Eric Richard Stone
Nederland, Colorado, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF | AFM
Music
Press
"Nederland-based singer-songwriter Eric Richard Stone released his seventh album this spring just as pandemic restrictions relaxed and audiences could once again enjoy live music performances. His thirteen-track CD, titled Kitchen Table, was recorded locally throughout the winter and spring on a portable recording studio after business hours at Brightwood Music in Nederland with other local musicians Doug Armitage (bass), Michael Sivcovich (dobro) and Tom Hall (mandolin). ...Stone and Hall toured regionally throughout the summer, with Stone recently showcasing two songs from the CD on the main stage at The Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in nearby Lyons, Colorado." "Stone’s warm and soulful vocals are wonderfully complemented by the band’s harmonies and instrumentation." "But his latest, Kitchen Table (available to download at all major digital outlets) is a must for those who are already fans, and highly recommended for the enthusiastic folk/songwriter/bluegrass listener."
- Elisabeth Grove, The Mountain Ear (Sep 10, 2021) - The Mountain Ear
Listen in for a can’t-miss episode of the Mountain-Ear Podcast. We talk to Drew Sugarman of Sunbeam Energy about how solar is looking nationwide, including in homes and from a technology standpoint. Dango Rose caught up with local Nederland Musical Artist Eric Richard Stone, and his knowledge of the local scene for decades now. Last, you’ll hear from Mountain-Ear Writer and Intern Brianna Rice-Dietz on how COVID-19 has changed school since it started. Listen in for newly updated important information, events, and more concerning residents in the Nederland area. - The Mountain Ear - PodCast
Marc Tonglen, Nederland. Eric Richard Stone has been a stalwart contributor to the Nederland music community for many years, and continues to sing for us today. Having played his first show in the area back in the 1990s, one might say that Stone is a grizzled troubadour pro. This of course is stated in the best of ways, because it takes strength and courage to persevere as a musical artist in today’s TikTok attention span world. Choosing the creative path, is not for the faint of heart.
Stone’s story is one which harkens back to a wellspring of real-world experience. As he kindly explains a bit of backstory, “What happened between then and now could best be described as Life. I got married, went to grad school, had a career as a wildlife biologist and natural resource manager, raised three children, lost my job, got divorced, and turned to music again. Now, 37 years and six albums later, I am just hitting my stride. Sometimes the songwriting trickles out, and other times it gushes like a swollen mountain stream in spring-melt runoff.”
Stone composes in a way that might be best described as a balladeering approach to traditional forms. His style evolves from the Bluegrass, Folk and Americana realms. His June 2020 release, After the Storm, was produced by StrangeByrds front-man Ray Smith of Nederland. His latest album, Just Before Dawn, was written and recorded at home during the modern Covid age. One might say that it paints a vivid picture in a sparse but passionate musical landscape. It was released in October 2020 and is available for purchase at Brightwood Music.
Speaking of Brightwood Music, Eric is often found working behind the register and communing with local patrons when local legend, Doug Armitage is in need of a day off. He’s been honing his lutherie skills over the years and has quite a hand for instrument repairs. His presence at Brightwood is part of what makes the store such a gem and cultural hub for our local community.
Stone also performs a monthly gig when nature allows at the Very Nice Brewing Company, so keep an eye out. As the snow begins to melt and the sun begins to warm the soil, he will surely be performing there again.
As far as touring goes, Eric has been collaborating over the past several years with longtime friend Tom Hall and has built an ensemble known as Eric Richard Stone & The Witness Protection Program. A clip of their music can be found in The Mountain-Ear Podcast – Everybody’s Listening, so be sure to become part of that everybody and take a listen today.
For more information on Eric Richard Stone logon to www.ericrichardstone.com, yet the best way to stay connected is just to come on out and hear him play. The Eric Richard Stone experience is definitely one worth delving into.
(Originally published in the March 18, 2021, edition of The Mountain-Ear.) - The Mountain Ear
Discography
DISCOGRAPHY ~
ERIC RICHARD STONE
© 2020 Eric Richard Stone. All Rights Reserved (ASCAP)
AFTER THE STORM (2020)
1. After The Storm (E.R. Stone & C. Minor)
2. People Get Ready (C. Mayfield)
3. *Cowboys Get Lonesome (E.R. Stone)
4. *Band Of One (E.R. Stone)
5. *Pool Hall Tapestry (E.R. Stone & J. Statz)
6. *Waterbound (Trad.)
7. Today I Started Loving You Again (M. Haggard & B.
Owens)
8. Other Side Of The Hill (C. Pyle)
9. Red Mountain Pass (M. Finders & B. Powers)
10. Living With Pain (E.R. Stone)
11. These Wings Of Mine (E.R. Stone)
12. Goodnight Irene (Trad.)
FIRE, WATERFALL & WAVE (2019)
1. Give It A Name (E.R. Stone)
2. Fire, Waterfall & Wave (E.R. Stone)
3. Highways (D. Mallett)
4. If I Shout At The Moon (E.R. Stone)
5. Love So Fast (E.R. Stone)
6. November Blues (E.R. Stone)
7. Snowbound (D. Mallett)
8. That Song About The Midway (J. Mitchell)
9. Whisky, Dope & Bluegrass (T. Hall)
10. The Face Of Appalachia (L. George & J. Sebastian)
11. The Last Time I Looked (E.R. Stone)
12. Laura (E.R. Stone)
13. Urge For Going (J. Mitchell)
14. The Story Of The Hare And The Bear (E.R. Stone)
SONG HEROES VOL. 1 (2018)
1. Angelina (M. McKinney
2. The Dulcimer (D. Mallett)
3. Horses On The Highway (C. Pyle)
4. Hard Times (Trad.)
5. Why Is Your Heaven So Small (S. Werner)
6. When It Don’t Come Easy (P. Griffin)
7. Lady Franklin's Lament (Trad.)
8. Urge For Going (J. Mitchell)
9. Wintry Feeling (J. Winchester)
10. Riding On A Railroad (J. Taylor)
11. Sweet Misery (H. Axton)
12. Goodtime Charlie’s Got The Blues (D. O’Keefe)
13. Same Old River (J. Black)
14. Gypsy Life (J. Gorka)
15. Roots Run Deep (M. Finders)
16. Lay This Old Guitar Down (C. Pyle)
CIRCLE ROUND THE SUN (2016)
1. Boom Or Bust (E.R. Stone)
2. Circle Round The Sun (Trad.)
3. Dehlia’s Gone (Trad.)
4. I Don’t Have The Heart (E.R. Stone)
5. I Don’t Want To Talk Right Now (E.R. Stone)
6. IT Can’t Be Wrong To Feel This Good (E.R. Stone)
7. Lady Franklin’s Lament (Trad.)
8. Sing To Me (M. Venter)
9. Snowing On The Mountain (E.R. Stone)
10. That’s Just Where I’ve Been (E.R. Stone)
11. Wayfaring Stranger (Trad.)
12. Wyoming Wind (M. Errelli)
JUNK YARD DOG (2013)
1. Junk Yard Dog (E.R. Stone)
2. The Lost Angel (E.R. Stone)
3. Long Way To Go (E.R. Stone)
4. Midnight Farm (E.R. Stone)
5. It’s Gonna Be Alright (E.R. Stone)
6. Tensleep (E.R. Stone)
7. Listen To The Wind (E.R. Stone)
8. The Place Where My Father Slept (E.R. Stone)
9. Since I Quit You (E.R. Stone)
10. Paseo Nuevo (E.R. Stone)
11. Road To Denver (E.R. Stone)
12. Junk Yard Dog (E.R. Stone)
Photos
Bio
A seasoned songwriter and performer, Eric Richard Stone recorded his first album (cassette tape actually) in 1983. His next recording was 30 years later in 2013 with (CD) "Junk Yard Dog". What happened during those 30 years could best be described as "Life". Marriage, grad school, a career as a wildlife biologist and then natural resource manager, raised three children, unemployed, divorced, and turned to music again. Now, 37 years and seven CDs later, he is just hitting his stride. Stone says, "sometimes the songwriting trickles out, and other times it gushes like a swollen mountain stream in spring-melt runoff."
Performing solo, or with his band; small venues or at festivals like Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, High Mountain Hay Fever and Red Lodge Songwriter Festival, Stone's impassioned music is captivating. Six previous releases, Just Before Dawn (2020), After The Storm (June, 2020), Fire, Waterfall & Wave (2019), Song Heroes Vol. 1 (2019) Circle Round The Sun (2016) and Junk Yard Dog (2013) render blends of original soul-grabbing ballads and traditional bluegrass and folk songs in a fashion reminiscent of Tim O’Brien, Darrell Scott, or David Mallett. Stone’s latest efforts, “Kitchen Table” (April 2021) showcases tasteful arrangements and instrumentation recorded during the pandemic with his band. Born out of the isolation of the COVID pandemic quarantine also is “Just Before Dawn” (October, 2020). Stone self-recorded all of the instruments and vocals from his home recording studio in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Guitars, Bass, Harmonica and backing vocals capture a sparse but passionate musical landscape. "After The Storm" is a collaborative effort from producer, Ray Smith (StrangeByrds); four live tracks from a solo performance, duo efforts with mandolinist, Tom Hall; classic covers of songs by Merle Haggard, Mike Finders and Bill Powers, Curtis Mayfield, Chuck Pyle; and Stone’s soulful songwriting and vocals on six original tunes.
Stone’s performance credits include the following Festivals: Rocky Mountain Folks Fest, High Mountain Hay Fever, Pagosa Folk N’ Bluegrass, Four Corners Folk Festival, Ned Fest, Frozen Dead Guy Days, Paddle Fest, 14er Fest, Red Lodge Songwriter Festival. He has shared the stage or opened for Utah Phillips, John Denver, Tom Rush, Chuck Pyle, StrangeByrds, David Mallett.
Here's what others are saying about Eric Richard Stone ...
Eric Richard Stone has been creating Americana music since well before it was labeled as such and the lessons he’s learned along the way come to fruition in a most beautiful way on this new album. There’s much to enjoy here, not the least of which is the diversity of sounds. “Band of One” is straight up guitar picker and singer spinning out wry and witty observations and double entendres while “After The Storm” uses every sound in the toolbox to create a unique sonic universe. The album mixes originals with a variety of traditional songs that feel completely at home with Stone’s warm and friendly vocals. On his originals, one hears his years of practice in the craft of finding the perfect arrangement of words to paint a picture or tell a story. Listening to this album I’m reminded of Tom Rush which is not surprising as he’s one of the many Folk/ Americana artists Stone has worked with over the years. The album is filled with songs that sound just right whether it’s simply a solo guitar and vocal or someone has plugged in the fuzz guitar and turned up the reverb. Simply fine music. -Kevin Slick, President, Colorado Bluegrass Music Society.
After the Storm is full of a positivity, hope, and understanding that links even the earnestness of "Living With Pain" with the humor and wit of, "Band of One." Eric's rendition of "Waterbound" has an uninhibited strength and exuberance that makes you want to sing along, and it leads effortlessly to the gorgeous melody of his original, "Cowboys Get Lonesome." His voice especially soars on "These Wings of Mine," an original with a haunting and timeless quality. The kind and patient wisdom in the songs that Eric writes as well as those he chooses to cover is unmistakable throughout the album, and the performances, whether live or in-studio, solo or full band, are sincere and joyful! - Kate Lee & Forrest O’Connor
Eric's subject material and musical styling is diverse. And yet, his songs all deliver on creative melodies, powerfully sung. His lyrics create visual images of gritty city junk yards and pristine rocky mountain peaks. His music is a soulful collection that highlights Eric's vocal talents. A bit like a house concert, his music is intimate and we have thoroughly enjoyed it. You will too. - Bonnie & Taylor Sims (Bonnie and the Clydes, Everyone Loves An Outlaw)
Band Members
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