Huntsville music will never be quite the same. Stone Anderson, one of the city’s most talented and beloved musicians, died Friday at age 27.
Anderson was the bassist for top local band Rob Aldridge & The Proponents and promising indie group Silver Fern. He also played guitar in Dave Anderson Project, the solo band of his father, singer/guitarist Dave Anderson of Brother Cane/Atlanta Rhythm Section fame.
After receiving an outpouring of calls, texts and online direct messages following Stone’s passing, Dave posted on Facebook: “I have given my regards to countless people in their time of grief. I’ve always felt like it seemed like not enough. I truly get it right now. Everybody reaching out over the past 24 hours has been more comforting than you could possibly imagine and I love you all for it. Stone does too. It means everything and I thank you.” Aldridge posted, “I don’t have words right now. I lost my brother today.”
Being the son of one of Huntsville’s greatest and most iconic musicians would’ve been a daunting shadow for most people to live under, but Stone made his own mark and carved his own legacy.
A stunningly talented guitarist, Anderson took up the bass to join Aldridge’s band about six years ago. His sheer musicality allowed him to progress on bass at rapid speed and become a major creative force in The Proponents, a song-oriented American rock & roll band a la Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
“I was always struck by the unusual way that he picked the strings with an upstroke,” fellow Huntsville bassist Matt Butler, of Chris Garrison & The Blackbirds, tells AL.com, “something I’d never seen anyone do before, and something that probably lent to his unique sound, the way he created his bass lines, or the way (he) covered the lines of others.”
Playing a blue bass custom-made by Huntsville luthier Tom Shepard, Anderson became a tasteful bassist, whether using a pick or his fingers. His musical heroes included the late singer/guitarist Jeff Buckley, power-pop band Big Star and The Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson. His favorite guitarist was Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. His favorite contemporaries included Shoals band The Pollies and Huntsville founded grunge duo Bleaker.
Rob Aldridge & The Proponents released a feisty self-titled debut album in 2018. The songs combined Stones-meets-Skynyrd guitar-chug, poignant lyrics and underground edge. Highlights include “I Won’t Be There,” “Death Grip on the Sun” and “Don’t Waste Your Words.” The music made AL.com lists of the state’s best albums and songs that year.
Anderson was particularly fond of punk-tinged Props tune “Calling It a Night,” which the band often closed their shows with. On especially raucous nights, that song would culminate with Anderson pummeling his bass into his speaker cabinet, an authentic expression of rock catharsis.
Huntsville musician Stone Anderson. (Courtesy Joshua Black Wilkins)
The Props had recently finished their second album, recording at Studio 144 with Pollies singer Jay Burgess behind the board. The music on the sophomore Props disc extends from guitar sparks to catchy grooves. In addition to Anderson on bass/backing vocals and Aldridge on lead vocals/guitar, The Props feature drummer Nick Recio, from Nashville band Great Peacock, and lead guitarist Rob Malone, formerly of Drive-By Truckers.
The second Rob Aldridge & The Proponents album would’ve been a must-hear local release anyway. Now, it will be profound and powerful listening. Noted Nashville photographer Joshua Black Wilkins shot black and white images during the sessions. Those images are completely haunting now.
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Anderson played bass on Silver Fern’s strong 2019 EP. Silver Fern was a passion project for him, indulging the more alternative side of his oceanic listening tastes. Fans of contemporary acts like Soccer Mommy and Snail Mail will enjoy the ambient ethereal music on Silver Fern tracks such as “Lantern,” selected one of “50 songs by Alabama musicians from 2019 to know.” Anderson’s Silver Fern band mates were singer/guitarist Shannon Wren, guitarist Steven Whaley and drummer Jacob Stewart.
After Stone’s passing, Whaley posted on Facebook: “I don’t know what to say about it. I’m physically sick. My friend is gone. Bandmate, former roommate, easily the funniest person I’ve ever known. One of my favorite people in my life.”
Stewart posted, “I’m still in shock. I’m going to miss Stone so much. I wish we could listen to Alice in Chains and scream the words again. Most of all, I wish we could’ve had a meaningful last interaction. I love Stone. He was one of the most special people I’ve ever known.”
Huntsville musician Stone Anderson. (Courtesy Joshua Black Wilkins)
Anderson was the connection between seasoned Huntsville musicians such as his father Dave Anderson and roots musician Freddy Faust, and young rockers like local band Drop Diver. He had the rare combination of old-soul meets youth-energy that allows a person to be friends with people ages 18 to 78.
Dave Anderson Project debuted in 2017, headlining at Fireside Music Festival, at MidCity outdoor venue The Camp. Although a rainstorm shortened the performance, hearing Dave Anderson’s well-crafted melodic rock songs, like “Welcome,” backed by Stone, keyboardist Clint Bailey and an ace local rhythm section comprised of drummer James Irvin and Matt Ross, on a big stage with big production, was a thrill for those there.
On Sunday, Ross posted on social media about Stone, “He was my favorite bassist around. In the beginning he asked me several times if we could get together so I could show him some stuff. I always said I’d be happy to, but I didn’t think there was anything I could show him that he didn’t already grasp. I was in awe of his raw talent. He was simply the better musician, period.”
Right before the pandemic hit, Nashville based Americana artist Matt Woods enlisted Anderson to play bass on a tour that wound through Texas and Oklahoma. Recently, he’d been tracking bass for a solo album by Weston Hill, who plays guitar in Woods’ band.
North Alabama-based rock band Rob Aldridge & The Proponents. (Courtesy Joshua Black Wilkins)
Back in 2018, Rob Aldridge & The Proponents did an extensive tour out West, a DIY “get in the van” trek not many Huntsville groups undertake these days. The band’s drummer at the time was Kevin Reed, and that Props tour not only seasoned the group but also produced road stories the musicians will always remember.
Anderson was also a gifted drummer. He could pull great grooves out of even a minimalistic kit. Around 2014, Stone relocated to Los Angeles to pursue music, as part of the duo Atomic Sweater, which also featured singer/guitarist Judson McKinney. In L.A., he became friends with Carla Azar, a high school drumline friend of his father’s and now the drummer for garage-blues rock-star Jack White. After Anderson moved back to Huntsville, he and Azar kept in-touch and she gifted him with cymbals and other drum gear.
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In 2016, Anderson was part of a weekly house-band jam that quickly attracted crowds of savvy local music fans. With Dave Anderson, drummer James Irvin and keyboardist Tim Tucker, they performed less-traveled covers ranging from ’70s Wings hit “Jet” to Sweet’s “Ballroom Blitz.” Anderson’s lead vocals on the ’80s INXS ballad “Never Tear Us Apart” were a highlight. These jam-nights were originally held Tuesdays at A.M. Booth’s Lumberyard before migrating to Sidetracks Music Hall.
Dave Anderson, right, son Stone Anderson, far left, and drummer James Irvin, background. (Courtesy photo)bn
“That first Tuesday night in September of 2016 was magic,” Irvin posted on social media, after Stone’s passing. “It felt like the ’90s: People were watching us; people weren’t on their phones. I knew I was part of something special, being seated behind the drums between a father and son whose talents are unmatched.”
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In 2017, I wrote a Father’s Day feature about Dave and Stone Anderson. They couldn’t have been prouder of each other. Huntsville is home to a surprising number of talented musicians, but the ones with the talent to take their music beyond North Alabama is a short list, and Dave and Stone are at the top.
Dave said he could first tell Stone had musical talent when he overheard his then eight-year-old son singing along with the radio to the ballad “Beautiful” by pop powerhouse Christina Aguilera “I was like holy cow, listen to that!” Dave said. “I never really wanted to push (music) on any of my kids, because all four of them have musical ability. But I had a feeling Stone was going to pick it up eventually.”
The first things Dave ever showed Stone on guitar were the chords for Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here” when Stone was 12. Aside from teaching Stone a couple other starter songs, Dave, who is self-taught, let Stone find his own way musically. He bought him some of his early guitars, including a Fender Stratocaster. Dave encouraged Stone when his guitar playing sounded good and pointed out how he could improve. From Stone, Dave learned about new bands, like folk-rock group Fleet Foxes, and some different guitar fingerings.
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As he got a little older, Stone began occasionally sitting-in on Dave’s solo gigs. But the first time they actually played together with a full band wasn’t until at the Kaffeeklatsch Bar, shortly before that funky downtown nightspot shuttered in early 2015. There on the Klatsch stage, father and son jammed on Prince ‘s “Purple Rain” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going.” It was a special night.
Aldridge has a unique third-party perspective of the father and son. In addition to all his Proponents miles shared with Stone, Aldridge’s 2015 album “Anything & Everyone” was co-produced by Dave. In 2017, Aldridge told me the similarities between the Andersons was “eerie” sometimes. “They’re both very intellectual, they both have the same sense of humor,” Aldridge said, “but musically what sticks out the most to me is their ear for music.”
Dave’s career has included being in a major-label rock band, touring with Van Halen and performing at iconic Colorado venue Red Rocks Amphitheater. Stone was similarly gifted while totally being his own man and musician.
Dave Anderson, left, and his son Stone Anderson. (Matt Wake/mwake@al.com)bn
I firmly believe Stone would’ve achieved similar accolades as Dave. Rob Aldridge & The Proponents were booked to open 2020 shows for Americana stars Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit before the pandemic paused those plans. You could feel with a few breaks like that, the band and Stone would ascend to the next level. He had as legitimate shot at “making it” as any young Huntsville musician did. And possibly the best shot.
“North Alabama has lost a gift in the bass community,” Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit bassist Jimbo Hart wrote on Facebook, after Stone’s passing. “As a bassist from this fertile hotbed of the muse, I can tell you that he was one of the few that seemed to be hand-picked to play the bass. She doesn’t bestow this responsibility lightly. He will be missed by so many of us for a long time.”
Anderson loved music, loved his dad and loved his blended family. His brothers, sisters, mom Angie Anderson, stepmom Lana Lackey Anderson, grandparents and extended family were all special to him. As was his adopted family, including Aldridge’s father, local attorney Dan Aldridge. He loved his bandmates and fellow Huntsville musicians too.
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Like many working musicians, Anderson supplemented his income with service industry jobs, including bartending at Voodoo Lounge and Rocket Republic. Like many working musician and industry workers, the pandemic was a challenging time even for someone as talented as Anderson. For a working musician, not being able to do what really makes you “you” for 12 months or so is a tough curveball to hit.
After news of Anderson’s death spread on social media Friday, it sent a shockwave through a Huntsville music and service industry community still reeling from the recent death of another of their beloved, local drummer and bar/restaurant mainstay Johnny Wolfsberger. To Anderson’s countless friends, musical colleagues, it just didn’t seem real. It seemed like Stone could still walk in the room any second - radiating his clever wit, natural charm and kind heart.
How beloved is Stone Anderson? A 2019 interview I did with him for my “Next wave Alabama musicians” series got more pageviews online than interviews I’ve done with some famous Grammy winning musicians from the state.
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I’d been friends with Anderson for about nine years or so, and we got extremely close about two years ago. We spent many nights together, playing guitars, spinning vinyl and figuring out the universe. He, along with Aldridge, were the first people to come see me on the worst day of my life in 30 years. And this year, Stone was the person who gathered a small group to hang for my birthday.
He not only knew his music he knew his music writing, with fave scribes including David Fricke and Chuck Klosterman. Anderson was an avid reader in general, and I loved sharing books with him, including John Darnielle novels “Wolf in White Van” and “Universal Harvester.” He was a pop-culture sponge in general, whether it be Scorsese films, prestige TV programs or lo-fi meme humor.
For me, it was special to spend time with, influence and be influenced by, and pass the torch to a younger creative person. Huntsville isn’t the easiest place to make a living being creative, so we related on that level and encouraged each other during periods of frustration thereof.
As fate would have it, Aldridge and Malone had an acoustic duo gig scheduled for Saturday at Humphrey’s Bar & Grill. After much deliberation they decided to tough it out and play, as a tribute to Stone, with local musicians including Alan Little and Snake Doctors keyboardist Hugh Messenger guesting.
“We’re calling on all musicians in town who are willing to come sit in and help us through it,” Aldridge posted Saturday before the show. “We need you for this one and it’ll be great to see friends and remember our brother Stone. So come sing some songs with us and celebrate the coolest guy to ever walk the streets of Huntsville. This is gonna be tough, but I think Stone would want it this way.”
Held on Humphrey’s back patio, it was an emotional performance to say the least. And with vaccine rollouts progressing and pandemic-mask requirements easing, it was the first packed-house live music gig many fans had experienced in quite a while, doubling down on the emotion.
Stone loved the music of David Lee Roth-era Van Halen, particularly the “Fair Warning” album which featured the Tarzan-rock hit “Unchained.” As part of a 2020 story about Van Halen, I asked Stone what he admired most about that California band: “Don’t take yourself too seriously but also don’t (mess) around. Be the best guitar player, bass player or drummer you can. They nailed that, walking the line.” And so did you, Stone Anderson.