Here in the Live Music Capital, quite a few of us were introduced to songwriter Mark Stoney as co-founder of vivacious rock outfit Bobby Jealousy. However, Stoney had already been causing quite a stir as a solo recording artist with his impressive 2007 debut, The Scene & The Unseen, making the rounds at SXSW as quite a standout, so much so that he’d caught the attention of legendary producer Rick Rubin and renowned KCRW show host Nic Harcourt. The backbone or essence of Stoney’s creative drive is clearly pop at its most melodic, but his MO is to deftly interweave a number of varied genres – folk, hip hop, electronic – into the mix, pretty much anything that inspires him.
Some time had passed since Stoney’s 2011 EP Soar Before, but along comes a new album, More Than Animals, his most ambitious and diverse recording yet, and unapologetically eclectic. Stoney will celebrate his new album’s release with a show tonight at The Belmont, 305 W. 6th St. Joining the festivities are indie ensemble Mighty Mountain, and songwriter Aaron Sinclair (Frank Smith). DJ Glynn will be spinning between sets and after the show. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the music starts at 9 p.m. Recommended.
