“Twilight Town” Has Storyteller’s Muscle

Well, one thing’s certain, anyone who likes Jimmie Dale Gilmore, or The Flatlanders will find Kevin Stonerock’s first cut interesting. Kevin isn’t imitating he’s just comfortably in that style of countryfied vocal tone with a little rock embellishment, winding pedal steel guitar, a traditional country with outlaw edge. At least on the lead-off track.

“Too Young to Quit,” is perfectly suited to this Gilmore flavor. But by track 2 a deeper Tex Ritter tradition paints “Go Ahead On,” & “Railroad Man,” — this isn’t corny stuff this has storyteller’s muscle.

The Midwest-raised Kevin Stonerock has bonafide Americana in his veins. Roots rock sprinkled with generous amounts of traditional country straw, the lost country & western that always had great stories...read more

 ...There are occasions when lyrics resonate in ways they shouldn’t, and one of them was this. “Hanging on to things that do not matter. Acting like a sane man in disguise”. It gives a real pause for thought when you actually were just enjoying a sort of Dan Baird type slice of rock n roll in your garden. That’s genuine skill.

“Go Ahead On” makes good on his assertion that he “was Americana before the term was invented” and the guitar solo here, played by Gabriel is perfect, it really is.

The same could be said about much of this. “Railroad Man (Brakeman’s Lament)” is the sort of stuff this type of music was made for – its hard to pick a highlight in a record so consistently good, but this would be close. Interesting too, that I heard the words “old boomer” and assumed it was about one thing, when in reality that is a term used for a type of freelance Railway Man.

“Life Of The Party” sounds like it was made for the honky-tonk (or at least what an Englishman like me imagines to be a honky tonk) and the glam rocker in me read the title “Gypsy Road” and immediately imagined a Cinderella cover. Where this road goes, though, is darker... read more

Pure Americana Gold Dust.

As I've said before RMHQ receives albums from all over the world and all around the music scene; and while our Top 3 reviews for May 2020 are Jason Isbell, Kip Moore and Mr Steve Earle; we actually like nothing better than a handwritten letter accompanying a CD from an artist/band, referencing another review and asking, simply for 'our time'.
That's were the real gold dust is my friend!
The opening salvo from Stonerock's guitar initially grabbed my attention by the scruff of the neck on opener Too Young To Quit; which quickly becomes a tragically beautiful song about a musician on the brink of 'giving it all up' but carrying on one gig and one week at a time, with extra Twang-Guitar free of charge too.
It's a regular occurrence listening to albums like this, wondering why someone who can write songs as lyrically as sharp and astute as That's The Truth, Gypsy Road and Long Slow Fade still remain relatively anonymous? It's not as if he has a poor voice; Hell .... it's the opposite; expressive, warm and even world-weary at times, and the way he constructs the stark melody on Railroad Man is quite staggering for something recorded on a 'budget'...read more

 “Kevin’s fluid acoustic and electric guitar playing is strong and inspired.”  Guitar Player Magazine

"Stonerock has hit a homerun with this album (Whisper of Blue)." Eldon Pitts, Middletown News 

 “I’m looking forward to Stonerock’s next effort!” Indianapolis Entertainer 

“Very, very solid...He’s definitely a talent worth watching” Freight Train Boogie 

“Stonerock has combined his considerable skill as a writer, actor and musician into a career. Lucky for Indiana.” Arts Indiana