After discovering the pedal steel in 2010, Casey began finding new ways to create sound through the enigmatic instrument. His unique approach to the pedal steel combines elements of steel guitar, bottle-neck slide, deep vibrato, and harmonized melodies.
Touring and recording with a wide variety of artists over the past couple of decades, his innovative playing has garnered attention from critics and fans alike. He has played in bands/genres embodying alternative rock, blues, country, folk, jazz, R&B, rock, singer-songwriter, soul, traditional country, and more.
In 2022, Casey toured most of the US and Europe with Sarah Shook & the Disarmers following their release of Nightroamer – an album that Rolling Stone describes as having “a sense of [that] liberation…both in terms of its musicality and Shook’s lyrical content.” The tours received positive reviews from critics, garnering attention for its tasteful blending of different musical styles & genres.
After back to back shows at AmericanaFest and XPNFest, WXPN’s review of the latter said “Everyone was playing red hot, but the runaway surprise star was actually the band’s pedal steel player. He made the instrument rock, bringing texture and color to the best song of the show…”
Casey also has an experienced background in producing, mixing, mastering, and sound engineering – he has created, produced, and recorded many groups in a wide range of musical environments. He continues to pave new paths and sounds with the pedal steel, drawing from his experiences in the studio and on tour.
Casey James is a performing artist, producer, and touring/session pedal steel player. His pedal steel playing uses a rare instrument to create howling melodies, ethereal reverberation, organ-like sounds, and heartfelt tones for sonic interpretations of tunes.
Casey is based in Asheville, North Carolina…his unique approach to the pedal steel combines elements of steel guitar, bottle-neck slide, deep vibrato, and harmonized melodies.
His sonic curiosity has also given him an experienced background in producing, mixing, mastering, and sound engineering. Casey has created, produced, and recorded many groups that display the pedal steel in fresh territory: he has played in bands/genres embodying alternative rock, blues, country, folk, jazz, R&B, rock, singer-songwriter, soul, traditional country, and more.
Casey is the owner of Playpedalsteel.com, a blog that receives thousands of visitors monthly worldwide. He enjoys time in the literature world…and has worked with major publishing companies by assisting with Mastering audio versions of acclaimed books.
Past shows/highlights:
Orange Peel, Grey Eagle, Isis Music Hall, Mercury Lounge (NYC), The 5 Spot (Nashville), Highland Brewing, Bottleneck, Radio Bean (Burlington, VT), Heavy Rebel Weekender Festival, Blue Mountain Brewery (VA), Jack of the Wood, Hi-Tone Café (Memphis, TN) – and performing with The Maggie Valley Band, Hustle Souls, Craig Wayne Boyd (winner of The Voice), Caroline Keys, Hearts Gone South, Andy Buckner, Spencer Ryan, Karly Driftwood, Meghan Woods, and more.
Check out one of Casey’s upcoming performances!
