1/27/09 Nightwatcher's House Of Rock's Top 10 Albums Of 2008 : #8 Steve Fister - Deeper Than The Blues - Read the review here! http://nightwatchershouseofrock.blogspot.com/2009/01/nightwatchers-house-of-rocks-top The Steve Fister Band's "Deeper Than The Blues" tour played 45 shows in 7 countries, including support slots with Joe Satriani and Y&T. DVD News! Steve is currently working with Traveling Light Media in Los Angeles on a Steve Fister Band live DVD. It will include live footage from the 2007/8 tours, interviews and a behind the scenes look detailing, the sights, the sounds and SMELLS, of a hard working rock on the road! Look for an April release. New Year, New Tour. The Steve Fister Band 2009 European tour will commence in Europe this April. Check the tour dates page for info. Steve is currently in pre production on a new studio album in Los Angeles. Check www.stevefister.com for info. For Immediate release from stevefister.com The Steve Fister Band are Special Guests for: Joe Satriani Europe Tour 08. The band will finish the end of a 2 month European tour with the following dates: 5/29 *Filharmonie Filderstadt Stuttgart, DE 5/30 *Serenadenhof Nurnberg, DE 5/31 *Phonix-Halle Mainz, DE 6/01 *Backstage-Werk Munich, DE 6/03 *T-Mobile Arena Prague, CZ 6/04 *Große Freiheit Hamburg, DE 6/05 *Amager Bio Copenhagen, DK 6/07 Jazz Cafe The Duke Leiden, NL (Steve Fister Band Headline) 6/08 The Comm, Groesbeek, Holland (Steve Fister Band Headline) 6/12 *Rijnhal, Arnhem, NL 6/13 *Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL Check out the new Steve Fister album, "Deeper Than the Blues". www.stevefister.com Steve Fister Band “Deeper than the Blues” 2008 Concert Dates & Record release. Following the success of The Steve Fister Bands “Live Bullets” CD, the new studio release, "Deeper than the Blues”, will be released April 11 on ZYX/Pepper Cake Records Europe. The “Deeper Than The Blues” tour will run from April 17 to June 13, with stops in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Czech Republic, and the UK. The band will also be special guests on the Joe Satriani European Tour 08, on the following dates*. Joining Steve will be Barend Courbois on bass and Hans in 't Zandt on drums. 4/16 DE-Hamburg / Downtown Blues 4/18 DE-Lorsch / Muiktheater Rex 4/19 DE-Torgau / Kulturbastion 4/20 DE-Kassel / Fiasko 4/23 DE-Erfurt / Museumskeller 4/24 DE-Schortens / Fair Café 4/25 DE-Hannover / Bluesgarage 4/26 DE-Oldenburg / Charly´s Kneipe 4/28 DE-Larry's Pub/ Chemnitz 4/30 DE-Dresden / Tante JU 5/2 DE-Holzschuppen / Großliebitz Festival 5/4 NL - Oeffelt 5/7 BE- Het Spoor / Harelbeeke with Y&T 5/9 UK-Real Music Club/ New Bull and Butcher 5/10 UK-Zoom @ The Moon, London 5/11 tba UK 5/12 NL- Plug Unit Reeuwijk Radio Show 5/14 NL- EFM Radio 5/16 NL-Café De Kroeg, Arnhem NL 5/17 NL-Cafe Oeles, Tegelen 5/18 NL-Kelpen Oler 5/22 TBA NL 5/23 NL-The Rambler, Eindhoven 5/24 NL- Dupont, Den Helder Special Guests for: Joe Satriani Europe Tour 08 5/29 *Filharmonie Filderstadt Stuttgart, DE 5/30 *Serenadenhof Nurnberg, DE 5/31 *Phonix-Halle Mainz, DE 6/01 *Backstage-Werk Munich, DE 6/03 *T-Mobile Arena Prague, CZ 6/04 *Große Freiheit Hamburg, DE 6/05 *Amager Bio Copenhagen, DK 6/07 Jazz Cafe The Duke Leiden, NL (Steve Fister Band Headline) 6/12 *Rijnhal, Arnhem, NL 6/13 *Paradiso, Amsterdam, NL Update: Feb. 14, 2008 The Steve Fister Band "Deeper Than The Blues" Tour News: The Steve Fister Band will support Joe Satriani on his European 08 tour, on the following dates: May 29 Thu Filharmonie Filderstadt Stuttgart, DE 30 Fri Serenadenhof Nurnberg, DE 31 Sat Phonix-Halle Mainz, DE June 01 Sun Backstage-Werk Munich, DE 04 Wed Große Freiheit Hamburg, DE Look for Steve Fister, "Deeper Than the Blues" to be released April 11, on ZYX, Pepper Cake in Europe and 2nd Degree in the US. Steve`s headline shows in Europe April / May will be annouced shortly. Check www.stevefister.com and myspace.com/stevefister for updates. Steve Fister has forged a solo style uniquely his own. Playing a form of blues rock fusion, Fister doesn't just blend genres, he creates new ones. (Bernard Baur, Music Connection) 
One of the most underrated players of the past decade, California based guitarist Steve Fister is back with a blistering live set of smoking hot blues rock, recorded live in Germany on his 2006 European tour. This is a stellar showcase for one of rock's best kept secrets, as the trio rips through a collection of tracks from all of his prior studio albums with abandon, leaving no doubt that this is the real deal.
 
Review by Nightwatcher for Rock N Roll Universe. www.stevefister.com Hardrock Haven's Review of Dodgin Bullets Holy smoke! Now, I knew this man is a top of the bill guitar player, but what Fister serves us on this silver shiny platter, is of a different order. The disc is packed with energetic, in your face, bluesy rock with the spotlight on the marvellous Steve Fister himself. Steve Fister, I hear you think…. Wasn’t he in? Yes he was! This guy has been the right hand of Lita Ford for years, has been touring with Steppenwolf, Stuart Hamm, Michael Des Barres, Derek St. Holmes, Pat Travers, Iron Butterfly, and many, many more. He also recorded with King Kobra and Pat Travers, to name just a few! This man is a walking piece of rock history! "Dodgin’ Bullets" is Steve’s fifth release and without doubt one of blues’ finest of this year. The rawness and energetic playing again is high class, and Steve is only growing in his vocal abilities. Count to that the level of enthusiasm and the magnificent feeling this man has for song writing, and you have a package worth dying for. Now, lest we not forget the amazing line up Steve has gathered to join him on this recording either! Illustrious names from the rock and blues scene join the man to lay down his magic. Tony Franklin, Stuart Hamm and Barend Courbois on bass, while Tommy Aldridge, Frankie Banali and Greg Bissonette laying down a groove solid enough to build empires on. Especially Aldridge is hammering away like in his Travers-days with his powerful and never ending explosiveness. With the opening "She ain’t lonesome" the CD starts out just smooth…. Leading us into the magnificent cover version of B.B. ‘s "Love comes to town". Now I had to frown reading the tracklist cuz, wasn’t this song already covered a million of times? Amongst all those versions, only U2’s inspired collaboration with The King himself stood out! Now my friends, we can add one more to that list: Steve Fister! Not only does he revive the moody classic with a shot of rock, he managed to re-arranged it to a new level; Inspired and exceptionally expressive! But the real hammer is the 7 minute long heart felt blues ballad "Master plan". A true hymn-to-be for his future live shows. Lingering on for some soulful minutes to let his guitar pour out the most impressive emotional solo this year. From that moment on, you are hooked on this disc for sure! Following tracks are swinging and rocking. Revving it up with the bluesy melodic rocker "Won’t fall down", the catchy sing along song "Better days" or the odd twist of "Tell me something good" which is circulating around Steve with his talk box and some typical Stu slaps and wraps! Funky, bluesy and soulful at the same time. The swinging rocker "Zig Zag talk" and a shuffling "I call your name" (reminding me of the Beatles’ "Used to love her"), or the swampy "In a past life" , Steve offers us real time blues in all it’s colours. The sophisticated title track, a slide work out (says Steve), rocks like a Swiss clock and is packed again with energy and enthusiasm: Just the ingredients so many tend to miss nowadays! But hey! Who am I to talk you into buying this CD? Not being a typical blues fan, I had my second guesses…. Steve Fister however is one of those multi talented players in the ring that offers high quality bluesy rock music in a solid package. Rocking, funky, soulful and with rawness and energy like old school rock and blues used to sound. The music never goes over the top, isn’t polished to death by a producers team, and above all: it has soul, and a heart pumping around the blood of this music with passion and power. Steve Fister is not firing blanks or dodgin’ on this record at all…. He fires with the steady hand of a sniper! Now open your browser window and jump to his website to listen to some sound samples from his CD’s and order this spectacular piece of work! 92 out of 100 Edwin van Hoof Dodgin Bullets Dodgin Bullets is Steve Fister's fifth album and another stellar showcase for his emotionally charged style of blues-infected rock. Not only a gifted, high energy player, Fisters abitites as an accomplished songwriter and a soulful vocalist are reflected on "Dodgin Bullets". The album features drummers Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot), Tommy Aldridge (Whitesnake) and Greg Bissonette (Joe Satriani). Bassists featured are Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets) and Tony Franklin (The Firm). Recent reviews / quotes. "Fister is a brilliant musician, very well crafted with a tremendous energy. You can compare him in energy and enthusiasm to a youthful Eric Clapton". (Jaap van Eik ALOHA Magazine Holland) "I love this CD, Steve is a versatile guitarist straight out of the Tommy Bolin, Robin Ford mould". (Ray Fenwick, Get Ready to Rock Magazine, UK) New Steve Fister Reviews: Steve Fister Band Live Bullets ZYX Music Review by Nightwatcher for Rock N Roll Universe One of the most underrated players of the past decade, California based guitarist Steve Fister is back with a blistering live set of smoking hot blues rock, recorded live in Oldenburg, Germany on the 35th of 36 dates on his 2006 European tour. Featuring no overdubs, this is a stellar showcase for one of rock's best kept secrets, as the stellar trio rips through a collection of tracks from all of his prior studio albums with abandon, leaving no doubt that this is the real deal. The album leaps from the starting gate with a rousing version of the instrumental "True Grit" from Fister's excellent 'Age Of Great Dreams' release, and from this point on never looks back. Masterfully switching gears from high octane blues rock such as "She's Ain't Lonesome" to contemplative pieces like "Age Of Great Dreams" or the heavy rock of the crowd pleasing medley "Baby Please Don't Go/3rd Stone From The Sun/Radar Love" with ease, this is the work of a well seasoned player. One who hearkens back to the glory days of rock when actual musicianship mattered. Influenced in equal parts by Jeff Beck, the 3 Kings (B.B., Albert and Freddie) and the sounds of classic 70's hard rock, the former Pat Travers/Steppenwolf/Lita Ford guitarist can hang with the best of them. Unlike too many who concentrate on merely the technical, Fister is a well rounded musician for whom the song is what matters. Although technically brilliant when need be, it's never an end in itself. A gifted vocalist as well, he shines in a live setting. Without the gloss of the studio to smooth things out, the vocals are suitably gritty and authentic, which adds to the overall presentation. Fister even breaks out the old talk box during the middle of "J.B. Meets J.B." (Jeff Beck meets James Brown), launching into a snippet of Peter Frampton's "Do You Feel Like We Do", validating the claim that give a guitarist this effect and sooner or later, this will ensue! But, it sounds great, and works quite well. Supported wonderfully by bassist Barend Courbois and drummer Hans in’t Zandt, forming a tight, hard driving rock trio whom sound at home with the material, the three give impassioned performances throughout. Never one to hog the spotlight, Fister allows these two ample time to display their considerable talents and then some. German audiences are notoriously hard to please, dating back to the days of The Beatles, but by the time the last notes of the encore, "Pay Bo Diddley" ring out, it's met with a fantastic reception, leaving the cheering crowd wanting more. It's quite obvious that a splendid, magical time was had by all, and one which makes one wish they were there to witness, which is a hallmark of a great live album. The bottom line here is, if you're a blues rock fan, or for that matter a fan of excellent guitar work, you can't go wrong with this one. Once you've heard what's on offer here, do yourself a favor and pick up any of the earlier releases as well, which feature performances by some of rock's great players such as Stu Hamm, Tommy Aldridge, Carmine Appice, Reese Wynans and Tony Franklin. You won't be disappointed, and all come highly recommended. 10/10 > May 7, 2007: New Review from Los Angeles based "All Access Magazine" > > > LIVE BULLETS: Steve Fister > Pepper Cake / ZYX Music Steve Fister is a guitar player whose playing exhibits tastefulness and subtlety, as well as ferocious intensity, exhilarating speed, and raw energy. That is what you can expect from 'The Shadow King' on his long awaited and highly anticipated live release, 'LIVE BULLETS'. This live recording is breathtaking and dangerously powerful, a living testament to Steve Fister's amazing guitar playing. There are some great guitarists out there that never get the recognition they deserve. To me, Steve Fister is in that category. Great tone on his guitar, especially for a live performance. Steve Fister's ability to consistently fan the flames is amazing, and his vocals, while not on a par with his guitar, are passionate and powerful. As he proves in smoldering fashion on tracks like, "Age Of Great Dreams", "One Way Ticket", "Foolin' Me" and "JB Meet JB", a homage to the James Brown and Jeff Beck. Hats off to Steve's powerful rhythm section, Barend Courbois, (The Lowend from the Lowlands) on bass and general mayhem Hans in t Zandt on drums, for a amazing job! 'LIVE BULLETS' is a blues/rock guitar-driven 4th degree assault on your ears. An F-5 on the Fujita Scale, I kid you not! If you are looking for something to brush the cobwebs out of your skull, this is it. What's the old saying, 'Seeing is believing'. Anytime Steve Fister comes within 500 miles of you get there some way somehow, you won't be disappointed. If you know how a guitar is supposed to sound, if you want to hear Blues that will make your blood turn blue and make the hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention, then THIS IS ONE ALBUM YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS OUT ON! - The Atomic Chaser > > HIGHLY RECOMMENDED > Tony Sison, aka The Atomic Chaser > President, Dedicated Rocker Productions > Home Of The Atomic Chaser's Rockers & Rollers Webzine > http://atomicchaser.journalspace.com/ > ALL ACCESS MAGAZINE, Contributing Writer > http://www.allaccessmagazine.com Steve Fister News The Steve Fister Bands new CD, "Live Bullets" (Pepper Cake / ZYX Records) is #2 on jpc sales charts in Europe. Live Bullets is available on I Tunes, www.jpc.de, Amazon, and stevefister.com. The Steve Fister Band (Hans in’ t Zandt drums and Barend Courbois bass) recently completed a 23-date tour playing dates in Holland, Germany, UK, Belgium, and Poland. The live show consisted of songs off Steve Fister`s CDs "Dodgin Bullets", "The Unspoken vol 1", "2 Ways 2 Skin a Groove" and the current release, “Live Bullets”. The summer leg of the “Live Bullets” will tour will continue August 15 through September 10, with dates in Germany, the UK, and The Netherlands. Check www.stevefister.com for the latest information. The Steve Fister Band "Live Bullets" Tour dates announced. The Steve Fister band with Barend Courbois on bass and Hans in't Zandt, drums will be rocking Germany, Holland, Belgium, Poland, and the UK. The trio is touring in support of the ZYX records release "Live Bullets". (release date March 07) The setlist will also include tunes off Steve's "Dodgin Bullets" and "The Unspoken Vol 1" CDs. More more information: www.stevefister.com. Sa 17.3 D-Lahr / Schlachthof So 18.3 D-Stuttgart / Laboratorium Mo 19.3 D-Chemnitz / Larry´s Pub Di 20.3 PL-Piekary Slaskie / Osrodek Kultury "Andaluzja" Mi 21.3 A-Wien / Reigen: Do 22.3 PL-Nowa Sol / Solowka Festival: Fr 23.3 D-Hannover / Bluesgarage : Sa 24.3 D-Dresden / Tante Ju: So 25.3 D-Engel / Düsseldorf : Mo 26.3 offday Di 27.3 BE-Verviers / Spirit of 66 Mi 28.3 off Do 29.3 NL-Apeldoorn - Blues cafe Fr 30.3 NL-Venlo - Splinter Sa 31.3 D-Oldenburg / Charly´s Kneipe : So 1.4 NL-Oeffelt / Harry's Mo 2.4 off Tue 3.4 off Wed4.4 tba Thu 5.4 UK-Sutton / Boom Boom Club Fr 6.4 UK-Northolt / The Greenwood tbc (both London Gigs) Sat 7.4 NL-De Smeed / Kelpen Oler Sun 8.4 NL-Deventer - Backstage A review from Real Blues Magazine, Gdansk, Poland. 2006 I keep on asking myself why do I like this new album by Steve Fister so much. As a matter of fact I like it much more than anything by Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Jonny Lang or Chris Duarte (to name just a few players who have risen to stardom during the last couple of years). Well, there are good reasons for that: 1) GUITAR TECHNIQUE: Steve is a guitar virtuoso and this always helps. He basically makes a mincemeat of ‘prodigies’ like Jonny Lang. 2) GUITAR STYLE: He must have listened to an awful lot of blues, rock, soul and jazz in his formative years. He has tried it all and have absorbed what worked best for him, before arriving at where he is now. As a result you can’t immediately tell his influences when you’re listening to him. He can shuffle without sounding like SRV, which is quite an achievement, especially when comparing him to Shepherd, Duarte and Bonamassa. When he’s rocking there is probably as much British blues-rock (Jeff Beck, Jimmi Page) as Hendrix in his playing. And I believe there are equally many Fister’s own guitar patents. His riffs are both articulate and nicely twisted (this reminds me of Steve Morse, though I believe it can be Jeff Beck’s invention). So are his solos (always well composed and well placed). I find especially enjoyable this guitar trick of stretching a note, then ending it abruptly and then going on with the solo (Jeff Beck again?). On the whole this makes for a way more interesting playing than the youngsters I compare him to. I would even go as far as to say it is more intriguing and entertaining than the albums by older masters like Coco Montoya or Jimmy Thackery, since it is more varied stylistically and Steve rocks a bit harder. 3) VOCALS: Steve doesn’t try too hard to sound bluesy when he’s singing, but uses his natural tone instead. While his voice isn’t exactly powerful, there is a certain freshness and sharpness about it, which I find very appealing. I would say that vocally he sounds like a cross between Geddy Lee and Robert Plant with a pinch of Joe Strummer (the Clash) mixed in. 4) SONGS: He is a gifted composer and has a good pick for covers (three of the ten tracks). The songs are songs not just vehicles for shredding. Lots of hooks and catchy riffs here. As a lyricist Steve makes a frequent use of irony and his sense of humor (SHE AIN’T LONESOME, IN A PAST LIFE) as well as of pleasantly uplifting lines (WON’T FALL DOWN, BETTER DAYS). Musically this is an up-tempo joyful ride, very varied stylistically. My favorites include already mentioned rocker SHE AIN’T LONESOME and both “hold-on” tracks, a dramatic bluesy ballad MASTER PLAN (in the vein of my favorite Led Zeppelin track – Since I’ve Been Loving You) , a cover of the Beatles – I CALL YOUR NAME (I love that twisted guitar phrase that is played in the background) and instrumental title track DODGIN’ BULLETS (it sounds like something Dickey Betts would write for ABB in the old days and it captures the energy of Steve playing live). The other four tracks do not leave anything to be desired either! 5) PRODUCTION and INSTRUMENTATION: Everything sounds crystal-clear and there is enough space for the music to “breathe”. Steve knows that both sonically and instrumentally sometimes less is more. The bass is clearly audible and adds to the general impression. The bass players include Barend Courbois (No. 1 bass player of Holland – what a technique and inventiveness!), Stu Hamm and Jimmy Haslip. On drums and percussion we can hear Joey Pafumi (Walter Trout and the Radicals) and Tommy Aldridge (Whitesnake) among others. Some of the tracks feature two drummers, which helps to intensify the rhythmic layer. The only slow track – MASTER PLAN benefits from having Hammond organ as a texture element. The tasteful background vocals add warmth and spice to the overall sound. 6) SUMMARY: Steve Fister has succeeded in recording a blues-rock album that sounds fresh and modern without being overly slick. Catchy without being poppy. Optimistic without being silly or corny. Mostly fast paced without sounding forced. Virtuosic without mindless showing off. Deeply rooted in tradition without repeating the genre’s clichés. How many albums like that are released nowadays ?