ELYSE STEINMAN

Afounder member of southern-flavoured boogie band Raging Slab, who came together in New York in 1983, guitarist Elyse Steinman was their trump card in an already winning hand. Often playing distinctive guitars shaped like Texas, standing just so but not in a studied way, she exuded an enigmatic cool that had little to do with being a hard-rocking female guitarist who played amazing, dirt-under-the-fingernails slide, and everything to do with being just damn good.

Whether she was playing a shimmering solo or dragging full-chord slides, it was difficult to listen to Raging Slab and not zone in on what she was contributing. Like the best musicians, she had a knack of playing just the right thing in just the right place; she had feel. Had Raging Slab not remained one of the best bands you’ve probably never heard of, Steinman wouldn’t be one of the best slide players you’ve probably never heard of. Quietly way ahead of her time. PH

Listen to this: What Have You Done (Raging Slab, Dynamite Monster Boogie Concert, 1993)