After Hours Charts on Roots Music Report
After Hours charts at #8 on the Top 50 Blues releases and #4 on the Roots Music report New York Artists chart. Thanks to all the DJ's for their support.
Praise for After Hours from Blues programmers.
“ l love the sound of classic blues and you my friend have that sound nailed down. Your guitar sounds crisp and elegant, definitely from the old school of Chicago-meets-West Coast. With a tight group of musicians including Ernest Lane and his keys, “After Hours” is a must listen disc for every serious blues aficionado.”
Przemek Draheim, Polskie Radio PiK
“Steve, just a quick note to let you know I am really enjoying programming After Hours. What a really fine release to hit us blues programmers with so early in the year. Look for quick chart action in Living Blues.”
Mike Reize, WDPS
“Steve Grills has veteran pianist Ernest Lane in his band - Steve’s new album is a real gem that sadly will get over looked because he refuses to showboat his guitar playing.“
Gary Blue (Hearn), Star Blues, Star Radio , Cambridge England
Thankfully, Gary’s prediction has not come true, with all the airplay After Hours has gotten so far.
Praise for After Hours from Blues programmers.
“ l love the sound of classic blues and you my friend have that sound nailed down. Your guitar sounds crisp and elegant, definitely from the old school of Chicago-meets-West Coast. With a tight group of musicians including Ernest Lane and his keys, “After Hours” is a must listen disc for every serious blues aficionado.”
Przemek Draheim, Polskie Radio PiK
“Steve, just a quick note to let you know I am really enjoying programming After Hours. What a really fine release to hit us blues programmers with so early in the year. Look for quick chart action in Living Blues.”
Mike Reize, WDPS
“Steve Grills has veteran pianist Ernest Lane in his band - Steve’s new album is a real gem that sadly will get over looked because he refuses to showboat his guitar playing.“
Gary Blue (Hearn), Star Blues, Star Radio , Cambridge England
Thankfully, Gary’s prediction has not come true, with all the airplay After Hours has gotten so far.
After Hours
New release from Toogaloo Records
After Hours is the highly anticipated first release from blues guitarist Steve Grills.
It serves as a tribute to the great guitarists who have inspired Steve to play including Freddie King, Albert Collins, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Pee Wee Crayton, Earl Hooker, Magic Sam, and Ike Turner. Steve and his band draw their repertoire from these and other artists, giving contemporary audiences the opportunity to discover the vitality of the music of these legendary and influential musicians.
Featured on the recording is legendary pianist Ernest Lane. Ernest’s career reaches back to 1949 when, while still in his teens, he played behind Robert Nighthawk on his recordings Sweet Black Angel and Anna Lee Blues on the Aristocrat label (which later became Chess Records). Blues scholars consider these recordings with Nighthawk to be among the finest Post-War Chicago blues recordings ever made.Ernest later worked with Earl Hooker, Jimmy Nolan, and Ike and Tina Turner. Ike and Ernest were childhood friends and learned to play piano together. Also featured is Steve’s long-time friend Joe Beard, singing the Freddie King classic, I Love the Woman.
For Steve, the Blues has been a life long journey. As a youngster, he heard the music of Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, and Lightnin' Hopkins from his father's record collection. Through the Beatles, Steve discovered Chuck Berry and he has not looked back since. He has sought out the roots of Rock and Roll, discovering many great artists who have influenced him. Primarily among these are Robert Lockwood Jr., Earl Hooker, Freddie King, and Albert Collins. Steve became friends with Robert Lockwood Jr. after meeting him in 1978. In 1992, Robert invited Steve and his band to perform at his Legendary Blues Festival near Cleveland, Ohio. Steve later recorded with Robert on Shakin Smith's CD Harmonica Wizard. Steve was able to catch Albert Collins live on his many tours through the area. Well known to anyone lucky enough to have made his acquaintance, Albert was always very warm and sociable.
Steve appeared alongside Ernest at the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival as part of a tribute to Robert Nighthawk, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. Steve is very grateful to have had the opportunity to record with Ernest Lane. “It is quite a thrill to record with a man who has worked with the likes of Earl Hooker, Robert Nighthawk, Ike Turner, Houston Stackhouse, and Jimmy Nolan. Ernest has kept musical company with some very heavy cats” says Grills.
Also supporting Steve on this recording are Steve Gomes on electric bass and Mike Plouffe on drums. Gomes, a well respected sideman, is part of the Severn Records studio band, appearing on many of their releases. Plouffe is a long-time friend and musical partner of Steve’s who has worked with Larry Davis and Johnny Rawls.
“ Grills is perfection on the guitar, and he plays with equal parts reverence, accuracy, and guts. “
Frank Deblase, City Newspaper
It serves as a tribute to the great guitarists who have inspired Steve to play including Freddie King, Albert Collins, Johnny “Guitar” Watson, Pee Wee Crayton, Earl Hooker, Magic Sam, and Ike Turner. Steve and his band draw their repertoire from these and other artists, giving contemporary audiences the opportunity to discover the vitality of the music of these legendary and influential musicians.
Featured on the recording is legendary pianist Ernest Lane. Ernest’s career reaches back to 1949 when, while still in his teens, he played behind Robert Nighthawk on his recordings Sweet Black Angel and Anna Lee Blues on the Aristocrat label (which later became Chess Records). Blues scholars consider these recordings with Nighthawk to be among the finest Post-War Chicago blues recordings ever made.Ernest later worked with Earl Hooker, Jimmy Nolan, and Ike and Tina Turner. Ike and Ernest were childhood friends and learned to play piano together. Also featured is Steve’s long-time friend Joe Beard, singing the Freddie King classic, I Love the Woman.
For Steve, the Blues has been a life long journey. As a youngster, he heard the music of Big Bill Broonzy, Leadbelly, and Lightnin' Hopkins from his father's record collection. Through the Beatles, Steve discovered Chuck Berry and he has not looked back since. He has sought out the roots of Rock and Roll, discovering many great artists who have influenced him. Primarily among these are Robert Lockwood Jr., Earl Hooker, Freddie King, and Albert Collins. Steve became friends with Robert Lockwood Jr. after meeting him in 1978. In 1992, Robert invited Steve and his band to perform at his Legendary Blues Festival near Cleveland, Ohio. Steve later recorded with Robert on Shakin Smith's CD Harmonica Wizard. Steve was able to catch Albert Collins live on his many tours through the area. Well known to anyone lucky enough to have made his acquaintance, Albert was always very warm and sociable.
Steve appeared alongside Ernest at the 2009 Chicago Blues Festival as part of a tribute to Robert Nighthawk, marking the 100th anniversary of his birth. Steve is very grateful to have had the opportunity to record with Ernest Lane. “It is quite a thrill to record with a man who has worked with the likes of Earl Hooker, Robert Nighthawk, Ike Turner, Houston Stackhouse, and Jimmy Nolan. Ernest has kept musical company with some very heavy cats” says Grills.
Also supporting Steve on this recording are Steve Gomes on electric bass and Mike Plouffe on drums. Gomes, a well respected sideman, is part of the Severn Records studio band, appearing on many of their releases. Plouffe is a long-time friend and musical partner of Steve’s who has worked with Larry Davis and Johnny Rawls.
“ Grills is perfection on the guitar, and he plays with equal parts reverence, accuracy, and guts. “
Frank Deblase, City Newspaper