Steve Shaw
St. Louis, Missouri, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
“ 'Lay This Burden Down’ is really great!! Steve has one of the most commercial voices I’ve heard in a long time. With a little luck, this guy could stand a chance of possibly being one of the major driving forces in the music industry.”
Neal James, Producer
Aladdin Entertainment
Nashville, Tennessee
- Aladdin Entertainment
“Steve’s songs feature good musical and melodic parts with a sincere vocal delivery and solid musicianship...Shaw’s material is presented with energy and zest that delivers an engaging vibe and paints a cohesive picture. P.S.: 20 songs! Very prolific. He certainly gives the people value for the money."
TAXI
World's Leading
Independent A & R Company
Calabasas, California - A & R Review
"In a year which has seen a number of really good albums from both new and established artists, Shaw has made his mark. There can't be any music lovers who have heard this album who haven't been touched by Shaw's musical vision. This is simply an album to love, one that will register from the first listen and which will still be turning up new surprises on the 20th play. It's outstanding and like nothing else released this year. There is no denying that this is a brilliant mix of folk-rock, Americana and the British invasion of the early 60's.
Malcolm Carter
Staff Review Writer
PennyBlackMusic
London, England
For full review go to: http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Review.aspx?id=4918
- PennyBlackMusic
Singer/songwriter Steve Shaw expresses both hope and despair in his music and it is his vulnerablility that is an asset. It is this facet of his personality that allows him to express his feelings about spirituality, religion and politics, as well as the struggles between rich and poor, powerful and powerless.
Joan Elliot
Feature Writer
The Missourian
Washington, Missouri
- The Missourian
Discography
2006 "Lay This Burden Down" Night Cafe Recordings
1999 single "Something Here" Ink Records
1997 "Burn" Freeze The Hopper Prometheus Disc
1996 single "Violets at Night" Blueberry Hills Records
1995 "Illusions of Grandeur" Freeze The Hopper Prometheus Disc
Photos
Bio
Imagine The Beatles "White Album" crashing head-on with Wilco's "Summerteeth." It's an electric folk, americana, and brit-rock mix influenced by the likes of Tom Petty, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young. Singer/songwriter Steve Shaw has put together an array of instruments and musicians to create his 20-song vision, "Lay This Burden Down".
An abundance of guitars mixed with flute, mandolin, melodica, harmonica, banjo, piano, organ, fiddle, and dobro creates a variety and flexibility to this recording that reminds one of the pop rock of The Beatles to the acoustical folk quaintness of Damien Rice.
Shaw's lyrics are filled with both pain and understanding; hope and despair. He questions spirituality, religion and politics. Raised in a middle-class family that was deeply rooted in the union trades, Shaw often champions the working class and the social aspects of the poor versus the rich; the powerful versus the powerless.
Shaw also writes from a very personal level, however, as he tries to find a common thread with his listeners. "I know I'm far from perfect, so I don't preach in my songs. I write from emotion; from the pain I feel about things, whether it's immediately around me or my weaknesses or fears or questions. I've been blessed with one addiction - music. I often write about that relationship I have between me and my music. I'm really just writing from my soul and I think people can relate to those types of vulnerabilities."
Shaw is comfortable playing in a tiny cafe, home concert, or 18,000 seat arena. He has performed at both the UMB Pavilion Amphitheatre and Savvis Center in St. Louis. Shaw has toured extensively, recorded three full length albums, and received rave reviews for both recorded and live performances. He has appeared on both radio and television and has shared the stage with nationally acclaimed recording artists such as Kelley Hunt and The Mendoza Line.
Shaw currently tours as a solo artist, singing and playing acoustic guitar and harmonica
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