Stephen Sandlin
Настоящее имя: Stephen Sandlin
Об исполнителе:
Stephen Sandlin has been making music and performing around Texas, since the early 90s. Originally from Houston, he spent time in New York City, New Jersey and North Carolina before settling back in Houston to make music, art prints, and video projects. Attempting to bring humor and energy, to both the stage and his recordings. With a collection of solo works, music written with his band Haywood, as well as collaborations with Brandon Elam of The Literary Greats. There's plenty to enjoy. 2021’s Contra Festival Monterey Crock-pot is his first solo release, since the slow down of his band, Haywood. Haywood was formed in 1996, when Texas A&M students, Stephen Sandlin and Brandon Elam, collaborated on writing a few songs. Fellow students Kris Arnold, Craig Hoenes, and Chris Huntley joined in, and the Haywood lineup was set. A local band drawing more than a thousand people at a show was unheard of in College Station, TX, but this band did it regularly. Often compared to Guster, Ben Folds, Barenaked Ladies, and Fountains of Wayne, the band’s 1997 release of Flat Tires was the year's most notable, local album. Two songs entered rotation on regional radio. In concert, however, is where the band built a rabid following. The band's remarkable connection with its audiences helped to mold the packed houses into a collective pogo stick, with bouncing and cheering coming from all corners of the venues. In the late 90s and early 2000s, Haywood scored highly prized opening gigs for the likes of David Garza, Bob Schneider’s Ugly Americans, Vertical Horizon, Sister 7 and Chris Duarte. Haywood kicked off, and then headlined, several local music festivals. They went on to release two more full length albums, Tune in the Sun and Shake It, and a 5 song EP The Hartford Complex. Haywood’s true appeal lies in infectiously fun songs and an unprecedented amount of local success. With band members spread between Houston, New York City, and Dallas, shows became less frequent. A set of reunion shows was put together in 2012. New shows are planned for 2021.