A victorious sun of slanted stares finally settled beneath our home field, casting shadows of celebration, as the Grove began to thin and the Square thicken. Waves of red shirts crashed and poured all over downtown, as if there were being brought up in the rear by a herd of wild bulls. A night bound to be trampled by a conquering stampede of drunken grins and church mouths.
Tedo Stone opened up the stage of Proud Larry’s in the midst of this debacle, soon drafting passing drifters off the sidewalk and onto the dance floor. With strange, strung out vocals like that of a female country music singer from the 80s on top of rancid speed sweeps of lead guitar, their overall sound was surprising, yet refreshing. It wasn’t long until the night rolled into an evening of teleportation that would only make sense in a Douglas Adam’s book. Once the ship blasted off, there was no turning back from the raw madness of Tedo Stone. As the frontman’s faces got uglier, the more beautiful his tone became, roaring from his gut. As their set drew to an end, I don’t even recall a set break. The crowd simply hitched a ride with New Madrid, while Tedo Stone dispersed into the darkness of the galaxy. Perhaps, they ended up at the Restaurant at the End of the Universe.
New Madrid, captains of the night, space pirates, pioneers of the southern front of zero gravity. With hyperactive builds that stretch out larger than the ocean, they are the masters of something much larger than four guys playing music in a bar. Their transitions, unpredictable and their stage presence nips all forms of ego in the bud. Granted playing music is their source of income, their job, you’d never know it after witnessing a stage of slung ponytails and smiling faces. There is an overflowing source of intimacy between the band mates that feels closer than blood. Through looping both guitars and vocals, New Madrid is able to build on top of builds without the music becoming overwhelming. They have built an army of sound, while they battle behind the frontline of effect pedals, ultimately conquering the conventions of the south’s finest music, and somehow making it even finer.
You can keep up with Tedo Stone via facebook, and purchase their music via www.tedostone.bigcartel.com
For more on New Madrid, check out www.newmadridband.com or www.yardboat.com to purchase their album.
