Wednesday, June 13, 2007
SSF's "Into The Flames" Wins a Best Rock SAMMY!!!!
Sammys News
Syracuse New Times Sammys 2007 Award Winners
Added or Changed: 2007-06-08 11:13:24
Thanks to all those who came out and supported the Syracuse music scene this weekend at the annual Syracuse New Times Sammys award show. We're proud to announce the winners for this year's round of awards. Awards were selected by an independent panel of judges from the Le Moyne College music department lead by Andrew Russo, head of the department.
Best Rock: Stone Soul Foundation
Central New York's STONE SOUL FOUNDATION is packing heat! They are poised to spread like wildfire all over the world with the release of their first full length record INTO THE FLAMES.
Since the band's formation in 2002 *S.S.F. have not been blowing smoke. They have been cultivating a blazing furnace of rock and roll fury, and it is about to explode!
Stoking the flames is the bluesdriven hardrock groove of guitarists Jeff Wiggins and Dan Dennis, a rhythm section that makes one wonder whether they want to dance, kill or f#*k, courtesy of bassist Doug Paradise and drummer Shane Stillman, and Sean Muldoon soulfully singing and shouting like a crazed preacher.
STONE SOUL FOUNDATION's music is unapologetic when it comes to their sound. It is retro flavored, dirty white boy rock and roll. And, they've got soul too! There can be no doubt about that once you hear them. They can make you dance, pump your fist and bang your head all in one song.
STONE SOUL FOUNDATION’s lyrics are diverse in their subject matter. You'll laugh, cry, howl at the moon and curse the sun. Hell, S.S.F's music and lyrics may cause some to conceive children.
Let's face it, listening to most modern rock is like watching paint dry, only without the intoxicating fumes. Listening to S.S.F is like dousing the walls with gasoline and setting the whole damned house on fire.
STONE SOUL FOUNDATION plan to conquer the world and leave smoldering embers and ashes in their wake. They're gonna have a good time doing it too! S.S.F isn't "sad guy" rock. They know how to party and lift spirits high.
So come on! Don't be scared. Enter STONE SOUL FOUNDATION. Enter.....
....INTO THE FLAMES!!!
CNY's Stone Soul Foundation's first full length recording entitled "Into The Flames" infuses the power of today's hard rock with the blues and soul that has long since disappeared from most rock music over the years. The guitarists Jeff Wiggins and Dan Dennis provide a flavor that makes the listener want to come back for more, as opposed to being force fed the same stale guitar riff over and over again. How many heavy rock bands today do you hear with sax, harmonica, and 70's acid rock guitar solos? From the first track to the last "Into The Flames" is one hell of a roller coaster ride that thrills and chills, ascending, plunging, and twisting through the cork screws. For example, the track "Heavy Hand" grabs you by the lapels and tosses you around like a rag doll, with relentless chug and shred guitars. The rhythm section, Shane Stillman (Drums)and Doug Paradise (Bass) rolls and crushes like an armored tank. The song "Now" takes you in another direction with lyrics of hope and music that is soothing and uplifting. Another example is "Walk Tall" that grooves heavily with Sean Muldoon's R&B shouting and Bryan Dobbie's funky sax blowing. "Walk Tall" is like Wilson Pickett on steroids. You would not be too far off if you were to imagine influences such as,
Metallica, The Temptations, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sound Garden, and Bad Company, but you would probably just get confused. So pick up SSF's "Into The Flames" and make your own comparisons if you feel you must. When it comes down to it if you want to hear some ass kickin' Rock & Roll listen to "Into The Flames". For tour dates, booking, and the latest news check out SSF on the web at www.stonesoulfoundation.com
***REVIEWS***
The Post Standard/Stars
Sunday, May 07, 2006
MARK BIALCZAK
MUSIC CRITIC
Auburn rockers Stone Soul Foundation know how to lay it on thick.
Their 13-song disc, "Into the Flames," churns with heavy metal power. Yet the five guys in Stone Soul Foundation know that there's more to rock. Sean Muldoon on lead vocals, Dan Dennis and Jeff Wiggins on guitar, Doug Paradise on bass and Shane Stillman on drums roll their rock around in funk and sprinkle some tasty soul on top.
The moody, suspenseful title cut brings to mind the psychedelic days of Jim Morrison and the Doors. Muldoon and mates know how to go deep into the psyche, too, as the scary images of "Blood Runs Cold" prove: "Blood and fire reigns like a plague across the land. All the tears in the world can't extinguish the flames. Must we play these silly games? Man's pride, his hatred and his greed strangles like a weed. In the garden of no turning back, blood runs cold and hearts turn black."
Metal rap fans should love "No Stopping" as Muldoon rat-a-tat-tats: "Police behind me. Road block ahead. I might end up rich and I might end up dead."
On the other end of the spectrum, "Now" features a soaring acoustic guitar with a spirited sax by guest Brian Dobbie joining behind the prettier lyrics:
"Close your eyes and take a journey through space. Look upon the universe without a face. We are one with the dust of the earth and the wind within the sky."
STRUTER MAGAZINE
STONE SOUL FOUNDATION ‘INTO THE FLAMES’ (SSF MUSIC)
This is bluesy soul R&B/rock and roll in a sort of 1970s approach like GLENN
HUGHES meets MOTHER’S FINEST while in a battle managed by GRAND FUNK
RAILROAD. It’s very funky at times and quite original, nothing like the
standard Rock&Roll from nowadays. This is something JEFF SCOTT SOTO would
love to make I guess, really funky rock and roll with bluesy guitarwork (a
la PAT TRAVERS/NEAL SCHON) and a lot of passionate soulful vocals. I even
smell some very early late 70s WHITESNAKE references, while PAUL RODGERS’
BAD COMPANY also comes around a few times. Concluded, a quality CD release
with in total 13 songs.
(Points: 8.2 out of 10)
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