Show - 12 Stones December 12, 2008

After selling 500,000 copies of their first two albums (their self-titled debut and Potter’s Field) and touring relentlessly, 12 Stones decided it was time for a break from the road. The band packed up their gear and headed back to Mississippi and Louisiana. And what did these guys do on their time off? Well, as singer Paul McCoy put it, they “grew up a lot.” All of the guys are now fathers, and they spent a good deal of their time away from music with their families. However after a few years away from touring, McCoy says, “I really just couldn’t wait to get back to making music.” THE INSPIRATION - 12 Stones has always thought of themselves as the “underdog” in the music business. Sure, they have hundreds of thousands of fans but they fought for each and every one of them. The band has yet to have a big, break-out radio hit at pop, but active rock has embraced their sound since the release of the debut. Their fans have stuck by their side and continue to reach out to on a daily basis through their website and MySpace.com page. This support is evidence that hard work truly pays off, and even after a long absence from the scene the faithful are still by their side. McCoy says the resolution to make the best of what you’ve got was only intensified during the 2005 hurricane season. All natives of the Gulf region, each member of the band felt the hardships of that fall. Whether it was seeing family and friends pack up and move away from their hometowns or witnessing the region’s morale drop in an instant, the band felt the effects Hurricane Katrina. “We know what it’s like to be on the losing end but be making the best of the situation at the same time,” McCoy says. THE SONGS - 12 Stones did not set out to write an album for those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Still, the loss felt in their local neighborhoods had its obvious effects on the band members, and they were compelled to write about the recovery taking place around them. “Anthem for the Underdog” spells out 12 Stones’ philosophy for those working hard to get back on top. McCoy sings, “We're here now feeling the beat of a thousand hearts coming back to life again, we can make it.” The lyrics are a testament to the spirit of those affected by this tragedy. On the other hand, the weather is not the only thing that is uncontrollable. People prove to be just as unreliable in songs such as “Lie To Me,” “World So Cold” and “Arms of a Stranger.” McCoy sings about betrayal and loss in “Lie To Me,” as he passionately offers, “All the times I shared with you, were you even there at all? Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, you're scared of the truth; I’m tired of the lies.” Yet, through all of the loss and pain in these songs, there is still an underlying feeling of triumph in the end. “There is a real sense of urgency to get back on top throughout the album,” McCoy explains. “We know what it’s like to be the underdog but that doesn’t mean we always will be. It’s important to show our fans that things can change, life does get better.” Opening Act - TBD Doors at 8:00