‘THE STEEPWATER BAND’ PLAYED ’16 TONELADAS’ (PHOTOGRAPHIC REPORT)

The loud crunch of rhythm guitar and a crack of the snare drum on the downbeat was the evening call to order. The Steepwater Band is in the house, ready to rock the night away. Enter Please the Believer, a catchy, boogie rocker that started off the night. Stepping through Valencia on their six-date Spain Summer Vacation Tour earlier this week, the quartet delivered some foot-stompin’ blue rock and roll at its best. A two hour set of smokin’ original songs.

They are Eric Saylors on guitar, Joe Winters on drums, Joe Bishop on bass and Jeff Massey on guitar and lead vocals. Hailing from Chicago, their sound embodies the best of jam-rock/southern-rock/swagger-rock, harkening a love child of The Allman Brother and The Rolling Stones.

Saylors and Massey seamlessly traded guitar solos through the night. Their masterful guitar-chops were only matched by the tight-groove rhythm section. Winters keeps the drumming solid, steady and with no hype. Bishop’s bass lines are complementary to the rhythm guitar lines. Melodic with backbeat making for a bigger sound for few instruments. A chemistry that works.

Consistent throughout the evening’s repertoire of original compositions, the band offers great, catchy chorus-hooks that linger. Combined with smart chord progressions, the music is infectious. But above all they pack in energy, emotion and passion.

One highlight was their version of The Rolling Stones Midnight Rambler followed by the classic Robert Johnson Love in Vain popularized by The Stones. Saylors played lap steel guitar with such finesse he could bring tears to your eyes.

By the end of the show, after a few celebratory liquor shots were delivered by fans fortifying the moment, the vibe loosened up even more. Which fostered inviting to the stage the opening act’s drummer for some crowd-leading clapping. Followed by the opening act’s guitarist getting on stage to swap licks with Saylors and Massey for a Chuck Berry style blues boogie.

The evening ended in a hothouse, sweaty, happy exhaustion with fan’s shouting for more. Just the way a night of music should conclude.

Opening act, local rockers Whitestone Connection have become bonded compadres with Sweetwater Band and are the perfect pairing for the night. The power trio: Luciano Young: guitar, Rafa Camós: bass, and Dani González: drums… is Valencia’s answer to Cream.

Two great acts to catch the next time you need a hardy rock and roll fix.

Report by Phillip Solomonson