Steel Train
Encyclopedia
Steel Train is an indie rock band from New Jersey
. They have toured with Tegan and Sara
, Girl in a Coma
, Ben Folds
, The Fray
, Silversun Pickups
, Hanson
, The Format
, Gomez
, O.A.R.
, Barenaked Ladies
, Fun
and others. Other highlights include performances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza
, Loyolapalooza, Coachella
, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
, and The Late Show With David Letterman.
and Evan Winiker (vocals, bass) was in the punk band Random Task. After the dissolution of these bands, Steel Train formed in 2002.
The band soon signed to Drive Thru Records/MCA and flew to Los Angeles to record with Jon Naclerio at Hans Zimmer's Media Ventures Studio's. The outcome of this session was the band's first EP, 2003's "For You My Dear."
After months of touring, the band moved to San Francisco to record their first full-length record with Steven Barncard (The Grateful Dead, CSNY, Joe Cocker). Released on April 19, 2005, "Twilight Tales From The Prairies on the Sun" features appearances by famed mandolinist David Grisman
(The Grateful Dead), as well as pedal steel guitarist Gene Parsons
(Flying Burrito Brother/Byrds).
In 2005 the band toured heavily and was also the beginning of Steel Train's festival career. They played a midnight set on the first day of the Bonnaroo Music Festival
in Manchester, Tennessee, as well as the Wakarusa Festival, Warped Tour
, SXSW, and another appearance at Bonnaroo in 2006.
After two years straight on the road, original members Matt Goldman, Matthias Gruber left the band to pursue other careers.
At this point, Antonoff and Winiker moved to Silverlake, CA to record the band's second full-length album, "Trampoline" with Marc Trombino (Jimmy Eat World, Rilo Kiley). After recording, the band once again embarked on the road, this time recruiting three new members: Jon Shiffman, Justin Huey, and Daniel Silbert, who up to that point had been the band's tour manager.
"Trampoline," released in October 2007, debuted at #10 on Billboard's Heatseaker Chart. In support of the album, Steel Train toured with Ace Enders and A Million Different People, Socratic, Kevin Devine
, The Starting Line
, Paper Rival
, Bayside
, and Forgive Durden
, among other bands. They also played prominent spots at the Lollapalooza Festival as well as their third appearance at Bonnaroo.
In the summer of 2008 the band would make their national television debut on Late Night With Conan O'Brien
.
Following the Late Night With Conan O'Brien performance and a tour with The Hush Sound
, the band headed back into the studio, this time to record their third full-length album with producer Steve McDonald
(Be Your Own Pet, Fun). It was at this time that the band's relationship with their label, Drive Thru Records, fell apart. Steel Train decided to buy off the label and fund their record themselves.
Once again the band hit the road, touring with Tegan and Sara
, Ben Folds
, and Fun., as well as playing 2010's Coachella Music Festival and making their 2nd appearance on National TV on The Late Show With David Letterman.
The band released their 3rd full length "Steel Train" on June 29, 2010. The record debuted at #8 on Billboard's Heatseakers Chart, #4 on the New Artists Chart and within the top 50 on the independent albums chart.
Shortly after the release of the self-titled album, the band released a companion album of their songs covered by female artists, including Scarlett Johansson, Tegan and Sara, Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Doll's, Deradorian of The Dirty Projectors, Anna Waronker of That Dog, Charlotte Caffey of The Go Go's, Holly Miranda, Rachel Antonoff, as well as many others.
The band hit the road once again with appearances at Yo Gabba Gabba, the hit childrens show, as well as tours with O.A.R.
, fun. and the Get Up Kids
.
On November 1, 2010 the band was the first musical guest on Conan O'Briens new show, Conan
, in a joke episode titled "Show Zero". The band, along with actor Jim Parsons
(The Big Bang Theory) performed one chord off their new record, "Steel Train," in a short version of the show.
In early 2011 the band performed on NPR's World Cafe with David Dye as well as NPR's Free at Noon.
On January 11, the band returned to Conan O'Brien's Conan, performing their single "Bullet."
on their US Tour and appeared at Coachella Music Festival
in Indio, California
. Also, Steel Train appeared at Sunfest in West Palm Beach Florida as the opening band for MGMT on April 30, 2011. The band released their third full-length album, titled Steel Train
, on June 29, 2010 through their own label, Terrible Thrills. In early June 2010 the band announced that they would be releasing a companion album to "Steel Train" featuring female artists covering each of the 12 tracks on "Steel Train." The companion album, entitled "Terrible Thrills Vol. 1," includes appearances by Tegan and Sara
, Scarlett Johansson
, Deradoorian of Dirty Projectors
, Amanda Palmer
, Anna Waronker
of That Dog, Alia Shawkat
, Charlotte Caffey
of The Go Go's, Elizabeth and the Catapult, Rachel Antonoff, Holly Miranda
, and Greta Salpeter
of The Hush Sound
and Gold Motel
.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. They have toured with Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie band composed of identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin . Both Tegan and Sara play guitar and keyboard and write songs.-History:...
, Girl in a Coma
Girl in a Coma
Girl In a Coma is a rock band from San Antonio, Texas on Joan Jett's Blackheart Records' label. The band is made up of Mexican-American sisters Nina and Phanie Diaz and long-time friend, Jenn Alva . The name is a reference to The Smiths' song Girlfriend in a Coma...
, Ben Folds
Ben Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
, The Fray
The Fray
-Literature:*Fray, a phenomenon in Terry Pratchett's The Carpet People*Fray , a comic book series by Joss Whedon**Melaka Fray, titular character of the comic book series-Music:*"Fray", a song from the album 14 Shades of Grey by Staind...
, Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups
Silversun Pickups is an alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band comprises Brian Aubert, Nikki Monninger, Christopher Guanlao, and Joe Lester....
, Hanson
Hanson (band)
Hanson are an American pop rock band formed in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by brothers Isaac , Taylor , and Zac Hanson . They are best known for the 1997 hit song "MMMBop" from their major label debut album Middle of Nowhere, which earned three Grammy nominations...
, The Format
The Format
The Format was an American indie rock band formed by Arizona natives Nate Ruess and Sam Means. The band announced a hiatus on February 4, 2008. Their style can be considered a mixture of indie, alternative, punk and folk music, with elements of 1960s and 1970s pop music...
, Gomez
Gomez (band)
Gomez are an English indie rock band from Southport, comprising Ian Ball , Paul "Blackie" Blackburn , Tom Gray , Ben Ottewell and Olly Peacock . The band is distinguished for having three singers and four songwriters, employing traditional and electronic instruments...
, O.A.R.
O.A.R.
O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
, Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies
Barenaked Ladies is a Canadian alternative rock band. The band is currently composed of Jim Creeggan, Kevin Hearn, Ed Robertson, and Tyler Stewart. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Scarborough, Ontario, then a suburban municipality outside the City of Toronto...
, Fun
Fun (band)
Fun is an American indie pop band based in New York, New York that was formed by Nate Ruess, formerly of The Format. After the 2008 breakup of The Format, Ruess left Arizona to develop his career in New York City. Ruess then formed Fun with Andrew Dost of Anathallo and Jack Antonoff of Steel Train...
and others. Other highlights include performances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza
Lollapalooza is an annual music festival featuring popular alternative rock, heavy metal, punk rock and hip hop bands, dance and comedy performances, and craft booths. It has also provided a platform for non-profit and political groups. The music festival hosts more than 160,000 people over a...
, Loyolapalooza, Coachella
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
, Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
, and The Late Show With David Letterman.
History
Steel Train met in the mid-1990s at The Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, New Jersey. At the time, Jack Antonoff (vocals, guitar) and Daniel Silbert (vocals, guitar) were part of the hardcore band OutlineOutline
An outline is a list of the main features of a given topic, often used as a rough draft or summary of the content of a document. A hierarchical outline is a list arranged to show hierarchical relationships, and is a type of tree structure....
and Evan Winiker (vocals, bass) was in the punk band Random Task. After the dissolution of these bands, Steel Train formed in 2002.
The band soon signed to Drive Thru Records/MCA and flew to Los Angeles to record with Jon Naclerio at Hans Zimmer's Media Ventures Studio's. The outcome of this session was the band's first EP, 2003's "For You My Dear."
After months of touring, the band moved to San Francisco to record their first full-length record with Steven Barncard (The Grateful Dead, CSNY, Joe Cocker). Released on April 19, 2005, "Twilight Tales From The Prairies on the Sun" features appearances by famed mandolinist David Grisman
David Grisman
David Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
(The Grateful Dead), as well as pedal steel guitarist Gene Parsons
Gene Parsons
Gene Victor Parsons is an American drummer, banjo player, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and innovative engineer, best known for his work with The Byrds from 1968 to 1972. Parsons has also released solo albums and played in bands including Nashville West, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Parsons Green...
(Flying Burrito Brother/Byrds).
In 2005 the band toured heavily and was also the beginning of Steel Train's festival career. They played a midnight set on the first day of the Bonnaroo Music Festival
Bonnaroo Music Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an annual four day music festival created and produced by Superfly Productions and AC Entertainment, held at Great Stage Park on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee. It hosted its tenth annual event June 9–12, 2011...
in Manchester, Tennessee, as well as the Wakarusa Festival, Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
, SXSW, and another appearance at Bonnaroo in 2006.
After two years straight on the road, original members Matt Goldman, Matthias Gruber left the band to pursue other careers.
At this point, Antonoff and Winiker moved to Silverlake, CA to record the band's second full-length album, "Trampoline" with Marc Trombino (Jimmy Eat World, Rilo Kiley). After recording, the band once again embarked on the road, this time recruiting three new members: Jon Shiffman, Justin Huey, and Daniel Silbert, who up to that point had been the band's tour manager.
"Trampoline," released in October 2007, debuted at #10 on Billboard's Heatseaker Chart. In support of the album, Steel Train toured with Ace Enders and A Million Different People, Socratic, Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine
Kevin Devine is an American songwriter and musician from Brooklyn, New York, who is known for alternately introspective and political lyrics and melodic acoustic guitar songs...
, The Starting Line
The Starting Line
The Starting Line is an American pop punk band based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that formed in 1999.- Formation and history :In 1999, the band that would become The Starting Line was initiated in Churchville, Pennsylvania via an e-mail from guitarist Matt Watts to vocalist/bassist Kenny Vasoli...
, Paper Rival
Paper Rival
Paper Rival was an indie rock band formed in late 2005 from Nashville, Tennessee. Originally known as Keating, the band changed its name to Paper Rival in 2007 after a tour in Canada where the band was mistaken for a Canadian band who already possessed the name...
, Bayside
Bayside
Bayside may refer to a number of places:In the United States:*Bayside, California*Bayside High School , several schools in the U.S...
, and Forgive Durden
Forgive Durden
Forgive Durden is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, who got their name from the novel Fight Club. They are signed to Fueled By Ramen...
, among other bands. They also played prominent spots at the Lollapalooza Festival as well as their third appearance at Bonnaroo.
In the summer of 2008 the band would make their national television debut on Late Night With Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is an American late-night talk show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired 2,725 episodes on NBC between 1993 and 2009. The show featured varied comedic material, celebrity interviews, and musical and comedy performances. Late Night aired weeknights at 12:37 am...
.
Following the Late Night With Conan O'Brien performance and a tour with The Hush Sound
The Hush Sound
The Hush Sound was an indie quartet originating in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Initially named "The Hush," the band later changed their name to "The Hush Sound" due to the discovery of a rapper with the same name...
, the band headed back into the studio, this time to record their third full-length album with producer Steve McDonald
Steve McDonald
Steve McDonald is a New Zealand composer, singer, and instrumentalist. He performed in several rock bands, including Human Instinct, before embarking on a solo career. He has composed musical scores for television shows and documentaries...
(Be Your Own Pet, Fun). It was at this time that the band's relationship with their label, Drive Thru Records, fell apart. Steel Train decided to buy off the label and fund their record themselves.
Once again the band hit the road, touring with Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie band composed of identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin . Both Tegan and Sara play guitar and keyboard and write songs.-History:...
, Ben Folds
Ben Folds
Benjamin Scott "Ben" Folds is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and television personality. From 1995-2000, Folds was the frontman and pianist of the alternative rock band Ben Folds Five. Since the group disbanded, Folds has performed as a solo artist and has toured all over the world...
, and Fun., as well as playing 2010's Coachella Music Festival and making their 2nd appearance on National TV on The Late Show With David Letterman.
The band released their 3rd full length "Steel Train" on June 29, 2010. The record debuted at #8 on Billboard's Heatseakers Chart, #4 on the New Artists Chart and within the top 50 on the independent albums chart.
Shortly after the release of the self-titled album, the band released a companion album of their songs covered by female artists, including Scarlett Johansson, Tegan and Sara, Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Doll's, Deradorian of The Dirty Projectors, Anna Waronker of That Dog, Charlotte Caffey of The Go Go's, Holly Miranda, Rachel Antonoff, as well as many others.
The band hit the road once again with appearances at Yo Gabba Gabba, the hit childrens show, as well as tours with O.A.R.
O.A.R.
O.A.R. is an American rock band composed of Marc Roberge , Chris Culos , Richard On , Benj Gershman , and Jerry DePizzo...
, fun. and the Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids
The Get Up Kids are an American alternative rock band from Kansas City, Missouri. Formed in 1995, the band was a major player in the mid-90's emo scene, otherwise known as the "second wave" of emo music...
.
On November 1, 2010 the band was the first musical guest on Conan O'Briens new show, Conan
Conan
-People:* Conan O'Brien , American talk show host* Saint Conan , bishop of the Isle of Man* Conan I of Rennes , king of Brittany* Conan of Cornwall , medieval bishop...
, in a joke episode titled "Show Zero". The band, along with actor Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons
James Joseph "Jim" Parsons is an American television and film actor. He is best known for playing Sheldon Cooper on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, with his performance often cited as a significant reason for the program's success...
(The Big Bang Theory) performed one chord off their new record, "Steel Train," in a short version of the show.
In early 2011 the band performed on NPR's World Cafe with David Dye as well as NPR's Free at Noon.
On January 11, the band returned to Conan O'Brien's Conan, performing their single "Bullet."
Current Highlights
In winter 2009, they opened for Tegan and SaraTegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie band composed of identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin . Both Tegan and Sara play guitar and keyboard and write songs.-History:...
on their US Tour and appeared at Coachella Music Festival
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is a three-day annual music and arts festival, organized by Goldenvoice and held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, in the Inland Empire's Coachella Valley...
in Indio, California
Indio, California
Indio is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, located in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. It lies east of Palm Springs, east of Riverside, and east of Los Angeles. It is about north of Mexicali, Baja California on the U.S.-Mexican border...
. Also, Steel Train appeared at Sunfest in West Palm Beach Florida as the opening band for MGMT on April 30, 2011. The band released their third full-length album, titled Steel Train
Steel Train (album)
Steel Train is the third full-length studio album by Steel Train, released on June 29, 2010. The album features an all-female companion album entitled Terrible Thrills Vol. 1, which consists of covers, remixes, and re-imaginings of every song on the album by female artists...
, on June 29, 2010 through their own label, Terrible Thrills. In early June 2010 the band announced that they would be releasing a companion album to "Steel Train" featuring female artists covering each of the 12 tracks on "Steel Train." The companion album, entitled "Terrible Thrills Vol. 1," includes appearances by Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie band composed of identical twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin . Both Tegan and Sara play guitar and keyboard and write songs.-History:...
, Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is an American actress, model and singer.Johansson made her film debut in North and was later nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead for her performance in Manny & Lo . She rose to further prominence with her roles in The Horse Whisperer and Ghost World...
, Deradoorian of Dirty Projectors
Dirty Projectors
The Dirty Projectors aka David Longstreth includes Amber Coffman , Angel Deradoorian , Brian McOmber , Nat Baldwin , and Haley Dekle during live performances...
, Amanda Palmer
Amanda Palmer
Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer , sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, is an American performer who first rose to prominence as the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the duo The Dresden Dolls...
, Anna Waronker
Anna Waronker
Anna Jeanette Waronker is a singer/songwriter, composer, and producer best known as the former frontwoman of That Dog. She is the daughter of producer Lenny Waronker and actress/musician Donna Loren, the sister of session drummer Joey Waronker, and is married to Steven Shane McDonald of Redd...
of That Dog, Alia Shawkat
Alia Shawkat
Alia Martine Shawkat is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Maeby Fünke in the Fox series Arrested Development.- Personal life :...
, Charlotte Caffey
Charlotte Caffey
Charlotte Irene Caffey is an American rock and roll guitarist and songwriter, best known for her work in the Go-Go's in the 1980s, including writing "We Got the Beat."...
of The Go Go's, Elizabeth and the Catapult, Rachel Antonoff, Holly Miranda
Holly Miranda
Holly Miranda is an American singer-songwriter and musician. Besides being trained in piano, Holly is a self-taught guitar and trumpet player. In 2001, she recorded "High Above The City", a 20-track solo album available only at shows. In the fall of 2003, Holly met and teamed up with Alex Lipsen,...
, and Greta Salpeter
Greta Salpeter
Greta Morgan Salpeter is the pianist and one of the lead singers for the band The Hush Sound. While the band is on hiatus, she has started a solo project entitled Gold Motel, with an EP released and the first album released June 1, 2010...
of The Hush Sound
The Hush Sound
The Hush Sound was an indie quartet originating in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. Initially named "The Hush," the band later changed their name to "The Hush Sound" due to the discovery of a rapper with the same name...
and Gold Motel
Gold Motel
Gold Motel is the Chicago-based solo project of singer-songwriter Greta Morgan, formerly of The Hush Sound. The band consists of Morgan , Eric Hehr , Dan Duszynski , Matt Minx , Adam Coldhouse .-History:After The Hush Sound went on hiatus, Morgan moved from Chicago to Los Angeles looking for...
.
Current members
- Jack Antonoff – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(1999–Present) - Evan Winiker – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals (2002–Present) - Daniel Silbert – guitar, backing vocals (2006–Present)
- Jon Shiffman – drums, percussion (2006–Present)
- Justin Huey – vocals, piano, wurlitzer (2008–Present)
Former members
- Matthias Gruber – drums, percussion (2002–2006)
- Matthew Goldman – guitar, backing vocals (2002–2006)
- Scott Irby-RanniarScott Irby-RanniarScott Irby-Ranniar is an American actor and singer born in Harlem, New York. He is well known for originating the role of Young Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King in 1997. He is a former member of the band Steel Train....
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, piano, wurlitzer (1999–2008)
Albums
- Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun (2005)
- TrampolineTrampoline (Steel Train album)-Track listing:# "I Feel Weird" 3:02# "Black Eye" 4:22# "Kill Monsters in the Rain" 3:58# "Dakota" 3:55# "Alone on the Sea" 7:08# "Firecracker" 3:27# "A Magazine" 5:12# "Diamonds in the Sky" 4:06# "Leave You Traveling" 3:47# "I've Let You Go" 3:47...
(2007) - Steel TrainSteel Train (album)Steel Train is the third full-length studio album by Steel Train, released on June 29, 2010. The album features an all-female companion album entitled Terrible Thrills Vol. 1, which consists of covers, remixes, and re-imaginings of every song on the album by female artists...
(2010)
EPs
- For You My DearFor You My Dear-Track listing:# "Blown Away" – 4:03# "Alley Cat" – 3:17# "Angelica" – 3:36# "W. 12th" – 1:36# "For You My Dear" – 3.23# "Night Falls" – 2:50-Personnel:* Scott Irby-Ranniar – vocals* Jack Antonoff – vocals, guitar* Evan Winiker – bass, backing vocals...
(2003) - 19691969 (EP)1969 is an EP of covers songs released by Steel Train. All songs on the EP were originally released in 1969.-Track listing:-Personnel:* Scott Irby-Ranniar – vocals* Jack Antonoff – vocals, guitar* Evan Winiker – bass, backing vocals...
(2004) - Steel Train Is Here (2009)