The Storys

Originating in South Wales, the ensemble projected the bright, melodic essence of 1960s and 1970s California pop through sturdy songcraft, luminous vocal blends, considered production detail, and a sharply defined creative purpose. Equipped with four skilled songwriters and vocalists, the band assembled in Swansea, Wales in 2003 and stabilized around Steve Balsamo on guitar and vocals, Andy Collins on bass and vocals, Rob Thompson on guitar and vocals, Brian Thomas on drums, Alan Thomas on keyboards plus mandolin and banjo, and Rosalie Deighton on guitar and vocals, the last replacing Dai Smith after his exit in 2008. The Storys laid down their self-titled debut inside a converted movie house and issued it on their own Hall Recordings imprint in 2005. Warner then licensed the album and brought it out again in 2006. Jon Kelly produced the follow-up, Town Beyond the Trees, which was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios and surfaced on Hall Recordings in 2008 to positive notices. The Storys declared their breakup in 2010 and delivered a final album, Luck, the same year.