Steve Conte

Steve Conte is one busy musician; guitarist, singer, songwriter, producer & music educator – both on tour and in studios around the world. His most recent album, The Concrete Jangle is an “Electrifying Power-Pop Gem”, with 1/2 of the songs co-written by Steve’s songwriting hero, Andy Partridge of XTC. The 10 song album, released on Little Steven Van Zandt‘s Wicked Cool Records label was recorded at Van Zandt’s studio in NYC with Conte on vocals, guitars, keyboards, percussion (+ arrangement/production), drummers Prairie Prince (XTC, The Tubes), Thommy Price (Billy Idol, Joan Jett), backing vocalists Ian Hunter, Marshall Crenshaw, Michael Imperioli, Glen Matlock and many others who helped to shape Conte’s vision; a Brit Pop/Motown/‘60s/Post-Punk ‘80s sounding record – with trashy NYC guitars, into a reality.

Says Steve: “I wanted to combine my favorite aspects of The Beatles, Kinks & Who with those of The Replacements, Pretenders & XTC. But I’m more like a soul-singer/guitar-slinger in tight pants, scarves & eyeliner.” Music has always been most important to Conte; the singing, the playing, the writing/arranging & the producing. He just happens to look pretty rock ’n’ roll while doing it all.

Four singles from the album have resonated with listeners across the globe, getting heavy airplay on the syndicated Underground Garage Radio Program & Coolest Songs In The World channel on Sirius/XM Radio. Conte quite literally has fans all over the world.

Since the album’s release Steve has found himself a genuine rock ’n’ roll band in NYC; drummer Rob Youngberg (Lotion), bassist Ben Toro (The Everyothers) & John Deley (Darlene Love) on keys, who push Conte’s music to that high energy live-level. The band recently sold out The Bowery Electric in NYC – hot on the heels of winning the Best Music Video award at the Golden Door International Film Festival for Conte’s song, “We Like It” (see the Video page on this website).

His previous album, Bronx Cheer was also released on Wicked Cool in the fall of 2021 to great critical acclaim. The album spawned 5 singles, 3 of which were featured as “Coolest Songs In The World” on the Underground Garage Radio Program. Conte produced videos for 4 of the album’s songs, which can be seen on YouTube. (see video links here on the “Media” page of this site.) Prior to Bronx Cheer, Steve released a single, “Gimme Gimme Rockaway” on the Wicked Cool label in 2017, and albums; International Cover-Up in 2016 and The Steve Conte NYC Album in 2014 (both on his own label, Thunderdog Recordings) and Steve Conte & the Crazy Truth in 2009 on Varese Sarabande/Universal Music.

Besides a rich solo-career, Conte has recently been instrumental in helping some legendary artists like the New York Dolls get their groove back. After 6 years, 4 albums and a never-ending World Tour with the Dolls, he joined up with former Hanoi Rocks front man Michael Monroe as guitarist, songwriter and backing vocalist to release 5 albums of new original material; Sensory Overdrive, Horns and Halos, Blackout States, One Man Gang and I Live Too Fast To Die Young. On the Horns And Halos album (2013 Spinefarm) Conte wrote the lion’s share of the songs and it was nominated for “Album Of The Year” by the Finnish “Grammys” as well as The Nordic Music Prize.

Steve has also worked with composer Yoko Kanno and her band The Seatbelts. He has been a featured vocalist in the studio with Yoko since 1998, performing on her solo album Song To Fly and soundtracks to anime series such as Cowboy Bebop, Ghost In The Shell and Wolf’s Rain. Those series’ have since become cult classics and earned him a rabid following. Steve has also sung on the Yakuza game, Like a Dragon: Gaiden OST and the Sonic The Hedgehog game, Sonic And The Seven Rings, on which he contributed vocals and guitar.

Since the start of his solo career, Steve has toured extensively in the USA, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Finland, Sweden & Spain and is looking forward to hitting the road hard with his new band in support of The Concrete Jangle. For booking, contact [email protected].