Christian Stanfield – Memphis Flyer

Today, we go from the porch to the stage to spotlight Vera and the Side Street Steppers, a band she founded with her husband Christian. According to their website, their music hasn’t been easily described. They play music from a historically large range of time they used to describe as pre-war. They cover many genres — “blues, jazz, country, hokum, jug band, fiddle tunes, and more.” The chosen description in short is “Vintage Music.”

“Vintage Music is old music, but not just any old music. Vintage Music is timeless, as exciting to listen to today as it was when first performed. This is the music of America, of all the people who have come and gone and contributed a verse to our national song. Collectively, it tells the story of who we are and where we have been—what we have endured and how we got through.” — Excerpt from Side Street Steppers website.

Recalling Vera’s story about falling in love with this style of music through dancing, there seemed to be a connection to dance through the band name the Side Street Steppers.

“So it seems like almost all the bands who play this style of music have band names based on the formula ‘The Something Something Something-ers.’ For example, The Asylum Street Spankers, the Jake Leg Stompers, the California Feet Warmers, and the Cheap Suit Serenaders. So, since Christian and I met and love dancing, we took Steppers. And because this music is a little off the beaten path, we decided Side Street, as opposed to Main Street.” Vera confirms.

[jump]

To see them perform is to give in to dance-inducing music, at least by not resisting the urge to tap your feet or bop your shoulders. It’s natural that they are the live music you find at swing dances or parties. On a Friday night in February, the Side Street Steppers perform for the Red Hot Lindy Hop. Almost every Friday night, this local swing dance troupe takes over the Rumba Room downtown to give free swing dance lessons and hosts a good old-fashioned social around music and dance.

That night, Vera and Christian were joined by their original bandmate Nate Breckenridge filling in on upright bass and back-up musician Sarah Anne Rector on washboard. They play here again on May 8th. You’ll also find the band performing regularly at Central BBQ midtown on Wednesdays. The next upcoming event is this Saturday, May 2nd at the Tennessee Brewery Revival from 3 to 7pm.

“I love this event, and I’ve already been several times this year, so I’m really looking forward to performing there!” says Vera about the Tennessee Brewery Revival.

A brand new album is also in store for the Side Street Steppers. Their third record will be called If It Don’t Fit, Don’t Force It already recorded, mixed, and mastered. They just need your help getting the art and physical manufacturing funded. They are raising the last $2,000 on Kickstarter with 8 days to go. The campaign allows a pre-order of the CD with other rewards such as t-shirts and stickers. Click here to see the campaign and contribute.

Outfit Details
Dress by Trashy Diva from Red Velvet Vintage
Shoes by Michael Kors
Vintage Bakelite Bangles gifted from Christian

Thanks everyone for following this week of style and special thanks to Vera and Christian for welcoming us in. Have a great music weekend!

Today, we finally meet Christian, get a look inside their home, and find out how many Trashy Diva outfits Vera actually owns. The butterfly dress worn in today’s series was originally owned by her friend Wendi Hardage, who worked at CrazyBeautiful. Vera explained that the older Trashy Diva dresses are very collectible and, as evidence of her obsession, has joined a Facebook community called Desperately Seeking Trashy Diva. Today’s dress is Trashy Diva, of course. The butterfly print is highly sought after.

“I love bold, happy prints — the busier, the better. And the bangles were given to me by Christian for Christmas. He gives seriously amazing gifts!” says Vera about her husband and bandmate.

[jump]

He would jokingly recommend we skip past the number of Trashy Diva outfits are in Vera’s personal collection (answer: over 60) and talk about music instead. In this case, let’s talk about music and dance as Vera describes how he won her heart.

“Christian was born and raised here in Memphis, but we actually met in my hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, at a Contra Dance Festival. Contra dance is very similar to square dancing with a caller doing the calls like “Swing Your Partner” and “Do Si Do,” but it’s done in long lines rather than square sets. And it’s always done to live music — usually an old time string band featuring fiddle, banjo, guitar, and bass. That’s really how I first got exposed to old-timey style music — through dance. Christian literally swept me off my feet with his fancy dance moves!”

Their love story is surrounded by many mutual loves — dance, music, and all things vintage. Their home covered with vintage music posters and an array of instruments. Though Vera describes it as a rare treat, they do love sitting in their living room or front porch playing fiddle and banjo tunes together.

“We also find it really relaxing to sit at home in our living room and to listen to audio books together. As opposed to watching TV together (we don’t have one), it seems more like quality time. We started out listening to audio books when we were traveling to play shows, and then we enjoyed it so much that we started just listening to them at home. I’ll crack open a beer, and Christian will have a root beer, and it’s the most relaxing thing ever.”

Outfit Details
Butterfly Dress by Trashy Diva
Peep Toe Clogs by Lotta of Stockholm
Vintage Wooden Bangle – gifted from Christian
Trashy Diva is a line carried at Red Velvet Vintage.

Stay tuned for the final post in Vera’s style session tomorrow as we find out more about the band and see them on stage.