Laura Stevenson began playing music at an early age, taking note from her composer grandfather Harry Simeone – most famous for his arrangements of “The Little Drummer Boy,” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” – Stevenson’s musical exposure began with her classical training but, as she grew, she turned to the nurturing, tight-knit punk and indie rock scenes of New York. As a founding member of the Long Island punk rock collective Bomb The Music Industry, Stevenson toured the country with national headlining acts throughout her late teens and early twenties.
During her tenure with Bomb The Music Industry, Stevenson began privately composing songs on the softer side of indie rock and traditional folk, sometime performing live solo or recruiting members of Bomb The Music Industry as auxiliary musicians.
Stevenson began playing and arranging her songs with Mike Campbell, former guitarist of NY melodic-punk band Latterman, in the summer of 2007 after the two met at a music academy where they both taught. At around the same time, Alex Billig began playing trumpet and accordion with the group. With the addition of string and brass instruments as well as full percussion and electric bass, the original acoustic, skeletal arrangements began to blossom into a fuller sound. The band was dubbed The Cans.
Laura Stevenson and The Cans released their first full-length LP, titled simply “A Record,” for free download through donation-based label Quote Unquote Records, and later was picked up by Asian Man Records for an official release in the spring of 2010. The band toured the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Western Europe for the better part of that year with bands such as Maps & Atlases, Cults, Bomb The Music Industry and Cheap Girls. Laura Stevenson and The Cans has released their sophomore album in April 2011 through Don Giovanni Records.
“…her sweet voice and songwriting chops make her one of the most dynamic performers in New York right now, giving those who’ve neglected to pay attention to her thus far no choice but to start.” - NY Press
“Laura Stevenson & the Cans are crusaders of independent, do-it-yourself punk ethics. Crafting organic, minimalist melodies accompanied by detailed guitar and gorgeously sweet and soft vocals, the seven member-plus output playfully produces poised, perfected compositions.” - Venus Zine
“Needless to say, A Record is a triumph. Needless to say, on this album, Laura Stevenson and The Cans establish themselves with a voice unlike that of anyone else in rock because nobody had ever thought (or tried) to mix the dirty and the clean production and performance style that coexist so well here and take care to leave all the marks delineating the different parts intact for contrast in as they appear here.” – Ground Control Magazine