"Folk festivals feed off of people like Steve and Kristi Nebel. Not only does their music reflect the ethics and values of that time long past which is the core of the Folk Life movements, but the Nebels have that ability to update without destroying the essence of what that music means to those simpler times. It is good music, pure and simple, and stands on its own. It is made to be played on small stages and between crafts exhibits at Folk Life Festivals and in living rooms with small groups of friends looking on. It is offspring of The Weavers and The Brothers Four and The Kingston Trio and their predecessors. But it is all Steve and Kristi Nebel. With the help of folk inmate David Michael on Celtic and Germania Harps, the Nebels lay out smooth renditions of what folk music used to be and evidently still can be. With guitar, bass and harp and the occasional drum or harmonica, they take you through thirteen originals which feed on the feel of the past without sounding dated. For instance, Kristi's unadorned delivery on Papa Comin' Home paints a stark portrait of a man hardened by circumstances. Steve remembers Viet Nam on Initiation Rites, a reminder of the importance that the mind-boggling experience of Viet Nam had on many of us. A former wife enters a bedroom, razor in hand, and confronts her ex- and his new wife and slashes pillows in Clean Cut's analogy of the failures of the institution of marriage—at least, some of them (it is, indeed, a cruel thing to leave behind a wife with few skills while taking your marketable self to greener pastures). The best, though, is Nebel's look at a world in which people are forced to wear big floppy hats and big floppy shoes and a big red nose because "who could be mean in a world like that". Big Floppy Hats separates the reality from the unrealities we are forced to deal with each day. Escapism, maybe, but maybe with a bit more of it, the world wouldn't be going to hell in a handbasket. That is not Nebel's message, by the way. His world is one of life as life and, for him, life is pretty good. He has hope, as I suppose does Kristi and David Michael, and maybe that is another reason Folk Life comes to mind when their music plays. They are what they are and that is what counts, but they could be better (or so the occasional underlying twist of lyrics implies), as could we all. It is the core of every folk gathering, festivals included, I have attended. They nailed it." Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange - http://www.acousticmusic.com/fame/p03824.htm written by Frank Gutch Jr. "The musicianship is impeccable, with a crystalline sound and a sumptuousness that is unexpected from just a handful of players. . . . the songs, are dense with imagery,and impassioned descriptions, and recollections of harrowing experiences. . . " Tom Petersen, Victory Review, December 2006 Steve and Kristi Nebel have known David Michael for many, many years. They had done some recording with him before, and it seemed like it was overdue time to record an entire project with him. In preparing for their fourth tour of the United Kingdom, Steve and Kristi thought that the sound they'd gotten with David Michael was nice enough that they'd like to share it with the enthusiastic audiences that they find when they go there. "Big Red Smile" was born. "No one exemplifies the socially aware musician better than Steve and Kristi Nebel. Steve and Kristi do a truly wonderful job of combining searing social concern about war and peace with a delightful spirit of love and happiness. Kristi . . . sings with a hauntingly beautiful voice which is at once ethereal and earthy." Geoff Bard, Victory Review Americana duo, and peace activists, Steve and Kristi Nebel, recently returned from their fourth U.K. tour, are currently promoting their latest CD, "Big Red Smile", recorded with celtic harpist, David Michael. This internationally touring duo has been performing together for fifteen years, recorded seven albums as a duo, and three albums as founding members of "The Madrones" and "The Filucies". Singer/guitarist Steve Nebel is the primary songwriter in the duo, supported by vocals and bass guitar from Kristi Nebel. Here are some comments from abroad and home about the work of Steve and Kristi Nebel, both live and recorded: "This was a joint presentation of love, peace and freedom with nature, in their own music encapsulated in the title of their latest CD offering 'Bohemian Outback'. Steve`s thoughtful guitar and flowing, lyrical style, matched by crystal clear vocalising and gentle electric bass playing from Kristi prove a compelling musical vehicle for transporting the listener along with them on their journey from Tacoma, Washington State. "Beautiful stuff ! But somehow it`s also something more. I was reminded of Paxton`s exuberance, and songs reflecting so vividly the country he comes from; the heartfelt concerns and perceptions of nature in 'The Crow', and a sense of how humanity "treats" itself, and it`s privileged leaseholding on this planet in 'Harbor Island' . There was Paxtonesque fun-poking in 'Superman`s Dillema', and Steve`s perceptive 'Lillian`s World' was for me his strongest writing. Kristi`s wonderful voice was most powerfully in evidence in 'On Fishermen', written along with Steve." Bob Benbow, retired lorry driver, and co-organizer Acoustic Music Club, Leicester, UK What a great night we had with you . . . The club meets on Tuesday and I'm sure that you'll still be the topic of conversation. . . . Please let us know when you will be back this way again and the sooner the better. From a fan for life, Regards Ray [Donnelly] - Louth Folk Club organizer, Louth, Lincolnshire, UK. About 'Bohemian Outback': "I think it's the best thing you've ever put out . . . [Go Out To]Alberta is so good I wanna do it myself. The writing is sharp as a Gillette Twinedge." - Thaddeus Spae "No one exemplifies the socially aware musician better than Steve and Kristi Nebel. Steve and Kristi do a truly wonderful job of combining searing social concern about war and peace with a delightful spirit of love and happiness. Kristi . . . sings with a hauntingly beautiful voice which is at once ethereal and earthy." Geoff Bard, Victory Review The Nebels are known for their "occupationally correct" songs dealing with life in Alaska and northwestern Canada. In the winter of 1985 they left all of their worldly possessions in their rented house in Seattle (they hired a friend to pack the house and put their stuff in storage) for a job playing music in Nome, Alaska, where they spent five months. Eventually they played from Nome to Ketchikan, and Dawson City to Prince George between 1985 and 1991, building a repertoire of songs about the people they met, in 1990 releasing those songs in an album, "Taking Off". Rusty Miller of "Victory Review" says of this album "Some of it makes me laugh. Some of it makes me cry. Some of it makes me real humble . . . but if they were to convene a concert . . . I'd scheme hard for a percentage of the gate." Denise Sofranko of "Dirty Linen" says "the Nebels know how to take an interesting subject, draw you into the tale, and make you care about the people and places they chronicle". In 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 they toured the United Kingdom from Southampton, England to Argyll, Scotland, and in 2002 they played 29 dates in 54 days in the U.K. They have volunteered in many capacities as members of United For Peace of Pierce County, including a benefit concert, and peace rallies. The Nebels currently live in their 107 year old house in Tacoma, WA. Contact Kristi Nebel at (253)573-1504, or steveandkristinebel@yahoo.com http://www.geocities.com/steveandkristinebel P.O. Box 5764, Tacoma, WA 98415-0764