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“The musicianship is impeccable, with a crystalline sound and a sumptuousness that is unexpected from just a
handful of players. . . . the songs, are dense with imagery and impassioned descriptions, and recollections of
harrowing experiences. . . ” Tom Petersen, Victory Review, December 2006

“I think some of the songs are really quite extraordinary . . . I hate to promise airplay before I’ve actually recorded the programs —
I often bring in too much music and wind up having to cut stuff — but in your your case, the songs will stay for sure.” — Bob Sherman, “Woody’s Children”

There are songs that stand out from most others — songs that speak to the archetypal within us, songs that are written and sung from the deepest parts of the
human soul, songs that cross nations and cultures and transcend the times. The song “Outback of Bohemia” is one of these…

The theme, while familiar, is oh-so-achingly, poignantly, unaddressed in our time…our freedom and liberty are under assault in unprecedented ways using
unprecedented technologies.

For me the haunting symbol of “a hurricane of darkness” draws on our intuited understanding of the maelstrom of evil sweeping through our land (and so many others).

Yet the words, symbols, and passion of Steve Nebel’s lyrics are carried into your heart on the winds of the aural resonance of Kristi Nebel’s unforgettable voice,
evoking the deep compassion within all of us and stoking the embers of liberty and justice, and encouraging the millions of individual ‘candles’ maintaining the
light against the relentless encroachment of the darkness.

D Sheresh June 2, 2014

With the release of ‘Tandem’ I found an opportunity to interview Steve and Kristi Nebel. The album from Icebird Records, Steve’s label, contains many, but by no means all of my favorite Nebel compositions. ‘Wish You Were Here Waltz’ is a lovely beginning in a generous collection of original songs. This is a pleasant, lyrical love note, like a warm letter going out to someone who is missed, “…how I wish you were here.” I have been at performances where these songs were sung with such intensity that I got those chills. The guitar line is simple and responding to the melody line. ‘Great Grandfather’ begins with the guitar strains of Elizabeth Cotton’s ‘Freight Train’. The strength of his story song is personal connection to relatives. Steve’s grandfather and great grandfather were both railroad men with his great grandfather assigned to the roundhouse in Everett at the turn of the century. Grandfather had the awful task of fishing the other’s engine and body from the Stillaguamish River where it had left the bridge. One of Steve’s first projects and bands was with the Madrones, with Kristi and J.W. (John) Sparrow. Steve and Kristi had traveled to an old railroad hotel in Canada so close to the tracks; they made recordings of trains out the hotel window. Those recordings wound up between audio tracks of an album of train songs Thunder On The Highline. ‘Jesse’ starts with the classic harmony mix between Steve and Kristi. ‘Jesse’ is based on a mostly true story of two local brothers who decided to seek work overseas. Jesse went to work for an electrical contractor in Afghanistan and was promptly kidnapped by the Taliban. But these Taliban had an addiction to watching the X files and one evening while they watched, he simply slipped away until he found respite at an American army base. There is a serious beginning, but not without humor. To get there Steve’s writing takes you through poverty, unemployment, loss of house and finally estrangement. ‘Papa’ begins with folk guitar and Steve’s voice, “Papa always said he’s take it with him…those times weren’t easy, but he did alright.” The conflict between father and son is clear but forgiving. Father and son had experienced war and that shared suffering made the relationship somehow acceptable to the son. Steve and Kristi have long been supporters of causes like United for Peace for Pierce County. As a Vietnam Veteran, Steve is quiet but steadfast about his convictions. ‘Alternate Universe’ has some clever rhymes and timing. I especially like the rhyme between “fit” and “make sense of it,” (emphasis on ‘of it’). “I’ll be returning to carbon and gas, nobody gets out of here alive.” ‘County Durham’ is Nebel’s ode to North East England, “When I dream, I dream of Durham…” This is a sing-able and memorable fable of sea captain long at sea. ‘Angels of the Road’ has held me captive since I first heard it. The recording is good, but the intensity of this song sung live puts it over the top. “It’s only fate, something that you know. When the world has given up on you there’s a place where you can go…” Kristi’s beautiful voice is always powerful on this haunting poem. This tribute and thanks to friends who rescued them from a night of unavailable hotel rooms near London. Steve and Kristi were stranded twice on the Alcan highway and that isolation is in there with everything else. The Nebels began their odyssey of trips to England in 2000 when Mike Freeman suggested they look into all the clubs in the UK (Mike Freeman and Tania Opland play frequently in Europe). ‘Would You Hold My Hand’ has a wonderful hook, like many of these songs it will stick to your ribs. Steve’s guitar work is simple, perhaps understated and melodic. Kristi plays electric bass mostly, but in the early days when the boys in the band bought an upright bass, she was the only one who could figure it out. With a background in family singing, barbershop and experience in the special travel choir from the University of Idaho her voice stands out. ‘Whistlin’ in the Rain’ is a song of unemployment, dashed hopes “…two doors down from hell.” ‘If Peace Will Come’ is strong statement from two people who have marched and demonstrated against all wars everywhere. ‘Big Floppy Hats’ is a warm approach to conflict—who could be mad at someone who wears a goofy hat and oversize pants. “Everyone would wear a big floppy hat….”
Steve Nebel feels he was a rank amateur at the beginning and wrote at least 100 songs during college. They’ve paid dues which Steve sees as an effective means to learn the business and get your chops. There are nine CDs available from their website and all have some notable reviews. Next on my wish list is Bohemian Outback (2002). Also intriguing: are Caught In The Balance (1981), Taking Off (1993), Out Of The Tangled Years (1994), Birds Of Winter (1998), Nobody’s Hero (2003), Big Red Smile (2004), Sum of 2 Parts (2005), and Raven Speaks (2008).
Still more albums are out there, even if not officially released, like Kristi’s country swing “Detour” album. A Baltimore radio show of the same name uses her version of this old chestnut for it’s theme. Steve’s dream was always to be a songwriter on the road and now with 7 trips to the UK under their belt they epitomize that working couple who write and sing about it too. Other well-known Northwest musicians who have been a part of their bands and lives are David Michael and Thaddeus Spae. I’m able to catch them now and then at the Antique Sandwich Company in Tacoma. These two work in tandem and not always on the main highway, but if you can find yourself at any of their shows you won’t forget it.
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[J.W. McClure]
Music Reviews

“I’ve listened to the album quite a bit now, and I think it’s the best thing
you’ve ever put out. After years of assiduous study and practice, you have
become Jim Fosso. That’s a joke, but no joke, you have become an impressive
producer and engineer, both in your choices of arrangement and material and in
your use of outside musicians to enhance your tracks.

Predictably, I like the fast ones best. Harbor Island is a wonderful kickoff
piece — Orville’s slide playing buoys the tune and the vocals are sharp and
accurate. All of your multi-voice tracks are beautifully balanced, and the
arangements work well. Harbor Island also nicely introduces the ambiguous
love-it-hate-it tone that you have in a number of tracks — Lilian’s World,
Superman’s Dilemma, Moses, Alberta, even Bohemia, all have contradictions of
some sort as their central themes. Come to think of it, so do Love and
Washington. Ambiguous Boy.

At first I wasn’t sure about Superman — I like the Filucies version. But it’s
a rock-solid track and stays in the faux-serious country vein without so much
as cracking a wink.

Kristi kicks butt on Fishermen — she’s got a post-modern yodel in there that
almost sounds Alanis, but her tone is all hers. She’s also effective on
Bohemia. Next time give her more tracks.

Alberta is so good I wanna do it myself. The writing is sharp as a Gillette
Twinedge. “Until the sky’s as dark as one of old King George’s jails” — yes!

Another great line, from Moses — “The red man’s life is over./it’s just your
life that’s not over yet.” (apologies if I get these wrong, I’m not writing a
review here…)

I Guess It’s Love and Washington both have a kind of John Denver feeling to
them — but that’s not a bad thing. Denver was a pureblood folkie when you took
off his cowboy hat, and the traditional feel of his melodies works best in
simple campfire arrangements like yours.

Isn’t Orville a wonder? He stitches the entire album together, almost the way
he did on Bill Imhof’s project. But your own playing is great too — accurate
and relaxed and right in the pocket stylistically.

Mostly, Bohemian Outback just sounds great — smooth, clean and righteous. Good
work!” Thaddeus Spae

Steve and Kristi Nebel
“Raven Speaks”

Singers, songwriters, musicians, and peace activists Steve and Kristi Nebel (pronounced “knee-bull”) certainly make beautiful music together. The casual listener might generalize their work as folk, or easy listening, but their music is so much more than that. The couple’s creative artistry shines so brightly on this unique album, and past releases that perhaps “American music for all people” better suits the breadth of their repertoire as their socially conscious songs embrace all of humanity with compassion and warmth.
“Raven Speaks” offers so much variety you will be listening to it for a good long time. It includes 18 tracks altogether, making it a great value in which to invest your music money.
Steve Nebel wrote all but one song on the album, the Irish traditional anti-war and anti-recruiting song, “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye”, perhaps more widely known as “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”. “Beer, Beautiful Beer” he co-wrote with Toby Hanson, who plays accordion on this song, and “Down At The Neighborhood”, a happy little song that swings with Latin flavor and poignant lyrics that paint a picture of street life on the block. “Down at the neighborhood/you got your corner deli/sellin’ booze to the winos/ who drink it in the alleyway/. . . you got your little children/You got your African Americans/They got Latinos too/They’ve got Vietnamese kids/You got your native Americans/Down at the neighborhood/They got white kids too!”
Kristi Nebel is a fantastic singer, with a strong voice that is both clear and clean. Steve Nebel has a rich and genteel voice that brings to mind such great minstrels as Burl Ives, and Roger Whittaker. Best of all, the listener can understand every word of the poetic lyrics that they sing, when combined with the music, give the album its’ heft.
The couple takes turns on lead vocals, which offers nice variety. The provide backup vocals for each other as well. Sometimes they sing in harmony, as in the song “All”. Cellist John Simpson plays beautifully on this track, his instrument blending nicely with Kristi Nebel’s bass.
Numerous other musicians contributed to “Raven Speaks”, as well – Mike Friel, and Denali Williams drums; Joe Debenedictis, piano; David Rea, lead guitar; Orville Johnson, dobro, electric guitar; Country Dave Harmonson, pedal steel guitar; Mike Saunders, bodhran; and Mark Graham, Gerry Sperry, and J.W. Sparrow, harmonica.
David Michael plays harp on “The Crow.” Steve Nebel sings of the “Wily raven,” so often misunderstood: “Some say the crow is cruel and dirty/some observe that he is free/. . . sometimes the crow reminds me of me.”
Duane Niatum offers spoken word for the seventh track, his poem titled “Raven,” about the demise of traditional Native American ways of life as progress takes over in the advance of steel and concrete . . . the fire cooled to cold.” Her reads his works “Raven Dance,” and “The Dice Changer” later on the CD.
Based in Tacoma, the Nebels travel the world performing. Reviewed by Matt Nagle – The Tacoma Weekly – November 30th, 2008.

Victory Music March 2010

Kristi Nebel has great folk voice and delivers ‘Angels of the Road’ with power. It’s true that some people thrive on the musical road, some do it out of necessity, and some probably can’t imagine another way of doing things. ‘Down at the Neighborhood’ is a fun, song about the juxtaposition of religious trappings “Washing cars for Jesus..” with the mixture of winos. In this case Jesus, to a gentle calypso beat, loses big in the crap game-maybe not the same Jesus you were thinking of. My favorite is ‘All’ “Whatever it gets, you’ll get through.” The harmonies are wonderful on this, a memorable song. No matter that Steve follows the common practice of confusing crows and ravens (Okay Ravens are in the crow family), the point is these birds are hated at times, taken for granted, but survivors (and also revered in Alaska Native and American Indian culture) who will probably scavenge our very demise. ‘The Last Man Speaks’ allows that revered Raven to speak in an anthem for the potential loss of the environment, “…brought down the sun with the use of your oil.” Between some songs the narrator, Duane Niatum, recites his poems with Raven and lost earth themes. ‘Broken Arrow’ is a slow country beat with Kristi singing what would be recognized in any state or honky tonk of the union as a look back at a relationship best ended one way or another “…may I never see your lyin’ face again..” Good ol’ Country Dave Harmonson on pedal steel. This CD features some wonderful side guys: Orville Johnson, Mike Saunders, David Michael to name a few. Steve’s voice is worn but worthy on ‘Let them Knock you Down’. Steve’s strength is making clear lyrics, especially in ‘Joe and Jarhead’, not only anti-war but about the effects of war on an old soldier. The whole effort is meaningful, well produced, sometimes amusing. Look for this dedicated, local duo somewhere along the road (before the Raven gets you). [J.W. McClure]

Love the new CD. You two sound so good and the songwriting is spot on. Thanks for sharing your talents. Sara St. John

The song, “Fisherman Hardly Ever Sleeps” was written in Dutch Harbor Alaska in winter, 1988. In the rough waters of the Bering Sea, as fisherman cannot sleep, as the sea bounces the occupants of a fishing boat around a good deal. Themes of the sea, personal vision and well-drawn characters run throughout this recording. The Nebel’s voices offset each other very well, taking turns at the lead; and while performing most of the instrumental chores themselves, Stevve and Kristi have fashioned a deep and well-rounded selection of songs that make a strong statement of inner-strength. Recalls, t times, Jimmy Buffett, or Stephen Stills. Gajoob Magazine

Kristi and Steve Neel, in collaboration with J.W. Sparrow have used their own recordings of the snorting sounds of the Canadian Pacific Railroad as a starting point for their fourth release, a collection of songs about trains. In many ways Thunder on the Highline is a logical move since the previous Nebel release, Taking Off, which dealt mostly with fishing and the sea in the Northwest region. In some respects train songs are the equivalent of sea shanties for rail-riding landlubbers. Rather than rely on all the old familiar tunes, the Madrones have written a new batch of songs. There are several standards, such as an electrified version of “Wabash Cannonball”, as well as a beautiful, understated instrumental version of “Frieght Train” with trains sounds interspersed throughout. The Madrones also do a song about the heroic “Cowboy Fireman” and an evocative instrumental called “Silverado and San Antoine”. The song that stuck with me long fter hearing it is a haunting original called “Trains of Thought”. Paul E Comeau, Nova Scotia, Canada

Steve and Kristi Nebel
Caught in the Balance

“Beautiful, simply beautiful. From the guitar twangs and lovely melody of “Rainbow Eyes”, to the folky sadness of “Little Sister”, to the political statements of the slightly rocky “Fat Cat”, to the ’50s cklarinet filled satirical “Darling” – I love this music. “ – Louise Dickinson, editor, Lemon Music, Australia

Dirty Linen, Baltimore, MD

The Filucy Hootchie Kootchie Band is a five-piece group from Longbranch, WA. The mix a precarious array of styles including traditional bluegrass, music from the Celtic lands, and skiffle. A sense of humor can be heard on “Dead Man’s Chest” and in the fact that the tape begins and ends with the group holding a press conference with barnyard animals. Home proud songs and the able accordion playing of Ingeborg Rodriguez make this a fine and above all else, fun cassette.

Victory Review February, 1995

Nebel: Out of the Tangled Years
Nebel is the well-known regional duo Steve & Kristi Nebel. This fun, wild & crazy CD is truly representative of their live shows and admirably showcases their diabolical sense of humor. None of their usual sensitive acoustic views of ‘salt of the earth’ livelihoods are present on this project. Be forewarned!!!!! This is definitely not (even remotely) an acoustic folk project. “Listening to Music with the vacuum Cleaner On” is the obvious “single” with a Neil Young meets Devo meets Blondie ambiance. “Life is Fatal” is like David Byrne fronting the Cars. Both songs are rich with black humor. “I Stay at Home All Day” & “Sorority Girls” follow suit. An exception is the beautifully sensitive romantic title ballad. This is a worthy cover tune for others. “Desperation” sounds like Bruce Springsteen with industrial techno backup. (The E-mail St. Band?) There is a lot of clever satirical lyric writing present here and the over-the-top pop sounds capture some of that innocent and guilty fun that we remember from our early adolescence. The Nebel’s singing and production have never been better. With all of their volunteer efforts and participation in the acoustic/folk community in the past, their latest, albeit very electronic release still deserves notice here. Recommended to Victory Readers with closet MIDI inclinations (James Tartas)

“How did this hard working local group have time to record a CD? Birds of Winter is the best of Steve and Kristi to date. Mostly about birds, or with birds in the titles or in the lyrics, or leaving images of birds in your head, or simply sung like a bird, this flock of 15 songs is endearing and sometimes surprising. All songs are sung by Steve & Kristi backed by their signature guitar (Steve) and bass (Kristi). A few other locals join the brood: David Rea, Mike Nelson, Jeff Tassin, Joe DeBenedictis, Rick Ruskin, David Michael, Andy Rebsamen, and Robbie Morshed all lend a hand – or two – to make this recording a pleasure to the ear. From “Musharoom”, an impression of a Pike Place marketer, to the reminiscences of a grandmothers “A Long, Long 100 Years”, the album soars from fun to faith, from fancy to finality. The Birds of Winter will take you right into spring. Nicki De