Saturday at the Down Home in Johnson City, Stormy Monday rocked the house with home-grown tunes and left with some new nicknames.
The Down Home is the major venue for local bands to perform, and playing Saturday night to a full house is even better.
That’s exactly what Stormy Monday did as they strummed tunes from the Allman Brothers to a rock ‘n’ roll version of Tom Jones “Its Alright.”
Singer and guitarist Colin McHenry’s shirt read, “My Band is Huge in Japan.” While that is a stretch, it’s no joke that Stormy Monday is gaining popularity.
The band is finishing up a full studio album in another step towards achieving success in the music industry.
Drummer and singer Brandon Renfro said that success in the music industry is unseen. One day you’re playing in the living room and the next you’ve moved to the big time, the band members remarked.
Stormy Monday’s success lies not only with their skill as musicians but the band has camaraderie that is very present on the stage.
Todd Kane, lead guitarist and some-time singer compared his vocal skills to sounding like a “dead dog fish.” The listeners and band members could not recall studying the “dead dog fish” in school at any time. Kane’s singing is miles from sounding dead as his bluesy style would remind some of the late Stevie Ray Vaughn.
The band is influenced by the musical style of Bob Dylan and especially the Allman Brothers, McHenry said.
Todd Kane repeated the same sentiment for the band’s influence by looking to Buddy Guy and the Allman Brothers as standards for the group.
Band members Randy Little’s and Ian Feathers’ standards stay at the top during the current conflict in the Middle East. Feathers said that his father suffers from illness caused from the Agent Orange used in Vietnam.
All five members know someone in the conflict and have family members who served in past U.S. war efforts. Each said they supported the U.S. troops in Iraq.
Seriousness is not all that’s in the thoughts of Stormy Monday, however.
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Colin McHenry, said that ETSU students should realize that there are others places to have fun other than local clubs.
Live music in this area is great and bands such as the WildFlowers and E. Street deserve a listen on the local music scene, he said.
Stormy Monday is not on an ego trip; they are a down-to-earth band who is fun to watch on stage. McHenry is working on his onstage act between songs and Ian Feathers said his playing on the bass lies strictly in that and not on his singing or comedy.
Maybe the act between set needs work but the pace of the jams do not. They can get rowdy or play to a slower beat when the time comes.
The beat is not the only message to their music. Renfro said that Stormy Monday has a purpose behind their music not just a repetitive beat.
Ian Feathers put it best when he said that Stormy Monday had structure to their music. They do have a diverse structure that keeps the listeners in a comfortable enjoyable mood.
Renfro said that the band has paid their dues in Bristol and are hopefully on the move to another level.
Yes, Stormy Monday is on the move by playing regularly at Down Home and with the advent of their new album.
The band is listenable not only on the stage but I would not hesitate to slip their CD in the disk player.
When I asked the band if their goal was to stay local or if the chance arises to go national they agreed the goal is the top.
Stormy Monday’s image will not be changed even if fame comes. Feathers said that you can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy. He said the bands image is a “sacred horse” – maybe that’s like singing in the tone of a “dead dog fish.”
The band has a down home image, no pun intended. I believe in the future you will see this group doing great things.
My recommendation is to see them play now while the cover charge is cheap.

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