INSIGHT Magazine November 2018 | Page 30

StoneRollers Living the Dream on the Weekend By Kelsey Butler L ocal band StoneRollers bings a fresh soulful southern rock sound to the Anniston music scene. Nick Preston, vocals, bass, and keys; John Flannagan, vocals and lead guitar; Justin Ridley, drums; and Jagadeesh Owens, vocals and keys make up the four-piece band. StoneRollers committed to creating music in 2014. The band’s members grew up in and out of music, and they continue to fuel that passion by playing their originals for music lovers in and around Anniston. With influences like The Allman Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Susan Tedeschi, and The 30 Black Crowes the StoneRollers found their groove, and are focusing on their original music. Nick says he and his bandmates are creative, ”We like to write. We really like to jam… The way we start our practices on Sundays, we’ll play sometimes for 30 to 45 minutes with just a couple songs, just kinda improvising and going. That’s kind of our strength.” The band started out playing a mix of originals and covers, but Nick says they just weren’t connecting with the crowd like they wanted. “We almost turned into like a wedding band or something which we didn’t want to do. So, we kinda put some of November 2018 INSIGHT