Allen Stone Brings Back an Old-school Sound

This guy can sing the hell out of an R&B song.

By Seattle Mag December 12, 2011

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This article originally appeared in the January 2012 issue of Seattle magazine.

The phrase “old soul” is overused, but it’s perhaps never been more appropriate than in the instance of 24-year-old Allen Stone, the local singer/songwriter whose voice brings to mind Stevie Wonder, Prince and anyone else who can sing the hell out of an R&B song.

Hailing from the small town of Chewelah (north of Spokane), Stone grew up singing in church (his father was the minister), and as a teen became an admirer of Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and the Motown greats. Coming from a guy whose look is a mash-up of Napoleon Dynamite and Philip Seymour Hoffman as Scotty in Boogie Nights, his smooth voice is something of a surprise. But his sound remains enchanting long after any initial bewilderment has passed.

That’s why Stone has taken Seattle by storm, and his acclaim is spreading. In October, he made his national television debut on Conan, playing live from his new, self-released digital album. For this show [now with two dates] he’ll be backed by the Seattle Rock Orchestra, which he’s sung with before during the ensemble’s tributes to Queen and, yes, Stevie Wonder.

1/14 & 1/15. 9 p.m. $15. Neptune Theatre, U District, 1303 NE 45th St.; 877.784.4849; stgpresents.org.


 

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