Check out our interview with talented Southern Rock band Stone Senate who has been called “a heavier version of Lynyrd Skynyrd, crossed with The Allman Brothers Band”. While being mentioned in such heady company is flattering, one thing Stone Senate is most definitely not, is a retro act.
Fronted by lead vocalist/guitarist Clint Woolsey’s smoldering, soulful vocals and unmistakable stage presence, stage left and stage right are burning with dual lead guitars of James Edwards and Ted Hennington. Add to these the blood bonded rhythm section of “The Mud Brothers”- Paul Zettler on bass/vocals and David Zettler on drums/vocals and you have caught lightning in a bottle.
Having been together since 2012, the band is able to widen their collective set list while throwing in band and audience favorites of Country and Rock legendary songs.
Follow Stone Senate @StoneSenate
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Hi guys, please tell us a little about you?
Hello there – Stone Senate is a southern rock band , based out of Nashville TN , with a number of musical influences between the 5 of us.
James Edwards – lead guitar / vocals
Ted Hennington – lead guitar
Paul Zettler – Bass guitar / vocals
David Zettler – Drums / vocals
Clinton Woolsey – lead vocals / guitar
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Southern Soul Rock n Roll – (almost 3 words ????haha)
We’re sure you have been asked this million times but how did you get in the industry?
All five band guys have been playing since childhood , and also, separately , been playing in different bands through the years . Whether it was cover bands or all original music bands, in Nashville, LA, and everywhere In between. So all 5 of us have been in and around the music industry , whether it be the live side of it or the business side of it. It was always something that all of us wanted to do and make a living at , and it just took the right group of guys to make it all work right.
Describe your sound in 3 words?
Real deal Rock n roll
Who influenced you and why did you guys choose to make music?
Our influences are heavily based on southern rock and jam bands, mixed in with classic rock and classic country , and a touch of the 90’s grunge movement. from Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Allman Brothers Band, to Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings, throw in The Doors and The Black Crowes, along with Van Halen and Alice In Chains , topped with the Velvet Underground and Motley Crue . With 5 guys in the band, everyone draws from different influences, but overall we all love the same stuff . Basically , we all had the same dream growing up, to play music, make a decent living at it , and have some success with original music.
Do you ever get nervous?
Oh yes ,we have played well over 500 shows, and still get nervous every time . The really nice thing that we can all count on, is that we are up on stage with our brothers, and it’s gonna be a damn good time. This band is a little family , and we all talk and hang out even when we are not playing . We are each other’s favorite drinkin buddy’s ! Haha! Over the years, we have been through an awful lot , mostly good, but some bad , so we” Band” together to weather whatever comes our way.
Tell us about your new single “Slow Crusade?”
Slow Crusade is the 2nd single from. Our upcoming album titled “Between the Dark and The Light”. This album was written by all 5 members of Stone Senate, and produced, engineered, and mixed by Toby Wright. We recorded this at the Sound Emporium in Nashville TN, and did all of the pre production at Clinton’s house in Nashville . Clinton is the only guy that lives in Nashville , Ted is in Butler AL, David is in Meridian MS, James is in Seminary MS, and Paul is in Fairhope AL. So we all had ideas and riffs to bring to the table for the new album, and went back and forth with each other , and then got together in Nashville for several weeks to complete these 13 new songs before going in and recording them . The entire process took place over about 3 or 4 months.
What’s the story behind this song?
Slow Crusade was written about how to deal with loss , and kind of elaborated on the things we have done to cope with that loss over the years. Clinton came up with the verse music / guitar riff on his acoustic guitar , and then wrote most of the lyrics, and then James Edwards (lead guitar) and Ted Hennington (lead guitar) put a chorus to it, and then as a band, the 5 of us worked out the details. This was one of the first songs we worked up when we started writing and getting new music together for our new album. This was all done over the pandemic in 2020, as we had a lot of free time to work this new material out. We really focused on the craft of songwriting for this new album, to really out do ourselves and the first 2 albums we released in 2014 and 2017.
What is fun and rewarding about what you do? And what’s not?
Being able to play our music with each other, seeing the country, meeting lots of great folks, having a damn good time most of the time, meeting folks that really dig the band and the music we are doing, and traveling are the really fun things. We could complain about the long drives with not a lot of sleep, being away from home and family, dealing with what life serves up from the highway, and goin at full speed most of the time, but that all comes with what we do, and Deep down, we all love the good and bad! We are lucky to be able to do what we do, and it’s a blessing from above to do it.
What’s next for Stone Senate in 2021?
We have several more singles going out, and then a new 13 song album out later 2021, along with several shows booking up, now that the pandemic is slowing down. Touring non stop is what made this band who we are, so that is what we love the most . We are looking to get over to Europe and Australia, as well as playing as many shows as humanly possible here in the states. We are excited to play this new album live for people and hope they enjoy it as much as we do!
What is you favorite song? And why?
Well it’s tough to nail down just 1 song , but really anything the Allman Brothers Band, Skynyrd, The Band, or The Doors have done. That stuff is so raw and real, and full of emotion and grit, it never gets old to us. We have a great time riding down the road and everyone plays music off their phone, and we all love, all of it. Our playlists can go from Miles Davis to The Band, to Soundgarden, to Jimmy Buffett, to George Strait, to the Cult and Asleep at the Wheel. We dig on all that stuff.
What book should every entrepreneur read?
That’s a good question, we all love books about bands, artists, producers, and music, and have not read too much about entrepreneurship. We were lucky to be surrounded by smart folks in the music business while we were getting started in music, and got a lot of great advice and guidance, and still do get it. We have been lucky in that way I think.
Did you guys had events/gigs planned and cancelled because of COVID? If so have you done any online events or interaction with your fans?
We had a lot of shows cancelled because of Covid. We know Covid really messed everyone up , so we tried to take it in stride. Luckily we still did a few outdoor shows and private parties during the pandemic, but lost over 90% of our calendar. The good thing was that we had so much time to focus on this new album , and really make the record we wanted to make. We can thank our label, Rollin The Dice Records, our management company, The Erv Woolsey Company, and our producer, Toby Wright, for helping us make that happen. We did a few online shows as well. Number Jaun Tequila has us for their online concert series, and that was a blast! We played full band electric, and steamed it on their Facebook page. We also did several full band acoustic shows from Clint’s Living Room, which was a lot of fun!
What is the toughest decision you guys had to make in the last few months?
We had so much material for this new album, and could only have 12 songs, even though we slipped a 13th song in there, an acoustic instrumental. So as a band that was a tough decision, but we have a lot of material ready to work up again for the next album.
Any loves other than music?
We all have a big love for dogs and animals. also, the outdoors, the beach, traveling, and good cold beers. Music is really what drives all of us though
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
Probably Jim Morrison, Greg Allman, Chris Robinson, Rich Robinson, and Blackie Lawless
Best advice ever given?
“If it was easy, everyone would do it”
Name one your strengths?
We are really motivated and driven to be successful, and have gone to, and go to, great lengths to continue to try to make that happen.
Idea of perfect Sunday?
Probably Either day drinking cold beers on a patio, or hangin at home with our pups and family.
What is you favorite song to belt out in the car/for karaoke?
Haha well Paul and Clinton have belted out a mean duet of “islands in the stream” a couple times at random karaoke bars in the past, and James loves doin Lou Rawls. Besides that, we don’t do a lot of Karaoke, but we do enjoy having some drinks at the bar.
What is your own definition of happiness?
I think it would be doing what you love to do with a little bit of success.
Do you support any charities?
We are all dog people and always try to contribute to animal shelters and humane societies where we all live. Over the years, we have done a ton of charity work for numerous causes, and are always more than happy to be asked to contribute!
What is your favorite healthy food?
Gluten free vodka ????
And your favorite cheat food?
Great Pizza, great BBQ, great Burgers, and great booze! Traveling so much, we get to try some great eats and beers and booze around the country! That is definitely a big plus to what we do!
How do you see yourself in 5 years?
Having a few more albums under our belt, and still touring non stop doin what we all love to do!
What do you think of Social Media?
Haha well, social media is wonderful for what we do. We use social media to promote the band and other projects that the 5 of us do separately, but aside from that, we don’t really get into the social media thing too much. It is great for promotion though!
Where can we follow you?
Stonesenate.com
Facebook – Stone Senate Band
Instagram – Stone Senate
Twitter – Stone Senate
You Tube – Stone Senate
And of course Everywhere music is bought and streamed
Quote you live by: “If it was easy, everyone would do it”
Favorite Movie: lonesome dove, any Clint Eastwood western movie, any Mel Brooks Movie, Music Documentary’s
Travel Destination: We have been able to see so many cool places around the country and ready to go see Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, as a band ????
Sports Team: New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Cubs, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Nashville Predators
