Laura Stevenson

Stevenson was raised in Nassau County, New York. Her grandfather, Harry Simeone, was a successful pianist and composer whose works included "The Little Drummer Boy" and "Do You Hear What I Hear?". His wife, Margaret McCravy, was a singer for the jazz bandleader Benny Goodman. After leaving home for college, Stevenson began both playing guitar and writing songs.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thedelimagazine.com/band-interview.php?artist=laura-stevenson-and-the-cans|title=Laura Stevenson & The Cans - Interview|last=Antonetti|first=Devon|date=June 20, 2013|website=thedelimagazine.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723003523/http://www.thedelimagazine.com/band-interview.php?artist=laura-stevenson-and-the-cans|archive-date=July 23, 2013|access-date=2016-12-12}}

Growing up in Rockville Centre, Stevenson befriended members of the Arrogant Sons of Bitches. After they disbanded in 2005, she was appointed keyboard player for the lead singer Jeff Rosenstock's new project, Bomb the Music Industry!. At this point, she had written a number of songs and was performing solo. While recording and touring with Bomb the Music Industry!, she began to piece together her own band.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2011/03/laura_stevenson_and_the_cans_d.html|title=Laura Stevenson and the Cans discover life after punk|newspaper=cleveland.com|access-date=2016-12-12}}

Initially, Stevenson's band consisted primarily of members of Bomb the Music Industry!. In summer 2007, Stevenson met Michael Campbell of the Long Island punk band Latterman who began playing bass guitar in her band.{{Cite web|url=http://www.quoteunquoterecords.com/qur019.htm|title=--::--::QUOTE UNQUOTE RECORDS::ROCK AND ROLL FOR DONATIONS::--::--|website=Quoteunquoterecords.com|access-date=2016-12-12}} Alex Billig was added on trumpet and accordion, and a year later Stevenson began working on her first studio recording.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Asian Man Records released "A Record" on April 13, 2010, on LP and CD. The group spent more than half of that year on tour in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Western Europe in various line-ups with Bomb the Music Industry!, Maps & Atlases, Cults, among others.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cmj.com/feature/qa-laura-stevenson/|title=Interview: Laura Stevenson Talks New Album And Dropping "The Cans"|date=2013-04-25|newspaper=CMJ|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-12}}

The band officially signed to the New Jersey independent label Don Giovanni Records in November 2010,[http://news.dongiovannirecords.com/2010_11_01_archive.html Don Giovanni Welcomes Laura Stevenson & The Cans!] and their second album, Sit Resist, was released on April 26, 2011.[http://www.riotactmedia.com/artists/lstevenson.php Riot Act Media Roster] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005205759/http://www.riotactmedia.com/artists/lstevenson.php |date=October 5, 2011 }}

Stevenson's third full-length album, Wheel, was produced and mixed by Kevin S. McMahon at Marcata Recording.{{Cite news|url=http://www.boulderweekly.com/article-11737-success-breeds-new-wheels.html|title=Success breeds new wheels - Boulder Weekly|last=Sculley|first=Alan|date=2013-10-03|newspaper=Boulder Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-12}} It was released on April 23, 2013, on Don Giovanni Records. Pitchfork Media had previously premiered the first single from the album, "Runner".{{Cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14836-runner/|title="Runner" by Laura Stevenson Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|access-date=2016-12-12}} Stevenson toured the U.S. in April and May in support of the album.{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/laura-stevenson-field-mouse-the-droids-were-looking-for,1252913.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204155/http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/laura-stevenson-field-mouse-the-droids-were-looking-for,1252913.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-03-04|title=Laura Stevenson, Field Mouse, The Droids We're Looking For|website=Washingtonpost.com|access-date=2016-12-12}}

On October 30, 2015 Stevenson released her fourth album, Cocksure, on Don Giovanni Records, and the band toured in the United States and Europe in support of the release.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2015/08/laura-stevenson-torch-song-cocksure-stream/|title=Laura Stevenson Announces 'Cocksure' LP With Stormy 'Torch Song'|website=Spin.com|access-date=2019-06-03}}

On December 7, 2016, Stevenson released her first live album, recorded at Vera Club and released it via Quote Unquote Records, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Planned Parenthood.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/LauraStevensonMusic/photos/a.371917216698.154596.241587201698/10154144936506699/?type=3|title=Laura Stevenson - Very excited to announce our NEW LIVE... {{!}} Facebook|website=Facebook.com|access-date=2016-12-12}}

Stevenson's fifth studio album, The Big Freeze, was released on March 29, 2019 and debuted on the Billboard charts at #11 Alternative New Artist Albums, #35 for Heatseekers Albums, and #41 for Current Alternative Albums. Her sixth album, Laura Stevenson, was released on August 6, 2021.

In 2023, Stevenson embarked on an 11-date tour in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of Wheel, performed reimagined renditions of the album's tracks. Stevenson was accompanied by an orchestral ensemble on the tour.https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/laura-stevenson/laura-stevenson-looks-back-on-10-years-of-wheel

{{when|date=May 2018}}

• Laura Stevenson: guitar/vocals
• Mike Campbell: bass guitar
• Alex Billig: accordion/trumpet
• Peter Naddeo: guitar
• Samantha Niss: drums

Singles, EPs, live releases

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• [http://www.laurastevenson.net Official website]
• [http://www.quoteunquoterecords.com/qur019.htm Laura Stevenson at Quote Unquote Records]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeH2-XA1k6Q Master Of Art – Laura Stevenson]

{{Laura Stevenson}}

{{Bomb the Music Industry!}}

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Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Long Island

Category:American women singer-songwriters

Category:Singer-songwriters from New York (state)

Category:American folk singers

Category:American folk rock musicians

Category:Don Giovanni Records artists

Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters

Category:21st-century American women singers