The Stephen Stanley Band releases new album, plus single, “Chase That Devil”
Toronto-based singer-songwriter and guitarist, Stephen Stanley, founding member, lead guitarist, and vocalist with acclaimed, early 90’s alt-rock band, The Lowest of the Low, adds to his esteemed solo career with a new album, Before The Collapse Of The Hive (Wolfe Island Records). It’s an album of raw, unflinching urgency, steadfast observation, soul-searching, and storytelling, that reflects Stephen’s immediate world: those he loves, and those he’s lost.
It’s a continued conversation between Stephen and his close friend and beloved Toronto-based radio host, Dave Bookman, whom Stephen shared the loss of, just prior to starting to work on these songs – two of which are in honour of that friendship and reflecting on the time spent finding the words for such an unexpected goodbye.
“’Before the Collapse of the Hive’ – man, that title means so many different things to me as I write this. Some of which will be obvious, others which are mine alone…”
With The Stephen Stanley Band, Stephen has assembled a collection of trusted and talented players and has gone on to share stages with the likes of, 54•40, Bob Mould, Cracker, Lee Ann Womak, Jake Clemons, Willie Nile, The Jayhawks, and Lloyd Cole. They’ve played festival stages in Germany and toured across the UK and Ireland.
Last month, Stephen previewed the debut LP track, “Here Comes That Rain” written with his two daughters in mind (his daughter Alisa has created all the artwork for the record). Now, Stephen releases “Chase That Devil” to celebrate the album release.
“The lie that gets told so many times that it is accepted as truth,” says Stephen. “We rally, we look away, we carry on but either way it continues to erode the ground we believe we are standing on. The cameras roll and it gets told again. To the advantage of a very few, but appealing to a much wider mass that for some reason suspends their disbelief and swallows the pill. The title ‘Chase that Devil’ was a direct quote. A Canadian politician asked to describe the basis of what he will do when elected. ‘Without hesitation – I will Chase that Devil out of this country.’ How does this now pass for accepted political discourse? How are we not all constantly screaming at our screens? ”
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