“Midwestern Town” opens on gentle strumming guitars topped by Shaun’s velvety voice. When Rachel’s voice enters, the two part harmonies radiate scrumptious savors traveling on buttery tones. Rachel’s injection of tantalizing accents infuses the tune with elusively nostalgic embers.

Full of lingering fondness, the lyrics tell the tale of intimate union with a place. On one level it’s sentimental and delicate, on another level it informs listeners of the intangible influence a locale has on the human psyche. - Randall Radic

The Stifftones delves into a classic Americana on the soulful “Midwestern Town”. With a poetic sense of storytelling, the whole of the piece feels alive. Folk, country with a sense of pastoral beauty unfurls with such grace. A gritty intimate spirit ties it all together. Keeping things on a thoughtful graceful note, the piece at times taps into a yearning demeanor. By refusing to ever let anything go the song’s nostalgia and desire for something more drives it forward. The stripped-down approach further works to the song’s advantage, as it explores a similar vein to Bruce Springsteen’s thoughtful odes to those who want something more, something better. Vocals and guitar are all that the piece offers and all that the piece needs. - Skope

“The Stifftones have crafted a comfortingly familiar acoustic experience with this latest single. Midwestern Town leads with a simple guitar pattern, rhythmic and intimate, spacious, followed soon afterwards by the duo’s alternating and occasionally united voices – creating dynamic during the verses, resolving with beautiful harmonies that strengthen the end of each line...
...Melodically and emotionally the band present all of this in a captivating way. Poetic yet personal lyrics pour through with genuine heart and soul thanks to gorgeous vocal deliveries from both artists. The song works well on the strength of its own concept and set-up, and that’s always valuable. A pleasure to escape amidst for a while.” - Rebecca Cullen

This is the only song that I’ve heard from The Stifftones so far, but I cannot wait to see what they design for us in their next studio offering. Their warm, poetic style is no doubt a passionate product of hard work and years of artistic cultivation, and as these two make their way into the established Americana scene, I have a feeling that they’re going to find a most-welcoming audience waiting for them on the - Sebastian Cole

There’s no need for debate; The Stifftones’ new single is a smashing debut from a pair of southern Illinois-stationed songwriters who are demonstrating a whole lot of skill in this provocatively haunting ballad. “Midwestern Town” is both an homage and an elegy, and it utilizes the understated more than it ever does the overindulgent when it comes to making its formidably big impression. I’m very eager to hear an LP from this duo in the future - preferably before the decade is done. - Heather Savage

An acoustic guitar’s simple string melody comes slicing through the silence at the onset of “Midwestern Town,” the new single from Americana/folk duo The Stifftones, and in its tender tonality, we’re swept away by an aching contemplation that will only grow stronger as we descend deeper into the song. A smoky, masculine serenade slips into the mix with a delicate fragility that is as endearing as the reflective lyrics that it dispenses unto us so surreally is. It’s shadowed by an angelic backing vocal that is just as formidable an agent of evocation, and while the guitars are weaving a heavenly instrumental web in the background, this plaintive country poem is hypnotizing us with its exquisite simplicity. - Anne Hollister

You don’t have to be from the American heartland to appreciate what The Stifftones have created for us in the simply stunning “Midwestern Town,” but for those of us who are, their debut single is a poignantly stirring depiction of an oft-neglected part of our country that is as rich in cultural tradition as it is artistic spirit. Americana has been experiencing a major revival in 2019. They’ve got mad potential, and I can’t wait to hear what they do with it next.

Loren Sperry - Loren Sperry

Boy meets girl at open mic. Boy teaches girl to play guitar. Boy and girl fall in love, get married and tour the country as the acoustic Americana duo, The StiffTones.

Based in Greenville, IL, this husband and wife team consists of, Shaun & Rachel Stief on vocals and guitars. Rachel’s profession as a traveling nurse has allowed them to move about freely, sharing their gift of song.

Recently, the two have released their debut single, the one-take recording of, Midwestern Town, a beautifully haunting and melancholy acoustic number which gives voice to the thousands of dreams which have been both born and killed in small towns across the land. It’s a wonderful track, we hope for an album in the near future…
“Now tell me baby
Where it is that you sleep?
Cause’ I may never make it out
But maybe then we could
Share our dreams
Share our dreams…”

WHOSE LOVECHILD…?
An acoustic interlude between LeAnn Rimes and Jakob Dylan… - The Ark of Music

Midwestern Town” is an original composition, written by Shaun Stief and performed by The Stifftones.
The Stifftones, a newly formed Americana duo are a 2 piece acoustic band from Greenville, IL are the husband and wife team of Shaun and Rachel Stief. - Joesph Timmons

'Midwestern Town’ effortlessly flows between Shaun and Rachel’s individual and united voices, which are supported by simple, yet enthralling, acoustic guitar rhythms. The singers’ dynamic vocals, stunning harmonies and personal lyrics offer an organic and reflective insight into how it’s often easy for people to turn away from the town that raised them. But they also admit that there will always be certain elements of home in the area that can never truly be found anywhere else. - Karen Benardello

The Stifftones consists of Shaun and Rachel Stief and Aaron Moore from Illinois. The story of how they came to be is remarkable, and the faith and belief they have in one another is something they'll continue to test as they hit the road. Join us as we talk about how the Stifftones met, the feel of coming from a mid-western town, and how they're putting everything on the line for their music and each other. - Alan Aldridge