Steel Train
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Steel Train | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Genres | Indie/Classic Rock/Rock/Folk Rock |
| Labels | Drive Thru Records |
| Members | Jack Antonoff Scott Irby-Ranniar Evan Winiker Dan Silbert John Shiffman |
| Website(s) | http://www.steeltrainrock.com |
Steel Train are a 5-piece band currently on Drive Thru Records
Contents |
[edit] Information
[edit] History
The band began when two friends, Jack Antonoff and Scott Irby-Ranniar, sharing a common love of music, began playing together. They busked in subways and alleyways in New York, and in 1999/2000 recorded a demo that garnered a large degree of record label interest. Despite the array of offers, the guys, now called Steel Train (after a Bob Marley song that they have covered) eventually chose to sign with Drive Thru Records particularly drawn by the support but also artistic freedom the label offered. In 2002, the band recorded their debut ep entitled 'For You My Dear,' recruiting Evan Winiker (formerly of NJ emo band Random Task) and Matthias Gruber to help with recording and touring. The two later became full members of the band, first Winiker (who was presented as a full member in the promotional pieces for that same ep, released in January 2003) and later Gruber, who joined with second guitarist Matthew Goldman to complete the band and create Steel Train. Together the band went on to record the '1969' ep (a CD of cover versions of songs from that year that inspired the band and their sound), and a year later their debut album 'Twilight Tales From The Praries Of The Sun,' released in 2005. In December of 2006 the band announced that they would be departing ways with Matthias Gruber (drums) and Matt Goldman (guitar) who chose to pursue other interests. The positions were filled by tour manager Daniel Silbert on guitar and John Shiffman on drums.[1]
The band often polarizes opinions, mainly based around the fact that the style of rock they play is more 'classic' (Jack often jokes the band was "30 years too late"), yet people see them as very much a part of the emo/pop-punk scene (mainly due to their Drive Thru Records connections). They are well noted for their impressive live shows and 'jamming' ability.
The lead singer, Jack, also used to date Scarlett Johansson and the song Better Love off of Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun is about/makes reference to her [2] [3]. Though Better Love is a song strictly about her, he also references her in "2 O'clock'" and "Dig". "Josie smiles and laughs, while me and Scarlett will smoke our hash." [4]and "oh, my scarlet you had a real friend in me."[5]
[edit] Current Members
- Jack Antonoff - Vocals, Guitar, Piano
- Scott Irby-Ranniar - Vocals, Percussion
- Evan Winiker - Bass, Backing Vocals
- Daniel Silbert - Guitar, Backing Vocals
- John Shiffman - Drums, Percussion
[edit] Past Members
- Matthias Gruber - Drums, Percussion
- Matthew Goldman - Guitar, Backing Vocals
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 'Twilight Tales From The Praries Of The Sun' (2005)
[edit] EPs
- 'For You My Dear EP' (2003)
- '1969 EP' (2004)
[edit] Non-album tracks
- 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' (Simon And Garfunkel Cover Song)
- 'Women I Belong To' (New Song)
- '1999' (Track From Their Original Demo)
- 'Story In A Dream' (Track From Their Original Demo)
- 'Talking To Myself'(Track From Their Original Demo)
- 'Sometimes' (Track From Their Original Demo)
- 'Tokyo Radio' (Track From Their Original Demo)
