Was really bummed to hear the news about Steve, my old band played a bunch of shows with the Sweeps back in the day, they were always incredible, just a force of nature. There was one show at the Knitting Factory where for some insane reason they played before us, and while going on after them was terrifying it was also a great inspiration, we played as hard as we ever did.

I didn't know him well, but there was one show at Princeton where I remember sitting and talking with him for a half hour and he really made an impression as a super nice, genuine dude who really listened and engaged with people. There's so much I've forgotten from those days but that conversation always stuck with me.

RIP.

Not familiar with the Sweeps but I LOVE that Check Engine record.

RIP

My old band played with STLJ a few times way back, and it was always incredible to watch them do their thing. My interactions with Steve were always genuine and memorable, and just came across as a guy with a lot of life in him. I remember bumping into him at the fireside years later and him remembering exactly who I was - that kinda small thing that separates the great folk from the good.

Depression and feelings of hopelessness can hit any of us, no matter how good we seem to be doing from the outside. Please think about sharing resources for those in need when you share these memories of Steve.

MoreSpaceEcho wrote: Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:34 pm I didn't know him well, but there was one show at Princeton where I remember sitting and talking with him for a half hour and he really made an impression as a super nice, genuine dude who really listened and engaged with people. There's so much I've forgotten from those days but that conversation always stuck with me.

RIP.

Was this Princeton show in 2007 (or so) at the Terrace Club?

mdc wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:41 pm Depression and feelings of hopelessness can hit any of us, no matter how good we seem to be doing from the outside. Please think about sharing resources for those in need when you share these memories of Steve.

The few larger sites that wrote about it cited "following a brief illness" but not much detail beyond that. Maybe I missed something; not that it changes much in the end but that would be extra hard to take.

My understanding is that he died by suicide.

Man that's so sad.

jonsolomon wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 3:07 pm Was this Princeton show in 2007 (or so) at the Terrace Club?

It was at the Terrace Club but way earlier, 2000 or 2001. With Sweep and the Dismemberment Plan. Very fun times. I had so much more energy then....

Chipping in to say that as a young person in a band, most touring bands - particularly American touring bands (as a Brit) - seemed to pride themselves on an efficient, almost cold commitment to the duty of playing. They seemed like they were from another universe and despite playing shows with lots of them and putting a fair few gigs on for them it was rare that a band would cross that divide and make a human connection. Sweep really weren't like that - it seemed to be all about meeting people for them and they had no pretenses, no self-conscious sense of 'cool' that kept that at arms length. Then they'd go out onstage and be impossible to follow every time. I know lots of folks in the UK especially that were heavily influenced not only by their music but how they carried themselves and interacted with others. Seeing so many people share stories about Steve and the band has been lovely to read, I just wish it wasn't in such terribly sad circumstances. RIP Steve.

Burt Bacharach.

Natural causes at a ripe old age, but sad nonetheless.

Burt Bacharach.

Natural causes at a ripe old age, but still sad nonetheless.