Meet James Steinbach | Lead Guitarist of Float Like A Buffalo

We had the good fortune of connecting with James Steinbach and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi James, what matters most to you?
I value curiosity the most. It drives learning, exploration, and understanding, which are fundamental to my purpose in music. Curiosity leads to new discoveries and helps us see the world from different perspectives, fostering growth and innovation. It’s the engine behind meaningful conversations and problem-solving.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve been a guitar player my whole life… it’s in my blood. I didn’t officially start playing live with bands until about 2012. To pinpoint what specifically sets me apart from others, I consider a few personal factors. One key aspect might be my unique style or technique—perhaps I employ particular playing methods that distinguish myself from others, such as a distinctive way of picking or using unconventional chord voicings. My individual musical voice is also crucial… it’s how I interpret and play melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, making each song uniquely my own. If I compose my own music or approach arranging existing pieces in a novel way, that originality stands out. Additionally, my ability to convey emotion through my playing can be a defining trait, as connecting with listeners on an emotional level is powerful. The specific blend of influences I draw upon and how I merge them into my playing style, can create a sound that is uniquely my own, especially if I combine elements from different genres in a fresh way. My stage presence and performance style also plays a significant role; the energy and interaction I bring to live performances can set myself apart from other. The gear I use, including my choice of guitar, effects, and amp settings, might contribute to a distinctive tone that enhances my personal style. Finally, my approach to learning and evolving as a musician—whether through unique practice methods or a distinctive musical journey—can further define what makes my guitar work stand out. Reflecting on these elements can help you understand what makes my guitar playing uniquely my own.

What I’m most proud about in my career so far is the fact that I’ve had the opportunity to perform at Red Rocks Amphitheater twice with my band Float Like A Buffalo. Red Rocks is one of the most iconic venues in the world. Getting to play there is like being apart of a small club that most of the world’s population wont get to be apart of. It’s a cool feeling to be apart of something like that.

My mom always told me when I was 3 years old, a song on the radio would come on and I could hum along to it note for note. As I got a little older I remember watching a bootleg VHS tape of Stevie Ray Vaughn live in Tokyo. Hearing the sounds and watching the tricks he did with his guitar made something in my head click. I said to myself “This is exactly what I want to do with my life.” I never looked back.

I think how I got to where I’m at now is solely on my drive. It’s very much true what the pros say, “Practice makes perfect.” A lot of people think that being a musician is all glory and fame, but it’s really not. It’s about 80% business and 20% play. It’s not an easy ride… it’s a constant grind. As a musician, you kinda just jump into the water and hope you don’t sink. There’s tons of hoops and hurdles that sit in your path. It’s more of a trial and error process until something starts working. I’ve talked to other professional touring musician’s and they even come across challenges at their level on a daily basis.

One lesson I’ve learned on my journey is when times get tough, you just gotta push through it. No matter how dark and cloudy it can get with writing music, performing, touring or even learning something new, there’s always sunshine at the end of the tunnel. You can do anything if you put your time and mind to it.

Something I’d like everyone to know about my story is that music is my best form of communication on how to express something I love and do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had to plan out all the best places to go in Denver this is how it would go: If we’re hungry first place we’d go would be Sam’s No. 3. They have the best food for breakfast. My favorite is the country fried steak and eggs. For lunch its a no brainer to go to Pho Duy off Federal. I haven’t found a better Pho restaurant than this place. I always get the meatball Pho bowl with lots of sriracha sauce. For dinner, we’re going to Steakhouse 10. It’s a little pricey, but it’s well worth it. If you wanna go drink, I’d recommend The Lazy Greyhound in downtown Littleton. They make the best dark and stormy’s. A place to visit would be Red Rocks. During the day the amphitheater is open to the public. I highly suggest walking on the stage barefoot. You can feel the energy of the thousands of artist that have graced their presence on that stage. A place to hangout would be either 1UP. It’s a bar that has tons of old school video games and pinball machines. It’s a great time.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
In my time being a musician in the Denver area and touring nationally and internationally some people I need to shoutout are Sarah Shuel (manager or Float Like A Buffalo, founder of Sonder Management), all the guys at Flipside Music, John and Alec Lister, Gene Pandolfi, Jason Clark, Erika DiLuca, James Boyd, James Keohane, Mark Darryberry, and of course my family.

Website: https://www.floatlikeabuffalomusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floatlikeabuffalo/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/floatlikeabuffalo

Other: https://linktr.ee/floatlikeabuffalo

Image Credits
-Rocky Montano Photography
-Sarah Shuel