BIG STIR RECORDS continues to bring you new music from the top legacy artists of the pop rock world with the release of an all-new single from STEVE STOECKEL of THE SPONGETONES! “Birds” is out right now at www.bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com after a surprise premiere on the July 18 edition of This Is Rock 'N' Roll Radio with Carl Cafarelli and Dana Bonn. It bowed along with a new single from The Flashcubes featuring Mimi Betinis (Pezband) and our recent releases from Sorrows and Popsicko on a watershed broadcast highlighting our presentation of heroes from the storied history of power pop, none more deserving of attention for their current work than Mr. Stoeckel.

STEVE STOECKEL is best known as the vocalist/bassist for THE SPONGETONES , a band familiar to even the most casual of power pop fans, with their tracks an essential inclusion on any (if not all) anthology compilations of the genre's best. They're literal Hall of Famers, currently celebrating their fortieth anniversary as a band with live gigs and laying claim to 12 albums. Mr. Cafarelli himself rates them as “one of the greatest groups that power pop has ever produced.” We're told that while the performances will continue, future Spongetones recordings are unlikely – never say never, of course, and there have been Stoeckel's exemplary contributions to the records of POP CO-OP to savor in recent years. But that brings us to “Birds” and the exciting music that Steve is pursuing on his own.

The delicate, minimalist, and absolutely beautiful “Birds” is the first of a series of new solo singles from Steve (composed and recorded at his studio) expected on Big Stir Records. He's also already embarked on a run of duo releases with Big Stir’s own IRENE PEÑA, the first of which, “Why”, hit the airwaves back in June with the promise of more to come. Stoeckel is clearly on creative roll – just check out the way the plaintive vocal line on “Birds” bounces off the harmonizing acoustic guitars and the trademark loping, melodic bassline – and we at Big Stir Records are delighted be be part of bringing it to you as it unfolds.

A very special release for the BIG STIR RECORDS SINGLES SERIES by STOECKEL & PEÑA available on June 14th at bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/why-big-stir-single-no-1335. This duet is titled “Why” and is the first collaboration by Steve Stoeckel and our very own Irene Peña. Described by the songwriters as a “laundry list of relationship annoyances”, it is remarkably delightful to listen to, with a nod to The Everly Brothers in harmonies and arrangement.

Steve Stoeckel is a founding member of The Spongetones, a pop band with 12 album releases over a 40-year history. He’s also recorded 6 albums with fellow Spongetone Jamie Hoover and is currently working on CD number 3 with Pop Co-Op. Irene Peña is celebrating the 10th anniversary of her first full length album “Nothing To Do With You” with a monthly track-by-track reissue of each song, to be followed by an upcoming full-length due 2022.