Bridgeport’s Stepkids: ‘It’s Amazing To Come Back’

Although it was never made public, the Stepkids, who’ll play the Ballroom at the Outer Space in Hamden on July 3, have been on hiatus for the last year and a half.

Prior to that, the notoriously DIY Bridgeport band — guitarist Jeff Gitelman, bassist Dan Edinberg and drummer Tim Walsh — had spent two solid years working on “Troubadour,” their critically acclaimed second album, an eclectic amalgam of ’70s R&B soundscapes, modern funk and indie rock textures.

But shortly after the release, years of brutal hard work — traveling in vans, sleeping on floors or sharing beds, returning from tours that lost money — caught up with them.

“It was a personal decision that we had to make to be able to move on with our careers and survive, essentially,” Gitelman said. “I don’t want to sound like Woody Allen, but the music might’ve been a little ahead of our time, and it’s been amazing to be known for that.”

Since the break, Gitelman has been living in Los Angeles. He produced hip-hop artist Pharoahe Monch’s “P.T.S.D.: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” and has worked with J. Cole, Mary J. Blige, the Internet, Chance the Rapper and DJ Khalil. “I’ve been really busy with other stuff, and things are going in a really good direction,” he said. “I got a platinum record in the last couple months, and I’ve played with Stevie Wonder. It’s been a pretty exciting ride.”

Recently, the cult-classic status of Gitelman’s work with the Stepkids started to circle back to him. “All these people that I work with now,” Gitelman said, “they’re always saying, ‘Hey, by the way, I go back to the Stepkids, and I listen to the first and second album, and you guys did something.’ It’s really amazing.”

In addition to the Hamden show, the Stepkids will also reunite on July 8 to perform in NYC’s Madison Square Park, with a handful of special guests.

Freed from the economic hardships of being in an indie rock band, Gitelman now relishes playing with Edinberg and Walsh. “It’s amazing to be able to explore in a comfortable setting without any fear and to be able to have the environment to actually create some art with my friends,” he said, “without fear and paranoia of not being able to support yourself.”

Gitelman also hinted that the Stepkids might record together again in the near future.

“I will say, it’s definitely very possible and it’s amazing to come back to it after a year and a half of doing other things,” Gitelman said. “To be honest, I think all three of us are going to have a new perspective once we get together and play. It’s definitely not impossible that we’ll be inspired to strike again.”

THE STEPKIDS perform at the Ballroom at the Outer Space in Hamden on Friday, July 3 at 8 p.m., with Tanuki Suit opening. Tickets are $12-$15. Information:theouterspace.net.