Steve Hanson

I am an aspiring singer, guitarist and songwriter who also plays bass, drums and keyboard. My music is an amalgamation of my experiences and influences, from Cat Stevens to The Clash to RATM to Bob Marley. If my music were a box of chocolates, you wouldn't find any 2 with the same taste. I am a solo artist because after my previous band disbanding and moving to a new city, and yet to find musicians to band with, I've decided to do-it-all myself. I'm performing newer original material that has received consistent positive response at open mics, a September gig at Absinthe in Hamilton ON and from friends, family, co-workers and strangers.

I play live in the Hamilton GTA and Brantford regions and I love being on-stage. There is no bigger high than playing your own songs on a stage to a venue full of people, especially when they sing/hum along. Special Moment: The very first gig I ever played was in terrible punk band when I was 15 at a Brantford venue called J's Place. I decided to go on-stage sans-pants (RCHP-inspired idea) and in the middle of a song, a member of the audience pulled down my boxers. I finished the song, moved my guitar aside and put my drawers back on. Lesson Learned: Pants are essential when the crowd is able to jump on-stage.

I am influenced by all music I listen to in some way or another, which includes bands from many styles ranging from Simon and Garfunkel and Cat Stevens to The Clash and NOFX to Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy. I try to make my music reflective of my diverse musical tastes by writing my original material in whichever style or genre I find best reflects the message and mood of the song.

Fender Telecaster Squier Telecaster Squier Stratocaster Simon hollow-body Alice acoustic

20-60 minutes and can include any of the following original material: A Perfect Night Innocent Until Proven Guilty Insomnia Is It Worth It? Only Home Steve Hanson In Transit Sticky Fingers Take My Hand Take Your Time Until Our Consciousness Awakes Welcome To 1984 Covers I perform are : Imagine - John Lennon Working Class Hero - John Lennon Everlong - Foo Fighters Creep - Radiohead Saturday Night - Misfits/Michael Graves Leaving On A Jet Plane - John Denver Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash Hurt - Johnny Cash If You Could Read My Mind - Gordon Lightfoot Puff The Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul and Mary This Land Is Your Land - Woodie Guthrie Where Did You Sleep Last Night? - Huddy Leadbelly All Along The Watchtower - Bob Dylan What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong Songs for Children Performances If You Want to Sing Out - Cat Stevens Insomnia - Original Ordinary Day - Great Big Sea Puff The Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul and Mary This Land Is Your Land - Woodie Guthrie An example of sets I may perform for different venues or audiences: Variety Set List (Acoustic/Clean Electric) Steve Hanson In Transit Insomnia Creep (cover) Take My Hand Sticky Fingers A Perfect Night Working Class Hero (cover) Only Home Take Your Time Is It Worth It? Encore: Everlong, Where Did You Sleep Last Night? (both covers) Rockin Set List Steve Hanson In Transit Welcome To 1984 Only Home Sticky Fingers A Perfect Night All Along The Watchtower (cover) Take Your Time Is It Worth It? Encore: This Land Is Your Land, Imagine (both covers) Café Set List Steve Hanson In Transit Take Your Time Insomnia Imagine (cover) A Perfect Night Sticky Fingers Hurt (cover) Take My Hand "Folk" Set List Insomnia Only Home This Land Is Your Land (cover) A Perfect Night Take My Hand All Along The Watchtower (cover) Take Your Time Where Did You Sleep Last Night? (cover) Encore: Leaving On A Jet Plane, If You Could Read My Mind (covers) Childrens Set List If You Want to Sing Out - Cat Stevens Insomnia - Original Ordinary Day - Great Big Sea Puff The Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul and Mary This Land Is Your Land - Woodie Guthrie If You're Happy and You Know It Standard? Baby Beluga Raffi