It’s not just great song writing, warm guitars, a nut-tight rhythm section, and the occasional blues harp riffs that make The Stone Foxes’ so good; the Bay Area band consisting of brothers Shannon and Spence Koehler, and Aaron Mort have captured something else on their recordings and live shows that makes them huge, and very, very cool.
Listeners sense it right away. There’s a genuineness here that’s rare and refreshing, and it’s something that can’t be achieved simply by grabbing a couple of vintage axes and plugging into a stack of tube amps. Because while The Stone Foxes may be influenced by the greats of the late 60s and early 70s like The Band, Bob Dylan, and Led Zeppelin, they never sound like they’re trying to be anything but exactly who they are. But then they don’t need to: their style of blues-rock stands on its own.
Still though, there’s something about their sophomore album “Bears & Bulls” that sets it well apart from other records. And to understand what it is, what makes this record so unique, so good; you need to know how The Stone Foxes approach their music.
“We’ll never be a traditional studio band,” says Aaron.
“The songs are worked out on stage and are meant to be played live,” adds Shannon.
That makes perfect sense to anyone that’s been to one of their shows: it’s clear the Foxes care far more about performing their music for living, breathing human beings than an empty room filled with microphones.
So rather than holing up in a studio, writing songs in a void, then cutting an album and touring it, The Stone Foxes work their new material out on stage over a period of months, playing it for their fans. And that’s part of what makes their shows, and this new record, so special. Each song in their arsenal has evolved organically over time, taking on a unique personality while retaining the core DNA that makes it a Stone Foxes original. Every song, every lick, every fill on Bears & Bulls has had its own unique path to maturity, taking the energy and feedback from the live experience and making it a critical part of the music.
When it was time to cut the record, the band knew that in order to capture the real soul of the music it would be critical to maintain that energy, those unique aspects of each song. So Bears & Bulls was recorded with virtually no overdubs, at a studio they built themselves.
“We found mattresses, put them against our garage walls and used planks of wood as dividers. Then we played the songs live and let the sound bleed in the mics,” says Shannon.
As a result, Bears & Bulls is an audio snapshot of exactly who and where The Stone Foxes were musically when they recorded it. They were all living together, listening to the same records, and singer songwriter Avi Vinocur was a member of the band at that time. It’s a reflection of their live show and a tribute to the interplay between musicians and fans. It’s a moment in time captured digitally, then mixed by Alex Newport and mastered by John Cuniberti in beautiful, warm, old-school analog. Just like it should be.
Spence Koehler, who along with brother Shannon grew up in the Sierra Foothills before moving to the Bay Area a few years ago, points out another thing about the new record that makes it unique. “You know,” he says, “all the instrumentation on the recording is the same as it is live.”
Right, the instrumentation thing: The Stone Foxes don’t have a set lineup on instruments. Since each song is unique, who plays what changes depending on the song’s personality. Shannon may come out from behind the drums to sing and play harmonica. Aaron and Spence regularly swap rhythm, lead, and bass duties, and every member sings lead on at least a few songs. But it’s no gimmick: like everything The Stone Foxes do, the instrument and vocal changes are a function of the natural evolution of their music and what works best on each song.
“It doesn’t matter who writes the lyrics,” says Shannon, “if someone else has a better voice for the song, they sing it.”
And the way they play it live is the way it’s laid to tape.
So you’ve got this band of players that can actually play, writers that can actually write, none of whom seem to have much ego: it’s about the music and the band over all – not the individual. You turn them loose to create songs that evolve and mature over time, then you drop them in a studio to track a record on their own terms. As it turns out, what you end up getting is something way deeper and more heartfelt than most bands ever deliver.
You also get a hint of what they’ll become. Because this collection of songs, from the raucous fun of “Stomp” to the slow grind of “Through the Fire” from the bad ass lick that opens “Patience” to the down and dirty blues of “Mr. Hangman” could only have been created by a band that’s fearless about following their music where it leads, and has the skills to share what they learn on the trip. And it’s a trip they’re still taking: The Stone Foxes and their music continue to evolve, and continue to deliver live shows that blow the doors off of venues along the way.
When asked if there’s one thing that they want their fans to know, there’s no hesitation: they say they have a huge amount of fun playing live, loved capturing their work on the record, and that they wouldn’t be doing any of this if they didn’t.
Really though, that’s completely unnecessary to mention: one listen to the record, one visit to a gig, and all that is clear from note one.
Bio written by Bradford Schmidt
Everybody Knows
The Stone Foxes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A poor boy caught me in the act of my greed
I cut up my lies and laid 'em 'neath the floor
but I hear the bumpin' from behind the door.
Chorus:
Everybody knows, everybody knows
I'm the mad man with the tell-tale heart
everybody knows, everybody knows
you know it's driving me mad (everybody knows)
you know it's driving me mad (everybody knows)
you know it's driving me mad (everybody knows)
you know it's driving me mad (everybody knows)
you know it's driving me mad.
even the holy ghost will have to testify
but it's beating so loud, that they don't know too soon,
I did the deed with my silver spoon.
Chorus
Neighbors call to see if all is well
someone keeps knocking and a'ringing my bell
they've got vulture eyes
they judge what they see
it's what i call a crime in the first degree
can't take it no more, can't take it no more
I feel that bumping coming from the floor.
Chorus
The Stone Foxes’ song “Everybody Knows” is a story about a man who has taken more than he needed from others and is now coming to terms with the consequences of his actions. The lyrics convey his guilt and fear of being caught for his misdeeds, which have caused him to cut up his lies and bury them beneath the floor. However, he still hears the “bumpin’” from behind the door, symbolizing the guilt that is still haunting him.
The chorus of the song makes clear that “everybody knows” about his misdeeds, and he is the “mad man with the tell-tale heart” who is going to tear himself apart. He feels that his guilt is driving him insane, and even the “holy ghost will have to testify” to his wrongdoing. He reflects on how he committed his deeds with his “silver spoon”, indicating privilege, but how it has led to his downfall.
The song ends with the man unable to take the guilt anymore as he hears a bumping sound from the floor again. The neighbors keep calling to see if everything is alright, but he knows that the vultures are judging him for his misdeeds. The bumping is most likely the literal sound of his guilt and fear, but it could also be a metaphor for the heavy weight of what he has done, literally causing the floorboards to shake. The song tells a powerful story of guilt and fear, and the consequences of our actions, no matter how well-hidden they may be.
Line by Line Meaning
I've took and I take more than one man need
I've been greedy and taken more than what I actually need.
A poor boy caught me in the act of my greed
Someone less fortunate than me caught me being greedy.
I cut up my lies and laid 'em 'neath the floor
I tried to hide my lies by burying them under the floorboards.
but I hear the bumpin' from behind the door.
Despite my attempt to conceal my lies, I can hear someone or something knocking from behind the door.
Everybody knows, everybody knows
Everyone is aware of what I've done and who I really am.
I'm the mad man with the tell-tale heart
I am the crazy person with a guilty conscience that cannot be silenced.
I'm gonna tear myself apart
The guilt is consuming me and I am slowly destroying myself.
even the holy ghost will have to testify
Even a sacred and divine entity like the Holy Ghost will bear witness to my wrongdoings.
but it's beating so loud, that they don't know too soon,
The sound of my guilty heart beating is so loud that it is noticeable, but people haven't realized it yet.
I did the deed with my silver spoon.
I committed my unethical actions using my privileged and wealthy background.
Neighbors call to see if all is well
My neighbors are checking on me to make sure everything is okay.
someone keeps knocking and a'ringing my bell
Someone or something keeps knocking and ringing my doorbell.
they've got vulture eyes
My neighbors are watching me intently, like vultures waiting for someone to die.
they judge what they see
They are quick to judge me based on what they observe.
it's what i call a crime in the first degree
The way they are treating me feels like a serious crime.
can't take it no more, can't take it no more
I am unable to handle the pressure and stress anymore.
I feel that bumping coming from the floor.
I can sense that the sound coming from beneath the floorboards is getting more intense and worrisome.
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Evan42881
I love you guys so much. I wish you were more well known because you deserve every ounce of attention you get, you're all so incredibly talented, great job guys.
@drew101492
Love this song. Listen to it everyday and night :)
@ayjkproduction
great video, amazing song! keep up the good work fellas
@grawman67
Holy crap, man! You guys are really doing well! I found you guys on the GetYourMusicNoticed channel and had to look you guys up. You're really, really bluesy and raw with your sound and you all have serious chops. I'm a musician as well and was curious, what are some of your influences? I hear a lot of traditional blues influences and some more common influences like Zeppelin and the Doors, but I hear some Black Keys and the like in there too. Great tune, guys.
@TomKennyIsLovely
This song is fantastic!
@bajajablasted
For the longest time me and my friend called this the Tell Tale Heart song! We wanted a studio version so badly!! I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOUR NEW ALBUM!
@DallasBobGTO
awesome band!!!!!
@FizzDipps
You guys are keeping it real!
@playingguitarforfun
love this song.
@cotaflores04
sooooo good, boys good job, you are awesome, i love you guys