Noel Stephen and the Darlings

Noel Stephen has been recording music alone in his apartment for years. After countless foiled attempts to form a band, he finally recruited members of his family, none of whom had ever played an instrument. He taught them the music, and magically, got the garage pop band he had been wishing for all along. Jonathan on bass, Kyle on drums, Margaret on keyboard, and Maria on ukulele became the Darlings. The songs are at once introspective and exuberant, melodramatic and sincere, letting you in on the private joke that is Noel's life. Gabe Vodicka of Creative Loafing described the music as "playful, catchy, baroque pop...knowingly clever but vastly unpretentious music that's similar to old Jonathan Richman or current Andrew Bird, with a definite touch of Rufus Wainwright theatricality."

Noel Stephen & the Darlings are about to release their first full-length album, Ten Years Too Late. It is full of upbeat rhythms, sixties-inspired guitar, and the soulful voices of Noel and Amber. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes danceable, the songs reflect preoccupations with subjects such as love, knitting, graffiti, poetry, and a yearning for the past.