Steppin' Razor

Matt Chambers, aka The Business, has been working with a new band called Steppin' Razor. Although, he hasn't quite reached his dream job, this group has some serious potential. You see, Matt has always had the dream of being the lead guitar player for [insert lame pop band]. He'd be overpaid, could travel the world, and be constantly surrounded by hot, drunk, & stupid chicks. Furthermore, he claims that he'd just turn his amp down and just solo the entire time on stage. Anyway, the members are:

• Johnny Myers - Lead Vocals & Guitar
• James Wuest - Keyboards & Vocals
• Matt Chambers - Lead Guitar & Vocals
• Scott Holloman - Bass
• Mark Patterson - Drums

They recently secured six gigs for this summer at Flanigan's Boathouse in Malvern. So, go ahead and check them out this summer if you're in the area.

I got a copy of their demo yesterday. The first track is a cover of a Bob Marley's Natty Dread. Its an interesting rendition, blending quite a few musical influences. The head reminds me of the Grateful Dead. Its tight notes and the sharp tone of the guitars instantly remind me of the famous band. The body on the other hand is closer to classic reggae. It has that airy caribbean and reggae essence without muddying up the mix like in a lot of current reggae music.

I was really impressed with the lead singer's voice. It has this perfect mixture of grit, pain, and clarity. The group plays really well together. The rhythm section is really tight and I loved the backup vocals. I haven't always enjoyed strong backup vocals in the past but it works so well here. My only complaint about the tune is that it needs a solo and I'm positive that Wuest or Chambers could easily whip one out that would amaze us.

Check out the tracks I posted. They are in the AAC format, so I recommend using iTunes to listen to it. The files are zipped though, so you'll have to unzip them after downloading. Enjoy!

• Track #1 - Natty Dread
• Track #2 - Heathen
• Track #3 - Positive Vibration
• Track #4 - Hands of Circumstance