Aunt
Flossie is a high-velocity rock quartet of contradictions: The band's music blends
today's haunting, modern-rock style melodies with aggressive power chords from
the heavy-metal heyday of the 1970s.
Dave
Steffen on drums and Mark Weaver on bass lay a thick rhythmic pipeline that sends
the shimmering guitar work of Jason Nelson coursing through each song. Lead vocalist
Matt Roberts unleashes vocals in a highly expressive range that adds color and
texture to the band's material. Aunt Flossie moves smoothly from choruses of full-bodied
power chords to thick landscapes of technical musicianship, accompanied by vocals
that alternately tiptoe, stomp and screech around an emotional bedrock of love,
anger and betrayal.
Based
in Austin, Texas, Aunt Flossie has enjoyed a string of recent successes this year:
Austin's
rock radio legend KLBJ-93.7FM chose Aunt Flossie to record two songs for the station's
annual "Local Licks Live" CD from among a 70-band competition.
Aunt
Flossie won this year's best new band competition at the internationally renowned
SouthBySouthwest music festival in Austin-
They've
opened for well-known headliners including Foo Fighters, Collective Soul, The
Toadies, Caroline's Spine and Econoline Crush.
In
June of 1999, Aunt Flossie placed second in a national rock band search sponsored
by Ernie Ball.
Also
this year, Fibes Drum Company struck an endorsement deal with the band.
Matt Roberts Matt comes
from a musical family. His mother taught him to sing and play piano, and Matt
performed in musicals and plays in his Rockford, Ill., high school and later at
Western University (?), where he enrolled on a full scholarship for vocals, violin
and theatre. When he found out his friends had formed a rock band and were auditioning
for a lead singer, Matt ditched college and signed up with Aunt Flossie. He admits
he was a little lax attending the first few rehearsals, but then, he says, he
was the only band member at the time with any talent. Matt writes all of his own
material, including the smart-aleck banter he uses between songs at Aunt Flossie
shows.
Lead Guitar Rig: 79
Les Paul custom, Les Paul studio, Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifer, 4/12 Marshall reissue
Cabinet Click
here for Matt's interview.
Dave
Steffen Dave
Steffen got his start in music like most kids. He joined the middle school band.
But Dave was no ordinary 12 year old. His talent was soon apparent and quickly
earned him an invitation to join the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corp. There
he spent two summers touring the Midwest. After graduation, Dave briefly performed
with the Rockford (Illinois) Symphony Orchestra. He was also invited to join the
Rock Valley College Jazz Ensemble. Meanwhile, as fate would have it, Dave's high
school buds, Dean Rusk and Jay Nelson were forming a band. Although rock is a
far cry from classic and jazz, Dave took it all in stride and never missed a beat.
But it seems music isn't his only talent.
When Dave isn't performing, he can usually be found scuba diving, studying to
get his pilots license, or playing with his beloved computer.
Drums: Fibes Custom
Maple: 22" Kick, 13" Snare, 18" Floor Tom, 10" Rack Tom, 8"
Rack Tom
Jason
Nelson Jay
fondly remembers purchasing his first album in third grade: High Voltage by AC/DC.
After being blown away by the sound, Jay knew he wanted to be in a rock band.
Soon, Jay learned to play piano and guitar, and joined three different choirs
(yes, he really was that good).
His
mom likes to tell the story about a teacher who told her that son Jason was a
"beautiful singer." Perhaps he was switched at birth, 'cause no one
else in the family possesses one iota of musical talent. No matter. Jay's musical
influences are as mysterious as the source of his muse. They include the Cure,
Jane's Addiction, Ministry and Metallica.
Aunt Flossie is a high-velocity rock quartet of contradictions: The band's music blends today's haunting, modern-rock style melodies with aggressive power chords from the heavy-metal heyday of the 1970s.
Matt Roberts
Jason
Nelson 
