What is Steam Powered Giraffe? 

I'd like to note that in the lore, the robots were not initially made for combat; on the lore page of their website, there is the following phrase: "Originally, his robots had been created to make music and frivolity, not violence, but Peter retrofitted his existing creations with tools of death as well as a knowledge of how to use them."

Honeybee was played for my wife’s funeral. Nobody who attended had heard the song before but during the song as I turned around there were faces smiling with tears Very beautiful moment for me Miss you honeybee See you soon

It's wild hearing what would be typically considered a "woman's voice" coming out of Hatchworth. The heights he can reach are genuinely impressive.

I'm personal friends with David and Isabella. I've known SPG from the moment I saw them at Balboa park and we've been friends since. They are amazing and wonderful people. Bunny not only creates music, but she is an AMAZING artist. All the artwork seen in this beautifully made SPG video was done by Bunny.

SPG began as primarily a mime troupe that did some musical comedy and evolved into a musical group that did some mime work. Upgrade was a founding member but left the troupe after the first album as she preferred to remain a mime.

When you played a bit of Honeybee, I just immediately felt completely at peace, it's so pretty and so nice...

If you ever get a chance to see SPG in concert, please go see it. They're so much fun!

Steam Powered Giraffe has been through a lot, but their heart remains. such a great band. This is a fun video. thank you.

Love to see SPG getting some attention. Zero was a great replacement for Hatchworth. Brian's voice is amazing and a great soul sound. Honestly so much of the fan dialogue around the band devolves into childish argument, especially around just about every development in their early years. I haven't quite figured out why the SPG fanbase is so similar to a boy band's fanbase. People get so possessive about the things they like. I feel for David these days as it seems like he's the one working full time really throwing all the levers behind the scenes to keep the business going. I relate to his struggle to want to be understood clashing at times with the realities of being a public figure. If he's seen this video and read the comments, I bet he hated restraining himself from replying. Speaking as someone who regularly follows updates and is maybe the rare fan - nostalgic for their deeper philosophical early work, but with no particular reverence for Honeybee. I first found them maybe 10 years ago when their official video for "captain albert alexander" won me over with Rabbit's incredible mime work and everyone's vocals. Eventually I traveled to SD for the 2018 show. They're all good people and they do vocal harmony at least as good as they do irreverence. I do miss their old song aesthetics of robots poetically musing on what life and love is and telling fantastical stories with soaring harmonies and tongue firmly in cheek. Seems like every new release is firing in a new direction - which I respect artistically, I'm just musing on times past. If I had a magic wand, I'd wave it to give them millions in funding, another new member to harmonize with, and heartily suggest getting back to their mime roots and the heartful -with a wink- exploration of existence with their limitless resources. IMHO they need an overarching direction and someone to take the load off David's shoulders. There's just so much talent there and it doesn't seem to be congealing into something cohesive. I know some of the most musical members of the band want to do 'serious' music and it seems like they feel no option but to channel those efforts through SPG because it already has recognition and a base. My read on how it looks, anyway. Again, to me, SPG is best when it's just a bit goofy but full of heart and steeped in moderately ridiculous lore.

10:23 When he said “After all said and done,” I immediately remembered the song by Steam powered giraffe Fancy shoes because in the song Hatchworth said “After all said and done, are these shoes built just for fun?” Wow. Nice vid btw very underrated like the band. :3

Oh wow. I remember stumbling upon their video for "Honeybee" when it came out 10 years ago. Had completely forgotten about them in the mean time. This brings back so many memories of discovering interesting artists as a kid. Great documentary!

This band is so unique! I stumbled across them years ago, when I was in my steampunk phase, and I love the theater and musicality they have ❤ The Spine is my absolute favorite for his amazing musical range, and his robotic movements are so enchanting.

as a transmasculine performer, watching Bunny transition in both her human life and robotic life has been something wonderful to watch. i've scrolled back through tumblr to when Bunny began to transition Rabbit, and seeing all the (partially unintentional) transphobia, which is honestly one of my greatest fears, and the way she still handles it head-on with no fear of ruining her "public persona" is absolutely magnificent.

Great video, other than a few minor mistakes you did a great job at covering all of the important details. I appreciate how you respectfully covered the incidents with the human characters, and didn’t ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen. Steam Powered Giraffe is one of my favorite bands, so it’s really cool hearing people make in-depth videos about them. I hope this blows up!

I've only become aware of SPG in the last year or so, and their music is awesome, the vocal range of Spine is incredible! My introduction was from a very special friend in America who sent me the link to 'Honeybee'. Such a strange and unconventional track, instantly got me listening to more.

I was lucky enough to be able to spend time with David, Bunny, and Sam when they came to Ontario for the Grand Canadian Steampunk Exposition a few years ago. They are not only amazing artists in many ways, but great people to be around as their "handler' or as I called it - their escort.

Ya gotta give Vice Quadrant another shot. It's a fantastic way of telling a story in a really creative way. It's not Bop-ey, but it's got a real innovation to its narrative structure, and they're using some much more distinctive musical theory on it.

Amusingly enough, I was introduced to the band when the Bennetts were clients of the curio shop 'Loved To Death' in and episode of "Oddities: San Francisco".

Fire fire and Honeybee are probably my favourite songs from them.

i got into this band about a month and a half ago and this is a wonderful recap + introduction!! thank you so much for putting this together!! this is a much more coherent explanation i can send to my friends compared to what i usually do (which is a 20 minute long crying jag about how much i love rabbit)

I miss the Jon and & upgrade. Love this band.

SPG is very bittersweet for me as I love their music but it's become very hard to listen to them since my wife left me years ago, we both enjoyed their music and I even dedicated Honeybee to her as well as kinda nicknamed her that, but it's getting easier to finally listen to them again

I love this band. Thanks for doing this. You did a great job. More???

Got to see them a few times at Balboa Park. I was totally blown away. They convinced me to try busking which turned out to be a lot of fun.

I've gotten into SPG these last few months, and I've enjoyed them very much, though I didn't know much else than the fact their lore page is insanely large. Loved learning that SteamWorld Heist is a game they're featured in, not some old show they did or something. Makes lots more sense

Just discovered this unique and very talented band. Thank you for producing and filming this well done documentary giving the background and history of SPG.

I randomly found them at the end of 2023 through Brass Goggles, and ngl, they've become one of my favourite bands, thank you so much for this video!

Thank you for making this video! My introduction to SPG was when my favourite RU-vidr, Totalbiscuit, R.I.P. did a suggestion video for the game SteamWorld Heist. As I was playing the game and doing some shopping I heard some music in the background and then saw the band performing on a stage in the game. I just stopped what I was doing and just sat there watching and listening to them playing and loving it.

Thank you for the brief historical information, I needed to understand why there was change in characters those I liked most. The beginning song Brass was the one that pulled me into this world ...a few more from that album ..still looking forward to hearing more.

i think you have a nack for these documentary style videos. would be cool to see videos like this about other bands.

I gotta say, you calling Vice Quadrant the worst album is fighting words for a lot of SPG fans.

I own the first two albums and love this band, I had the pleasure of meeting the original line up prior to their first album release. Also had the pleasure to interview them and record a private performance at Lestat's Coffe House performance room. They are fantastic robots to hang out with.

This band has been one of my favourites for the past 8 years. Incredible songs and great stories.

Thank you for this ! Ive been following this band for the last couple of years and am enamored of their music as well as the scope of their talent. I appreciate the background synapses as its always interesting to know more about persons you admire. I hope they have a long and successful career as they bring so much joy to us as listeners. I have enjoyed watching their videos and seeing them grow in their lives as well as their talents. I love the directions they have taken and that they are so open to exploring so many types of music. Cudos to them and to you for such a respectful and interesting video.

I'll be honest, Music from Steamworld Heist is my personal favourite album. That could just be bias from the fact I heard it well before knowing Steamworld Heist is a game or listening to many songs from previous albums, but it remains my favourite.

Found out about them literally yesterday and instantly loved em, boy did I not know what kind of lore I was getting in to when I watched this

Been a fan since I saw them at the San Diego Zoo and I have to say you did a nice job summing up their career.

Thank you. A new group to me but since music is my life finding a new great group makes me glad I’m still alive. P. S. I’m 76. Thanks again.

Great Band! I became familiar with the band when I saw their joint video Weird Weird West with Professor Elemental.

why is there no comments??? this video is amazing

this is a really great and in-depth video of the bands history and sound!!! i really want to thank you for adressing and not brushing past michael reed and steve negrete's mistakes. it bothers me a lot as a big fan to see people continue to support and praise the two simply because they don't know. i also completely agree with what you said about steve's admitting to it and leaving respectfully. while he isn't any better of a person, it gives me more respect for him than reed that he did the right thing. i do wish you had talked about chelsea and camille as theyre both super talented parts/members of the band, but this *was* a lot to cover in a 20 minute video so it's all fine! a super well made, detailed, and respectful video to the history of a very underrated band.

Yooo, I love Steam Powered Giraffe, glad to see them get some recognition, truly well made documentation dude 👍👍

I could listen to your voice all day long!

I love the Vice Quadrant album, for me, it's an absolute masterpiece. However, the newer songs with Zero, I'm not that fond of. I liked their earlier style a lot more. Oh, and The Heist album is awesome as well. It's through the game that I found out about SPG, like many other fans, because we all liked the soundtrack so much.

Excellently made video. Well done. SPG is one of my guilty pleasures.

I LOVE THIS BAND SO MUCH. Thank you for making such a wonderful video on them

Great video! I used to listen to this band over a decade ago, haven’t thought about it since then but spontaneously decided to listen again and wow, so so much has changed since then! It’s nice to get an update.

Great video! It's so odd to watch a video about something I was so intrenched in back in highschool lol I wish listening to them wasn't so bittersweet for me now, Michael had to go and ruin everything

I got, Album One , The 2c show and 1869. that's whats on my USB, these 3 cover all the bases.

What's funny is my first SPG song was daughter of space, and I love the vice quadrant albums. I'd never really consumed an album before that prompted me to research lore for it, and if you check out the timeline on their website I think it makes a lot more sense and is really fun. It's also got some of my favorite the Spine tracks: Daughter of Space, Fire Fire, Progress and Technology, Soliton, Speed of Light... Also, what's very interesting is how the ending of each album since Mk III has alluded to the vice quadrant in some way. The continuity there is very fun and I anticipate the next album finally seeing a resolution to the Vice Quadrant's plot.

I really enjoyed (and share) many of your opinions and ranking here. As a band cohesively they have each and all won my affection--band members, and the amalgamation of releases. With the drop of each album, my heart swells for their sound and evolution. I hold dearly to my heart all the music and performances (and yes, their talent(s) are SO much more than beautiful music to me). But above all, their music collectively never tires me, and brings my heart so much joy and admiration. (I mean i can literally watch or listen to more songs and live performances over and over tirelessly than i can any other band, new or old). They and their music/ performances just really make my heart happy. I would, at this point, LOVE to see them live, and I would decidedly travel great distances to experience them live. It is my plan to do so hopefully with the greatly anticipated next album drop or tour. LOVE and deeply respect the Bennett twins' epic talent. Thanks for this, i much enjoyed what you had to say here!

This band has gotten me through so many hard times of my life. 😭😭😭

While I'm not a die-hard fan of SPG, I do enjoy their sound and really enjoy The Spine and his antics. And his voice. I can't get over that range! I first heard Spine on his cover of Summertime Sadness. I don't follow popular bands so I had no idea this was a cover...but when I did find out, it didn't change my opinion of it. I still have never heard the original because I love Spine's version so much...don't want to taint my enjoyment of it! And the video that goes with the song...well, amazing!

The first SPG album I heard was Vice Quadrant and though I thought it was weird and kinda mid at first because it’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard, I found myself unable to stop listening to it and that paved the way for my love of SPG Vice Quadrant is a very unique album and tale, though it is convoluted I found that I had a lot more appreciation for the story after I read the official timeline and could actually follow it through the songs and songs like Progress and Technology and Fire Fire are still some of my all time favorites

Ahh! My favorite band! 💙

I learned about Steam Powered Giraffe from playing Steamworld Heist.

This was Brilliant! Well done, mate. Im a big fan from way back and love the music and shtick. Much talent to respect. Good on ya, Peter. Cheers!

I miss The John and Hatchworth

This is a really nice video! It seems very genuine (did i wright that right?). It made me happy! I also just found this band i've only listened to honeybee, and allready love them!

15:01 my heart dropped for a second when this hit

welp, time to re-listen to the entire discography again!

1896 quickly became my favorite albums. Still trying to get the vinyl record for a friend. Though he hasnt heard of the band, I'm certain he'd love it.

Just curious, which version of Juju Magic do you prefer? Personally, I'm more fond of the concert version, the lead-in for it always sounds amazing to me, plus the music itself, while I find the album version just a bit too slow for my tastes. I liked this video, you did a pretty good rundown of everything. I had heard some of the allegations against Michael Reed in the comments, but the band themselves didn't go into detail when they made their announcement about why he was out of the group, so it was good to find out that detail. Also, a little clarification on Upgrade's departure; from the interview she did on SPG's podcast right before their first RU-vid concert, she revealed that she'd always said she'd leave the group if they focused more on music over the sketches, as she got stage fright when it came to singing. At the time of the interview, she was working as a governess, I believe (it's been a while since I listened to it, so I could be misremembering)

I had no idea that they were originally just a street act, that’s so cool.

I discovered this band not so long ago, I'm young X) and spanish my first language, that is why I think I came late to love the band ;-; and that kills me...

Been a fan of the band for quite a while. Really cool video. Solid VH1 vibes

Thank you for making this video. I heard the name of the band a few times here and there, but this is a nice introduction

The 2¢ show is like a trip to Disneyland!

Rabbit/Bunny can really write incredible songs! ( Honeybee & Brass Goggles)

Great video! Steam powered giraffe is amazing, I absolutely love Brass Goggles, I'll Rust With You, and Hot on the Trail

The band is genuinely so good and I wish more people knew about them

Honeybee is my favorite song of the all.

my dad literally bought the exact same guitar that The Spine plays a couple days ago lol. I just tuned it today

I love them so much and for such a long time that just watching this and remember everything made me tear up a bit. Plus your nice voice makes it easier to get in the mood and hits me deeply

Extremely helpful video - thank you for making that.

Man it's been forever since I heard that name!!! I was obsessed with them along with Abney Park.

Been into the band for a few years now gotta the new stuff is certainly solid but I feel like man I legit miss Rabbit's voice but she is happier now so hey can't argue with that.

I love this banddd Quintessential is my favourite album

My favorite song by them is the cowboy with the one-legged horse

Always nice to go from low volume voice to blasting loud music. /s

I just found SPG this year, they have become 1 of my new favorite finds.

I used to love that band when I was younger!

Great video, but I will never forgive you for hating on GG The Giraffe. She has a gazillion followers on the social streams because she IS so genuine, dammit!

Oh wow! Personally the vice quadrant is one of my favourite albums so it’s cool hear others opinions

Don't discount the Steamworld Heist album. It's how I got introduced to the band and if you ever ask me which versions of the songs I prefer, I will always go with Steamworld Heist.

How Hot on the Trail didn't go viral I'll never know.

My favourite album is the vice quadrant (with some supporting songs from other albums.) I’m a simple man: I like lore.

GG the giraffe is top 5 songs not the worst.

My favorite song by them is honey bee. My fav cover by them is sumertime sadness. They are masterpeices.

This is quite interesting and helpful, but I must say "Fire Fire" is probably my favourite of their songs, regardless how mediocre the rest of that album may be. Also got my start with "Honeybee" because I was looking for a different song haha

Captain Alexander is my favorite and I attended Grossmont college too!

great job in this video I learned a lot, keep up the good work

18:25 I also really like “1896” it is second behind the 2 cent show for me.

A second album is generally called a sophomore album, not a sophomoric album. Sophomore means second, sophomoric means amateurish or clumsy.

bro brass goggles was the peak. fight me if you must

They are fabtastic. Love them!

I got introduced to SPG through The Charismatic Voice's reaction video to Honeybee. I've been captivated by their music and style ever since. In this video, and some others I've watched, I've wondered why Isabella isn't introduced by her given name, Christopher, when referencing her during the early period of the group and prior to her transitioning. SPG themselves credit the early music to Christopher rather than Isabella, so it seems that they are comfortable with preserving this identity.

Dude this feels like fallout lore

I absolutely love The Spine and David's wildly incredibly talent. I personally enjoyed the vocal range of the earlier versions of Rabbit simply because I believe their vocal range has changed over the years and I prefer their style of the earlier albums. Brass goggles now vs then isn't the same. Though I'll rust with you is just as great as it always was! Each member has some sort of magic to them even to this day. I still enjoy the band and deeply miss Hatchworth (Samuel Luke aka Samhears voice and still try to follow him to this day. Zero is an interesting take and can reach a lot of soul-type and blues style and more and I enjoy it in it's own way. Though I do like the harmonics of each, I think Spine, Rabbit and Hatchworth's set's the most. 2 cent show was fantastic.

So this was suggested to me off an Austin Powers clip. Increasingly baffled as the video goes on. Prob going to watch the whole thing. If nothing else for that moment of ultimate bafflement at the end where I think "wait...but...you never explained why this is happening to me rn"