BETA Records - Your music matters!

In the later part of 1999, JR Rodriguez, Barry Faulkner, and James Webb, were finishing a project suffering from poor management and lack of planning.JR began looking for new talent to work with. JR soon ran into Damon Shores, and passed on the idea of starting something new and different, something modern influenced by Sevendust, Tool, Staind, and other new rock artists to a scene saturated with blues and classic rock. JR and Damon, along with some other local talent started Stomphonic in January 2000. After a year of performing and getting their name out, the project seemed to lack originality and desperately needed a jumpstart. JR separately made some phone calls to old pals Barry and James, and after a little persuasion, the band soon had a new guitarist and drummer. The final piece to the puzzle was added in September 2001 when the band added Lee Yandell (Guitar), just in time for the Music Fort Smith Battle of the Bands at the River Amphitheater. Fifteen bands, one winner, Stomphonic! The band spent the next year writing songs, playing shows, and honing their skills. In the summer of 2003, Stomphonic was invited to play the AugFest Battle of the Bands in Springfield, MO. The competition was 3 Rounds and featured bands from Springfield, Joplin, St. Louis, and Omaha. After winning the preliminary round, Stomphonic returned to face the other winners at the Outland Ballroom. Once again, the winner, from Ft. Smith, AR. Stomphonic! The band prides itself on their hard working attitude and long hours of promotion. Stomphonic started promoting shows in 2001 with Music Ft. Smith, a non profit group dedicated to assisting musicians in the River Valley area. Stomphonic has hosted, performed, and promoted Santapalooza the last three Christmas Holiday Seasons for Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army. Stomphonic has also been instrumental in the development of the Music Fort Smith Scholarship Show, a benefit awarding $500 scholarships to qualified U of A Fort Smith students in need of financial assistance. Most recently, the band helped organize and perform a show for the American Cancer Society helping the A.C.S. surpass a goal set for the evening toward assistance for their Relay for Life. Stomphonic has also hosted, promoted, and performed many independent original music shows featuring local bands as well as bands from Fayetteville, Little Rock, Dallas, TX., Springfield, MO., and Tulsa, OK. The band stays very busy averaging 40 or more weekends of bookings per year. Stomphonic is well known for bringing large crowds and making many new friends when traveling. After selling over 1000 copies of their first 7 song demo, Stomphonic independently released their first full length CD, “Noise” at 7 PM on Saturday, July 31, 2004 at the Ft. Smith Convention Center for a capacity all ages crowd of over 800 people. Sales of the CD in the first week surpassed 400 units. Stomphonic is currently in regular rotation on 3 local Fort Smith radio stations.