|
||
|
Other reviews of Stocks & Powell North Devon Journal Easter 7 day pull-outReview Archive - March 2005 - See North Devon Journal NO PLACE TO HIDE |
|
Email Stocks & Powell | Join our mailing list Stocks & Powell are: Mike Stocks & Doug Powell |
|
31 March 2005 |
||
|
These songs will get to you??? hook (there's plenty of good ones), line (words and lines are well crafted) and sinker (you'll be drowning in attractive harmonies and contemporary acoustic strums). Stocks and Powell are another fine North Devon act about to take their guitar-based sound to far-flung places. What distinguishes these two, though, are their interesting harmonies and vocal blend, a feature the duo have purposely cultivated. "When you strip down the music, there is no place to hide - you're left with only the sound your voices can make," said Mike. It's a very "now" sound - acoustic with a dash of country thrown in - and pretty catchy to boot. Doug added: "I know for a fact people take away the hook lines and melodies from our live performances because I have heard people humming the tunes in the bar after the gig and on the way home and so on and so on. That has got to be the best part of it all." So how did 35-year-old Mike Stocks (a trained fashion designer) manage to find himself bonding musically with 35-year-old Doug Powell (a former electronics apprentice turned roadie who now works at Leaderflush Shapland)? The two met as employees at the factory. Mike said: "We had a mutual admiration for each other's T-shirts, got chatting and realised we both played guitar and sang. Friday afternoon was always factory shut down so we started jamming. It only took all of one session to realise there was a chemistry and to embark on this crazy wagon trail." Like many musicians the two resist being cast in a particular mould. They prefer to describe their music as "blended and stripped down to bare essentials." |
Photo Mark Brindle MANAIC films ltd Mike added: "Just honest acoustic driven songs. No holes. No pigeons." Today, with Americana and New Country acts being one of the fastest growth areas of the music scene, that sound is very contemporary. Doug said: "A couple of million trucker hats sold can't be far wrong. Country style is defiantly back in fashion." But when questioned about the country styling in their songs he denies it's intentional: Based in Croyde the two have been gigging around the country for the past two years. They are about to embark on a tour that takes in Liverpool, London, Manchester, Portsmouth and Brighton. They are looking forward to the buzz of live work. Mike said: "Traditionally Stocks and Powell road trips are a string of strange incidents which are strung together with lots of laughing and mimicking of regional accents." |
The two are not holding out for global success just yet. Indeed their ambitions are much more down to earth. Doug said: "It would be great to be able to say that we do this for a living and to have that holy grail of having a job that you enjoy and can be creative at." Although Mike added he would very much like "to speak to the person at Sony Publishing, just once." While Mike never formally studied music, he feels it's important to have an outlet for his expression and creativity. Doug, however, did show early signs of musical flair. "I took singing lessons on Saturday mornings when all the other kids were getting skinned knees and falling out of trees and at 11 I played in the school punk rock band." The two would love to see a higher profile music scene in the region. Doug said: "I hope some of this will kick start a much needed West Country music scene and stir up some interest from the music industry types in London and get them down here and check out the talent we have in our county. I am sure one of them must own a second home in Croyde." He also urges landlords and club owners to do their bit in setting the local music scene alight. "If you own a venue or pub or club with a back room, think about how you could fill that empty space with fine, original, free thinking, colourful people." Stocks and Powell album These Are Not the Droids You Are Looking For is available at gigs or visit the website www.stocksandpowell.com |
Rosanna Rothery rrothery@northdevonjournal.co.uk |
 |
|
Music and Lyrics © Stocks & Powell. email Stocks & Powell | Join our mailing list Stocks & Powell are: Mike Stocks & Doug Powell |
|
|
||
