Brentstimmel.com has the honor of displaying the
art work of Brian Mashburn, throughout this site.
To see more of Mashburn's work Check
this out.
Encore Review http://www.encorepub.com/ARCHIVES/MUSIC/brent_stimmel.html
The Stimmel Stimulation:
Acoustic sounds mellow patrons at Front Street Brewery
By: Katherine Epstein
Brent Stimmel is a busy guy. His list of show dates
in Wilmington could go on forever. But this busy
guy happens to have a noteworthy voice that goes
hand-in-hand with his guitar skills and a musical
sound that in no way reflects his eventful life.
Originally out of Raleigh, Stimmel came to Wilmington
to go to college and returned about a year or so
ago after moving away. With his return to the Carolina
coast, he brought more than just his suitcase and
tax dollars. Stimmel brought his talent back to
the area when he decided to pursue a career in music.
“I’ve been playing since I was about
14, but I never played for people in bars,”
Stimmel says. “I love being able to make a
living playing guitar, and I think it’s a
good town for that.”
Stimmel plays solo shows around town, but, mainly,
he performs with lead guitarist Mike Ruwe, an English
professor at UNCW. They call themselves the Brent
and Mike Duo.
I recently saw them play at Front Street Brewery,
which Stimmel says is one of his favorite places
to perform. They were joined by Estelle Collins,
a fiddle player from Raleigh who sometimes plays
with the duo. What I loved about seeing them at
Front Street was the solid energy that they added
to the experience. And when I say “energy,”
I am not talking about hard-rock, get-up-in-front
of the stage, hootin’-and-a-hollering energy.
I am talking about calm, serene energy; the type
of music I would want to hear while enjoying a freshly
brew over dinner with my best friend (who couldn’t
help but sing along to Stimmel’s songs; trust
me, she never sings). His music was a perfect match
for the setting.
Although Stimmel covers everything from Ben Harper
to Sting, he also has recorded original songs, which
prove his artistic ability. “Canon”
sounds like it could be an additional track from
a Jack Johnson album, while “You Ought to
Know” could have been performed by The Eagles.
What makes Stimmel’s songs compelling is the
versatility from which they evolve. Sure, a million
artists could cover Ben Harper and record songs
like Jack Johnson, but none of Stimmel’s songs
sound the same.
Whether it is original or a cover, his performance
and recordings are not overdone like many artists
who to try to hard to be “comparable.”
Stimmel is matchless because, when you hear him
play, you can tell a lot about him as a person;
nothing about him or his music is fake or lofty.
His desire to share his music and personality with
his audience is the reason that he makes such a
connection.
“This is what I would be doing at my house
if I wasn’t doing it at a bar,” Stimmel
comments. He will be returning with Rowe to Front
Street Brewery on September 30, where you can enjoy
the entertainment of a more mellow scene than what
the streets of Riverfest may offer.
And if you can’t make it on the 30th, you
can catch Stimmel play solo almost every Sunday
at the Dixie Grill in downtown Wilmington at 10:30am.
Or head to the Brewery every Tuesday, where he hosts
Artist Oasis Open Mic, beginning at 7pm. Be sure
to visit (www.brentstimmel.com for more information.
"Cannon" gets Honorable Mention at A
Warner Entertainment's Live Acoustic Songwriters
Contest
Here are some pics from
the Whiskey when Brent and Mike debuted the new
band "Stillwater Instigators" click
here Thanks to everyone who came out!
"You Ought to Know" won 3rd place at
A
Warner Entertainment's Live Acoustic Songwriters
Contest
You
ought to know wins Track of the Day again at Garageband!!
April 13, 2005
Reviews from Garageband.com, visit Brent's
profile for more reviews
"Spitutual and beautiful."
"A lovely, lilting guitar intro, which actually
becomes the constant, leads in a tender, careful
vocal singing clever poetic lyrics (well paced -
breathing rate). Welcome returns of the chorus with
a haunting, shadow vox complete this musical picture.
The little extras like the sliding strings that
sing their own harmony show that this is the work
of an expert. I'm reviewing at 7am and this track
has set me up for the day, I may listen again tonight
as I feel it may also promote peaceful sleep. Lovely."
Reviewed by: KITMAC from Leicestershire, United
Kingdom
"Earthy"
"This is the purest song and delivery I have
heard so far. I like this kind of stuff so I am
partial, but these melodies and licks work so naturally
together. If your other stuff is like this, you
are going to follow straight in Damien Rice's footsteps...
I hope you do...Keep that delivery, bitchin lyrics
too. Kind of vague but biting when you say"go
looking for change"..." Reviewed by: andykropf
from Atlanta, Georgia
