The Southern The Cold Stares

• 1 Horse To Water 03:58
• 2 Coming Home 03:09
• 3 Looking for a Fight 03:23
• 4 Blow Wind Blow 03:28
• 5 Confession 05:26
• 6 Level Floor Blues 04:04
• 7 Seven Ways to Sundown 03:53
• 8 No Love in the City Anymore 03:25
• 9 Giving It Up 03:09
• 10 Woman 04:06
• 11 Mortality Blues 03:15
• Total Runtime 41:16

Info for The Southern

The Cold Stares, known for their electrifying blend of blues-rock, have just announced details of their highly anticipated seventh studio album, 'The Southern,' set for release on September 6th via Mascot Records. Delving deep into their Southern roots for the first time on record, the album embodies a true reflection of their heritage. “When it came time to record this album, I thought about everybody giving us this Southern rock tag, and decided to intentionally write songs that explore that,” says singer-guitarist Chris Tapp. “In doing so, I realized that being Southern, for me, is more than an accent, and a setlist of songs. It’s about family and tradition."

Though the trio has below the Mason-Dixon Line origins, the group mines a woolier sound than expected. Fuzzed-out guitars, Zep-style riffs, and fleet-fingered Cream-style improvisations abound, as do nods to Delta blues.

"Our version of the South is different," says Tapp. "When Brian and I were young, we would sit in with these old guys at the local lodge, at the time they were still playing the old hits by Bad Company, Robin Trower, and AC/DC mixed in with country and southern rock - artists like the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. When I heard Free’s ‘All Right Now’ I thought they were from Georgia!”

Drawing from the wild tales his grandfather shared with him, Tapp’s cinematic songwriting weaves narratives as vivid as the Western movies they watched together. These stories of crooked cops and outlaw heroes, and local legends like "Hoppy" who tapped out rhythms while shining shoes, infuse the album with a rich, narrative depth. It is thus fitting that one of the standout tracks is titled “Coming Home,” a song that encapsulates the essence of these tales and the sense of returning to one's roots.

The Cold Stares

The Cold Stares
is often endearingly referred to as a Southern band in the press and by fans, despite being a modern blues-rock power trio based out of Evansville, Indiana. Yet, there is an elusive southern quality to the three-piece band’s music and storytelling songwriting. Maybe it’s because guitarist-singer Chris Tapp and drummer Brian Mullins are from Western Kentucky. Though the guys have never shied away from their heritage, on their aptly-titled seventh album, The Southern, out September 6th on Mascot Records, The Cold Stares explores what it means to be Southern through delving deep into themes of resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of personal and musical legacy.

Initially formed in 2012, The Cold Stares began its career as a duo, but expanded its sonic firepower with the addition of bassist Bryce Klueh in 2022. Though the trio has below the Mason-Dixon Line origins, the group mines a woolier sound than expected. Fuzzed-out guitars, Zep-style riffs, and fleet-fingered Cream-style improvisations abound, as do nods to Delta blues. The group has been praised by Classic Rock Magazine, No Depression, and American Songwriter, among other outlets; reached #1 on Amazon Music’s Blues Rock album chart; earned prime sync license placements in commercials, on major network television, and on sports games.

This album contains no booklet.