Stovall

Shows and More Reviews

Posted by Stovall on May 25, 2010

Well we had a great time playing the Variety Playhouse last Saturday for a charity event sponsored by the Atlanta Bar Association! There are more shows this summer in the works so stay tuned…..

Also, “True Story” was recently reviewed on www.rootstime.be, a website out of Belgium.  Here is a rough translation of the review:

On the cover of the CD ’True Story…’ from the American group ‘Stovall’ things looks very threatening with a mustached skull between a number of stinging cactuses. But the music from this band of six from Atlanta, Georgia around singer and composer Hannibal Heredia is not dangerous. On the contrary, it seems like a very nice group of music lovers anchored by Angela Fox, the singer and strong support of Stovall.

That Heredia and his friends are ardent supporters of the music of bands like Old 97′s, Wilco, Whiskey Town, Tom Petty and the Rolling Stones cannot be hidden, because every song on their debut album ‘True Story…’ does let some impact of these groups shine through.

The strong sound of rock from most of the tracks from this CD is comprised of solid hooks, guitar riffs, and danceable melodies.  ‘Empty Bottle’ and ‘Stay Up Late’ swing immediately into rock, and it is only as Angela Fox, as the lead vocalist on ‘Stop Letting Me Go’, that the pace of the music slows.   Her alto voice is immediately reminiscent of Chrissie Hynde from the Pretenders and also of the raw vocal cords of Lucinda Williams.

The members of Stovall can all look back on several years of music, mostly in the indie-rock scene or punk world. With this group, the sharp edges are rounded but with style, and it gives them more radio-friendly pop and rock songs. Kevin Elrod ventures out to a ballad in ‘Walk Alone’, but after about one minute it gets back on speed. Afterwards, the CD switches from banjo-driven country music in ‘Blue Skies’ to the alt- country number ‘Hurtin’ Kind’.  The varying nature of this record is even more emphasized with a tearjerker par excellence in the beautiful ‘Misery’, again sung by Angela Fox.

Perhaps a cautionary note for a moment, Stovall in some songs do not seem to be as well in the strength in singing tone. Especially “Southern Vine” and “Pick Up Lines” suffer a little.  These are things that are currently found in the recording studio are easily corrected and therefore should have been. ?However, we must honestly say that the band is best on the two great closing tracks “Champagne”, and the lovely rocking “Stray Dog”, invariably their opening song at live shows. All in all, this CD is still an excellent introduction to the sextet of seasoned musicians.  ”True Story …” will easily provide for a fun entertaining evening.