Steve Counsel Music

From London Rock Underground to High Desert Blues

From the initial spark of London’s 1977 punk scene to the high desert blues of Oregon, Steve Counsel’s career is a masterclass in musical evolution. His journey began with Puncture, releasing the historic first single "Mucky Pup" on the legendary Small Wonder label—a song later covered by The Exploited. This gritty foundation led to the "New Psychedelia" of Miles Over Matter, WEA. The dirty “Proto-Grunge” of The London Cowboys, MCA Records. And the raw blues of The Homewreckers, who recorded a critically acclaimed album produced by Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown) on Viceroy Records. They also were hand-picked by Shane MacGowan to back him up on his British TV show "A Drink With Shane MacGowan"

Whether leading "gritty guitar" worship which produced two albums and several singles through the 2000s or releasing a prolific run of psychedelic-pop during the lockdown as Steve Fiction & The Rockin' Rebel Psy-Fi, Counsel has always prioritized soulful authenticity over genre boundaries. Today, he has come full circle, bringing forty years of road-worn harmonica, fret-worn guitar and London-bred soul to the stage with The Desert Howlers. It’s a diverse, loud, and honest legacy that proves the blues sounds just as good in the Pacific Northwest as it does down by The River Thames.

What The Press Say

“Steve Counsel is a gritty engaging singer and a roaring harmonica power house.”

Ira Robins : New York News Day

"he sounds like a young Van Morrison spitting out the words here with a raspy soulful passion"

Mike Rimmer: Cross Rhythms Magazine

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