Maple Blues Issue May 2012

Check out Steve Strongman on the cover of  the May issue of the Maple Blues Newsletter from the Toronto Blues Society..

What are people saying about A Natural Fact????

Steve Strongman makes acoustic guitar sing
Saturday, 28 April 2012 15:20 Richard Amery

Steve Strongman knows how to make an acoustic guitar rock on his new CD “Natural Fact.” He won the 2011 Maple Blues award for best blues guitarist of the year, and one listen to “Natural Fact,” it is easy to hear why.

You can hear pretty nimble fingerpicking right from the first track on “Haven’t Seen It Yet.” And it only gets better from there. While he sometimes has a band behind him, which make him sound a lot like Juno nominees Monkey Junk, he shines when left to his own devices and acoustic like on “You Do It To Yourself.”

He breaks out the harp for some hot playing on “ the jazz tinged “ Full of You.” and again to end the CD with “Just One Thing.”
He has a gorgeous liquid voice throughout and plays very impressive , usually fingerpicked guitar throughout the disc.
There is lots of beautiful slide guitar playing and superb harp blowing.


Respected singer/ songwriter Rob Szabo produced “Natural Fact,” and even adds extra bass on “Coming Home Tonight.”
One of the many highlights of this CD is the upbeat “Leaving,” with Juno nominee Suzie Vinnick,
which features a little boogie woogie piano to get thing started and a solid beat to get the feet moving. The two complement each other very well.

He slows down slightly on “Coming Home Tonight,” but then tears into “I Got Trouble,
which sounds like a long lost blues classic, but it is all his. All of the songs were either written by or co-written by Strongman.
“Full of You,” starts to bring the CD to close with a lot of hot picking. And he ends on a slower, almost all a cappella note, though with a lot of tasteful harp playing on “Just One Thing.”
With “ Natural Fact,” Steve Strongman is well on my way to becoming my new favourite Canadian bluesman and definitely a hidden treasure everyone should discover, like many people including Buddy Guy, Joe Cocker and Randy Bachman already have.
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor

Cd: Natural Fact
Artist: Steve Strongman
Genre: blues
Record label: indie
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HAMILTON SPECTATOR - APRIL 28, 2012
This husband and father knows all about Coming Home Tonight
Hamilton's Steve Strongman performs songs from his new CD at Molson Canadian Studio on Saturday, May 5.
Steve Strongman Hamilton's Steve Strongman performs songs from his new CD at Molson Canadian Studio on Saturday, May 5.

Success is a mixed blessing for a professional musician. Take Steve Strongman. The Hamilton blues guitarist has gone from playing local pubs to touring the world.

In Canada, Strongman has built a reputation as one of the best in the country. He’s opened for the legendary Buddy Guy four times and toured across the country with New Orleans’ great Sonny Landreth. Just two weeks ago, he performed at a special tribute for the late Jeff Healey at Toronto’s Sound Academy with Randy Bachman and Jack de Keyzer.

He’s been a familiar face on the Canadian festival circuit for several years, and last year toured France, Brazil and Mexico. Germany will likely be next, since he just signed a European record deal with German blues and jazz label Peppercake Records.

But Strongman can also be seen pushing a baby carriage on Dundurn or Locke streets near the home he shares with his wife, Meredith. Strongman, 39, is the proud father of two daughters.

“Ella is six. She’s in Grade 1 at Earl Kitchener,” Strongman beams, pulling out family photos over lunch at the West Town Grill. “Scarlett is three and she starts school in September.”

When he’s not on the road, he’s very much a house dad while Meredith works as a science teacher at Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School.

For Strongman, the blues is often about missing home.

“It can be really tough to do what I’m doing because you’re trying to have a family life, be the best parent and husband you can be,” he says. “But when you’re away, you’re gone, you’re touring. There’s no way I could do it if I didn’t have the support that I have at home.”

You’ll hear that sentiment on Strongman’s new album, A Natural Fact, which he will debut at a concert Saturday, May 5, in the Molson Canadian Studio at Hamilton Place.

As a matter of fact, it’s at the core of the album’s centrepiece track, a beautiful acoustic folk ballad called Coming Home Tonight. It’s also there on the more traditional blues number, Rockin’ Chair Blues.

“I wrote all the songs and I always write from personal experience,” Strongman explains, “So Coming Home Tonight, for example, I wrote when I was on the road in Europe, missing my family, missing my friends. I have an amazing network of friends and family here. It’s the only way I could ever do it, honestly.”

A Natural Fact is Strongman’s fourth album and marks a change from his previous efforts which are dominated by his fiery electric guitar. This time around, Strongman showcases his abilities on acoustic guitar, with a full band backing him.

“I’ve always loved acoustic music,” Strongman says. “There’s an intimacy that happens with acoustic instruments. I played guitar for five years before I ever picked up an electric. There’s always been an acoustic influence on all of my records.”

The album, produced by Strongman’s longtime friend and collaborator Rob Szabo, was recorded in Hamilton, Toronto and at the Barn Window Studio in Caistor Centre, with Alex Fraser on bass, Dave King on drums, Jesse O’Brien on piano and a guest appearance by Suzie Vinnick on vocals.

Steve Strongman

What: CD release concert for A Natural Fact, with the Steve Strongman Band and special guest Alfie Smith

When: Saturday, May 5, 8 p.m.

Where: Molson Canadian Studio at Hamilton Place

Tickets: $27.50 general admission seating or $32.50 reserved seating, plus applicable service charges. Available at Copps Coliseum box office, Ticketmaster.ca or 1-855-872-5000
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Check out this review of the new album...thanks to John the Rock Doctor from Gonzo online. 


A Natural Fact Steve Strongman (Independent) 5/5

A Natural Fact is the sweetest, most enjoyable disc of acoustic blues I’ve heard in a very long time- maybe even ever. A joyous blues album- is such a thing even possible? Yes it is- and here is all the proof you need.

Strongman was the Maples Blues Award winner last year for “Guitar Player Of The year”, and after hearing the new album I have no trouble believing it. “I’ve always had a love for acoustic based music, especially the blues” he says, and it shows here in the joy of his performance. His playing is driven yet supple, some tasty slide work, and you never get the feeling that he’s fighting the instrument. Part of the appeal of this record is that it feels so natural (hence the title I’m sure) and- I hate to use the word, but ‘effortless’.

There are several solo acoustic numbers here, just Steve with his guitar and voice. Elsewhere he’s joined by Dave King and Adam Warner on drums, Alec Fraser and Rob Szabo (producer) on bass, and Jesse O’Brien on piano. The bio says Strongman has shared stages with Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, Randy Bachman, Roy Clark, Otis Clay, Jeff Healey, Sonny Landreth and Joe Cocker, just to name a few- wish I’d been to any one of those shows!

I’d recently thought of giving up writing reviews, but as long as treasures like A Natural Fact cross my desk for me to pass along, I’ll keep at it. I’m sure I’m not the only one already considering this album for “Best Blues of 2012”.

TOP TRACKS: I Forgot, Can’t Go Back, I Got Trouble

STRONGMAN WINS GUITARIST OF THE YEAR!!

Thank you so much to all that voted for me, and for all the kind words.  Last night, I won the Maple Blues Award for Guitarist of the Year, and it is such an honour!  For a full list of the nominees and winners click HERE

Check out the feature in the Hamilton Spectator "Strongman wins blues honour" from Tuesday January 17, 2012 HERE.
New dates are being added all the itme, so check the concerts page for live shows.

More updates to come soon...the acoustic album is coming along extremely well...can't wait to get it out there!
Thanks,
Steve