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
Reno
The Stone Foxes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The green felted tables with a high-dollar guarantee
Roll another 2
Roll another 12
Rollin' down 395
With 15 cents
Reno you're breaking my heart
Cameras and black suits and no windows on the wall
Time doesn't pass if the sun doesn't rise and fall
Roll another 2
Roll another 12
Rollin' down 395
With 15 cents
Reno you're breaking my heart
When the fun stops and you wander down Virginia Street
And your wallet burns worse than the 8 am heat
Remember the ashtray full of cigarettes in the bathroom stall
And realize your paycheck is the reason it's there at all
The Stone Foxes' song "Reno" is a critique of the gambling industry in Reno, Nevada. The lyrics warn of the intoxicating, addictive nature of the casino culture with lines like "The green felted tables with a high-dollar guarantee" and "When the fun stops and you wander down Virginia Street, and your wallet burns worse than the 8 am heat." The song speaks to the disorienting effect of the casino environment, with lines like "Cameras and black suits and no windows on the wall / Time doesn't pass if the sun doesn't rise and fall." Ultimately, the song laments the heartbreak that comes with losing money, as suggested by the refrain "Reno you're breaking my heart."
The Stone Foxes' "Reno" goes beyond a simple criticism of the gambling industry. Instead, the song delves into the personal and societal implications of gambling addiction. The lyrics paint a picture of the desperation that can take hold when someone becomes addicted to gambling, including the reference to the ashtray full of cigarettes in the bathroom stall serving as a reminder of the all-consuming nature of addiction. The song serves as a powerful reminder of the dark side of the American dream, and the dangers of risking everything for the promise of something greater.
Line by Line Meaning
Reno's casinos are starting to get to me
The presence and allure of gambling and casinos in Reno is beginning to have a negative impact on the singer.
The green felted tables with a high-dollar guarantee
The gambling tables in Reno, covered with bright green felt and offering the possibility of large monetary payouts, symbolize the attraction and temptation of gambling.
Roll another 2
The singer is referring to rolling the dice in a game such as craps, representing their compulsion or addiction to gambling.
Roll another 12
The artist is referring to rolling the dice in a game such as craps, representing their compulsion or addiction to gambling.
Rollin' down 395
The artist is traveling on California State Route 395, which passes through Reno, Nevada.
With 15 cents
The singer has very little money left, implying that their gambling has left them with little financial stability or security.
Reno you're breaking my heart
The singer feels betrayed and let down by Reno's casinos, which have taken advantage of their addiction or weakness to gambling.
Cameras and black suits and no windows on the wall
The casinos in Reno are heavily surveilled and secured, with cameras and security detail monitoring the players and no windows on the walls to prevent distractions.
Time doesn't pass if the sun doesn't rise and fall
The casinos in Reno are designed to be timeless, with no indication of the passage of time or the outside world.
When the fun stops and you wander down Virginia Street
When the artist's gambling loses its appeal or becomes unenjoyable, they walk down Virginia Street in search of something else to occupy their time or distract them.
And your wallet burns worse than the 8 am heat
The singer's financial situation is dire and painful, as if their wallet is on fire from the heat of the morning sun.
Remember the ashtray full of cigarettes in the bathroom stall
The artist recalls a moment of desperation or indulgence, smoking in a casino bathroom and disposing of their cigarette in an ashtray.
And realize your paycheck is the reason it's there at all
The singer comes to the bitter conclusion that their paycheck, earned through hard work and effort, is the reason they have resorted to gambling and unhealthy behaviors in Reno.
Contributed by Isaac H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.