Little Steven Rolls Out His Label
2006-12-11 10:47:16.400, CMJ
Story by: Eric Davidson

It's been a long time coming, but the ever-active Steven Van Vandt has finally kick-started his own record label, Wicked Cool Records. Though mainly known as Bruce Springsteen's guitarist and as Silvio Dante on The Sopranos, Little Steven has been a champion of new bands that recharge good ol' rock 'n' roll sounds, and has feverishly foisted them via his nationally syndicated radio show, Underground Garage, and his own Sirius Satellite station.

Last week, through a deal with Best Buy, Wicked Cool released their first six records, including new slabs from the Charms and another girl-led combo, the Cocktail Slippers, fom Oslo, Norway. Steven's preferred style leans toward the slightly more polished end of the still-simmering raw garage revival, like the Chesterfield Kings, who have been at the '60s redux game since the mid-'80s. But a part of Steven's plan is to release four compilations per year as part of The Coolest Songs In The World series, which will showcase a wide variety of rootsy garage rock.

The label has been in the planning stages for more than two years. But with his work on The Sopranos, his Underground Rolling Rock And Roll Show package tours and hob-nobbing at Democratic post-election parties in NYC, Steven's obviously been a busy man.