It’s easy to focus on a songwriter’s maturity after the bar scene and a rigorous touring schedule are eclipsed by kids and a wife, but Tedo Stone’s music has always been grounded in family and home. Since growing up in Covington, GA with a well-nurtured appreciation for country and soul, Stone has discovered ways to meld his influences with topical songwriting that continues to evolve into a rich catalog of barroom anthems and road trip soundtracks.
Like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the band, the music, and the man swirl together into a rock and roll trinity. Even though the lyrics are all Stone, long-time songwriting partner Drew Beskin and the rest of the band play a critical role in the rich, digestible ’70s rock which Stone continues to pump out with abandon. His 2018 album Summer Sun was an overlooked local classic that showcased an energetic evolution for the group and highlighted Stone’s greatest strength: simplicity. Still, while his tendency to distill classic rock and Americana tropes into their most basic forms is critical to his sound, it’s his ability to draw them into a greater portrait of the meaning of life that provides depth to his songs. In Stone’s eyes, this search for meaning usually revolves around community.
“Swann Song” kicks off Stone’s upcoming album, Same Old Kid, with a jolt of romance, and works as a refreshing aperitif that draws the listener into his world. As Stone elaborates, “It’s a song to my wife, jumping in a time machine from present day to the beginning of our relationship, then to the hook emphasizing that excitement of deciding to get married and start a family. I found myself feeling super nostalgic after having kids. After having time to digest it, I realized that theme ran through all the songs that would end up being Same Old Kid.”
Give “Swann Song” a listen below.
Same Old Kid will be released by Laser Brains on July 10. The album promises more of Stone’s streamlined songwriting and features a swath of Athens artists alongside the band including Matt Martin (Wanderwild), McKendrick Bearden (Grand Vapids, Heffner), JoJo Glidwell (of Montreal, Modern Skirts), Andrea DeMarcus (Cicada Rhythm), Jordan Reynolds (Rose Hotel), Alec Stanley (Wanderwild), and Taylor Cotton (Wanderwild, Heffner). Check out the cover art and tracklist below.
Same Old Kid Tracklisting:
01. Swann Song
02. Same Old Kid
03. Gummy
04. The Message
05. Shoot the Messenger
06. Wunderkind
07. Be Like You
08. Far Out!
09. White & Green
10. Town After Town
More Info
Web: tedostone.com
Bandcamp: tedostone.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @tedostone
Instagram: @tedostone
Twitter: @TedoStone