts" on their website, thanks guys! Like we told you before, the one and only Eric "Roscoe" Ambel (Del Lord, Yayhoos, The Dukes) and Tim Hatfield would be the guys working on the new album, "Stole Away ", and they kept the promise. Anyway, this time Ambel let the duo Welner/Lanahan do there own thing which is great. Also the sublime contribution of Rob Arthur on keyboards cannot be underestimated. The new album, "Stole Away" was named in tribute to drummer Billy Cairns (10/21/55-1/10/08) who passed away soon after the tracks were completed. Fourteen Feet this time, runs even better than their previous album, "Running Hearts". The 10 Welner original songs are reminisient of John Hiatt during his musically fertile period of, "Riding with the King", Bring the Family", "Stolen Moments" and "Perfectly Good Guitar"; the time where John Hiatt got his breakthrough to the general public. Whether this will happen for Fourteen Feet is still a big question mark, but for my opinion it can happen because we like hometown rootsrock and we like to party.
- Rootstime, Francois (SWA)