Finding Church In The Wild

Allen Stone, the 25-year-old Washington musician known for his trademark dress of a Sonic's guernsey, thick-rimmed glasses and scruffy shoulder-length hair, defies any stereotypes. He is softly spoken and his sentences concise. He describes himself as part hippy part hipster and plays raw acoustic guitar over '60s enthused soul and R&B. He is fiercely independent and his approach to music unique, owning an introductory story to music as good as any.

Beginning his artistic calling at age three as a singer in his father's church, by 14 he was leading the congregation. “It spawned who I am today,” he admits, using his music as a platform for social commentary. “You realise that when you're singing a soul song in a church and you look out into the crowd, that it's not the melody that's captivating people, it's the lyrics. You've got to mean what you say and I think starting at an early age I had to prove myself. I started to think that, not only could I do this in a church, but maybe I could do this in any style of music, in any bar, in any city in the country or in the world and maybe I could reach people in the same kind of way.”

Described by USA Today as a “pitch perfect powerhouse”, Stone acknowledges that with minimal formal training his schooling came through the church. “Singing in the church was my musical training. I've had singing teachers but I guess it was in the church where I learnt to sing in key and powerfully and not hold anything back. Pitch perfect?” he laughs, “I wouldn't say that, but I won't stop anyone from saying that.”

The hyperbole extends beyond newspapers and has been constant, repeatedly earning the musician comparisons to Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Prince. It has come from radio stations, record labels, and much to Stone's pleasure, talk-show hosts. “Ellen digs independent artists. She's not listening to top 40 radio, which is great for me,” he gushes, of being handpicked to perform on DeGeneres' top-rating talk show by the host herself. “She had heard us on satellite radio and asked me and the boys to come on and play. That was so surreal; you can't describe how I felt when I heard we were going on that show for the first time.”

Having already performed for David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno and Carson Daly, Stone is no stranger to live television performances, but admits each is still unique and nerve wracking. “The first one was Conan and it built from there. Regardless of what you think, or what you've prepared for, they're all different and surreal when they land on your plate. You just have to embrace every second of it, because who knows if you'll be invited back.”

Appearing on global television sets has seen the young man, over the space of two years, go from performing in small town local clubs to headlining his own shows and appearing on international festivals. “Since my first Conan performance in December 2011, the shows have gotten bigger and the opportunities I've been given have become extraordinary,” he says, with particular reference to his impending Australian tour as part of Bluesfest. Keeping with the rich talent on the line-up, which boasts Wanda Jackson, Paul Simon, Mavis Staples and Tony Joe White, Stone says he will be holding nothing back. “I'm playing with the full band. I'm not leaving anything out for Australia, you're getting the full Allen Stone show!” he jokes.

Allen Stone will be playing the following dates:

Thursday 28 March - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne VIC
Saturday 30 March - Blue Beat, Sydney NSW
Sunday 31 March - Bluesfest, Byron Bay NSW