PHOTOS: PETE RAPPAPORT | The very first show I saw San Francisco’s The Stone Foxes live was in 2010 at SXSW. This was their very first time playing the festival and it involved crowd surfing, dancing, sweating, a band member jumping off of 12-15 feet of amps—the jump being taped which ended in a phone call and a scolding from Mom.
It’s nice to know sometimes that some things never change and the Stone Foxes stormed into night number one of their three night residency with as much energy, piss and vinegar, and sheer bombast as that band playing Austin for the first time.
Love ’em or hate ’em there is one thing for certain, this band knows how to put on a show. Lead by front man and master showman Shannon Koehler, the Stone Foxes can uncross the arms and induce a hip swizzle in even the most pessimistic of patrons.
This hand is made up of three guitar players, two drummers, a fiddle player, two bass players, and a keys guy—yet there are only six band members. Improbable, you say? Well, the solution to this riddle is that each member plays multiple instruments that they interchange throughout the set. Each player has his own style which makes the music exciting and makes it hard to put in a single genre pocket (in a good way).
With the addition of a second guitar the songs have gotten heavier (yes, please!) and the new versions of older fan favorites like “Everybody Knows,” “Patience, Mr. Hangman,” “Cotto,” and their cover of Slim Harpo’s “King Bee” have bigger guitars and give you an extra face pummel.
Just when you think you are in need of surrender and won’t make it all nine rounds, they break out a Band inspired (as in the Band), fiddle driven version of an older song or unknown new song that shows the Stone Foxes breadth as musicians and reveals they have depth and knowledge beyond being a fun, guitar band.
The band is taking a unique approach with what will be their fourth full length album, Twelve Spells and releasing a series of singles, one a month on the last Friday of every month leading up to the release. This approach allows them to work out the new songs live (which they did in rare form at the Bootleg) and get them, to quote Ethan Miller of Howlin Rain “in the pocket” before putting them down on wax.
The Stone Foxes is of those bands of whom you will never hear “I’ve seen them before.” This is a band who changes and rearranges their set—and instruments—which people travel to see. So this is not a residency, but more akin to three different shows. So if you missed last week come this week (with Death Valley Girls 11/6 at the Bootleg) or next (with the Janks 11/13 at the Bootleg).
The Bootleg Set List, 10/30/14
Mr. Hangman
She Said Riot
Everybody Knows
Cotto
This Town
Rooster
Ulysses Jones
Patience
Cold Like A Killer
Passenger
Stomp
Locomotion
Encore
King Bee
Natural Woman
