Meet the Band: Stone Ridge
Stone Ridge is an up and coming contemporary country band hailing from Kansas City, who can be found playing multiple venues throughout the area. The Country Note caught up with them for their show at The Dubliner, following the Tyler Farr show on July 16th, and couldn’t wait to introduce them and their music to everyone.
The current members have only been together about a month, and already you can tell the vast amount of potential they possess. There is an exceptionally large and varied amount of experience and talent amongst the band members, and although it appears to currently be under utilized, it brings hope and excitement for what could come with time.
Meet The Band:
Adam Buford- Drums/ Vocals
Adam has been playing drums for over 20 years and gained his musical education
through his experiences with drum-line and Professional Drum Corp, the New York stage production STOMP, and performing with various bands that range from heavy metal, country, pop, blues, jam, and new age rock. He is a self-taught songwriter specializing in instrumentals.
He started playing percussion when he was 10; while learning piano and later trained with top local jazz drummers fine-tuning his drum set technique. He started singing in classic rock bands during his my mid 20s and recently transitioned into country vocals.
His role models in the music industry include drummers: Buddy Rich, Dave Weckl, Neil Peart, and Phil Collins.
Lindsey Lehmann- Vocals
Lindsey has a strong musical background, which started as she watched and studied her dad as
he performed in a local country band throughout her childhood. Later she learned guitar and developed a love for playing for people and forming a strong connection with audiences.
She started out with piano when she was young, and picked up guitar in her late teens. She has always loved singing but didn't start performing gigs until recently.
Her biggest musical influences are her dad and Garth Brooks.
Bruno Camps- Lead Guitar
Bruno grew up listening to the classic rock, country and blues, playing guitar since the 80s after
hearing "Sultans of Swing" by Dire Straits. He has played for bands in Spain, Germany, and the Midwest playing classic rock, jazz, blues and modern country, where he had the privilege to collaborate with legendary singer, Eddie Stovall in a recording studio.
His grandmother taught him some piano when he was only 6 or 7, and he still remembers having a hard time stretching his fingers across the keyboard. His sister tried to teach him guitar when he was in his early teens but he claims he didn't have the patience for it at the time. However, when he was 14 he heard Dire Straits' "Sultans of Swing" and knew he had to learn how to play it. So he asked his sister to try and teach him once again and has taught himself ever since. He has had the opportunity to play that song live many times since, and credits Mark Knopfler as his true guitar hero.
Jeremy Beach- Rhythm Guitar/ Keyboard/ Back-Up Vocals
Jeremy knew he was going to be in music since he first heard The Beatles when he was 3 years
old. He began playing the piano when he was 8, and picked up a guitar at 18. He also plays banjo, mandolin, drums, bass, and harmonica. Jeremy is an accomplished singer/songwriter and is the driving force behind the way Stone Ridge music is formed.
When asked his musical influences he replies, “It's cliché, but I was inspired to write and play music by the Beatles when I was 3. And then my father who is a musician and has been playing since 1965.”
Andrew McClenny- Bass
Andrew’s musical journey started in middle school band, playing trumpet. When he was in high
school he picked up the bass, and took music theory, where he claims he became a total nerd. He practiced music all throughout his undergrad playing in pep-band, jazz band, jazz combo, and more. He was in choir for three semesters, singing second tenor. In 2013 he received his Music Performance degree from Ottawa University.
When asked to share his musical influences Andrew claims, “Matthew Bellamy from the band MUSE holds my inspiration. His style of structure, melody, and harmony has influenced me the most. I will always revere, and study, the music of Bach, Beethoven, Schubert, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, and Art Farmer.”
When catching a Stone Ridge show you can expect to hear a variety of cover songs such as: Wagon Wheel (Old Crow Medicine Show/ Darius Rucker), Gunpowder and Lead (Miranda Lambert), Make Me Wanna (Thomas Rhett), Summer of ’69 (Bryan Adams), Here For The Party (Gretchen Wilson), and Two Black Cadillacs (Carrie Underwood).
That’s not all though, the band has started writing together as a group and performs several of their own songs, “Whiskey Bites” being their latest. Additionally, many of the members have songs they wrote previously and have brought with them for Stone Ridge to perform. This combination makes for a unique show experience where audience members go from singing along to songs they know and love, to hearing a song for the very first time and craving more.
Given the varied talent amongst the members, you will often see members switch positions and roles throughout the set. Jeremy frequently moves between keyboard and rhythm guitar, all the while singing back-up vocals. Lindsey is typically found in front of the microphone, but also grabs a guitar and moves to back-up vocals during certain songs. Although typically hidden behind the drum set you can catch Adam singing back - up vocals on several songs, and even grabbing the lead position on a few. Their smooth transition and the ability to perform these alternatives have given them an endless amount of possibilities for the songs they perform throughout their show.
Stone Ridge is in the beginning stages of recording their first album, and is currently working on the release of their first single. They have many new original songs in the works, which will soon be added to their sets. The band is continuing to grow as a group as they expand the areas and venues they are performing. Their biggest goal currently is simply to enhance their stage show so, it’s more inviting and allows for more audience interaction.
You can find out more about Stone Ridge and all their happenings at:
Twitter: @stoneridge7
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stoneridgeband
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/stoneridge
