On The Verge

Steez

Madison, Wis.
Creepfunk Crusaders
www.creepfunk.com

The members of Steez grew up listening to a diverse group of artists including Prince, Michael Jackson, Jaco Pastorius, Bob James and Defunkt. You can hear those influences in the quintet’s originals and off-the-beaten-path cover choices during their high-energy live shows. Steez concerts feature a smidge of improvisation but they aren’t your typical jamband shows. “Once in a while we’ll give a song the [improv] treatment, but generally we try to keep our music concise and to the point,” says guitarist Steve Neary. The band describes its sound as “creepfunk” which Neary explains as “funky with creepy tendencies—tendencies coming from a multitude of some dark passages with funk, disco and electronic music all rolled into one dance-friendly result.” This past year saw the release of the group’s debut album, Creepfunk Crusade, as well as an ambitious cross-country tour. The future looks bright for the Madison-based five piece, which continues to build a loyal fanbase thanks in part to blistering performances at festivals like Summer Camp and 10,000 Lakes.