Seasick Steve
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| Seasick Steve | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Oakland, California |
| Country | United States of America |
| Years active | Unknown–Present |
| Genres | Blues |
| Labels | Dead Skunk Records Bronzerat |
| Website(s) | http://www.seasicksteve.com |
Steven Wold, more commonly known as Seasick Steve, is an American bluesman. He plays guitars (mostly personalised), and sings.
Contents |
[edit] History
His parents split up when he was four years of age. He left home at 14, and spent many years living on the streets in the States. He used to travel long distances by hopping freights. He now lives in Notodden, Norway. Before becoming a professional blues musician he had dozens of jobs, including being a carnie, cowboy and a migrant worker. He has been well received in the U.K, being championed by DJs Charlie Gillett and Andy Kershaw, and playing at such festivals as The Big Chill and the Tartanheart Festival.
He also performed on Jools Holland's 'Annual Hootenanny' BBC TV show (Broadcast on New Year's Eve 2006) where he stunned the audience with a live rendition of Dog House Boogie on the 'Three-Stringed Trance Wonder' (see below).
His debut solo album "Dog House Music" was released by Bronzerat with the official album launch party on Sunday 26th of November 2006, at Corsica Studios, London.
[edit] Instruments
Seasick Steve plays guitar, and foot percussion. He owns a few obscure instruments along these lines:
- The Three Stringed Trance Wonder
- This is a normal guitar, but with only three strings. It has an old Harmony pickup added (with duct tape) and is played tuned to G, G and B using an E string in the A position, a D in the G posistion and a G in the B position. He often tells the story that he bought it for $75 in this condidtion in Como, Mississippi from a man named Sherman Cooper, and vowed never to add another string, and that he would tour the world telling his story of how Sherman ripped him off. He has since done this, telling the story at all his gigs.
- The One Stringed Diddly-Bo
- This is a one stringed string instrument played with a slide. It consists of a 2 foot long 2x4, with a semi-loose guitar string nailed to it at both ends. It was made especially for him by James 'Super Chikan' Johnson.
- The 'MDM', The Mississippi Drum Machine.
- A small wooden box that is stamped to provide percussion. It is decorated with a Mississippi licence plate, and a small piece of carpet.
[edit] Discography
- Seasick Steve and the Level Devils: cheap
- Seasick Steve: Dog House Music
