Stiff Promotions

THE STORYS may be one of the hottest new bands of the year but front man Steve Balsamo still went into a state of shock when the phone rang and Elton John was on the line.

He'd been warned a few minutes earlier that megastar Sir Elton would be calling...and there was an even bigger surprise in store.

"After a few minutes chatting about our debut album he suddenly asked if we would support him on tour," Steve said.

"I couldn't believe it! One of the biggest names in music history asking if we would join him on tour.

"It's like one of those rock and roll stories. My brain is still slipping a gear."

Steve duly accepted and the South Wales newcomers faced crowds of up to 25,000 Elton John fans at 11 UK and two German dates in June and July.

It was a huge step up for The Storys who formed just three years ago and only last year persuaded investors to back a debut album.

Said Steve: "The tour has been a truly unbelievable experience - absolutely awesome.

"Elton has been lovely, really encouraging and all the band and the people around him have been fantastic. We've just been having a ball.

"Elton has been around a lot and coming up and having a chat. He's been really encouraging and told us after the first gig he thought we were fantastic."

The phone call was a bolt from the blue but could prove a launchpad to success.

The Swansea-based six-piece follow the Scissor Sisters and James Blunt whose footsteps to stardom were paved by support tours with Elton John.

Said Steve: "Elton's a huge music fan and buys dozens of records every week.

"Somehow he got hold of our debut album, listened to it and liked it so much he got his people to find my number.

"It was a fantastic feeling. He said he'd heard the album, thought it was fantastic and loved the songs.

"And then he started singing one of our songs down the phone to me!

"He said it was a brave album to make today and harked back to the harmonies and sounds of 20 years ago.

"He wanted to know how we recorded it and where we recorded it. He loved all the natural acoustics and how they blended in with the heart and bones of the music.

"He's a huge music lover and just wanted to know how it was done."

The Daily Telegraph has labelled The Storys the "hairiest, most melodious band of West Coast rockers this side of the Atlantic".

Their rootsy, West Coast-flavoured soft rock has brought comparisons with Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles, Crosby Stills Nash and Young and The Beatles.

Said Steve: "This has been a fantastic opportunity for us. We're a bit older than other bands and Elton said he liked the fact that we don't follow any trends.

"The whole tide of the music industry has turned in the last couple of years with people like Damien Rice and James Blunt gaining popularity.

"Suddenly it's about the songs and song power once again. Songs are back.

"It's a huge honour for us to be among the kind of people that Elton has picked up and championed.

"He's stuck his neck out by taking us on. It's an immense honour for somebody like Elton to validate our songs.

"Because of all the pomp and stuff that goes along with him, people forget he is an amazing pianist, a great singer and above all else an incredible song writer."

Facing crowds of up to 25,000 proved to be an exciting, and nerve-wracking, experience for a band used to more intimate venues.

"We all suffered a bit from nerves to varying degrees but that is the way I like it," Steve said.

"I like to have some nerves because it pushes me over the edge a bit.

"But the crowds were really lovely, appreciative and seemed to like our music. And we had two of the best sound guys in the world which makes a difference.

"We've grabbed this opportunity with both hands and will see what we can make of it.

"It's just a matter of moving the game forward again."

Playing big arenas has made the band think about their sound and encouraged them to experiment.

Steve explained: "Playing stadiums of that size and listening to Elton's songs showed us how we can play pacier, rockier songs.

"We started writing one while we were at a stadium in Germany. It was such a great gauge to see how it would sound in that environment and we came out with a big, old stomper of a song as a result."

Word is getting round about The Storys' following their own successful UK tour, last autumn's debut album - titled The Storys - and the June release of the single Cinnamon.

The summer is fully booked with festivals and they are on the road again in the autumn.

Said Steve: "The album is going really well. We want people to discover it for themselves. There is no hype around the album or this band.

"We've had some lovely reviews and we are just going out and putting our music in front of as many people as possible.

"That is what has been so exciting about supporting Elton because he has such a huge fan base of people who love their music and we have been in front of them playing our songs."

New tracks are already written for a second album with recording planned for late this year for a 2007 release.

"Once we get back we'll have a few days chilling out and then we'll get stuck into recording," Steve said.

"We have got about 50 ideas for new songs - there is no shortage of ideas and once we get going they'll trip out.

"We get into a groove - we have got all the melody ideas down - and we do a bit each day. It's all a bit regimented but we do tend to get down and get on with it.

"But we don't expect the sound to change much on the second album. If it ain't broke we see no reason to fix it."

ends