After headlining Saturday night of AthFest last weekend, alternative country band The Pink Stones is set to release its sophomore album, You Know Who, June 30 under Normaltown/New West Records.
It’s been just over two years since the group’s debut album, Introducing… The Pink Stones, was released into the world, and since then the band has been spreading its brand of classic cosmic country across the nation with a very busy touring schedule. Aptly named, the debut album formed an introduction to the band by framing a baseline for its sound, which it has since continually built upon and honed by performing live so often. You Know Who offers up experimental confidence by wearing its influences more consciously and showing off the group’s growth.
Songwriter and founder of The Pink Stones Hunter Pinkston used to play in punk bands, and it’s a spirit that’s stuck with him as people often remark on his background shining through the music and performances at times. For Pinkston, the new album is intended to be a thoughtfully composed melting pot of all the genres he loves both as a listener and player, from gospel and soul to psych and dub.
“I guess the overarching theme is country music, you know, trying to do old country music and honor that the right way,” says Pinkston. “But, there’s a lot of bands now that do that, and then they just do that. So it’s fun to mix a bunch of shit together and try to make it something new while still honoring the old thing, which is kind of hard to do.”
Composed of mostly Athens musicians, the band also takes pride in honoring its home city, digging up and understanding its history, while bringing something entirely new to the table by pioneering a different sound. The experimental, DIY spirit of Athens also emboldens the musicians to carve out their lane without worry. Although country music has been a small pocket in the larger music scene, Pinkston notes it’s always had a presence from mid-’90s The Star Room Boys to Drive-By Truckers and T. Hardy Morris.
With Athens’ proximity and New West Records’ ties to Nashville, The Pink Stones have spent a lot of time in the neighboring city. This led to collaborations with Nashville-based artists Teddy and the Rough Riders and Nikki Lane on the new album. On June 15, a music video shot in East Nashville by Joshua Shoemaker was released for Pinkston’s duet with Nikkie Lane, “Baby, I’m Still Right Here (With You).” Inspired by a breakup and written in fiery country fashion, Pinkston had been performing the song live for a while before adding in the missing piece, “a Tammy to his George.”
Fellow Athens artists also feature on You Know Who, like previous band member Annie Leeth adding touches of strings to several songs. Henry Barbe, who produced the album, is featured both singing and playing multiple instruments. Pinkston and Barbe’s close working relationship on the 11-track album results in a smooth flow that keeps you bobbing up and down the twangy, nostalgic hits. To get the most out of your listening experience, you’d do well to play it through an old-timey radio.
One of the key differences between The Pink Stones’ debut album and the new release is how it was recorded, and this produced an unexpected result. The first album was recorded at the professional and renowned Chase Park Transduction, but You Know Who ended up being recorded by Barbe, son of Chase Park Transduction owner David Barbe, in his home.
“I was a little nervous about doing a home recording because we made our first one in a super nice studio, and it’s like, how will that translate?” says Pinkston. “It was great because we were just in the basement of the house with coffee and [it was] very calm. All the dogs were running around and yeah, very fun, homey kind of vibe.”
Pete Lyman, who has worked with Sturgill Simpson and Jason Isbell, mastered the album. His touch made the album sound “huge” and “awesome,” says Pinkston, which was a surprise coming from a home recording versus happening at a traditional studio.
However, some things from the band’s early days have not changed: The Pink Stones prefer to use the road as its rehearsal space. Pinkston says that they don’t practice a lot outside of playing shows, which seemingly requires a dedicated circuit of performances. Of course, this tactic has afforded them opportunities that only come about by traveling and playing outside the city.
“The biggest thing for us really after the first record was being able to travel more and play more shows,” says Pinkston. “Some of these songs on the new record, I wrote on the road, like something would happen, then you write a song about it.”
Last year while performing at AMERICANAFEST in Nashville, the group met an Australian booking agent who is responsible for its recently announced tour in the land down under. In October The Pink Stones will spend several weeks playing a busy schedule of shows and festivals in Sydney, Melbourne, Victoria and around the countryside. This will be the band’s first tour outside of the U.S., and Pinkston says it’ll be the longest flight he’s ever taken, but he looks forward to hanging out with the wombats and koalas.
Even if the music takes The Pink Stones quite literally around the world, the members feel very strongly that at this point Athens is still home and the place they want to be.
“I’m glad we [made the album] in Athens and that we’ll be around in Athens to play it,” says Pinkston.
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