The Storys
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| The Storys | |
|---|---|
| Image:TheStorys.jpg |
|
| Country | Swansea, Wales |
| Years active | 2003 – present |
| Genres | Acoustic/Country/Rock |
| Labels | Korova, Hall Recordings |
| Members | Steve Balsamo Andy Collins Dai Smith Rob Thompson Brian Thomas Alan Thomas |
| Website(s) | The Storys Official Website |
Contents |
[edit] Biography
The Storys are Steve Balsamo - vocals/guitar; Andy Collins – vocals/bass; Dai Smith – vocals/guitar; Rob Thompson – vocals/guitar; Brian Thomas – drums/percussion; Alan Thomas – keys/mandolin/banjo; a 6 piece 70’s west-coast-influenced band from South Wales who formed in Spring 2003.
With 4 singer-songwriters all taking lead vocals on different songs, their sound is both fragile and intense, underpinned by a dark lyrical edge. They can turn from tender country-tinged ballad one minute, to an as-wide-as-the ocean stomp the next in the same category as classic harmony vocal bands such as Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and The Beatles, all of whom also had multiple singers.
Formed with the intention of writing classic songs, with great hooks, melodies and lyrics, their beginning was prolific with songs falling out of the sky and behind every song is a story containing characters and a soundtrack to their lives. There was a natural vocal chemistry “Everyone would just sing a part and it would fit naturally. Nothing was worked out. We went for a ‘if it sounds good it is good’ approach and kept the natural parts even though they might have been musically imperfect” says Steve.
The production duties were entrusted to Dai, with co-production from Rob, and the album started its life in Rob’s kitchen with Dai recording some very vibey acoustic tracks before relocating to The Hall, a converted cinema, now a social club, in one-road-in-one-road-out Glyncorrwg in the Welsh valleys. What was initially meant to be two weeks of pre-production in the main hall turned into more than 6 fantastic months of recording using the natural acoustics and vibe of the building and location - the locals weren’t afraid to tell the band if the music was bad or if it was good. They weren’t the only ones to add their two pennies worth. The Hall has its own ghost, Carter, who would change the levels on the mixing desk to his liking, and once, during a recording of the strings, was even caught on camera.
As spring turned to summer, over thirty songs were recorded, and the best eleven chosen for their debut album. By this point The Storys had come so far on their own they decided to avoid all the tested major record company routes and put out the album themselves. So with independent backing The Storys decided to set up their own label ‘Hall Recordings’. They then signed a record deal with Warners/Korova.
Their first gig, to over seventy thousand people at The Olympic Torch Concert outside Buckingham Palace, was soon followed by a support slot with Tom Jones and a series of gigs in venues such as Bush Hall and The Borderline attracting the critics’ attention. More recently the band have been on tour supporting Elton John. [1]
[edit] Discography
- "I Believe In Love" - CD Single (Released: 21 August 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KOW1009CD)
Track Listing:
1. I Believe In Love
2. It's Alright To Make Me Cry
- "I Believe In Love" - 7" Vinyl Single (Released: 21 August 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KOW1009V)
Track Listing:
1. I Believe In Love
2. The Sun's Going Down
- "Cinnamon" - CD Single (Released: 26 June 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KOW1006CD)
Track Listing:
1. Cinnamon - The Fever Mix
2. So Long
- "Cinnamon" - 7" Cream Vinyl Single (Released: 26 June 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KOW1006V1)
Track Listing:
1. Cinnamon - The Fever Mix
2. My Foot Was Nailed To The Floor
- "Cinnamon" - Promo CD Single (Released: June 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KOW1006P2)
Track Listing:
1. Cinnamon - Youth Mix
2. Cinnamon - The Fever Mix
- "Cinnamon" - Promo CD Single (Released: June 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KOW1006P)
Track Listing:
Cinnamon - The Fever Mix
- The Storys - CD Album (Released: 27 March 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KODE1002)
Track Listing:
1. I Believe In Love
2. Be By Your Side
3. Cinnamon
4. High Enough
5. You're Taking My Heart Away
6. You're Not Around
7. Roll Like A Stone
8. Save Me
9. The King of Broken Dreams
10. Journey's End (Show Me Love)
11. Is It True What They Say About Us?
- "Be By Your Side" - 7" Vinyl Single (Released: 13 March 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KOW1002)
Track Listing:
1. Be By Your Side
2. God Take Care Of The One I Love
- "Be By Your Side" - Promo CD Single (Released: March 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: STORYORO4)
Track Listing:
Be By Your Side (radio edit)
- "Be By Your Side" - Promo CD Single (Released: January 2006 / Label: Korova Records)(Catalogue No: KOWCD002P)
Track Listing:
Be By Your Side (radio edit)
- The Storys - CD Album (Released: 3 October 2005 / Label: Hall Recordings)(Catalogue No: HallCD1)
Track Listing:
1. I Believe In Love
2. Be By Your Side
3. Cinnamon
4. High Enough
5. You're Taking My Heart Away
6. You're Not Around
7. Roll Like A Stone
8. Save Me
9. The King of Broken Dreams
10. Journey's End (Show Me Love)
11. Is It True What They Say About Us?
- "Cinnamon" - CD Single (Released: 3 October 2005 / Label: Hall Recordings)(Catalogue No: CDHALL1)
Track Listing:
1. Cinnamon (radio edit)
2. The King of Broken Dreams
- Promo CD Album (Released: August 2005 / Label: Hall Recordings)(Catalogue No: STORYPRO3)
Track Listing:
1. I Believe In Love
2. Be By Your Side
3. Cinnamon
4. High Enough
5. You're Taking My Heart Away
6. You're Not Around
7. Roll Like A Stone
8. Save Me
9. The King of Broken Dreams
10. Journey's End (Show Me Love)
11. Is It True What They Say About Us?
- 5 Track Promo CD Album Sampler (Released: August 2005 / Label: Hall Recordings)(Catalogue No: STORYPRO2)
Track Listing:
1. Cinnamon
2. Roll Like A Stone
3. High Enough
4. Be By Your Side
5. Journey's End (Show Me Love)
- "Cinnamon" - Promo CD Single (Released: August 2005 / Label: Hall Recordings)(Catalogue No: STORYPRO1)
Track Listing:
Cinnamon (radio edit)
- The Storys EP (Released: June 2005 / Label: The Hall Recordings 2005)
Approximately 100 copies only
Track Listing:
1. Be By Your Side
2. Roll Like A Stone
3. High Enough
4. So Long
- "The Town Beyond The Trees" - CD EP (Released: April 2005 / Label: Hall Recordings 2005)
60 copies only - limited edition artwork by Steve
Track Listing:
1. The Town Beyond The Trees
2. My Foot Was Nailed To The Floor
3. God Take Care Of The One I Love
4. You're Not Around
- "The Town Beyond The Trees" - CD EP (Released: April 2005 / Label: Hall Recordings 2005)
25 copies only - old photo of Glyncorrwg printed on CD, plain plastic cover
Track Listing:
1. The Town Beyond The Trees
2. My Foot Was Nailed To The Floor
3. God Take Care Of The One I Love
4. You're Not Around
- "The Town Beyond The Trees" - CD EP (Released: April 2005 / Label: Hall Recordings 2005)
25 copies only - individually hand numbered, limited edition artwork by Steve
Track Listing:
1. The Town Beyond The Trees
2. My Foot Was Nailed To The Floor
3. God Take Care Of The One I Love
4. You're Not Around
[edit] Live
[edit] 2006
Coal Exchange, Cardiff
Shepherds Bush Empire, London
Life Cafe, Manchester
Glee Club, Birmingham
Komedia, Brighton
Carling Academy, Liverpool
The Brickyard, Carlisle
King Tuts, Glasgow
Quayside Exchange, Sunderland
Georgian Theatre, Stockton
The Stables, Milton Keynes
Arts Centre, Norwich
Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
New Roscoe, Leeds
Boardwalk, Sheffield
West End Centre, Aldershot
The Studio @ TPS, Petersfield
Marrs Bar, Worcester
Savoy Theatre, Monmouth
Arts Centre, Swindon
Acron Theatre, Penzance
St Bonaventures, Bristol
Llanelli Big Day Out
White Lady Festival, Oystermouth Castle
Gwyl Pontardawe Festival, Pontardawe
Riverside Festival, Nottingham
Rhythm Festival, Bedford
Big Buzz, Swansea
The Sage, Gateshead
The Cavern Club, Liverpool
Guilfest, Guildford
"Acoustic Roots", Bryngarw House, Nr Bridgend
The Chattery, Swansea
Fitness First Stadium, Bournemouth (supporting Elton John)
Nottingham Arena, Nottingham (supporting Elton John)
Sussex County Cricket Ground, Hove (supporting Elton John)
Kassam Stadium, Oxford (supporting Elton John)
NEC Arena, Birmingham (supporting Elton John)
The County Cricket Ground, Taunton (supporting Elton John)
Hard Rock Cafe, London
The County Cricket Ground, Worcester (supporting Elton John)
Durham County Cricket Ground, Co. Durham (supporting Elton John)
Volkswagen Arena, Wolfsburg, Germany (supporting Elton John)
Borussia Park, Mönchengladbach, Germany (supporting Elton John)
The Valley, Charlton Athletic FC, London (supporting Elton John)
St Lawrence County Cricket Ground, Canterbury (supporting Elton John)
MEN Arena, Manchester (supporting Elton John)
BPI British Music Week, Lido, Berlin, Germany
+ Various UK venues
[edit] 2005
Supporting Strangers
Bestival, Isle of Wight, UK
Supporting The Duhks
Guilfest, Guildford, UK
Supporting Polly Paulusma
Supporting Ben Taylor
Supporting Tom Jones
Supporting Poco
Supporting Nerina Pallott
+ Various UK venues
[edit] 2004
26 Jun - Olympic Torch Concert, London
+ Various London venues
