Roots Rock & Alternative Country Musician

Roots rock and alternative country singer/songwriter, Steve Vansak, was born and raised in Gary, Indiana, home of steel mills and the Jackson 5. Sandwiched between Chicago and miles of farmland, Vansak is influenced by the musical styles of Bruce Springteen, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He is a veteran of the Midwest music scene and his bands have run the gamut from rhythm and blues, folk, Motown soul, pop, and rock. All of these influences and more affect his latest release, "A Different Road".

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A Different Road, the latest offering from Steve Vansak joins my list of recordings that are too damn good and real for the music industry to ever care about. The greatest music has always been that which no one has heard of, and maybe that's a good thing, because it is the frustration of being ignored that often makes an artist great. I personally saw Steve perform songs solo from this album at a sold out music awards show recently, and his performance was so solid I didn't even miss the band. Do yourself a favor, turn off the radio and turn onto A DIFFERENT ROAD.
--Pete Berwick

Sounds really great! The harmonies fill out the music and I love the lyrics and melodies. Reminds me of like Tom Petty mixed with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Rock On!
--Brandy Lynn

A Different Road

The sophomore release from the singer/songwriter raises the bar even higher than the debut. The production is sonically rich, while still keeping a homespun rootsiness to the songs. The ten track CD features the Tom Petty style sounds of "Rocks and Bone" and the acoustic angst rock of "Mountain of Pain" to the street soul, saxophone-laced "Peace with the Night". Lyrically, the songs have never been more personal. From the tension-filled tale of domestic abuse in "Battle Ground", to the Pearl Jam influenced thunder of the title track, Vansak is ably backed by the Joe Roberts Band (Bill Hayden - piano & organ, Mike Sluga - drums, Aaron Yakovetz - bass) who keep pace with the musical diversity. Incredibly, everything sounds cohesive - a real start to finish, honest to goodness album. Check out the black sheep character in "The Best" - a heart breaking, car thieving low life, then take a look around your favorite local hangout, as the nah-nahs of the chorus ring out in your head. "A Different Road" was voted Top Album and Best Album Artwork by the readers and editors of Midwest Beat Magazine in 2003. Housed in a beautifully packaged digipak, with an 8 page lyric booklet, the album is high quality in sight and sound.

Roots Rock & Alternative Country Music Album
Listen to
"Rocks And Bone"
Lo-Fi Hi-Fi

Permanent Red

Permanent Red is the debut CD from Steve Vansak and the Joe Roberts Band and it packs a wallop, especially in its newly remastered version which features three bonus tracks - "Back to Indiana" (an alternative country raveup), "Loose Ends" (a garage/pop kiss off) and "I'm the Man" (a retro-cool, roots rock ode to male ego run amuck). Vansak and the band rock hard on the explosive Led Zeppelin-meets-Bruce Springsteen "I Reach Out", with its paradoxical lyrics of isolation and brotherhood. "Naked and Slow" is quite simply an erotic poem set to John Mellencamp-like Americana rock music. In yet another stylistic turn, 70's funk horns appear on "Testify", with an opening soul scream from Vansak that begs to be heard at peak volume. In another retro outing, bassist Aaron Yakovetz brings an innovative groove to the disco/motown pop of "Dancin' with the House on Fire". Steve Vansak and the Joe Roberts Band hail from Gary, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL and can be found on many Midwest stages. Vansak is the sole author of all songs, sings lead vocals and handles all guitar duties.

Listen to
"Testify"
Lo-Fi Hi-Fi