Naked Animals

"Strong band with great melodies, reminiscent of Cold Play". - Ken Anthony

"...these guys make the visualizations in my media player make sense..."
Halo Stereo's self-titled debut release begins with "Fractured Fantasy", a track that is strangely retro, yet refreshing for its avant-garde, new-wave-psychedelic feel, clearly the pick hit of this album. One could imagine listening to this in some altered state of consciousness, be it spiritually or chemically induced (and I don't recommend the latter). Halo Stereo's signature sound comprises highly melodic use of unusual intervals and tight vocal harmonies layered over a foundation of solid rhythms.



They run the gamut of hard-driving rock and semi-acoustic mellow songs. And while you can hear the garage band sound in some of the tunes, you can't deny that they're accomplished musicians; even when they are being slightly grungy, the sound is smooth and clean. Besides, these guys make the visualizations in my media player make sense -- if that makes sense. Add well-written songs with poetic lyrics and you have a sound that is both easily digested and slightly addictive.

It doesn't hurt when you have a veteran music man on your side, either. In this case, it's musician / producer / Grammy Winner, Bill Cuomo, who has worked with the likes of Kim Carnes, Steve Perry, Whitesnake, Don Henly and Bad Company. The combination makes for music that is unquestionably on the cutting edge of the current rock scene. The band cites many influences, but the ones that stand out in their sound are Peter Gabriel, The Cars, early U2, and Sigur Ros. But don't take that as a comparison; these guys are not imitators, they're innovators.

Hailing from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Halo Stereo are:

Andrew Fry - Vocals, guitar, keyboards, noises
Jody Hicks - Bass, vocals
Will McCracken - Drums, noises
Robert Smith - Guitar, vocals

I hope we hear more from these talented artists -- it'll be a shame if we don't. Check 'em out at
- Kenny Hart

One of the best live shows I have seen and the record is uberamazing! These guys will be one of the bands to watch in 2006! - The Morning Show!

( On Air ) Wow! You guys are one of the first bands in the Nashville area that I would consider "cutting edge!" It feels good to be a part of something on the forefront of music! - Aljon

Halo Stereo, Nashville, TN recording rock band, has been selected out of thousands of submissions as Fuse On Demand TV artist of the month for April 2009. Halo's debut video, Blindfold, will be available to audiences nationwide starting April 1st. Fuse On Demand is a wide variety of music videos, interviews and specials. - Indie Junkie Blog ( Junkie Jones )

As black balloons swept across the feet of the crowd, Halo Stereo took the stage. Hailing from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the rock/psychedelic quartet started the night off with some oomph. Led by powerful drum work, the band played an energetic set that had Weezer-like guitar riffs and semi-screamo vocals, demonstrating its young but commanding sound.


- Katie Bricker ( review of Atlanta Show )

Tennessee rock veterans Halo Stereo have been kicking around for a fair amount of time. Over the course of their career they've released two rather masterful prog-metal masterpieces, gotten more press than the president, toured, been on TV, radio, etc and yet they remain unsigned. The fact that this is really true is amazing when you consider how talented and how on top of their game Halo Stereo actually are. Hopefully, their latest self released album, The Invisible War will do the trick.

Sounding something like older Muse mixed with bits of Radiohead and enough metallic guitars to make any kid want to mosh his heart out, Halo Stereo are like the best of both the metal and indie worlds. The Invisible Waris an uber-complex record that probably has more riffs per minute than most bands have on entire records. It's really quite crazy to think how much music this band actually plays in each song without losing a sense of the song.

This is a band that while technically brilliant never forgets that a song should still have something for your brain to latch on to. They know how to write the big rock and roll song and they cram that knowledge into just about every one of the tracks on The Invisible War. From the soaring chorus and driving bass line of the title track to the radio ready power ballad, "Dig Up My Past," this is a record that perfectly balances the progressive side of the band with the band's more song based side. It's an impressive effort and the fact that they called in the big guns in the form of producer Rick Beato to hone their sound to a sharp point should really help them take the next step.


Complex, intricate, and packed with more music then your ears can probably handle, The Invisible War is a fantastic listen that's intensely entertaining. Halo Stereo have done an amazing job of making technically progressive music sound easy here and if this record doesn't get them signed there's truly no justice in the world. If you like your music crunchy and elaborate you'll love Halo Stereo.

- Paul Zimmerman ( First Coast News )

HALO STEREO, THE WILLOWZ, THE TOADIES AT EXIT/IN 6-4-09
Current mood: drained
FIRST I HAVE TO SAY THAT HALO STEREO AFTER SOME MYSPACE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WERE NICE ENOUGH TO GET ME IN. AND THO THE CONCERT GOERS STOOD IN A LIGHT RAIN FOR AN HOUR, WE WERE PUMPED, AND HALO STEREO DID NOT DISSAPOINT! THESE GUYS ROCK. AND ROCK HARD, WITH ANDREW FRY VOX, GUITAR AND KEYS, JODY HICKS ON BASS, SETH BRYANT ON GUITAR AND WILL McCRACKEN ON DRUMS MAKES FOR A GREAT BAND, THESE YOUNG MEN CAN GET THE PARTY STARTED AND I REALLY ENJOYED THEIR SET WITH SONGS FROM THEIR NEW CD, THE INVISIBLE WAR. I WAS ABLE TO GET SOME GREAT PICS OF THEM, BUT THEN IT REALLY GOT PACKED AND HAD TO GO STAGE RIGHT FOR THE WILLOWZ AND THE TOADIES, BUT IT DID NOT MATTER. THE SCORCHING GUITARS AND CRAZY MAN ON THE DRUM KIT, EXCELLENT BASS AND BOTH GUITARS MADE FOR SOME GREAT MUSIC. THIS BAND IS GOING TO MOVE UP, NO WONDER THEY ASKED THEM TO OPEN AND EVERY PATRON I TALKED TO, LOVED THEM! TIGHT BAND WITH EXCELLENT GUITAR RIFFS, THE KEYBOARDS WERE GREAT AND MR. FRY CARRIES THIS ALL OFF VERY WELL INDEED, BUT SETH IS A FANTASTIC GUITARIST TOO, ADD IN ONE OF THE BEST DRUMMERS IN NASHVILLE, WILL, AND SOME FUNKY BASS BY JODY AND THE PLACE WAS ROCKING! ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS CATCH THIS BAND WHILE YOU CAN AND THANKS GUYS, ENJOYED IT VERY MUCH, AND PLAN ON SEEING YA'LL AGAIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PLAYING YOUR CD RIGHT NOW, GREAT JOB, DEDICATION PAYS OFF FOR HALO STEREO. THEY WORKED THE ROOM AND PUT EVERONE IN A GREAT MOOD AND I KIND OF FELT SORRY FOR THE BAND THAT FOLLOWED THEM, BUT THEN THE WILLOWZ I FOUND HAD A GREAT SOUND TOO, KIND OF REMINDED ME OF JACK WHITE, THESE GUYS, AND LADY ON BASS WERE FUNKY ASS ROCKERS. THEY DIDN'T JUST COME TO PLAY, THEY CAME TO SET THE PLACE ON FIRE AND BY THE TIME THE TOADIES HIT THE STAGE WE WERE ALL IN A GREAT MOOD, AND AS USUAL THE TOADIES DID NOT DISSAPOINT EITHER, PLAYING NEW AND OLD FAVORITES THAT KEPT THE CROWD GLUED TILL THE LIGHTS CAME UP. SORRY I DIDN'T GET BETTER PICS OF YOU GUYS BUT THE PLACE WAS PACKED. EXIT/IN, LOVE THE OTHER GUY THAT RUNS THE DOOR, HE TALKED WITH US OUTSIDE, HE WAS AS EXCITED AS WE WERE, SOME FRIENDS I MADE IN LINE HAD WILL CALL AND HE HELPED SOLVE THEIR ENTRY PROBLEMS, MY NAME WAS ON THE LIST, HE LET US IN AS SOON AS HE COULD, STOOD IN THE RAIN WITH US, I REALLY LIKE THIS MAN, THAT'S HOW THE DOOR SHOULD RUN. MY FAVORITE TWO BARTENDERS WERE WORKING AS FAST AS THEY COULD AND HAD DRINKS UP ASAP, LOVE THAT, SOUND WAS EXCELLENT, SO WHOEVER WAS MIXING, GREAT JOB, I AM ROCKED OUT NOW, HAD TO CROUCH BEHIND AN AMP TO GET SOME OF THE PICS AND BODY IS PAYING FOR IT TODAY, BUT HALO STEREO THANKS FOR STICKING WITH IT AND GETTING ME DOWN THERE. HONESTLY YOU WERE MY FAVORITES, COS YOU ARE FRESH, HAD GREAT SONGS TO SING AND WERE REALLY NICE. THE WILLOWS, WILL HAVE TO CHECK INTO YOUR BAND, LOVELY YOUNG LADY ON BASS. WAS OUTSTANDING, AND LEAD SINGER WAS SO COOL, GOT THE CROWD LEVEL TO A HIGHER GROUND, TOADIES, YOU STILL GOT IT! WHAT A NIGHT OUT SEEING SOME GREAT BANDS!

LISTENING TO HALO STEREO THE INVISIBLE WAR - Nancy@nashvillerock.net

Halo Stereo is the face and sound of contemporary Progressive music, combining classic influences with every facet of modernity — technological advances, emotional detachment, bug-eyed wonder, misty-eyed nostalgia. Without drifting into meandering half-hour excursions up their own asses, Halo Stereo makes exciting and concise songs that quiver with Indie Rock energy and astonish with Prog bombast.

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-18751-mpmf09-bands-h-o.html
- CityBeat.com

For the second time in two weeks, a rock band with local connections is playing a famous club in Hollywood.

Last week, Seducing Alice performed after Alabama's national championship victory over Texas at the legendary Roxy club. Tonight, Halo Stereo is playing the Viper Room on Sunset Boulevard.

The Viper Room was once owned by Johnny Depp and has hosted many famous bands, including Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. River Phoenix died there in 1993, and it's been a hot spot for actors such as Sean Penn, Jennifer Aniston and others.

Halo Stereo plays alternative/progressive modern rock with an original sound. The group has been influenced by British rock and incorporates samples and synthetics to give its music an edge. Andrew Fry and Jody Hicks, who grew up near Huntsville, formed the group in 2002. The two moved to Huntsville and added drummer Brian Meeks and guitarist Nathan McDonald.

The band is now based in Nashville and has been steadily making its mark on the music scene. The group released its self-titled debut album in 2006, produced by Grammy winner Bill Cuomo, and "The Invisible War" in 2008. Halo Stereo earned Fuse TV's "Unsigned Artist of the Month" for April 2009 and had its song "Blindford" from the album "Invisible War" on Fuse TV. "Proud" from the same album was featured on A&E's series "The Cleaner" and the song "Doorman" on the CBS show "Three Rivers." "Proud" and "Doorman" are also on the iPhone game "Tap Tap Revenge 3."

Halo Stereo has been selected for a 2010 USO Tour and the European Music Days festival in Paris.

http://www.al.com/entertainment/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1263464184296430.xml&coll=1
- Chris Welch