Steel Train
| Company type | Independent |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Headquarters | New Jersey , United States |
| Products | Indie rock music, albums, EPs |
| Website | https://myspace.com/steeltrain |
Steel Train was an indie rock ensemble hailing from New Jersey. Their live performances included appearances at prominent festivals such as Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, and the Coachella. The band also featured on television programs like Late Night with Conan O'Brien and Late Show with David Letterman. Throughout their career, they toured alongside artists including Tegan and Sara, Fun, Ben Folds, O.A.R., Finch, and the Get Up Kids. Their concluding concert took place at the Bowery Ballroom in January 2013.
2001–2004: Formation and Early Years
Steel Train was established in 2001 by musicians who initially connected during the mid-1990s at The Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, New Jersey. The founding lineup consisted of Jack Antonoff (vocals, guitar), Daniel Silbert (vocals, guitar, sampler), Evan Winiker (vocals, bass), and Matt Goldman (vocals, guitar), all of whom had backgrounds in hardcore and punk music scenes. Their first live show occurred on September 15, 2001, at Club Krome, where they performed alongside future labelmates Allister and The Early November.
The group secured a deal with Drive Thru Records/MCA and produced their initial EP, For You My Dear (2003), recorded at Hans Zimmer's Media Ventures Studios in Los Angeles under the guidance of producer Jon Naclerio. After releasing the EP, Steel Train supported Finch on a nationwide tour in early 2003 and later opened for Rx Bandits in July of the same year. Their touring activities extended into early 2004 across the East Coast and Midwest regions.
2005–2009: Twilight Tales From the Prairies on the Sun and Trampoline
Following extensive touring schedules, Steel Train moved to San Francisco to record their first full-length album with producer Steven Barncard, noted for his work with Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Joe Cocker. Released on April 19, 2005, Twilight Tales From The Prairies on the Sun included guest performances by mandolinist David Grisman and pedal steel guitarist Gene Parsons (affiliated with The Flying Burrito Brothers and The Byrds).
In 2006, Steel Train broadened their festival engagement by appearing at Bonnaroo, Wakarusa, Warped Tour, and SXSW. After two years of consistent touring, original members Matt Goldman and Matthias Gruber departed to pursue alternative career paths. Subsequently, Antonoff and Winiker relocated to Silverlake, California to produce the band's sophomore album, Trampoline, collaborating with producer Mark Trombino. The lineup expanded with three new additions: Jon Shiffman, Justin Huey, and Daniel Silbert—who transitioned from tour manager to band member.
The October 2007 release of Trampoline achieved a debut position of No. 10 on Billboard's Heatseeker Chart. To promote the album, Steel Train toured alongside acts such as Ace Enders and A Million Different People, Socratic, Kevin Devine, The Starting Line, Bayside, and Forgive Durden. Their festival presence continued with key performances at Lollapalooza and their third appearance at Bonnaroo.
In the summer of 2008, Steel Train made their national television debut on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Following a tour with The Hush Sound, they entered the studio to record their third album with producer Steve McDonald (known for Be Your Own Pet and Fun). During this time frame, the band ended their contract with Drive Thru Records by buying out their agreement and independently financed their new project. In winter 2009, Steel Train supported Tegan and Sara on a United States tour and appeared at the Coachella Music Festival held in Indio, California.
2010–2013: Steel Train era and dissolution
During this period, the group embarked on extensive tours, sharing stages with artists such as Tegan and Sara, Ben Folds, and Fun. They also appeared at the 2010 Coachella Music Festival and made their second national television performance on the Late Show with David Letterman. Their third studio album, Steel Train, was released on June 29, 2010 via their independent label, Terrible Thrills. Upon release, it reached No. 8 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Chart, No. 4 on the New Artists Chart, and secured a spot within the top 50 on the independent albums ranking.
In June 2010, Steel Train unveiled a companion project titled Terrible Thrills Vol. 1, which featured female musicians interpreting all 12 tracks from the album. The contributors included Tegan and Sara, Scarlett Johansson, Deradoorian of Dirty Projectors, Amanda Palmer, Anna Waronker from That Dog, Alia Shawkat, Charlotte Caffey of The Go Go's, among others.
Their touring schedule continued with performances on Yo Gabba Gabba! and tours alongside O.A.R., Fun, and the Get Up Kids. In August 2010, they appeared on Anything Anything with Rich Russo. Notably, on November 1, 2010, Steel Train became the inaugural musical act on Conan O'Brien’s new program, Conan, during a special episode titled "Show Zero" alongside actor Jim Parsons.
In early 2011, the band featured on NPR’s World Cafe and Free at Noon. They returned to Conan on January 11 to perform their single "You and I Undercover". Later that year, they opened for MGMT at Sunfest in West Palm Beach, Florida, on April 30. On November 13, 2012, Jack Antonoff revealed that there were no immediate plans to continue with the band, announcing a final performance scheduled for January 5, 2013 at the Bowery Ballroom. Steel Train briefly reunited for the Shadow of the City Festival in 2016.
Band members
| Member | Years active | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Antonoff | 2002–2013 | Vocals, rhythm guitar, drums, piano |
| Evan Winiker | 2002–2013 | Bass guitar, backing vocals |
| Daniel Silbert | 2006–2013 | Lead guitar, backing vocals, sampler |
| Jon Shiffman | 2006–2013 | Drums, percussion |
| Justin Huey | 2008–2013 | Vocals, piano, Wurlitzer |
| Matthias Gruber | 2002–2006 | Drums, percussion |
| Matthew Goldman | 2002–2006 | Guitar, backing vocals |
| Scott Irby-Ranniar | 2002–2008 | Vocals, piano, Wurlitzer |
Studio albums
| Album title | Release information | Highest chart rankings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Heatseekers | US Independent | ||
| Twilight Tales from the Prairies of the Sun |
|
— | — |
| Trampoline |
|
10 | 34 |
| Steel Train |
|
8 | 48 |
Extended plays
| Title | Release information |
|---|---|
| For You My Dear |
|
| 1969 |
|
Compilation albums
| Title | Release information |
|---|---|
| Terrible Thrills, Vol. 1 |
|
Singles
- Bullet (2010)
- Turnpike Ghost (2010)