s.o.stereo.
Charlotte, North Carolina, United States | SELF
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In late 2007 I did a story for The Observer’s departed weekly, “Charlotte Eye,” on a handful of local artists to watch. S.O. Stereo was one of those four bands and three and a half years later the same lineup remains intact. The group recently put out its second release, a six-song EP produced by manager Bruce Irvine, a veteran Charlotte-based mixer and studio engineer who has long worked with Anthony Hamilton and more recently with Paper Tongues and Jill Scott.
A lot of what I wrote about S.O. Stereo in 2007 is true of the new EP (clever, conversational lyrics, memorable songs, inventive drumming…), but there’s also growth as if the group has really found its sound. Its first disc, while rooted in rock, had elements of trip-hop, spoken word, folk-rock and hip-hop. That sort of stylistic flexibility worked well. I especially liked “Gunslinger,” but the new EP is a more focused and darker, moving away from Dave Matthews and closer to early Radiohead, an edgier Coldplay or the Bravery. The band's inclusion on an episode of “The Vampire Diaries” last season (where it interacted with the cast) was rather fitting. Bradley C. Davis’ voice still has an unusual catch to it – the kind sometimes found in torchy singers like Shirley Bassey or Eartha Kitt. That may seem like a strange comparison, but I imagine it’s what Matthews would sound like fronting a European dance-rock outfit that's also capable of deep soulful ballads.
Like “One” or “Clocks” the words, acoustic guitar and group chorus of “This Place” reminds me of the kind of unifying anthems that can momentarily turn a U2 or Coldplay concert into a spiritual revival. “Some people call it alone/and some of us call it home” Davis sings. The opener “I’ll Take the Bullet” rides a danceable guitar hook into a catchy sing-songy chorus. The hooks keep coming with dark, fluttering guitar lines. I can also imagine hearing these songs getting bigger and grander if a big label got its hands on it.
Most of the EP is available at iTunes and is available at shows. You can also hear songs at https://www.facebook.com/saveourstereo. S.O. Stereo returns to Amos’ Southend September 8. - The Charlotte Observer
S.O. to the Stereo clawing for the top at Amos'
July 20th, 2009 5:46 pm ET
Save our stereo it's about to bust from the rock.
What can you say to a hard working band such as S.O. Stereo? Simply just nothing. You sit back and watch as they do their thing like any band you can be in awe of. This was no exception on the night of Friday July 17, 2009 right in the heart of Charlotte's premiere music club, Amos' Southend. S.O. Stereo have a superb sound that you can say is similar to the new wave of alternative but then you would be missing something and thats what makes the band special, the mystery behind the spark they generate with their fans in the audience. Now the examiner's opinion here is simply that it wasn't in taste with the examiners taste buds as far as the live set-up which we'll go into here in a moment but from a creative side, the band has definitely got a hold of something that is evident to them and to yours truly. So it was worth waiting for and worth the tiredness that came with it afterwards. The Penguin Drive-In on Commonwealth Ave. is recommended always for after show chow down by the way just to throw that in.
B.S. Furr playing guitar for former band As Long As Today
Now, the only gripe that most people in the business would recognize is the sound set-up at Amos'. Not sure who exactly was working S.O. and if examiner columinst here did, no names would be used but it is the only thing that seem to hurt Stereo's chances at a flawless show. So please if you were there to witness, do not count that part in for your personal review, hopefully you had a great time listening to a well oiled and prepared band such as S.O. Still it would have been good for this article to come back and say that the show was amazing. Maybe next time we get out there eh S.O.? On the other hand the three other acts including Strange County still have some work to do in order to get at the same level here. It was amazing to see some great talent amongst fellow musicians but with any constructive criticism, you have to be honest. Do not recall names of other acts except Strange County but the first band to arrive heres yours. Like said, talent was there but the on-going instrumental with no excitement isn't really catching with the large crowd. Understandable that it seems like the group hasn't been together long but I think with local set-up for sound it can't sound that amazing right? Most of the time though the other acts including Strange County were kind of hurt by the audio set-up as well so there's no telling if things would have been better or not via of this small detail and it's personally favored towards yes that it would have worked a little more in favor of the show.
Bradley C. Davis of S.O. Stereo performs for The Evening Muse in Charlotte
So all in all the show was a great success for S.O. but the others will have to work harder if some critics want to gain apraisal at this level. It is recommended to go and listen to their debut album Save Our Stereo and of course theres some songs available from their myspace website which will be provided at the bottom. This is your Charlotte Underground Music Examiner signing off. Now just keep on rocking for us will ya?
- the examiner
S.O.Stereo Edit
Read more: Vampire Diaries Crew
Edited 2 days ago by Elementalstudios
S.O.Stereo
NameSave Our Stereo
Birthplace
Birth date
OccupationBand
S.O.Stereo (Save Our Stereo) is group who guest starred in The House Guest. They played at the grill. They are the first band to guest star on The Vampire Diaries.
Season 2Edit
They played two tracks at the Grill in episode 16, The House Guest. Caroline sung Eternal Flame ( song originally by The Bangles) with them to impress Matt.
- http://vampirediaries.wikia.com/wiki/S.O.Stereo
Vampire Diaries Music: "The House Guest"
25 February 2011 7:56 AM, PST | TVfanatic | See recent TVfanatic news »
From deaths to return to the exposing of secrets, a great deal went down on The Vampire Diaries this week.
And that's not even including Caroline's lovely rendition of "Eternal Flame," a TV Fanatic favorite.
It's not available on iTunes yet, so we have not included this single in our Vampire Diaries music section. But head over there now to download other selections, included these, all heard on "The House Guest."
Angel Taylor - "Epiphany" James Morrison - "Broken Strings" S.O.Stereo - "I'll Take the Bullet" S.O.Stereo - "Hello Miss Heels" »
- matt@mediavine.com (Matt Richenthal) - IMDB (Internet Movie Database)
Discography
TVD Mixes (EP)
Save Our Stereo (EP)
What You Wanted Me To Do (single)
Toe to Toe (single)
I Know The Ending (single)
Anthony Hamilton (featuring s.o.stereo.) "Anthem of Making Love" RCA Japan Bonus Track
Photos
Bio
s.o.stereo. Bio
Charlotte based rock band s.o.stereo. (save.our.stereo.) formed in late 2006 and started as a trio featuring bradleyCdavis (lead vocals, guitar), jimmy.james.meyers (vocals, drums) and b.s.FURR (bass). Shortly thereafter, john.C.phillips.jr (vocals, lead guitar) joined the group and the band has remained unchanged. Perhaps the most intriguing story behind the members of s.o.stereo. is their history. It was not until college that bradleyCdavis was introduced to jimmy.james which sparked the development of s.o.stereo. The four members have deeply rooted friendships. jimmy.james and b.s.FURR grew up together, graduated from high school together and they played music together in and out of several garage bands. The same is true for john.C.phillips.jr and bradleyCdavis, neighbors, classmates and friends long before music brought them closer. Singer bradleyCdavis has claimed ‘Being in a band is a roller coaster. It has its ups, it has its downs but it’s how well you handle the times when things are down that determine how well you capitalize when things are looking up. There is no one else I’d rather be on this ride with and that includes Bruce.’ Bruce meaning Bruce Irvine, the band’s manager. He laughs and says ‘Bruce is our train conductor, he makes sure our hands and feet remain inside the car at all times.’
These are pretty wise words coming from a group that has seemingly only dealt with ‘ups.’ In early 2009, s.o.stereo. was contacted by ESPN to feature the band’s song ‘Mark My Words’ during the 2009 NCAA Men’s basketball tournament, ‘March Madness.’ The band had an upcoming show at one of the premier music venues in the Charlotte area, Amos’ SouthEnd, and ESPN asked to film. After filming the show, the footage was edited and juxtaposed to highlights from the 2009 basketball season. The video was broadcast during halftime throughout the tournament. This was the first time s.o.stereo. would be on television, but, it would not be the last.
Following the success of the ESPN feature, s.o.stereo. was then contacted by a well respected music supervisor on behalf of ABC Family in regards to their song ‘When A Heart Breaks.’ The song landed on ‘10 Things I Hate About You.’ After the show aired the band enjoyed such a positive response it was only a matter of weeks before ‘When A Heart Breaks’ was on television again. This time it was ‘Vampire Diaries.’ ‘Pretty Little Liars’ followed and their song ‘What You Wanted Me To Do’ sold in all fifty states and sixteen foreign countries in its first two weeks on iTunes! The band performed three songs “on-camera” on ‘Vampire Diaries’, playing themselves, that aired on February 24, 2011 with an overwhelming response.
All of this media attention has bled over into the band’s performances as well as their fan base. They have now become a headlining staple at Amos’, a venue once reluctant to let local acts take the stage as they have little to no problem accommodating and booking national acts with their ability to host more than 1500 fans. That same attention has also earned them the right to share the stage with such acts as Blind Melon and The Presidents of the United States of America. They were invited to play the local festival ‘Charlotte Speed Street’ during the summer of 2009 opening for Gavin DeGraw and Lifehouse.
Creative Loafing, a Charlotte area entertainment magazine, has shown support for the band by featuring and reviewing s.o.stereo. shows and labeling them ‘the band to watch.’ Creative Loafing also included s.o.stereo.’s song ‘Just Like A Stone’ on their 2008 compilation disc featuring the best in local and regional music aptly named ‘What’s Going On?’
s.s.stereo. was also featured on Anthony Hamilton's "Back To Love" RCA release as the Japan bonus track.
Divakar, on-air personality at Clear Channel’s Charlotte rock radio station, 106.5 the End, got on board early and invited the band on air for interviews and live in-studio performances. 10
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