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Discography
Steve Palmer - STUCK IN A U-HAUL 2005 Arythmia Records
Steve Palmer - NO LOOKING BACK 2006 Arythmia Records
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Bio
Steve
To move forward Steve Palmer had to look back. The lifelong singer and songwriters childhood love of country music has caught up to him in the most unlikely of vehicles- a U-Haul truck. Once a solo performer, hes currently backed by DC area veterans and new doors are opening that were once out of reach. Now Palmer and crew are ready to knock on Nashvilles door with a country rock sound that pays homage to countrys capital.
For years Palmer was a solo guy playing when he could, working a 9-5 job to put food on the familys table. But his passion for music inevitably overcame him and he musically documents how he left the work-a-day world behind to pursue his dream in the title track of Stuck in a U-Haul.
The dream had been with him for most of his life. From the moment I saw a friends guitar at 12 years old I was mesmerized by it, recalls Palmer. I gravitated towards self-teaching, working out songs and playing them as opposed to learning theory and chord progressions.
I didnt care about any of that. All I cared about was the song.
Palmer has a quintessential do-it-yourself spirit that is in every song he plays. Even at a young age he was determined to hone his craft as a performer. Every night at this British boarding school I would break out of my room when we were supposed to be studying and Id sneak into this choir room with a lofted ceiling and Id practice, says Palmer. Thats when I found my voice.
As a kid Steve listened to country music but as an adult he lent his voice to rock and roll. Now hes come full circle, going back to his country roots.
I learned what it takes to write a country song: stories, songs about home, relationships, a wide variety of topics, says Palmer. I realized that Id been writing country songs all along.
Now Palmer is going full-tilt with his country rock project, reaching out to the audience he respects most. I know that in country music theres a community spirit and an emphasis family, culture and faith but mostly family, says Palmer. And I believe it translate through music. I think going down to Dixie means something to a lot of people and I think thats where I go to in my mind when I write songs.
The Band
Behind every good man theres a good woman and behind every successful singer theres a good band. These are real good guys, theyre relaxed, theyre seasoned and they get it done professionally, and are always giving of themselves says Steve of his band. There isnt anything else I could ask for.
Guitarist, musical director and arranger Mike Ault, who has played many a gig in Paul Reed Smiths band, cut his teeth in DCs guitar heyday of the 70s. During the 80s I played country to make a living so I just fit right in, says the blues-rock inspired guitarist.
Heck, country is more rock than pop music these days so its a good fit, says bassist of Brian Goddard, a fellow DC musician who has shared the stage with Steve Miller, Chuck Berry and Emmy Lou Harris. Perhaps more importantly Goddard says the band knows how to tweak a song and get it to where its best: by using good old fashioned hard work.
With a cohesive group, a clean Nashville country sound with classic rock influences just below the surface drummer Andy Hamburger, a veteran whos performed with The Platters, The Temptations and The Drifters, has good reason to believe in the groups future.
The band gets around the Steve and everything falls into place. Steve is escalating into a much bigger thingwere trying to get to the next level. Were more than hired guns. Weve got a shot at the ground level to make it as a group.
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