The StoneCoats
Brandon, Mississippi, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | INDIE
Music
Press
Brandon, Mississippi-based band The StoneCoats could quite possibly be stuck in the late Sixties or early Seventies. To that point, a few of the members even appeared in the biopic "Get On Up" (which filmed in Natchez, MS) about James Brown (with one member playing a young version of Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts). On the Poor Boy Blues album, however, it's more like they are channeling The Doors and Badfinger with the future Traveling Wilburys (Google them) overseeing as guardian angels. And don't get me wrong, the first full-length album from the StoneCoats doesn't seem dated or, I guess more accurately, outdated. The album Poor Boy Blues seems as fresh as the Sunbeam bread they bring to the Piggly Wiggly on Tuesday afternoons. You know it's new bread, but it sure brings back memories from when you were 10 years old and tugging at your momma's skirt while walking the aisles. With all the retro sounds resurfacing in genres these days, this band fits snuggly into the present musical landscape. I may, however, force a few of you under 40 to break out the Rock & Roll Encyclopedia with a few of these references . . .
"Blues Boogie" will immediately thrust you into flashbacks of the Doors’ "Love Her Madly" and "Love Me Two Times" with it's grooving bass line, pushing organ, and strong vocals, but it also delivers a killer guitar jam that finishes out the boogie which leads me to believe there is a British-Blues Invasion influence somewhere in the genes of the band.
Their version of Derek and the Dominos’ "Roll It Over" (the only cover in the bunch) rides melodic riffs and vocals into the realm of "Strange Brew" with hints of "Chooglin'" rounded out with Jeff Lynne/George Harrison-esque vocals.
"Cross That Bridge," and several other songs, fit into a Tom Petty/Traveling Wilburys mold very nicely. Great "hooks," like the "record people" love to say. The vein of country/blues that runs through the album hits some poignant chords and adds the depth the album needed, all while hanging on to a ‘70s rock vibe that keeps the album grounded.
All-in-all, it's a solid first album for the band. Hey, I even broke into the decimals on "stars" for this one! I'm not a big fan of "stars" to begin with, but it's a common practice in the industry... Also, I wanted to let you know, since this is a fairly new "conversation" between myself and you as a reader of "Southern Senses," I'm generally pickier on new bands. It's not a stretch to say I only hear five-star albums once or twice every couple of years and there have been very few artists that have gotten four stars with their first album (really second, third or fourth as well). So when I rate this band a 3.75 stars I am letting you know they are a band to watch, and the potential for a future album of 4 or even 5 stars is not out of the question. I've listened to several indie/unsigned artists of late, and I have found Mississippi's StoneCoats to be the only one I have come back to listen to repeatedly. I'd love to see Dave Cobb get his hands on the production of their next album. Dave, you listening?
by Daniel Bridger - 02/09/16
Daniel Bridger is a long-time Southern Rock, Country/Western, Blues aficionado and music industry veteran. He may be contacted via Southern Senses at general@southernsensesmagazine.com
All original content © 2016 Southern Senses. All Rights Reserved
ESSENTIAL LISTENS: Blues Boogie, Roll It Over, Cross That Bridge, Can't Live Without, Find You, Fade Away
WEBSITE: http://www.thestonecoats.rocks/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/The-StoneCoats-239075282822113/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCACM01UZ1iD7NlPSfpwU7rQ - Southern Sense
Blues Boogie does just that. Grooves and boogies over a jazzy blues vibe with a touch of retro, super-cool guitar. And when that thick Doors-like organ layers on top the song really kicks into gear. No other way to describe this tune but infinitely cool. Blues laced, surf-tinged garage pop, with soul and verve. This is music for the ultimate late night early-60's jam party, with martinis and mini-dresses, be-bop poets, mescaline and anything else cool. The verses honestly drip out of the speakers, coating the hips of some phenomenally dolled up go-go dancer. The chorus amps it up to a full butt shaker, finger-snapper, head bobber. The song simply swaggers and sways. Ultra is the word to describe this. Just ultra-cool, in the hippest sense of the word. Hope the guys put this out on vinyl, cause I'm buying. The boys come from Branson MS, so there's a southern swagger and front porch bluesy vibe to all they do. Other songs on their ReverbNation page sound just as good, so check em out.
- Todd Severin, The Ripple Effect (Aug 17, 2015) - The Ripple Effect
"If it's a real business you treat it with respect," said Leighton. "We stay focused on the band because its our business and we're trying to make it sucessful." Three of the band members had a part in the upcoming James Brown movie, "Get On Up."Carson and Brannon played in the background scenes while Leighton played the part of Rolling Stone drummer Charlie Watts. The film was produced by Mick Jagger and was filmed in Natchez. "It was awesome doing the movie," said Leighton. "You get a different perception of the actors and actresses. You work from 6 a.m. to midnight sometimes. We stood around for 14 hours to film a five minute portion of the film." Carson said you really get to appreciate all the different people that work on the set-the hairdressers, painters, directors, and even the people who prepare the food." The band members say they play blues and rock. They play many songs the band has written. "We just work together when someone comes up with an idea. We all pitch in." "
- Marcus Bowers, Rankin County News (Jul 23, 2014) - Rankin County News
The StoneCoats, a Brandon-based indie-rock band, spends hours every week pushing its practice space, a barn outside of Brandon, to its sonic (and electrical) limits. The band formed more than two years ago, and many of its original songs are products of its rustic soundstage.
#"We only got the sheriff called on us once," lead guitarist Carson Bristow, 17, says about the late-night jam sessions in the barn. He and
his brother, drummer and bassist Leighton Bristow, 19, teamed up with their best friend, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Sam Reed, 20, two years ago to form The StoneCoats. They've seen shifts in the lineup this year due to members going to college, but this trio makes up the core of the band.
#While the members of the band aren't old enough to legally drink or gamble, their sound is mature beyond their years, emanating rawness and cohesive unity.
#"It really just comes down to jamming," Reed says. "When you're relaxed, you get into a creative zone. That's really how we write our songs."
#Getting into that "creative zone" doesn't happen overnight. They practice up to 60 hours per week when they can—20 to 30 hours per week during the school year. All three musicians merge their efforts when writing songs, a collective experience that takes time and patience.
#All of it is paying off. The band recorded its EP, "Change," at Morningbell Records & Studios this summer under the tutelage of local musician and Morningbell owner Drew McKercher, showcasing The StoneCoats' musical range and songwriting proficiency.
#Tracks such as "Remember When" and "Leave Me Be" combine a soulful, neo-blues sound that resembles Alabama Shakes and The Black Keys. Songs such as "Fool for You" and "Great Communicator" give off a more low-key indie vibe.
#The band is looking forward to a release party for "Change" Oct. 25 at Brandon High School (3090 Highway 18, Brandon, 601-825-2261) during the pre-game activities of the football game against Oak Grove High School. The guys also hope to plan a statewide tour for the near future.
#"Our goal is for a steady following," Leighton says, "so that we can perform our own songs. We want to be as original as possible."
#Listen to The StoneCoats' EP, "Change," on ReverbNation. Visit thestonecoats.com, and find the band on Facebook and Twitter.
- Justin Hosemann, Jackson Free Press (Oct 09, 2013) - Jackson Free Press
Discography
The first question asked to The StoneCoats each time they are interviewed about their first album release, Poor Boy Blues, is, “What genre would you classify this album in?” Play the whole album once and you will understand why this is a common response. No two songs sound alike, and you quickly realize there is something on this album for all audiences. The guys are quick to respond that they did not want to be locked into one genre of music, but they wanted to show their diversity and appeal to all audiences of all ages. When asked about where the album was recorded, they are eager to tell all about the recording process. It was important to the boys to stay true to their southern roots, and that is just what they did. The album was recorded at American Recording Studio in Memphis, TN. The recording experience there was warm, friendly, and laid back. This atmosphere, combined with the guidance of Brad Dunn and David Gicking, allowed the guys to experiment with different genres and vocal styles. With Will Danger and Andrew McCarty engineering, and Brannon Barnett and Cason Bristow producing, the album quickly became a piece of art that was bold and daring by today's music standards. As a listener, one does not know what to expect, and each song leaves one wondering what comes next. The versatility of the music showcases not only the The StoneCoats talents, but their songwriting skills as artist to give the world something new and different. Ask them and they will tell you, "That is exactly what we wanted to do." They will also tell you with a shy grin, "This is just the beginning. There is much more to come."
All original content © 2015. The StoneCoats. All Rights Reserved.
Photos
Bio
The first question asked to The Stonecoats each time they are interviewed about their first album release, Poor Boy Blues, is, “What genre would you classify this album in?” Play the whole album once and you will understand why this is a common question. No two songs sound alike, and you quickly realize there is something on this album for all audiences. The guys are quick to respond that they did not want to be locked into one genre of music, but they wanted to show their diversity and appeal to all audiences of all ages. When asked about where the album was recorded, they are eager to tell all about the recording process. It was important to the boys to stay true to their southern roots, and that is just what they did. The album was recorded at American Recording Studio in Memphis, TN. The relaxed atmosphere at this studio, combined with the guidance of Brad Dunn and David Gicking, allowed the guys to experiment with different genres and vocal styles. With Will Danger and Andrew McCarty engineering, and Brannon Barnett and Cason Bristow producing, the album quickly became a piece of art that was bold and daring by today's music standards. As a listener, one does not know what to expect, and each song leaves the listener wondering what comes next. The versatility of the music showcases not only the The Stonecoats talents, but their songwriting skills as artist to give the world something new and different. Ask them and they will tell you, "That is exactly what we wanted to do." They will also tell you with a shy grin, "This is just the beginning. There is much more to come."
The Stonecoats, a blues rock band from Brandon, Mississippi, that has been together four years consist of Brannon Barnett age 26-lead guitarist/lead vocalist, Carson Bristow age 20-lead guitarist/rhythm guitarist and back up vocalist, Leighton Bristow age 21-drummer/bassist, and Ashten Frisella age 22- bassist/backup vocalist.
The Stonecoats have been very fortunate to have had so many wonderful opportunities with their music as of late. They were selected to perform for The Hard Rock Rising Competition last year at The Hard Rock Cafe in New Orleans, and ended up in the final round finishing second overall. They were been nominated for The 2015 Mississippi Music Awards for Best New Artist of the Year and Best Original Song, and have been nominated again this year for Best Mississippi Rock Award, Best Mississippi Artist, and Best Song. They were also nominated for The 2015 Artist Music Guild Awards in North Carolina where they had the honor of performing with Melanie Safka.
Their first
album, Poor Boy Blues was released for worldwide distribution in January of
2015 through Nub Music Record Label, a digital distribution label out of the UK.
When not in school or on the road the guys were diligently working with a crew
of awesome producers, engineers, and staff at American Recording Studio in
Memphis, TN, and were extremely excited that Larry Nix and his son, Kevin Nix,
of the renowned L Nix Mastering mastered the album. All of these opportunities
along with all the wonderful artist, mentors, and fans have allowed The
StoneCoats to grow and mature as artists, and helped them learn the
business from the ground up. Their fan base has continued to grow both
regionally as they tour, and globally as they continue to learn how to connect
with fans from around the world via social media. When asked about their
fans and their music The Stonecoats will tell you, “We are always appreciative
when we hear from fans at shows or hear from them on social media. We wish to
thank all of you for your continued support and encouragement! We work hard and
we are dedicated to our craft. We always push ourselves to
our limits. We love what we do, and the fact that we can play
so many different genres. Our music seems to have a sound all its very own.
When we start playing, the magic just seems to happen, the lyrics start
flowing, and the song seems to write itself. When the time is right, we
hope to take our music to the world stage and make the world a better place,
spreading the message of unity and brotherhood as we travel. Whatever happens,
forty years from now, we will be able to say we followed our dreams, our
passions, and gave it our all.”
“With this being said, thanks for checking out our biography page! You can keep up with us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or at www.thestonecoats.rocks. You can also find us at home on a stage nearby doing what we love. Come check us out. We would love to see you there!
Band Members
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