From “The Groove” – February 2007
Steppin’ Out
Toolbox Blues (Steppin’ Out, 2006)
Picture courtesy of Steppin' Out
We’ve been waiting for this debut CD for a while now, and the
wait has been worth it! Steppin’ Out is a Brisbane based band that we have
heard around the place in recent months - notably at West End venue Satchmo’s,
where the band say they have really had their start. They’ve also been highly
appreciated at BASEQ jams. “Toolbox Blues” is titled after the Carroll, Solberg
and Bingham number of the same name, which features as track 3 on the new CD.
Cath Butler (lead vocals) does an excellent job of explaining just why the man
has got something in his toolbox that she hasn’t got in hers!
We have been watching Cath’s journey as a vocalist for a couple
of years now. Well, on this CD she’s arrived with a maturity of singing and a
superb sense of rhythm that rightly should belong to someone who’s been in the
business for quite a while longer. CongratulationsCath.
But it’s the guitars that really grab my attention on track 1,
Memphis Minnie’s “What’s the Matter With the Mill”. This unusual twelve bar features
a fabulous mixture of snappy banjo-like twelve string from Ross Ward (who also
provides backing vocals on this and one other track on the CD) and tight lead from
Chris Harvey that creates a happy, happy rhythm. Cath cruises very nicely over
the top and Cameron Street (bass) and George Ambrosio (drums) hold it all together.
Steppin’ Out played this little known song at Satchmo’s
recently (with Tom “Two T’s” Matthews their regular bassist). Says Cath “the amazing
thing was that by the second verse everyone in the joint was singing the
chorus. It was so cool and really brought a grin to my chops!”, She isn’t wrong
- Steppin’ Out played wonderfully there on the night concerned including a set
that must have been an hour and a half if it was a minute. Toolbox Blues with 7
songs is a small part of the band’s rapidly growing repertoire, but is an
excellent selection.
It’s on the Ike Turner number “Matchbox” where Cameron and George
really come to the fore with a very tight opening, laying the ground for a very
funky rhythm guitar from Harvey. There’s a curious moment in this when everyone
else goes quiet and Cameron and Harvey do a laid back bass and lead duet. The
sudden quiet sure woke me up and I liked this a lot as the band builds the song
backup.
I also liked the jazzy “Nobody Loves You Like Me” (Fuqua and Gordy),
which features some sensitively done vocals from Cath, with a level of
responsiveness by the other members of the band that speaks of people who have
really got to know each other’s style. With the McCracklin number “The Walk”,
Steppin’ Out are right in there with the rockabilly. This is a tight number
that should have people on the dance floor. But it’s Willie Dixon’s “I Just
Wanna Make Love to You” that in my view takes the prize on this CD for a new interpretation
of a well known cover. George provides some excellent fast drumming on this,
with Harvey’s lead breaks driving the song onwards. They fade this one though
which is a real pity.
This CD is nicely crafted by the musicians, well produced by Ross Ward at Padded Cell Productions and well packaged with some great graphics by Tony Bennett. You can pick up a copy at Satchmo’s. Toolbox Blues is getting some well deserved airplay - Noosa, Sydney, Hawkesbury and Melbourne at last count. And we hear that others will be reviewing them too. That’s great news for the band and we offer our congratulations.
Steppin' Out's website is at www.myspace.com/steppinoutband.
Mike Freeman