One prominent musician on the Bay area rock scene put it this way about guitarist Steve Connelly: "You get the feeling that with any band, at any moment, he could walk up on stage and play with them. Other guys would need a rundown; they'd have to ask some questions. Steve could walk in mid-song and just start playing." You can usually find Connelly holed up in his Zen Den studios in St. Petersburg. If you cut tracks there, chances are he'll lay down some guitar or pedal steel or lap steel parts for your project. Connelly is currently a regular member of Ronny Elliott's Nationals band, but he contributes to an array of other acts as well. The ax man is not limited to rootsy stuff; his playing runs the gamut of styles. He's a former member of The Headlights, a celebrated local band that backed up ex-Byrd Roger McGuinn for several tours. Although possessing an accomplished technique, Connelly is not a flashy sort. He crafts his parts to fit the song. If that requires his guitar work to leave jaws agape, so be it. If it requires him to play subtle, atmospheric parts, so be that, too.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2003.