Anthology

Since the late ’60s, the names Allman and Neville have been synonymous with great music. This music is untamed and hard to categorize – a blending of rock, blues, and soul into a fusion that remains on its own and has been a staple of the blues and jam band music scenes for many years. When Devon Allman told his father Gregg that he was putting a band together that involved Mike Zito and Cyril Neville, his father immediately approved. Devon already knew Zito from growing up playing shows in and around St. Louis. When the two met Neville Brother and Meters vocalist and percussionist Cyril Neville in New Orleans, the Royal Southern Brotherhood was formed.

Bringing lead guitars and vocals to the Royal Southern Brotherhood is Devon Allman. Born in Texas with a famous last name, but never leaning on it, he has toured the world for the last decade with his own group, Devon Allman’s Honeytribe. His guitar style is reminiscent of his uncle Duane’s, mixed with the soulfulness of Carlos Santana and a larger-than-life rock style all his own. Grammy Award-winning New Orleans Neville Brother and Meters vocalist Cyril Neville has been called a philosopher, poet, and one of the last great Southern soul singers. Most recently he has fronted New Orleans Funk band Galactic, the Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars, The Neville Brothers, and his own group Tribe 13. 2009 Blues Music Award winner Mike Zito is one of those rare artists that can sing like nobody’s business, plays one hell of a mean Gulf Coast-style guitar, and possesses the stage presence to draw in any audience.

In December 2011, the band went into the studio to record their debut album, which is slated for release in the spring of 2012.

Steel Toed Slippers

Will Nicoll – Guitar/Vocals
Matt Moss – Drums/Vocals
Nick Maury – Bass

Will Nicoll and Matt Moss formed Steel Toed Slippers in November of 2006 after meeting at their small high school in Humboldt County, California. What started as a simple guitar and drums ‘jam’ became something very ambitious after Nicoll introduced his own songs to the group. Enlisting Nick Maury on bass, STS went about performing all over Humboldt and Mendocino counties, rapidly creating an intriguing buzz around the community. Delta blues spirit fused with singer/songwriter elements and a strong funk vocabulary made these small town boys sound like they were on to something big. At a show, one may sense some overtones of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pink Floyd, and even Tom Waits. Steel Toed Slippers had their first major show as an opening act for Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat, who also served as one of STS’ main influences. They would go on to open up for Little Feat three years later at the legendary Canyon Club in southern California.

After relocating to the LA county area to pursue their music full-time, Steel Toed Slippers hooked up with Stephen Perkins of Jane’s Addiction, where they recorded a demo in his home studio. This new era of STS songs was then brought to producer Roger Cole (Zappa Plays Zappa, The Monkees) who showed them a new level of discipline and self-development. The band toured up and down the state of California at notable venues such as the Harmony Festival, The Canyon Club, the Whiskey A Go-Go, the Roxy, the Mint, the Sacramento County Fair, and several colleges including UC Santa Barbara, Sonoma State University, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Dominguez Hills, and San Francisco City college.

Steel Toed Slippers just finished recording their newest album. The record will be self titled, “Steel Toed Slippers,” and it is due to be released in March of 2012. The project was co-produced by Kenny Gradney of Little Feat, who played bass on 6 of the eleven tracks, and 8 time grammy award winning guitarist Johnny Lee Schell from Bonnie Raitt, who played slide guitar on one of the tracks. The songs were mixed by legendary producer/engineer, Ed Cherney, and one of them, “Fading,” has already been featured by Relix Magazine on the June 2011 sampler CD of the month. Upon the release of the album, the band plans to tour the country and spend as much time on the road as possible, including a trip to Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest Music Festival.