Music
Press
This band started out of a restart. Breakups always bring the best material — and that goes for Steven McCauley musically moving past his freshly felled Scarlet Oaks project. Reaching back to the roots of pop-rock — that strut-inducing "walking beat" and the Southern-dipped sun-soaked jangle where early rock axed into the statelier folk fields — McCauley penned some old-fashioned, toe-tapping, breezy strummers that let the sunshine in. Bolstered now by a quartet charmed with tambourine-taps, harmonized girl-boy duets and warm warbling keyboards, the single "Nighttime Sky"/"Long Beaten Love" has a sweet, hooky swagger that brings back those midsummer nights of stargazing splendors in the grass. - The Metro Times
This band started out of a re-start. Break-ups always bring the best material — and that goes for Steven McCauley musically moving past his freshly felled Scarlet Oaks project. Reaching back to the roots of pop-rock — that strut-inducing “walking beat” and the Southern-dipped sun-soaked jangle where early rock axed into the statelier folk fields — McCauley penned some old-fashioned, toe-tapping, breezy strummers that let the sunshine in.
Bolstered now by a quartet charmed with tambourine-taps, harmonized girl-boy duets and warm warbling keyboards — the single “Nighttime Sky” / “Long Beaten Love” has a sweet, hooky swagger that brings back those midsummer nights of stargazing splendors in the grass.
The Walking Beat’s “Nighttime Sky” release show is Saturday, Oct. 6, at the Old Miami, featuring the High Strung and Dark Red. Doors at 9, and the $8 cover charge procures a free vinyl 7” single. - The Metro Times
Discography
"Nighttime Sky / Long Beaten Love" - 7"
Photos
Bio
The Walking Beat made its live debut on February 29th, 2012 at the Metro Times Hamtramck Blowout kickoff party, culminating nearly a year of false starts and mistrials for singer/guitarist Steve McCauley. After the breakup of his previous band Scarlet Oaks, the Detroit songwriter struggled to find the right combination of forces to align for the project that he envisioned. With a foundation of songs ranging from hard-driving rockers and 70s glam shuffles to country-western waltzes and Townes Van Zandt-inspired ballads, McCauley sought to assemble a band with refined and unique arrangements highlighting the simplicity, grit and raw energy of rock and roll in its purest form.
The first piece was friend and drummer Daniel Kanka, who brought early roots in jazz and a proficiency in country and rock. Kanka’s energy behind the kit and his ability to make a song swing were found to be a perfect fit. The duo soon recruited old friends Joe Lavis on bass (formerly of Scarlet Oaks and Fletcher Pratt) and Jonathan A. Berz on keyboards (former Blasé Splee multi-instrumentalist, currently of Songs From The Moon). Lavis provided warm low-end melodies and a walking rhythm that locked in with the drums, and Berz added solid playing, a strong ear for arrangements and backing vocals. The final missing piece was an additional singer to share lead vocal duties, and in stepped Stephanie Selvaggio, whose soft and soulful style stands in direct harmony with McCauley’s dusty, folkish Midwestern drawl.
With the lineup in place, The Walking Beat celebrated the release of their debut 7" single "Nighttime Sky"/"Long Beaten Love" on October 6th, 2012. They are currently recording a follow-up LP and performing live. Stay tuned to www.thewalkingbeat.com or www.facebook.com/thewalkingbeat for more news!
Links
