Stoney Anderson’s voice sounds gruff but engaging and positive on the phone. Okay, he sounds like he might have just woke, but nonetheless, as singer and driving force behind the band, A Smile from the Trenches, Anderson’s influence on music’s alternative rock scene is just beginning to take shape.
“Our name is the most random thing ever,” Stoney Anderson said. “We came up with it Denny’s (restaurant). I didn’t want to have ‘the’ at the beginning of our name. My mom was in the military at the time, but really there’s no significant meaning to it. It was luck.”
Growing up in Grand Junction stifled Anderson’s creativity, but didn’t stop it. He took the energy and oft hate to further drive his music. “Everyone was so negative and we were the band that everyone wanted to hate.”
The results of his efforts and passion have amassed a collection of songs and fans addicted to the sounds likened to My Chemical Romance and 90% of the bands on the Warped Tour. Anderson’s piercing blue eyes and tattoo-covered arms add to stage presence and walking the walk of a rock star in training.
“Honestly I got my hands tattooed so I wouldn’t have any option to do music,” he said. “I wanted to not do anything else. I like to carry myself on stage more angry. Off-stage I’m very laid back.”
So relaxed that his fans might be surprised to learn his iPod is stocked with Michael Buble, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. His favorite movie, surprisingly, is The Notebook.
Songwriting Process
“I can’t really sit down and write,” Anderson said. “Something has to happen, or a experience. I might be driving down the road and hand the phone over, text two lines and save. I’ll write a verse and save in my phone. It adds up. I use my anger towards my ex’s, and go into more mainstream topics.”
Its happens when it happens, Anderson continued. It’s not unusual that even in the studio, ASFTT freestyles lyrics. Besides self-penned songs, the band has a killer cover of Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold.
Performing live in support of its debut album Leave the Gambling for Las Vegas (DC Hardcore records), ASFTT schedule includes several stops in Las Vegas, and will return to its Grand Junction roots.
“Right now we’re going with the flow,” Anderson said. “We hope it goes a little faster. We want this to happen. Our main goal is to honestly take over. We want this to be the biggest thing ever. “
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