A marginally successful musician (regionally), Dan Steely has played in a number of Pacific Northwest bands (punk, jazz, soul, country and otherwise), but he never sang lead – until now.
Steely’s journey to the microphone was motivated by his rehearing of Electric Light Orchestra’s 1973 song “Showdown” with 21st century ears. Realizing that the original song’s lyrics about a breakup – and its refrain of “It’s raining all over the world” – could be cunningly transposed to represent the annus horribilis that was 2020, Steely set to work.
With a voice that radiates shades of Nick Cave, Clint Eastwood and the Cookie Monster, and music that combines an unabashed corruption of ’70’s swamp, ’90’s industrial and ’20’s unease, Steely and his crew stumbled on their sound.
Team Steely features Jeff Lorien on electric guitars, Matt Setter on Fender bass, Fumi Tanaka on keyboards, Damien Garcia on harmonica and Garth Brandenburg playing acoustic guitar. Steely’s most notable addition is Theresa, the chanteuse from Seattle’s fabled retro-lounge mavens Nightcaps, who sings the multi-layered harmonies on both tracks.
In late 2020 the musicians worked remotely to craft the dense hook-laden A-side. The B-side, Steely’s yacht rock-inspired remix of the flip, “Showdown (DJ Yot Roc Mix),” showcases an outstanding saxophone solo by Seattle jazz-man Brian Hartman.
The “Showdown” music video, shot in Steely’s rough and tumble neighborhood of White Center, Washington, takes the showdown allegory to another level, painting the tumultuous events of 2020 and foretelling a darker showdown to come.
Look for the full-length Dan Steely album soon, just when the 4th booster hits the general public.