If you have been to any frat party recently, Flicker or even a sorority in Milledgeville, you have probably heard the name Sunstones. This band of four has immersed itself in the competitive music scene of Athens and now, recalls their journey for Vinyl Mag.
The group met while studying at the University of Georgia. Bassist Jackson Burns first met guitarist Christos Kaloudis at Oglethorpe dining hall three days before classes began their freshman year.
Their mutual love for jamming paved the way for the two to join forces with vocalists Cole Maston and Jackson Britt. Soon after, the group began practicing. “We all just feel the energy, even when we’re practicing, not just playing for a show,” said Kaloudis. “It’s almost transcendental.”
Britt found his start as a drummer as early as middle school in Suwanee, Georgia. His mom was his main influence, a 90s musician who found her start on the drumline. Both his parents influenced him towards grunge; however, his personal taste morphed into a mosh-post of hard rock, metal and even a dab of funk.
Maston, born a Michigan native, got his first Squier Stratocaster guitar in 7th grade and the rest is history. Pulling his influences from the passionate depths of grunge vocalists, Maston emits raw emotion in his vocal performances, a discovery he made during his junior year of high school.
In seventh grade, Burns was given his first telecaster by his dad. However, he didn’t start playing until he was in eighth grade when he heard ‘Leila’ by Eric Clapton and knew music was what he wanted to pursue. It was when Burns was in the throws of learning Joshua’s Law in 10th grade that he decided to pick up bass.
Kaloudis’ journey began in a Wal-Mart. He saw a $20 acoustic guitar, bought it and began taking lessons straight away. What started as simply playing the Eagles on this acoustic guitar turned into a full-blown, Zeppelin-inspired electric guitar saga that materialized six months after that compulsive Wal-Mart purchase.
The group debuted in the spring of 2023 at a Sigma Phi party as a cover band melding together their individual influences from The Red Hot Chili Peppers to Pink Floyd to Black Sabbath.
Improvising is the name of the game for the Sunstones. A slight nod or vicious eye contact leads the members to create a sense of organized chaos as they riff off of each other.
“We were playing down in Milledgeville and something went wrong,” said Burns. “But the improv that happened was borderline intentional.”
Since their debut, the Sunstones have played all around and outside of Athens with various bands, finding what playing as a certified Athens local band means to them as a collective.
“A lot of people are really only in bands for the allure of it,” said Maston. “I can confidently say that for all of us, that’s kind of just an added bonus, you know we really enjoy playing music, we enjoy playing with each other and more importantly the whole process.”
Though the group is still a cover band, they have been writing originals since the beginning. With over 30 original songs in their arsenal, they have combined their inspirations and unique rock-grunge sound that vibrates the crowd.
“I think all four of us kind of have our own distinct sound,” said Burns. “When that comes together, sometimes there’s clashing but when we get it right, it sounds really good.”
So what can audiences expect from the Sunstones?
From a small studio, they will be pulling from their large collection of original songs to record demos with Tweed Recording studios here in Athens to deliver a grunge-rock EP that will shake up the Athens music scene. So, keep your eyes open and your ears ready.
Analiese Herrin is a multi-platform artist whose passion is art and sharing art, in whatever medium it may take. She is both a culture journalist and aspiring PR specialist with the hopes of sharing her passion for music, fashion, visual art and more. Analiese is also a University of Georgia Journalism undergraduate student pursuing an MA in Public Relations. Besides writing for Vinyl Magazine, she also writes for Athens' Flagpole Magazine, is a model and she works as a stylist in fashion.