Stone River Boys Press Reviews

“Every region has its heroes, those who follow their hearts into the future without thinking what they'll find there. And Southern California can lay claim to guitarist Dave Gonzalez, who's played a pivotal role in the roots revivalism of bands like the Paladins and Hacienda Brothers.  Now Gonzalez's latest band, the Stone River Boys, is taking the timeless elements of country and soul, and mashing them together with rare sonic finesse.” 

Bill Bentley, Colorado Springs Independent
http://www.csindy.com/

The Stone River Boys originals sound like they could have been lifted straight from a ’60s Bakersfield retrospective box set, except, of course, for the unmistakable air of Funk and Soul that permeates every steel guitar-tinted note.  There is so much cross-pollinated brilliance on Love on the Dial you might wonder if you’re responding to the Stone River Boys’ Funk or Country. Rest assured, the Boys are like a well-tuned muscle car: You’ll love all the individual components but you’ll be most impressed with the whole package once you hit the gas and go.” 

Brian Baker, Cinncinati Citybeat
http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/

Gonzalez formed Hacienda Brothers (classic-style country, not modern-radio-country garbage) with singer Chris Gaffney in 2005. They made four pithy, fun, freakin’ awesome country albums (including a live disc recorded in Europe). Unfortunately, Gaffney died of cancer in 2008 — and that marked the end of a very good thing.  Along come the Austin-based Stone River Boys, a funky five-piece country/roots-rock band with plenty of soul — and talent. You’ve got Gonzalez on electric guitar, including some baritone (plus he sings a tune or two). The lead vocalist is Mike Barfield. Scott Esbeck (formerly of Los Straitjackets) plays bass. Gary Newcomb is the heavily featured pedal steel guitarist. Mark Patterson plays drums.” 

Damian Fanelli, DailyRecord.com
http://www.dailyrecord.com/

“On their debut CD, Love on the Dial, the Boys are working from essentially the same playbook as the Hacienda Brothers: a seamless blend of immaculately played modern honky-tonk and country soul, delivered with high style and untouchable chops. Fronted by Texas legend Mike Barfield and featuring steel-guitar ace Dave Biller, Love on the Dial delivers 10 originals and four cover songs that play like a jukebox full of future hits.”

Carl Hanni, Tucson Weekly
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/

“The Hacienda Brothers met a tragic end when founding member Chris Gaffney succumbed to liver cancer and died in April 2008. If there is a silver lining to this story, it comes in the form of both the musical legacy that Gaffney left behind, and the new directions chosen by his bandmate David Gonzalez. Gonzalez and friend Mike Barfield are veterans of the music scene, and their debut as Stone River Boys, Love on the Dial, is a rich exploration of American music; from dirt road country to grooving R&B, this album has it all. Love on the Dial is one of the most refreshing albums released this year; melding rock and country seamlessly, the compositions here are retro-fitted for AM radio.” 

Honest Tune
http://www.honesttune.com/

“With enough guitar twang for any roots rock fan, along with plenty of tight songwriting and strong vocals, "Love on the Dial" is a refreshing and mature change of pace from so much of the sound-alike Texas music available nowadays, and the Stone River Boys seem ready to surpass the success of even their former bands with the new sound.” 

Don Chance, Time Record News
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/

“Every song beams like a deep-down diamond in a mine. These Stone River Boys—full-scale and tremendously versatile—have newly defined the soul of the Southwest.” 

Tome Clarke, Hittin’ The Note- The Allman Brothers owned jam band zine
http://www.jambands.com/

“Half of the Stone River Boys’ debut is perfect for a bit of beach music shaggin’ while the other half would feel right at home at a honky-tonkin’ juke joint. And true to its mission, the band offers the twanging rockabilly-country of Buck Owens or Johnny Cash alongside the Southern soul of Solomon Burke or Joe Tex. Experts maintain that there’s a fine line between soul and country. The Stone River Boys walk that musical tightrope.”

Eric Feber, Virginian-Pilot
http://thevirginianpilot.com/

“There will be plenty of country soul and rockabilly and funk (and hopefully Mike Barfield’s funky dancing). Listen for sublime pedal steel guitar to play off Gonzalez’s incredible leads. I’m sure there will be some Hacienda Brothers tunes played. The spirit of Gaffney will be in the room.”  

Jim Dyar, anewescafe.com
http://anewscafe.com/

“Austin's Stone River Boys plays "country funk" like nobody's business. Along with guitarist Dave Gonzalez (formerly of the Hacienda Brothers and the Palladins) and singer Mike Barfield (a.k.a. "the Tyrant of Texas Funk"), the Boys band includes Scott Esbeck (formerly of Los Straitjackets), pedal steel guitarist Gary Newcomb and drummer Mark Patterson. The music is a blend of Gulf Coast country and funked-up R&B with a little honky-tonk ballad sound thrown in.” 

Jim Carnes, Sacramento Bee
http://www.sacbee.com/

“Barfield and Gonzalez’s originals, written both separately and together, include southern-funk dance numbers, country rock, and most winningly, country-soul tunes that include the Gonzalez-sung “Still Feel the Feeling” and the co-written “Love’s Gonna Make It.” Barfield’s Texas sensibilities fit well with the Memphis influences Gonzalez picked up working with Dan Penn, and both fold perfectly into the duo’s country roots. Backed by a band that’s equally at home with twang and deep bass, the Stone River Boys are all set to burn it up on the road.” 

No Depression
http://www.nodepression.com/

“Stone River Boys, based in Austin, Texas, put funk into their country. With former members of the Hacienda Boys and The Hollisters leading the group and writing quite a bit of the material, that’s not too surprising. Love on the Dial gets at the grit and heat of their live shows which have been rockin’ Texas honky tonks for several years now.” 

Kerry Dexter, Gather
http://www.gather.com/

“The Boys' debut album Love on the Dial was released yesterday and mostly moves in the same country/soul territory The Hacienda Brothers had perfected during their brief run. Barfield's presence has brought a fresh take on that sound, however, and melded it into something the band calls "Country Funk." It's an apt title. There's plenty of funk in tunes like the social-commentary-disguised-as-a-60's-dance-tune "The Struggle." They've also managed to turn the Gerry Goffin & Carol King penned Monkees' hit "Take a Giant Step" into a country weeper.” 

A Fifty Cent Lighter & A Whiskey Buzz
http://fiftycentlighter.blogspot.com/

“There are some straight country tunes on the Stone River Boys' debut LP, Love on the Dial; one doesn't get too far into the album before realizing that the band is as much Joe Tex as Buck Owens. Songs like "Boomerang" and a stellar cover of Tyrone Davis's '60s soul hit "Can I Change My Mind" scream "country soul." 

William Michael Smith, Houston Press
http://www.houstonpress.com/

“The group bursts out of the gate with a tremendous 1-2 punch. “Bluebonnet Blue” mixes a bit of Eddie Cochran rockabilly with some tasty slide guitar while “Can I Change My Mind” takes a more soulful, if no less catchy, path.  And it doesn’t stop there. Track three, “The Struggle,” finds the band gliding across the dance floor with some mighty fine southern style rhythm and blues. Barfield may be handling the vocals but it is Gonzalez’s guitar that really sings. The group finds a stellar groove on the title track, a potent mix of smoldering guitar and slowly simmering organ. Barfield injects the song with some impassioned vocals, pleading “put a little love on the dial.” 

Twangville
http://twangville.com/

This is one of those discs that destroys the current concept of radio and its neat niches, there is country, soul, Southwest twang, Rock-a-Billy, and little bits of just about everything else, yet it is not a hodgepodge. There is a unity and cohesiveness to the disc that stands tall. Nine of the 14 songs are written by one of both members of the band, and the remainder shows their wide-ranging interests, covering songwriters as diverse as C.King/G.Goffin and R.Despenza/C.Wolfolk. Love On The Dial is well worth the effort spent searching it out as it is just flat excellent music played with joy and soul.” 

Bob Gotttlieb, Acousticmusic.com
http://www.acousticmusic.com/

“The CD features a slew of fun, soulful, funky and sometimes irreverent songs like “Boomerang” and “The Struggle.” When Barfield breaks into his screaming whoops and animated country-soul dance you’ll want to join the infectious good time. Gaffney would have loved this pairing. In 2009 the Stone River Boys made a big splash performing at SXSW and the Americana Music Conference. Out of their showcases came a record deal with Cow Island Music out of Massachusetts. For every end there is a new beginning and in this case for Dave Gonzalez and Mike Barfield, it’s The Stone River Boys.” 

Austin360.com
http://www.austin360.com/

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More Press Content from the Stone River Boys:

• Stone River Boys Graphics and Downloads
• Stone River Boys Band Bio 
• Stone River Boys Band Reviews