Steve Cunningham - the most amazing player!

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 25 Jul 2008 3:29 pm

Discovered this player on MySpace today, and he completely freaked me out - the most amazing modern lap steel player I can remember hearing (he's equally amazing on guitar, to make matters even "worse"......).

Start with the funky "Foxy Loxy" and go from there,- the beautiful ballad "Feel", the acoustic blues with a twist "Wide Eyed Clyde", and on... - this is lap steel for the 21st Century!

http://www.myspace.com/stevecunninghamslide

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 25 Jul 2008 3:47 pm

He lives down the road from me. Nice kid, great player. If you look at the lap steel in the pic on the site you will see an aluminum piece up at the head stock. The string shafts on that thing kept fouling up. He brought it over to me and I came up with some angle aluminum installed up there to help the shafts hold better. Steve is a good guy. He monitors the Forum. Hope he sees this. Call me.

Jody Perritt · Post by **Jody Perritt** » 25 Jul 2008 4:43 pm

I had the luxury of stopping by my local pub, Mvoreens in Cartersville, GA one friday night and heard this soulful lady 'lola' play. Steve was filling in and I was freaking blown away by his guitar skills.. Then the joker broke out the lap steel, and I was AMAZED. He played the best version of amazing grace I'd ever heard in my life on the lap steel. Steve, if your out there, I'd like to hear you play again so let me know when you are playing around the NW GA area.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 25 Jul 2008 5:25 pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcuxTVBVepI

Gary Stevenson · Post by **Gary Stevenson** » 25 Jul 2008 5:29 pm

Steiner, You are so right, what an expressive player. I love his low end style of pickin. I can imagine you really get off on his style, I know I do!!!!

Tom Pettingill · Post by **Tom Pettingill** » 25 Jul 2008 5:49 pm

Cool ... good stuff

... thanks for the link Steinar

Stephan Miller · Post by **Stephan Miller** » 25 Jul 2008 6:33 pm

Phew!! Funky as anything, real versatile, tone(s) to burn, harmonically advanced....plus he's a big fan of Tom Morrell and Sacred Steel. Is there anybody else in a class with this guy? Steve Kimock, maybe?

AJ Azure · Post by **AJ Azure** » 25 Jul 2008 6:51 pm

not ecstatic about his tone but, the playing,,NICE..definitely can hear his Jeff Beck infuence

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 26 Jul 2008 2:37 am

My first reaction was a strong desire to burn my lap steels in a great sacrificial "Monterey Pop Moment" on my next gig, but then I figured I'll start practicing a lot instead.....

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 26 Jul 2008 5:21 am

Love it man !
thanx fer the heads up Steinar

Bill Leff · Post by **Bill Leff** » 26 Jul 2008 6:47 am

Unreal!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 Jul 2008 8:13 am

Steinar, thanks for "finding him" for us! Great stuff!

Jay Fagerlie · Post by **Jay Fagerlie** » 28 Jul 2008 6:50 am

Stunning stuff
I just ordered his CD
I can't wait to get it.

Talk about a breath of fresh air....man o man!

Jay

Jody Perritt · Post by **Jody Perritt** » 28 Jul 2008 9:52 am

Andy, thanks for the Amazing Grace youtube link. The version I heard started off just like youtube version, but then Lola, a strong soulful singer and keyboard player, came in and they played a funky version of it.. I never heard a funky version it, just the normal church version.

Mark Mansueto · Post by **Mark Mansueto** » 28 Jul 2008 10:54 am

Man, does this guy have a great feel for lap steel or what? I love this stuff and that "Foxy Loxy" song harkens me back to Jeff Beck's "Blow by Blow" album which is an all time favorite of mine.

Steiner, thanks for letting us in on the secret

HowardR · Post by **HowardR** » 28 Jul 2008 6:24 pm

Stephan Miller wrote: Is there anybody else in a class with this guy? ?

I would say.....the late Drew Glackin........

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 28 Jul 2008 9:42 pm

I got to see him play at Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta a couple years back. He was playing with some blues guy downstairs and I was playing with the band Hem upstairs. Amazing player and super nice guy. Very advanced harmonicly.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 29 Jul 2008 5:45 pm

What's the sound of one jaw dropping?

Too cool. Thanks for the tip, Steinar.

Peter

Steve Cunningham · Post by **Steve Cunningham** » 31 Jul 2008 8:03 am

Thanks so much for checking out my stuff, and for all of your kind words - it's been very encouraging!
Glad to be a part of the Forum.

CD's and audio samples are avaliable on my website for your consideration - Thanks!

P.S. - Special shout out to Mr. Bill Hatcher, a great musician and repair guru, who has saved many of my instruments from the scrap heap.

Bill Hatcher · Post by **Bill Hatcher** » 31 Jul 2008 11:07 am

Cunningham. Nice to see your wife lent you the $5 to join the forum. You rock.

Steve Cunningham · Post by **Steve Cunningham** » 31 Jul 2008 5:21 pm

Hey Bill - She'd only loan me half, I was hoping to get the other two-fifty from you.

Tobie Schalkwyk · Post by **Tobie Schalkwyk** » 31 Jul 2008 9:21 pm

Steve, great stuff!

Steinar Gregertsen wrote:My first reaction was a strong desire to burn my lap steels

Steinar, you just keep on doing your style (in which you're one of the best out there IMHO) because without it the world will be much poorer!

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 1 Aug 2008 2:25 pm

Thanks Tobie, after being exposed to Steve's lap steel wizardy my confidence needs all the boost it can get....

Good to see you're aboard Steve!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 1 Aug 2008 4:08 pm

Hey Steve - thanks for the message. Terrific cut - your steel playing is awesome! think you stole some good licks from Tom. He and Freddie Roulette are two players whose licks I usually can't fathom as their brains work/worked differently than mine does. Welcome to the forum.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 1 Aug 2008 4:34 pm

Nice! Welcome to the Steel Forum, Steve.