Kevin Stonerock

John Apice - Americana Highways

Kevin Stonerock – Party Of One

Kevin is a Midwest artist & rather than tag him as a country artist with folk leanings or dismiss him as just another Americana singer I believe his place in music is more as a troubadour in the Dave Van Ronk, Eric Schmidt & Fred Neil mold. That trio covered a wide range & were never of any genre though some fans of a specific type would “claim them” as their own. These were not commercially driven mainstream tainted performers but true roots artists. They didn’t play music as much as the music played through them. Like a medium.

Produced by Kevin Stonerock (lead & harmony vocals/harmonica/banjo/acoustic, rhythm & electric guitars/Danelectro baritone guitar/Gretsch Country Gentleman electric guitar/Fender bass/fretless U-bass) the 13 songs on Party Of One (Drops March 8/TwoMoon Records) are meant for all. While a tinge of old-fashioned country in “Bad Memory Lane” runs through Kevin’s musical power line, the current is refreshing in its modernized conventions.

Stonerock’s cerebral vocals are surrounded by an oom-pah-pah beat, fiery fiddle & torrents of varied guitars that lend a nice powerhouse delivery. The musical approach appears welcomingly again on “Sidewinder” that name checks an old DeSoto. Wow. Music of the vintage, traditional country style like this in the hands of the right artist can still be a melodic activity — it can get weak limbs back out on the dance floor. And if that isn’t a natural medication, I don’t know what could be.

“It Won’t Be Long,” & the catchy “Nothing Dies Slower” have more of a chiming guitar drive & an arrangement similar to how the late Gram Parsons wanted to merge rock n’ roll with old-fashioned country elements. Obviously, it works nicely here. It enlivens these melodies & on the first, the balladry’s backup vocal subliminally supports Kevin’s strong voice. Another token tune that radiates is “Summer Time” — a radio-friendly song in the tradition of Bruce Springsteen’s “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” & just as good. “Atlanta In Reverse” has a dependable Marty Stuart/Billy Burnette drive & here, Kevin owns it.

I prefer music such as this to avoid vocal treatments, electronic tinkering, echo, or whatever was used on some tunes. I understand it adds presence, but this is country-inflected music & should be pure. There’s a reason wine has sediment. Other than that, Stonerock’s material is consistently good — he’s always understood his art.

Highlights – “Bad Memory Lane,” “It Won’t Be Long,” “All Those Years Ago,” “Sidewinder,” “Nothing Dies Slower,” “Down Home,” “Summer Time” & “Atlanta In Reverse.”

Musicians – Shane Guse (fiddle/mandolin), Ed Ringwald (pedal steel guitar/dobro), Gabriel Stonerock (electric guitar/Gretsch Country Gentleman electric guitar/solo guitar/organ), Derrick Carnes (drums/harmony), Abby Carr & Stacey Lee Guse (harmony vocals).

Americana Highways, March 2025