Half Stack

No one can synthesize the charismatic enchantment of brotherhood as it exists in a group of musicians, and no one rambling today is defined by such a magnetic energy as the Bay Area's Half Stack. The smoky fumes of Gram Parsons and Jerry Garcia Band dance with elements of Stereolab and Pixies, creating a charming blend of pop and roadhouse sensibility that delivers the goods. Their newest record Sitting Pretty (Royal Oakie & Forged Artifacts, October 2023) is a further step into the dust of modern life - platitudes on heartache, loss and hope fill the songs out with a casual yet commanding warmth. When you listen to Half Stack, whether you're on a road trip, a long bike ride or playing along on guitar at home, you're transported to a room full of friendly faces on a laid-back summer night. Theirs is the gift of open-hearted expression encapsulated into locomotive rhythms and jauntily affable lyrics. Sitting Pretty is their finest work yet, dialing in the unmistakable glow of connection in each track. It's a warm spot in the sun at your favorite park; it's an old story you could step inside; it's the wind sweeping in from the ocean at the beach. Their message is simple: "it's tough out there, next round is on me.