Stateside

Stateside is a walking contradiction. Their songs are fresh and modern, but they aren't a "modern rock" band. They are independent, but few would classify them as "indie rock". Though their influences are classic, they couldn't be called "roots rock" either. They are Southern, but their sound certainly isn't "Southern rock".

That versatility and attitude is on full-display on Stateside's new full-length CD, Phonograph. Reckless rockers like "Fool on a Wire" and "Time Time Time" sit along side melodic pop like "Song in D" and "Light Years Away", rootsy gems like "Stranded", and the blistering screamer, "Belle of the Ball". Written, produced, and recorded entirely by the band in their home studio, Phonograph will be released in the US on Action Driver Records April 20, 2004, in Europe on Fargo Records and in Japan on Wizzard in Vinyl in the summer. Based in Birmingham, Alabama, the group is fronted by John Paul Keith (guitar/vocals), along with Nikolaus Mimikakis (guitar/vocals), his twin brother Thomas Mimikakis (drums), and Greg Slamen (bass). All four members contributed to the songwriting on Phonograph.

John Paul Keith is originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, and began to make a name for himself in Nashville in the late 90's, thanks to his stints with The V-Roys, The Nevers, and Ryan Adams. Keith formed Stateside in Nashville in 2001 with a different lineup, recording and releasing their debut cd, Twice as Gone in the US, Europe, and Japan. After parting ways with the original members, Keith was contacted by a friend from Alabama who knew some great players, and John Paul soon made his way there to meet them. After one rehearsal, he knew he had found the right lineup. A couple of months later he relocated to Birmingham, and Stateside was reborn.

After crash-course tours of the UK and the East Coast, Stateside hunkered down in 2003 to writing and recording songs in their Birmingham home studio. Thanks to some real creative chemistry, the group collaborated on dozens of new tunes in a few short months, totally redefining their sound and laying the groundwork for Phonograph.

As the title of the CD suggests, on Phonograph Stateside takes ideas from the vinyl age and spits them back out for the MP3 age, without resorting to roots-rock blandness or modern rock trendiness. The result is fresh, exciting rock and roll.

"Stateside is a rock and roll band at a time when the world really needs a good rock and roll band…solid songwriting, fantastic guitar playing and choruses that will stick in your head." - Music Misfits

"The spit-in-your-eye songwriting that rock-and-roll history is made on…" - Rage Magazine, Nashville

"Hook-heavy rock 'n' roll songs which swagger energetically between Keith Richards-inspired Stones …and The Replacements at their poppiest." - Leicester Bangs, Leicester UK

"This is a band who are jet lagged and have been up for two days straight, they're tired and hungry and yet still produce one of the best live performances I've ever seen. They rip through songs… with an unbelievable energy." -Seismic Sounds, London UK