About the Band

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Steve Werthner
Chris Appel
Chris Sousie
Agatha Lovelace

Steve Werthner has been playing guitar for a long time in a variety of genres and contexts. Hearing Eddie Van Halen inspired him to begin playing. He played in Albany-based ska band The Mixers in the 1990s, as well as several party bands, all while working on other original music projects with friends in the Capital Region as well as his former home state of Pennsylvania. Steve enjoys working with the like-minded members of Shadow Estate, where everyone contributes to ideas, concepts and arrangements.

(Steve finds it difficult to write about himself in the third person without feeling like a complete wanker.)

I’m a bass player from Albany NY. I started at 16 when my parents bought me a bass for my birthday. Worst parenting ever. I’ve been active in Albany, NYC and Long Island since 1987. After playing in several local bands, I made two albums with the NYC based Big Wedge in the early 2000’s. Toured NYC for a year or so after that with a spinoff called Doctor Son. Then back to Albany. Met Steve Werthner and we’ve been playing together since. We played with Message From Vega for almost ten years. Made three albums with The Summer Whims, the third was done remotely during the pandemic. Even played on an award-winning album with Steve- the debut from singer/songwriter Jillian Matundan from Virginia. I keep hanging out with him because he has a studio. Currently working (occasionally) on an electronic project with a former bandmate, a folk music project, and with Steve in our own band called The Shadow Estate with Agatha Lovelace and Chris Sousie.

Boring technical stuff:
Reissue 1975 Fender Jazz with Hipshot D Tuner, EMG JV pickups, Leo Quan BadAss bridge
Reissue 1972 Fender Jazz with Hipshot D tuner and Leo Quan BadAss bridge
Standard fretless Fender Jazz with EMG J pickups
Player series 5 string Fender Jazz with Omega high mass bridge
Sterling Stingray 35HH 5 string – completely stock!
Sterling Stingray 4 string with Hipshot high mass bridge
Genz Benz ML200 210 amp
Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig
Tech 21 DP3X
Boss DD5 digital delay with Boss FS-5U tempo pedal
Samson Airline wireless
1 AMF bowling pin

After four lackluster years of piano lessons, I was introduced to drums my freshman year of high school through a friend who played drums and guitar. As Ringo would say, he taught me the old boom, bap, boom, bap; and I was hooked for life.

I began playing seriously in the mid “90s in a succession of original bands in styles ranging from post alternative to Americana. Did some recording during that period as well. A highlight is a live recording with “ Aka George” recorded at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts.

I’ve been active on and off in the Albany music scene since 2010. I recorded an album with the short lived “Heddy Brothers” and played around Albany with them for a couple years including appearances at Bellstock two years in a row.

I’m no pianist, but I still play keyboards and have 5 synths in my home studio. As Shadow Estate evolves, I plan on bringing some ideas to the band. Who knows, you may see me on stage on keys and drums.

After many, many years as a devoted theater nerd, Agatha was looking for a longer-term creative project where she could enjoy performing and establish a collaborative relationship with other musicians for writing original songs.

Her music adventures began with piano lessons as a child, and later included flute, clarinet, saxophone, cello, guitar, ukulele, and even occasional flirtations with a hurdy gurdy that refuses to stay entirely in tune.

She is immensely grateful to have met her bandmates and have the opportunity to work with them, and looks forward to sharing their music with the community.