So how did a shy kid from Thibodaux, LA, just south of New Orleans, find his way to the east coast and on to the airwaves of an industry giant like MTV? The modest, unassuming Stephen Reso would tell you it’s just luck, but his fans, local radio and music critics will tell you differently. Honing his skills as a member of several notable 90's bands such as Underground Cartoons, Reso paid his dues in every smoky, dark club from New Orleans to Dover to NYC.
Along the way he developed a sound and style all his own and in the mid 90's decided to seize the solo spotlight. After a deal with one label fell through, his demo tape landed in the hands of Indian, president of Gig Records. A seasoned veteran of the music industry, Indian liked what he heard and promptly signed Reso to his label. In 2002, the critically acclaimed “Ordinary Life” was released and quickly became a radio standard on the central PA airwaves.
The buzz surrounding the disc soon made its way to the studios of MTV who highlighted tracks from “Ordinary Life” on their Real World/Road Rules Challenge Series.
Stephen Reso has had the honor of opening for notable recording artists and bands such as Tommy Conwell; Fuel; Better Than Ezra; The Smithereens; Gene Loves Jezebel; The Romantics.
Stephen Reso started developing his craft at an early age by teaching himself guitar from an old Mel Bay book. Stephen applied this musical knowledge to playing the piano. By his mid-teens he had joined Fragile, a Thibodaux band that had just graduated from hosting their own rec center parties to gigging at the local clubs.
Stephen recalls: “I was 16. The legal drinking age at the time was 18. The band came up with all of these schemes to sneak me in. One plan was for me to hide inside an empty drum case and be loaded in as a piece of gear!”
In 1986 Stephen joined Panic, a band based out of Raleigh, NC. The band toured year-round canvassing the East Coast and released a number of albums and EPs. “I had recently turned 19 when I joined Panic. It was an incredible experience for such a young man, coming from a small market, to be exposed to the crazy world of “the road”… I loved it!”
Stephen returned home to Thibodaux, LA in 1989 where Underground Cartoons was formed.
The band released a 7-Song EP entitled “Shoot for the Sky” in the mid ’90's produced by Jeff Murphy of The Shoes. Other production credits for Jeff Murphy include power-pop sensation Material Issue.
The EP, “Shoot For The Sky”, included tracks “On and On”, “Entwined” and “Not That Stupid” which are now available on the 16-Song CD Stephen Reso “1990-2000?
“1990-2000” also features several tracks from Reso’s acoustic record “Guitar & Vocals” as well as previously unreleased demos.
Links-
WebSite: http://stephenreso.com
Album Info: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/StephenReso
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/NotThatStupid