Listen to “E285: Stanley Hall | Musician” on Spreaker.
It’s very blues-orientated classic rock. But it’s got a lot of soul on it.
We talked with local musician Stanley Hall, we talked about early musical experiences, the soulful song “Simply Beautiful”, what people can expect from a show, the songwriting process, what’s coming down the road, and where people can find out more.
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Amy Gabay 00:00
This podcast is brought to you by People’s Food Co Op, a community owned grocery store in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin and Rochester, Minnesota that promotes local farmers and producers through an emphasis on fresh, healthy, sustainable food. Anyone can shop, everyone is welcome. For more information, visit them online at PFC.coop. This podcast is also brought to you by Trempealeau County Tourism. Whether your idea of fun is bicycling, hiking or canoeing, afterwards head into the heart of one of their welcoming communities to experience historic architecture, independent shops and locally owned dining establishments. Visit Trempealeau County Tourism online. We talk with local musician, Stanley Hall. We talked about early musical experiences, the soulful song Simply Beautiful, what people can expect from a show, songwriting process, what’s coming down the road, and where people can find out more. You can find more conversations, food reviews, live music and events on our website lacrosselocal.com. I’m Amy.
Brent Hanifl 00:46
I’m Brent.
Amy Gabay 00:47
And this is La Crosse Local.
Stanley Hall 01:42
My name is Stan Hall. I’m born in Washington, DC. I grew up going to church every Sunday, listening to the gospel music and I saw a kid in the neighborhood with a guitar and it all just came together. And that was that.
Brent Hanifl 01:55
You know, was this at a young age or something like that was this?
Stanley Hall 01:57
Yeah, yeah. Eight years old. Yeah.
Brent Hanifl 02:01
What attracted you to the instrument?
Stanley Hall 02:04
Oh, the kid did turn me on to the guitar that day. He did that. He gave me a bunch of guitar player magazines and some Jimi Hendrix recordings. I you know, it was Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard, Funkadelic. That whole growing up in the 1970s, listening to that style of music infused with gospel. You know, it just had a field and that attracted me.
Brent Hanifl 02:28
You sent along the song, you know, it’s a cover of Simply Beautiful. And you kind of reference a few influences. Is that kind of your style? Is that something that you’re going for in your original music?
Stanley Hall 02:38
I wanted to do that cover. But wow. But in my original music is slightly different. I mean, I also grew up listening to Kiss, you know, Ted Nugent, Pat Travers, everything that was guitars and I like, Santana. So there’s a bigger spectrum there.
Brent Hanifl 02:55
I’m relatively new to you, you know, I’ve kind of seen you around the area and on social media, you know, referencing that you’re playing certain places. Were you playing a lot before COVID? Where you’re touring or playing on a you know, you know?
Stanley Hall 03:07
Oh no, no. I had just been jamming around. So I’ve been in La Crosse two years now. I mean, this is gonna be my home. I’m good here. You know what I’m saying. So I had just been playing around the local scene with a few people that was actually kind of due to the pandemic, you know, a couple places stayed open. You know, prior to that I had just been writing. But I’ve toured up toward Japan, Africa, Europe, all over the place before I got here. And so yeah, I just kind of made my way around the city. I didn’t know anybody. And I took a guitar to bars where I saw bands were and last summer I played at Fat Head Steve’s a lot throughout the summer. Been jamming and at the Popcorn, different places.
Brent Hanifl 03:48
What can people expect from your shows, I mean, you’re kind of probably getting back into it, sounds like you’ve been playing.
Stanley Hall 03:52
I’m going to be coming out this summer with and I’ll be playing at HD Tavern a lot this summer. It’s very blues orientated classic rock, but it’s got a lot of Soul on it.
Brent Hanifl 04:03
So is it a mix. Do you normally do predominantly, or do you mix in with your local sort of under your own?
Stanley Hall 04:11
Yeah, mixing it.m And mixing it’s going to be a you know, bit of covers, a bit of originals.
Brent Hanifl 04:16
What’s next for you? You know, what are you excited for?
Stanley Hall 04:19
Putting this new album I’ve been working on. I was like I said, I’ve been here for two years. And my apartment for two years come in August. And since I’ve been here I put down like, I recorded like 150 originals since I’ve been here.
Brent Hanifl 04:34
That’s a long album.
Stanley Hall 04:34
Oh, yeah, right. You know, so I mean, I recorded a rock album. I got a blues project and R&B project. So I got a lot of work to do. And I just hooked up with a new artist named Mickey Pepper, a female vocalist, guitarist and so we’re going to be collaborating on some lyrical things. Matter of fact, I’ll be playing in the area with her soon, too.
Brent Hanifl 04:58
You know, it sounds like you’re pretty prolific with creating songs of different genres and that sort of thing. What’s your process, like for writing? Is it, it sounds fast. Is it something that you just knock out pretty quickly?
Stanley Hall 05:10
You know, I hear a vibe. And I don’t know, I mean, it could take, it could be like an hour, an hour and a half for a song, up to a week. It depends on the song, and the spirit, the feeling of you know, what’s going on. I mean, it’s all about personal experiences, I hear things, you know.
Brent Hanifl 05:29
So in terms of recording, is that quick? Is that something you do relatively quick? Or do you, you know, do you share with other people, lay down tracks? Or is it a quick process?
Stanley Hall 05:39
Usually, it’s me by myself, you know, it’s usually it’s me by myself. I’ve had help from one of my buddies in Washington, DC, I’ll send him a track and he’ll add some secondary guitars and keyboards on. It is pretty easy process for me, I don’t know, I got into the studio recording thing. And, I mean, I’m trying to try to keep it sounding like a live band. I don’t like it sounding like a drum machine, you know, and that type of vibe, but.
Brent Hanifl 06:04
Out of these different projects, you know, is there a particular song that’s, that’s kind of like, your vibe going on right now? Or is there anything you know, that’s coming out of those projects that you’re particularly proud of?
Stanley Hall 06:15
Well, they’re all my children.
Brent Hanifl 06:17
Can’t pick one?
Stanley Hall 06:19
Yeah, well, I’ll send you one, I have just one. And right now, it’s called Untitled as yet it has no title. It’s the song that I’ve been shopping around. It’s a combination of it has an underlying Carlos Santana vibe to it, walking through the streets, you know, when I was just looking at homeless, you know, and this whole song came to me. And the situation that we’re in and what was going on at the border with separating these families and so forth, and just looking at, like, what’s going on in the world? And this song, it arrived.
Brent Hanifl 07:13
How do people follow along with you? You know, I know you’re kind of relatively new to the area.
Stanley Hall 07:18
Well I’m on Facebook as Stan Hall. And if you go to your local music scene on Facebook, and all these areas, you’ll see advertisements with my picture.
Brent Hanifl 07:27
And also, is there any particular album that’s always been kind of centered to your life?
Stanley Hall 07:33
Yeah there was a bunch of like the 19, the early 70s. Not parliament, but Funkadelic albums with Eddie Hazel, mostly playing guitar on them. Those things, you know, really worked for me, as you know, staples in musical diet.
Brent Hanifl 07:47
So when can people expect some of these projects coming out?
Stanley Hall 07:50
Oh, that’s an interesting thing. I’m not even 100% sure right now, because we got to go through a long process, but I’m hoping that one of these projects is gonna pop this summer.
Brent Hanifl 08:01
When’s the double bill with you and Greg Cheech Hall and Stan Hall gonna happen?
Stanley Hall 08:06
Oh, yeah. Right. I’ve talked to him about that, actually. We don’t have anything planned together yet.
Brent Hanifl 08:13
That’d be a great double bill.
Stanley Hall 08:14
Oh, yeah, the brothers Hall, right.
Brent Hanifl 08:16
Yeah, totally.
Amy Gabay 08:21
La Crosse Local Podcast is a production of River Travel Media. Do you have an interview idea you’d like to share with us? Message us on Facebook at La Crosse local. Find out more about us at lacrosselocal.com and you can subscribe to the La Crosse Local Podcast on your favorite podcast app. If you like us, rate us five stars. We appreciate it.
About La Crosse Local
La Crosse Local is an arts, food, and entertainment podcast and publication for La Crosse County and its surrounding communities.
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