Draft:Dan iead

  1. Home
  2. Wiki


Dan iead (born February 28, 1981) is a versatile American musician whose primary instruments are the pedal steel guitar and guitar. Over the years, iead has recorded, performed, and toured with a diverse range of artists, including Norah Jones, Cass McCombs, Valerie June, and Elle King. Although best known for his work on stage and in the studio, he has also composed and contributed music for television, film, and commercial projects.[1]

Musical Career

[edit]
Dan iead
Background information
BornFebruary 28, 1981
GenresRock, Pop, Country, Jazz
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Pedal Steel Guitar, Guitar

Dan iead was a founding member of The Broken West, a California-based rock band formed in 2004, who later signed with Merge Records.[2]

Dan iead has been a long‑standing fixture in Cass McCombs's touring band, playing both electric and pedal steel guitar. He appeared on numerous live dates, including extensive North American tours following the release of Big Wheel and Others (2013).[3] From 2013-2016, iead was a key band member adding pedal steel and guitar to tours and live performances. In 2014, he performed with Cass McCombs and The War on Drugs for a series of shows, followed by a two-month co-headlining U.S. tour with the Meat Puppets.[4][5] Iead is credited on 2013 album Big Wheel and Others, 2016 album Mangy Love, 2019 album Tip of the Sphere and McCombs' most recent 2025 album Interior Live Oak.

Dan iead has been a frequent collaborator with Norah Jones, performing as a member of her band on multiple international tours. In 2017, he joined her for the Day Breaks World Tour, including the Japanese leg which featured performances at Tokyo’s renowned Nippon Budokan. In 2022, iead reunited with Jones for her Summer U.S. Tour.[6] RIFF Magazine highlighted his standout performance at the Oxbow RiverStage in Napa, CA, noting that "iead’s pedal steel, at times achingly beautiful, was the dominant instrumental voice on this night, giving songs like 'Travelin’ On' and 'Little Broken Hearts' an added high lonesome boost."[7] The tour concluded with a hometown performance at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY. In 2023, iead once again joined Norah Jones on her European tour, sharing the stage with drummer Brian Blade. The tour included celebrated performances at venues and festivals such as La Seine Musicale with Mavis Staples (Paris, France), the Gent Jazz Festival (Ghent, Belgium), the Montreux Jazz Festival (Montreux, Switzerland), and the Monte-Carlo Summer Festival (Monaco).[8] Dan Iead’s collaboration with Norah Jones extends beyond the stage, as he is frequently called upon for session work in the studio. His contributions are featured on several of her recordings, including the 2016 album Day Breaks, the Grammy nominated 2019 single with Mavis Staples, I’ll Be Gone, the 2020 album Pick Me Up Off the Floor,[9][10] and her 2023 live LP …Little Broken Hearts: Live [at Allaire Studio].

Dan iead has collaborated extensively with singer Valerie June, most notably on her acclaimed 2021 album The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers, where his expressive playing features prominently on tracks such as “Two Roads.” Their creative partnership continued with June’s 2023 cover of Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World,” and in 2024, iead joined her for a live performance on The Kelly Clarkson Show.[11]

In 2024, iead took the stage alongside the country star, Elle King, on her Baby Daddy’s Weekend Tour, showcasing his talents on both acoustic and pedal steel guitars.[12] Notably, that October, Elle King opened for Cyndi Lauper at Madison Square Garden, with iead again performing on pedal steel and acoustic guitar as part of the act.

Dan iead's work reflects a broad versatility across multiple musical genres as evident in his extensive discography below. Iead founded and curated a long-running collective music night called Adult Party at Union Pool in Brooklyn. Featuring iead on pedal steel and guitar, the event regularly showcased an impressive lineup of guest musicians, including Norah Jones, Cass McCombs, Valerie June, Robyn Hitchcock, Joe Russo, The Chapin Sisters, Matt Sweeney, Cassandra Jenkins, Doug Shaw, Mike Bones, Sam Evian, Steve Gunn, and many others.[13]

Dan iead has appeared as a guest performer on numerous late-night and talk shows, including Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Today Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Austin City Limits. In 2019, he was commissioned by Man Made Music to record pedal steel for the theme song of NPR’s Morning Edition.[14]

Most recently, iead’s pedal steel work can be heard on Irish singer CMAT’s latest album, Euro-Country (2025). Producer Oli Deakin praised his contributions, saying, “We never had any notes—it was always perfect. It was exactly what we needed.”[15]

Discography[16][17][18]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Dan Iead | Music Department, Composer, Actor". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  2. ^ "The Broken West". Jango Radio. Retrieved 2025-07-27.
  3. ^ dean (2013-09-19). "Cass McCombs Confirms Tour Dates, Joe Russo to Drum for East Coast Shows". Jambands. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  4. ^ Inman, Matt (2019-09-17). "Cass McCombs: Walking a Live Wire". Relix Media. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  5. ^ Empire, Kitty (2014-01-19). "Cass McCombs – review". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
  6. ^ Mergner, Lee (2022-03-19). "Norah Jones Announces Summer Tour". JazzTimes. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
  7. ^ Richards, Sam (2022-06-26). "Norah Jones, Regina Spektor turn Oxbow RiverStage into a nightclub | Review". RIFF Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-07.
  8. ^ "NORAH JONES RELEASES NEW SONG "CAN YOU BELIEVE" AHEAD OF SUMMER EUROPEAN TOUR". Blue Note Records. 2023-06-16. Retrieved 2025-08-08.
  9. ^ Shaffer, Claire (2020-04-15). "Norah Jones Shares New Song 'How I Weep' From Upcoming LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-08-24.
  10. ^ Reed, Ryan (2020-03-13). "Norah Jones Preps New LP, Shares 'I'm Alive' With Jeff Tweedy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  11. ^ "Valerie June Releases Full Cover Of Duran Duran's "Ordinary World" From Tractor Beverage Commercial". Stereogum. 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  12. ^ jfox (2024-09-22). "Elle King Takes the High Road". Cincinnati Magazine. Retrieved 2025-08-25.
  13. ^ ""Adult Party" by Dan Iead, Matt Sweeney, Mike Bones, Taylor Floreth, (...) at Union Pool". doNYC. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  14. ^ "NPR's 'Morning Edition' Changes Its Tune After 40 Years (Published 2019)". 2019-05-05. Retrieved 2025-08-23.
  15. ^ BBC Radio 6 Music (2025-08-10). CMAT breaks down the process behind 'Running/Planning' and more of her biggest songs. Retrieved 2025-08-23 – via YouTube.{{cite AV media}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Dan Iead Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More | ..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  17. ^ "Dan Iead". Discogs. Retrieved 2025-07-31.
  18. ^ "Dan Iead". Muso.AI. Retrieved 2025-07-31.