Los Angeles, Calif.
*Not Just Kid Rock *
www.steeltoedslippers.com

Most kids spend their high-school years studying for standardized tests and preparing for college. Humboldt, Calif.-based teens Will Nicoll (guitar) and Matt Moss (drums) focused their energy on making music together. The result of that creative exploration, with the addition of bassist Nick Maury, is Steel Toed Slippers. The young band (Moss is only 19) quickly recognized the limitations of Humboldt County. Following Nicoll’s high school graduation, he and Moss struck out for LA, where they caught the ears of such music luminaries as Kenny Gradney (Little Feat) and Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction). The members’ musical training comes through clearly in their country-inflected power-trio blues. The songwriting belies the musicians’ age, covering such heavy topics as Nicoll’s older brother’s loss of a limb in Iraq, an event that occurred while Nicoll was a high school freshman, which was “that real emotional jolt that started me on writing songs.” Bolstered by tight, solidly-performed instrumentation, Nicoll, in particular, stands out with his muscular guitar licks driving his compositions. The band has just released their self-titled debut LP, available for free via Bandcamp.

Most kids spend their high-school years studying for standardized tests and preparing for college. Humboldt, Calif.-based teens Will Nicoll (guitar) and Matt Moss (drums) focused their energy…