We have the strangest feeling the Steve Eggs Band are about to take their rightful place on top of the rock world. That is our presumptive verdict if the ecstatic reception accorded tracks from their new album Imperfect Stranger performed live to a cheering crowd is the kind of well founded evidence that speaks volumes.
THE GIG
The band’s sold out show at the Sound Lounge, Sutton (April 11) was the official launch pad for the album. It was also a chance to present Ana Gracey’s band Doxey Box performing the first set. Ana entertained with an array of lively songs as well as moving heartfelt ballads all backed by her excellent new group.
“We were honoured to be asked to support the Steve Eggs Band” said Ana and explained Imperfect Stranger had been recorded at her own Temple Music Studio, also in Sutton, originally founded by her distinguished and much loved parents, the late Jon Hiseman and Barbara Thompson.
Doxey Box cheerfully and tastefully fused retro soul with contemporary jazz. All outstanding musicians Ana’s band of soul brothers and sisters included saxophonist and co-writer Luiza Lale, multi-instrumentalist Matt Greaves, drummer Annie Mumford and Phil Mulford on bass guitar. Annie was particularly impressive. Her funky groove style peaked during a jam with Phil’s masterful bass playing.
Ana’s commanding yet sensitive singing defied ‘Gravity’ and insisted that ‘Rules Do Not Apply’ the latter song lyrically rooted in her school days no doubt. The somewhat ironic ‘Peace In The City,’ was followed by ‘Black Sheep’, ‘Money Honey’ and ‘Don’t Say I Told You So’. A hand clapping finale with ‘Ready Steady Go’ delighted the Sound Loungers.
At nine o’clock The Steve Eggs Band hit the stage with a brace of brisk opening numbers including ‘Road To California’ sung by Mr. Eggs with all the optimism of a youth from London heading for the bright lights of Hollywood.
Masterful lead guitarist Jon Kershaw unveiled his first exuberant solo of the evening and followed up with a doo wop intro for ‘Good Intentions’ another SEB favourite. Mark Taylor’s drums drove this country tinged rocker while bass guitarist and vocalist Peter Wass sang along with Steve, before the geetar man wound up a staccato finale.
Applause greeted the upbeat vocal refrain and stomping riffs of ‘A Place in the World’ the band’s first item from Imperfect Stranger. Steve cheerfully waved a copy of the CD explaining it was now on sale adding that the cover could also be used as ‘A small dart board’.
The powerful ‘Sugar and Blood’ was introduced by Mark freaking out on doomy drums and cymbals. It was Encouraging to hear the audience cheer this innovative composition with its heartfelt lyrics sung by Steve with intense passion.
‘Almost Talking’ brought a change of mood as did the lively rustic rocker ‘Spinning Wheel’ pursued into the sky by ‘Wings’ both new songs as were ‘Devils And Angels’ and ‘When The Darkness Comes’ the latter imbued with a guitar interlude that included sustain and doomy wah wah FX.
“What’s that song all about Pete?’ asked Steve.
“About three and a half minutes,” rejoined Mr. Wass helpfully.
‘Cheap Hotel’, ‘Next Time Around’ and ‘Strangest Feeling’ were more CD highlights as were a brace of ‘covers’ including Tom Petty’s crowd pleaser ‘American Girl’ complete with JK delivering one of the night’s most exciting solos.
Back to Imperfect Stranger and ‘Bad Line’ which could be a hit if only it were released on a 45 rpm single and played by DJ Alan Freeman, miraculously risen from the groove and back on the airwaves. ‘Not arf…’
Peter Wass was in his element singing Bob Dylan’s classic ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ and the Sound Lounge audience became ever more excitable fuelled by pizza, lager and folk rock! We mere mortals rejoiced as the band sailed into one of their own classics ‘We Humans’ before unleashing the power of Beatles and Small Faces with ‘All Or Nothing’ and ‘I Saw Her Standing There.’ As the last notes faded and the bar closed it was time to go-go. You missed a great show? Come and see them the next time around. CHRIS WELCH
Thanks to Helayna Wass from Everywhere Photography for the photos.
THE ALBUM
The Steve Eggs Band Imperfect Stranger (SEB 202501)
Gentle guitar chords and bass notes serve as our surreptitious introduction to the ‘imperfect strangers’ who have created this most perfect of albums. ‘The Strangest Feeling’ paves the way for a selection of eleven tracks that each have their own appeal and take us on different musical journeys.
Steve Eggs is our guide as he murmurs the opening bars. “Looking at you with my eyes wide open…Running to you with my arms wide open all I can do is keep myself from falling. What can I do when I’m here with you….I get the strangest feeling every time I’m with you?’’
All the while the band offer subtle support before Jon Kershaw launches into the first of many blues drenched solos that cascade throughout the album.
After the tip–toeing suspense of ‘Feeling’ a stridently confident mood prevails as we ride out of the dark canyon of our minds into the uplands of ‘Almost Talking’. Steve narrates his way through the lyrics while the band converse in the background with cheery enthusiasm. As rock critic Paul Sexton says: ‘This new album is full of hooks that just keep popping back into my mind!’ Certainly the vocals and yet another singing guitar solo help lift the spirits.
In complete contrast ‘Sugar And Blood’ has intrigued SEB fans since first introduced into live sets. Drummer Mark Taylor sets the scene with a sonorous marching 3/4 tom tom rhythm complemented by Peter Wass’ bass and Mr. Kershaw’s doomy guitar chords. Steve’s lyrics bear close attention but it’s best for him to explain as he intones: ‘‘When your heart’s been shattered she left it in a trail of mud all covered in sugar and blood.’’ After this alarming statement the band explodes into a frenzy of anger. Enraged guitars unleash an audio- cinematic scene that would have shaken even Quentin Tarantino.
Calmness descends with ‘Next Time Around’ during which you can detect faint echoing voices in the background and additional keyboards added by producer Tim Pennells. It all helps create a masterful album that clearly deserves music industry awards. And ‘Next Time’ is also a beautiful song that demands selective radio play. Watch out for a sudden dramatic outburst of drum’n’ guitars, followed by Steve’s pensive musing: ‘It’s such a beautiful sound.’
Now lift your spirits to a higher plane and strap yourself in for a flight to ‘A Place In The World’ a joyful pop song. Steve explains everyone is looking for a place in the world where we can find peace and happiness. How true!
Wah, wah, wah. Yes we’ve arrived at our destination somewhere in the West Indies where sunshine and reggae lightens our days and sets our spirits free. This is the Steve Eggs band moving into new territory and a ‘Cheap Hotel’. It’s furnished with the kind of guitar interludes that makes you want to pour a glass of brandy and roll a joint. Sorry – a sausage roll.
Now if you need to make a call home check out ‘Bad Line’ a stomping trip down telephonic memory lane. That’s when we used to dial the operator to make a call and we’re in Chuck Berry Back To The Future mood on this busy line.
We’re now in waltz time for the heartfelt ‘Devils And Angels’ as Steve slips away for romantic musings he is cheerfully willing to share. Keep an ear out for one of Mr. K’s most sympathetic yet forceful guitar interludes. The exuberant ‘Wings’ is driven by Mark’s upbeat drum as Steve proclaims ‘I won’t get off the ground without my wings,’ urged aloft by backing vocals, chiming chords and more high flying guitar.
Optimism is sustained when Steve sings with supreme confidence ‘Even In The Darkest Night’ a performance that deserves a Mercury Award (if I was on the panel of judges). Brief and to the point it’s complemented by ‘Spinning Wheel’ a country rock celebration that bows to the band’s roots and shared life experiences.
“Sometimes I feel I’m running on a spinning wheel’’ sings Mr. Eggs. It’s a wheel of creativity we prefer not to stop. CHRIS WELCH
THE INTERVIEW
Steve Eggs, lead vocalist, electric and acoustic guitars piano, keyboards, harmonica and joint composer of songs, reveals his thoughts about the creation of Imperfect Stranger.
Steve: “Well we are well pleased with it! It’s been four years since our last album (Lazarus Lights 2021) and in the meantime we kept on writing songs and built up quite a collection. When we had 15 songs or more we thought it was time to make a new record.
“Eleven finally got onto this album and lot of them came from jam sessions and rehearsals. We’d come up with a vibe for the song, then take ‘em away and finish them off together. We spent a lot of time getting them demoed and fine tuned. We also played them ‘live’ at gigs to see how they’d go down with audiences. So it took us a couple of years to refine and finish them off ready for the final product.
TEMPLE
“We chose Temple Studios in Sutton to make the record which is a lovely place. It turned out it was a ten minute walk from my front door. Maybe 15 if I walk slowly! It was set up by the late Jon Hiseman and Barbara Thompson and is now managed by their daughter Ana Gracey and is a really nice studio. Hope we’ll be back soon!”
Ana put them in touch with producer Tim Pennells and the SEB sent him demos of their previous stuff. “Tim encouraged us to make the record sound like a band performing live in a room. After all, that’s what we are – a live band”.
It seems all the backing tracks were done live too? “Old school really. We stood around in a circle, amps miked up and just played away. We did over dubs and fixes later but it still sounds like a live album. We left in a few imperfections like rustling papers and studio chatter which gives it more realism. The sessions were hard work but it was great fun too.”
Steve insists there was no master plan or overall theme to the album. “Songs write themselves don’t they? A few we had didn’t make it onto this album. Who knows, maybe the next one? Ultimately, I think this is the best album we’ve ever done. The first number ‘The Strangest Feeling’ is really strong and I particularly like ‘Devils and Angels’. They are both a step up for us. I’m happy with all of them and it ends on a high note with ‘Spinning Wheel.’
“Some of the lyrics are a bit gloomy. But that wasn’t intentional. ‘Cheap Hotel’ is a happy, jolly number with a reggae feel and Peter Wass did most of the writing and his brother David came up with the title. ‘Sugar And Blood’ is an unusual title that sounds bizarre but it’s a powerful number.
“Tim did a really great job as our producer. And he’s a busy fellow. He gets around a bit! He was working in Japan and America as well as working with us in Sutton. In fact when we were doing some fixes on the mixing he was in Mexico. Of course these days you can do it on a laptop. Mixing in Mexico! He told us: ‘I’m not going to be here but let me know if there are any changes you want and I can do it.’ So that was quite cool.”
The striking cover photo on their new CD has all the members wearing dark glasses except for Steve Eggs. “Well it ties in with the theme of Imperfect Stranger that shows our imperfections. What does the title mean? Well we are all imperfect and we are all strangers to most people, aren’t we? So we had those slightly unusual pictures taken of us four looking like we do – with our imperfections. And it works!”