Having just completed a UK tour, and their seventh studio album, The Southern, recently released on Mascot Records, Stateside blues rock band The Cold Stares has a powerful new single out, aptly titled “Looking For A Fight‘.
A gritty anthem that channels the frustrations of the working class. The song taps into the current climate of societal unrest, where it seems every word spoken becomes a point of contention.
“This one sonically speaks to the lyrics of the song, so we knew we wanted something that really rocked, and to have a back section of the song that shifted and spoke to the lyrics,” said singer and guitarist Chris Tapp’. “In an age where it seems everyone is offended by everything, this song is about speaking your mind and not being suppressed by the world around you. If you can’t win, you might as well be yourself. The back section of the song is directed at the politicians and greedy in our society that prey upon the working class.”
In ‘Looking For A Fight’, Tapp sings about the struggles of the everyday man, with lyrics that hit home for anyone feeling the pressures of today’s divided world. “Living ain’t easy when you’re trying to tow the line, this old world wants to leave you behind,” Tapp declares. Featuring raw in-studio footage of The Cold Stares, the lyric video for the song captures the intensity of the recording process and the genuine passion the band poured into this song.
You can stream the single on all platforms here and check out the video here at RAMzine.
‘Mortality Blues’ was the band’s previous single release. Available here you can check out the video here at RAMzine.
An eerie, modern Delta blues track played on singer-guitarist Chris Tapp’s resonator guitar, ‘Mortality Blues’ is a haunting song infused with Southern imagery and thematics, drawing on the mythos of legendary blues guitarist Robert Johnson.
“I had Robert Johnson on my mind for a couple songs on this album,” Tapp revealed. “I had read a few biographies that recently came out, and it always seemed Robert was doing his best to stay alive in a time where it wasn’t necessarily easy. The song is my contemporary version of my delta blues influences, and is about looking around and seeing others take risk with mortality, while you are doing your best just to stay alive.”
Known for their electrifying blend of blues-rock, The Cold Stares delve deep into their Southern roots with this poignant track that highlights their Delta blues influences. Tapp is a cancer survivor, and it’s hard not to read into some of the lyrics on ‘Mortality Blues’ and not contemplate this. “I can’t see how some folks set their mind on dying/When I’m doing my best, just to stay alive,” Tapp howls on the song. Featuring fuzzed-out guitars, Zep-style riffs, and fleet-fingered Cream-influenced improvisations, the song captures the raw essence of Delta blues while adding a contemporary twist.
Delving deep into their Southern roots for the first time on record, the album’s said to embody a true reflection of their heritage. “When it came time to record this album, I thought about everybody giving us this Southern rock tag, and decided to intentionally write songs that explore that,” said Tapp. “In doing so, I realised that being Southern, for me, is more than an accent, and a setlist of songs. It’s about family and tradition.”
Initially formed in 2012, The Cold Stares began its career as a duo, but expanded its sonic firepower with the addition of bassist Bryce Klueh in 2022. The Cold Stares has been praised by Classic Rock Magazine, No Depression, and American Songwriter, among other outlets; reached #1 on Amazon Music’s Blues Rock album chart; earned prime sync license placements in commercials, on major network television, and on sports games. Their song, ‘Mojo Hand’, is the trailer song for Cyberpunk 2077, and has amassed over 10 million streams on YouTube. The band has shared stages with Larkin Poe, Rival Sons, Reignwolf, JJ Grey & Mofro, Spoon, Grand Funk Railroad, and Thievery Corp.
The trio’s origins are below the Mason-Dixon Line origins, despite which they mine a woollier sound than may be expected.
“Our version of the South is different,” said Tapp. “When Brian and I were young, we would sit in with these old guys at the local lodge, at the time they were still playing the old hits by Bad Company, Robin Trower, and AC/DC mixed in with country and southern rock – artists like The Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd. When I heard Free’s ‘All Right Now’ I thought they were from Georgia!”
The Southern will feature the tracks: ‘Horse To Water’, ‘Coming Home’, ‘Looking For A Fight’, ‘Blow Wind Blow’, ‘Confession’, ‘Level Floor Blues’, ‘Seven Ways To Sundown’, ‘No Love In The City Anymore’, ‘Giving It Up’, ‘Woman’ and ‘Mortality Blues’.
Drawing from the wild tales his grandfather shared with him, Tapp’s cinematic songwriting weaves narratives as vivid as the western movies they watched together. These stories of crooked cops and outlaw heroes, and local legends like Hoppy who tapped out rhythms while shining shoes, are said to infuse the album with a rich, narrative depth. It is thus fitting that one of the standout tracks is titled ‘Coming Home’, a song that encapsulates the essence of these tales and the sense of returning to one’s roots.
“We are so proud to tip a hat to Kentucky on this album, and embrace being ambassadors of the South,” Tapp concluded, bringing the journey of The Southern full circle—a heartfelt tribute to the land and stories that shaped them.
Previously, they issued ‘Blow Wind Blow’ as a single from the album, about which Tapp said, I wanted to do a ballad that was a tip of the hat to our southern rock reference’s like Bad Company, but also wanted to include some blues references that are important to me as well. The song is about being estranged from a lover, seeing what they were going through, and praying the winds will blow them back to the safety of the relationship you once had.
Available digitally as are all singles released thus far, you can check out the video to ‘Blow Wind Blow’ here at RAMzine as you can other singles.
‘Coming Home’ being the first single from the new album and a plaintive, bluesy number played on dobro, echoing the depth of Southern familial ties and personal resilience. “Perhaps our most rootsy song to date, I wrote this song after a trip back to my hometown in Kentucky,” Tapp said. “Touring the world and seeing so many countries has made me realise how unique the place I grew up was, and this song is just about getting back to our roots and where we came from.” Tapp sings about the enduring advice of his father: “My father said son don’t forget to pray, ‘cause you know there will come a day, when this old world turns against you, you better have a plan to make your way.”
The Southern album can be ordered here.
The Cold Stares will be returning to the UK for a run of shows from August through to September. Tour dates are listed below, and tickets available here.
