The Stephen Stanley Band – Before The Collapse Of The Hive
The Stephen Stanley Band – Before The Collapse Of The Hive
Format: CD – Vinyl LP – Digital
Label: Wolfe Islands Records – Continental Record Services
Release: 2023
Release date: November 10, 2023
Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Stephen Stanley is best known from his many years as a founding member, lead guitarist and vocalist with The Lowest of the Low
After years of touring and sharing the stage with the likes of Billy Bragg, The Violent Femmes, The Jayhawks and Lloyd Cole, a gold record for their “genuinely timeless album” Shakespeare My Butt was a career highlight. Stanley now leads his own band, and has logged other monumental shows with 54•40, Bob Mould, Cracker, Lee Ann Womack, Jake Clemons and Willie Nile.
The band also played at the 2018 Static Roots Festival in Germany and then went on to tour the UK and Ireland. Americana UK described the band’s 2018 album Jimmy & The Moon and Stephen’s artistry this way: “The songs are big and bold, unafraid, unashamed to flaunt their heritage… Stanley’s voice being not a thing of beauty but a workman’s tool skillfully used to create just the right effect…”
Making another album with producer Chris Brown became a challenge during the pandemic.
Recording on Wolfe Island is an integrated life experience. Start times and stop times are not regimented. Often, we’d go and play a set at the Hotel Wolfe Island (co-owned by Chris Brown) and recording would take place around the timing of the show.
Except for Kate Fenner and Ron Hawkins, outside of my band, everyone who played on the record lives on Wolfe Island. This wonderful stable of players and singers, deeply affected the sound of this album. This is to say nothing about what Hugh Christopher Brown brought to the proceedings.
Website: https://stephenstanleyband.com/
Tracks:
01. Chase That Devil
02. The Winnipeg Gun
03. Straw Man
04. You’re No Exception
05. Here Comes That Rain
06. The Owl
07. The Ballad of Lou Room
08. No Love Lost
09. Hornets
10. Hey Darlene
11. Holding Back on Someday
Band:
Stephen Stanley – Vocals, Guitars
Chris Bennett – Guitars, Vocals
Chris Rellinger – Bass Guitar
Cam Pyziak – Drums
Hugh Christopher Brown – Piano, Hammond B3, Keyboards, Vocals
Pete Bowers – Percussion
Jason Mercer – Banjo, Double Bass
Rocky Roberts – Lap Steel
Kate Fenner – Vocals
Sarah McDermott – Vocals
Suzanne Jarvie – Vocals
Ron Hawkins – Vocals
Michael Blake – Saxaphone