Allen Stone is an unlikely soul man. The Seattle musician has shaggy long blond hair, wears grandma glasses and a baja hoodie, and is cheerfully sweet in person. No era of mystery at all – he let’s you in immediately with an ear to ear smile.
His music is filled with joy and he’s having such a good time singing, you can’t help but get on board. He was raised singing gospel tunes by a minister father and says he learned to “feel it” at an early age.
His performance even prompted Jason to call him a revelation! It was that good.
I have now dubbed him the Mariah Carey of indie soul for his incredible vocal range, displayed in a remarkable cover of Bob Marley‘s “Is This Love“, the super catchy “Sleep“, and self-described “barn burner”, “Satisfaction“.
I gave him a quick tour of KCRW’s music library before the session and his eyes fell on the new CD from Joss Stone. I jokingly asked if she was his cousin and he quickly responded “no, future wife!” After hearing his set, they would make great collaborators – of the musical kind, if not the romantic kind.
Check out his full set in the archives here.
RR
Allen Stone Live on KCRW — Set List
What I’ve Seen
Contact High
Celebrate Tonight
Sleep
Your Eyes
Is This Love
Bed I Made
Satisfaction
Figure It Out