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
Hyde & Pine
The Stone Foxes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Talking like you sniffed a line (Whoo, ooh, ooh)
Cherry lips out in the cold (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Trying to get your body sold
[Chorus]
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now
Tell me what you need, tell me what you need
Your dress is riding high and tight (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Waiting by the corner light (Whoo, ooh, ooh)
Reach your hand out for the cash (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Flip your hair and bat a lash
[Chorus]
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother
Tell me what you need, tell me what you need
You're living off the five and dime (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Worried that you're out of time (Whoo, ooh, ooh)
Change your dress and ditch your shoes (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Find you ain't got much to lose
[Chorus]
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now
Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother
Tell me what you need, tell me what you need
The Stone Foxes' song Hyde & Pine paints a picture of a woman, standing alone in the street, trying to sell her body. The lyrics detail her appearance, with cherry lips and a short dress, but also her desperation, living off the five and dime and worrying about being out of time. The chorus repeats the line "Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother," implying that the woman is looking for something she can't get from her own family or support system.
The song's imagery is raw and unflinching, shining a light on the harsh realities of those who are forced to turn to prostitution to make ends meet. The lyrics are not judgmental, but instead offer a glimpse into a world that many would prefer to ignore. The repeated refrain of the chorus gives the listener the sense that the woman is reaching out for help but is too afraid to ask for it outright.
Overall, Hyde & Pine is a powerful and poignant song that captures the desperation and loneliness of those who live on the fringes of society. It is a reminder that there are many people who struggle every day, and we must do what we can to help them.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing out on Hyde & Pine (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Being visibly present at Hyde and Pine street corner, known for a history of prostitution and drug activity in San Francisco.
Talking like you sniffed a line (Whoo, ooh, ooh)
Speaking rapidly and with excitement, as if on a stimulant drug like cocaine.
Cherry lips out in the cold (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Having reddened lips from exposure to the cold weather.
Trying to get your body sold
Attempting to engage in prostitution and sell one's body for sex.
[Chorus] Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother Tell me what you need, tell me what you need
Asking the person in question what they need or want, and promising not to disclose their secret desires to anyone else.
Your dress is riding high and tight (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Wearing a tight and potentially revealing or provocative dress that may be worn to attract attention from potential clients.
Waiting by the corner light (Whoo, ooh, ooh)
Standing under a street light on a street corner, which is often where commercial sex work takes place at night.
Reach your hand out for the cash (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Requesting money in exchange for sexual services by extending one's hand outward to receive payment.
Flip your hair and bat a lash
Using physical cues like flipping hair or batting eyelashes to appear more attractive to potential clients.
[Chorus] Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother Tell me what you need, tell me what you need
Repeating the same refrain, emphasizing the promise of not revealing their secret to anyone else.
You're living off the five and dime (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Surviving off of small amounts of money, typically earned from engaging in sex work or other illicit activities.
Worried that you're out of time (Whoo, ooh, ooh)
Feeling anxious or stressed about running out of time to make enough money or achieve one's goals.
Change your dress and ditch your shoes (Whoo-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh)
Changing one's appearance or wardrobe as a means of avoiding detection from law enforcement or potential clients.
Find you ain't got much to lose
Realizing that one has very little to lose by continuing to engage in high-risk or illegal activities like sex work.
[Chorus] Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother, now Tell me what you need, I won't tell your mother Tell me what you need, tell me what you need
Continuing to repeat the chorus, solidifying the promise to keep their secret safe and encouraging them to share their needs or desires.
Contributed by Cole M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.