Stew and the Negro Problem

Stew, guitar and lead vocals
Heidi Rodewald, bass and vocals
Joe McGinty, keyboards
Michael McGinnis, woodwinds
Greg Joseph, drums

Recent news -

All the World’s a Stage: A Seattle Theater Blog
Do not miss: Stew and The Negro Problem

Stew and The Negro Problem perform a funny, witty, theatrical, concert and one of the best and most original shows you’ll likely ever see. A cabaret rock band with a front-man oozing more wit and wordplay than a seasoned comedian, the audience was grooving at times and crying tears of laughter at others. Myself included. … [read the entire article here]

Deemed “L.A.’s best band” by the L.A. Weekly in 1992, the Negro Problem — propelled by Stew and Heidi Rodewald — recorded three critically acclaimed albums: Post Minstrel Syndrome (1997), Joys & Concerns (1999) and 2002’s Welcome Back. The New York Times cited the last as “perhaps the finest collection of songs an American songwriter has come up with this year.”

“I think rock ‘n’ roll is more theatrical than theater…” Stew talks to the L.A. Times here

When Stew and Heidi began work on Passing Strange, the theater production that went on to become both a Spike Lee-directed movie and Tony Award winner for “Best Book of a Musical,” The Negro Problem was put on hold. This past year, however, the band returned to sell out six nights at St Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn, performing primarily new material. The inspiration was born to record a new album and take the band on the road once again.

“…biting wit, topical observations, camp gestures and graceful melodic hooks.” More observations on Stew from the San Jose Mercury News

“…an intoxicating mix of avant-, punk-, prog- and power-pop” a great article from L.A. Weekly

• The Negro Problem Explained, by the Chicago Museum of Modern Art

• Spike Lee talks about “Passing Strange”

• Stew and Heidi play “Work the Wound” from Passing Strange

---