Delicate Steve

A resident of Fredon Township, New Jersey, he graduated from Pope John XXIII Regional High School in 2005; Warner Brothers had signed his band to a recording deal while he was still in high school.Bouchal, Lyndsay Cayetana. [http://www.njherald.com/article/20110422/ARTICLE/304229987 "Delicate Steve frontman happy to be home"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113171027/http://www.njherald.com/article/20110422/ARTICLE/304229987 |date=2017-01-13 }}, New Jersey Herald, April 22, 2011. Accessed January 12, 2017. "The Fredon resident began taking private piano lessons as child, but when he was given a toy guitar by his grandmother one Christmas, the young musician quickly switched to guitar.... His first brush with the professional world of music came in 2004 when his high school band was signed by Warner Brothers. Marion was a 2005 Pope John graduate."

After opening for Yeasayer at New York City's Governors Island in summer 2010 and a residency at Brooklyn club Union Pool, the band attracted media and record label attention. That year, Delicate Steve signed to Luaka Bop, who released the "Butterfly{{Citation |title=Delicate Steve – Butterfly (Official Video) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWNIajNpsAA |access-date=2023-03-24 |language=en}}" single, backed with a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Albatross" on the B-side.{{cite web|url=http://www.luakabop.com/delicate_steve/preview/ |title=Delicate Steve - Wondervisions - Preview Stream |website=Luakabop.com |date=2011-02-01 |accessdate=2017-03-15}}

On January 25, 2011, Delicate Steve's debut album, Wondervisions, was released on Luaka Bop. The entirety of the album was recorded by Marion in his bedroom and quickly gained the attention of critics, becoming a "Critics' Choice" selection of The New York Times{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/arts/music/08choice.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1332878864-RKFlnJ4to2flk8cOnIesSg|title=Critics' Choice: New CDs|newspaper=The New York Times|date=7 February 2011 |accessdate=2017-03-15 |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |last2=Ratliff |first2=Ben |last3=Chinen |first3=Nate }} as well as being included on NPR's "Favorite Songs of 2011".{{cite web|author=|url=https://www.npr.org/2011/12/14/143580858/npr-musics-100-favorite-songs-of-2011 |title=Music's 100 Favorite Songs Of 2011 |publisher=NPR |date=2011-12-14 |accessdate=2013-05-10}}

For the release of Wondervisions, author Chuck Klosterman wrote a fictional biography of Delicate Steve. The bio was originally published anonymously and was mostly taken as fact by fans and press, but was exposed in a feature news story on NPR's All Things Considered.

In July 2012, Delicate Steve's sophomore record, Positive Force, was released on Luaka Bop. The album quickly received high praise, including an 84 from Filter,{{cite web|url=http://filtermagazine.com/index.php/reviews/entry/delicate_steve/ |title=Reviews - Delicate Steve |publisher=FILTER Magazine |date=2012-07-27 |accessdate=2013-05-10}} an 8.5 from Paste,{{cite web|author=Nicole Oran |url=http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2012/07/delicate-steve-positive-force.html |title=Delicate Steve: Positive Force :: Music :: Reviews :: Paste |publisher=Pastemagazine.com |date=2012-07-04 |accessdate=2013-05-10}} a 7.6 in Pitchfork{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16919-positive-force/ |title=Delicate Steve: Positive Force | Album Reviews |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2012-08-29 |accessdate=2013-05-10}} and a 7 from Spin.{{cite web|last=Bevan |first=David |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/delicate-steve-positive-force-luaka-bop/ |title=Delicate Steve, 'Positive Force' (Luaka Bop) | SPIN | Albums | Critical Mass |publisher=SPIN |date= 2012-07-09|accessdate=2013-05-10}}

For promotion of Positive Force, a legitimate biography of the band was written by Michael Azerrad, author of Our Band Could Be Your Life.{{cite web|url=http://www.luakabop.com/positiveforce/ |title=Delicate Steve - Positive Force |website=Luakabop.com |date= |accessdate=2017-03-15}}

On September 3, 2014, the band issued a free digital sampler EP, titled Multiple Moods Sampler, via Bandcamp.{{cite web|author=Anti- Records |url=http://delicatesteve.bandcamp.com/ |title=Delicate Steve |website=Delicatesteve.bandcamp.com |date= |accessdate=2017-03-15}}

Following the release of Positive Force, the band toured with Tame Impala, Mac DeMarco, Dirty Projectors, Tune-Yards and Yeasayer. While supporting Tame Impala on their US tour, a live album was recorded at a November 13, 2014 show at the Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas. Live in Las Vegas was released on March 3, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://delicatesteve.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-las-vegas|title=Live in Las Vegas, by Delicate Steve|website=Delicate Steve|access-date=2018-02-10}}

In 2016, Delicate Steve signed to Anti- and toured with Cass McCombs. In January 2017, the band's third album, This Is Steve, was released on Anti-.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22826-this-is-steve/|title=Delicate Steve: This Is Steve Album Review|last=Berman|first=Stuart|date=January 28, 2017|website=Pitchfork.com|access-date=2017-01-28}} The album was recorded entirely by Marion at Outlier Inn studios in Woodridge, NY in 11 days.

In 2019, Delicate Steve released Till I Burn Up on Anti-. The album is marked by an exploration of experimental elements and guitar tones inspired in part by Kanye West’s vocals on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, particularly the use of distorted and Auto-Tuned room mics. Later in 2019, West would go on to sample Wally Wilder, a track from Delicate Steve’s 2012 release, Positive Force.{{cite web|url=https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/28934-steve-marion-push-the-box|title=Steve Marion: Push the Box|date=May 30, 2019|first=David|last=Von Bader|website=www.premierguitar.com|language=en|access-date=2019-10-03}}

As a guitarist, Marion has performed live on stage with Mac DeMarco, Kimbra, Built to Spill,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR7C1Zj1KPA|title=Delicate Steve's long, awesome Doug Martsch / Built To Spill story (profanity)|date=2014-03-21|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=2017-03-15}} Yeasayer, Dirty Projectors, Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, Dr. Dog,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiYXtG94LrQ|title=Delicate Steve with Dr. Dog|date=2013-03-16|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=2017-03-15}} Tune-Yards, Kyp Malone, Khaira Arby,{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2011/06/khaira_arby_and.html|title=Khaira Arby and her band returning to North America, playing some shows w/ Delicate Steve (summer 2011 dates)|author=|date=2011-06-30|website=Brooklynvegan.com|accessdate=2017-03-15}} Akron/Family, Ra Ra Riot, Fang Island, Sondre Lerche, Nicole Atkins and Seltzer Boys (a supergroup consisting of Yeasayer and Suckers members).{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2014/08/seltzer_boys_me.html|title=Seltzer Boys = members of Yeasayer, Suckers & Delicate Steve; playing 2nd show in 3 years tonight (with Penis)|author=|date=2014-08-19|website=Brooklynvegan.com|accessdate=2017-03-15}}

Marion also collaborated with Paul Simon on his 2015 album Stranger to Stranger.{{cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/delicate-steve-11/|title=Delicate Steve working with Paul Simon, releasing live album (listen), touring, playing SXSW, & NYC w/ No Chief|website=BrooklynVegan|language=en-US|access-date=2018-02-11}}

In 2017, Marion joined the Growlers as a guitarist for their City Club world tour.{{Cite news|url=http://www.anti.com/news/guitar-hero-delicate-steve-joins-the-growlers/|title=Guitar Hero Delicate Steve Joins The Growlers|work=Anti Records|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en}}

Marion collaborated with Amen Dunes to record guitar on the 2018 album Freedom. The record was met with positive critical acclaim, earning the title of “Best New Music” from Pitchfork.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/amen-dunes-freedom/|title=Amen Dunes: Freedom Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|language=en|access-date=2018-04-01}} Uproxx critic Steven Hyden wrote, "With Marion’s understated but assertive guitar acting as the album's focal point, Freedom recalls the arena-ready, widescreen sweep of U2 or the Verve".{{Cite news|url=https://uproxx.com/music/amen-dunes-freedom-review/|title=Amen Dunes' 'Freedom' Is One Of The Year's Best Indie Rock Records|date=2018-03-28|work=UPROXX|access-date=2018-04-01|language=en-US}}

In 2019, Marion joined The Black Keys as a guitarist on their “Let’s Rock” tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.self-titledmag.com/the-black-keys-live-review-target-center-minneapolis/|title=The Black Keys Unveil New Live Band At Target Center|date=2019-09-30|website=self-titled|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-03}}

• Wondervisions (2011, Luaka Bop)
• Positive Force (2012, Luaka Bop)
• This Is Steve (2017, Anti-)
• The Christmas Album (2018, Anti-)
• Till I Burn Up (2019, Anti-)
• After Hours (2022, Anti-)
• Delicate Steve Sings (2024, Anti-)

• Cowboy Stories (2017, Anti-)

• "Butterfly" 7" (2011, Luaka Bop)
• "Many Moods" digital with Zach Hill (2011, self-released)
• "Valerie" 7" with Ra Ra Riot (2012, Barsuk Records)
• "Further Out" 7 with Callers (2012, Western Vinyl)

• Live in Las Vegas (2015, self-released)

• Multiple Moods Sampler digital EP (2014, self-released)

• "I'm Just Beginning to Live" (Jonathan Richman cover) on Panache Mixtape Series - Vol. 2 (2014)
• “Hallelujah - Live” (Leonard Cohen cover) on Sincerely, L. Cohen: A Live Celebration of Leonard Cohen (2017){{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/leonard-cohen-tribute-concert-gets-digital-vinyl-release-194938/|title=Leonard Cohen Tribute Concert Gets Digital, Vinyl Release|last=Blistein|first=Jon|date=2017-08-31|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-03}}

• Yeasayer — Fragrant World (2012, Secretly Canadian)
• Saint Rich — Beyond the Drone (2013, Merge Records){{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/beyond-the-drone-mw0002572507|title=Beyond the Drone - Saint Rich {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-02-11}}
• Sondre Lerche — Please (2014, Mona){{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/09/14/347375935/first-listen-sondre-lerche-please|title=First Listen: Sondre Lerche, 'Please'|work=NPR.org|access-date=2018-02-11|language=en}}
• Anand Wilder — Break Line (2014, Secretly Canadian){{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/break-line-a-musical-by-anand-wilder-amp-maxwell-kardon-mw0002682038|title=Break Line: A Musical by Anand Wilder & Maxwell Kardon - Maxwell Kardon, Anand Wilder {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-02-11}}
• People Get Ready — Physiques (2014, Brassland){{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/physiques-mw0002664010|title=Physiques - People Get Ready {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-02-11}}
• Paul Simon — Stranger to Stranger (2015)
• Lewis Del Mar — Lewis Del Mar (2016, Columbia)
• Yeasayer — Amen & Goodbye (2016, Mute Records){{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/fragrant-world-mw0002382245|title=Fragrant World - Yeasayer {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-02-11}}
• Amen Dunes — Freedom (2018), Sacred Bones Records{{cite web|url=https://amendunes.bandcamp.com/album/freedom|title=Freedom, by Amen Dunes|website=Amen Dunes|access-date=2018-02-11}}
• Miley Cyrus — Used To Be Young (2023, Columbia)

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.delicatesteve.com/}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Delicate Steve}}

Category:American rock musicians

Category:Dirty Projectors members

Category:People from Sussex County, New Jersey

Category:Pope John XXIII Regional High School alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Luaka Bop artists

Category:Anti- (record label) artists