Rockin’ Thunder 2025: Stonegate Interview

Stonegate is a Calgary-based five-piece looking to make sure their audience has a good time. After their set on the YEG Rocks stage at Rockin’ Thunder 2025, Stonegate sat down to chat about their recent release, writing process, and what’s next for the charting band. 

“We started during COVID-19 and we were writing and practicing for shows, but everything got shut down,” the band’s bassist, Corey Mifflin said. But the band says they used the time to record as well. “When we were finally able to go, boom, it just took off and we’ve been playing everywhere and so far, positive feedback all around,” Mifflin added. 

Between the members, there’s a wide range of inspirations with Mifflin liking country, and some of the other members liking metal, rock, and rap. Their first releases, Marcus Steiner, the band’s vocalist, said had some “southern Alberta roots.” 

“We capitalized on [southern Alberta]. We wanted to write songs about, hate to say it, drinking beer and driving your truck down back. The first album was more of a situation where you’re putting together whatever you can,” Steiner added. 

The band says that by the time they got to their second album, they had found their sound, but they’re still developing. “The writing process always progresses,” one of the band’s guitarists, Tayler McPhail said. 

One thing the band sticks to when writing and recording though is that they want to make sure that whatever is on the record, can be replicated live. They won’t record and put out any song that isn’t heard the exact same way at a show. 

“It hit #66 on the Canadian charts and I think #171 on the U.S. charts, but whatever, we’re on a chart,” Thompson says

On the recent release, Steiner said that the band was a lot more “detail oriented. We were very focussed each individual part and how they played off each other.” 

McPhail added that between him and Robbie Bailey, the band’s other guitarist, they never play the same thing, and play off of each other instead. “We got two guitars, we might as well use them. And there’s so much of the twin guitar thing going on, and you’re never going to do it better than Iron Maiden or Metallica, so you may as well try something else with it,” Bailey said. 

In terms of lyrical content or ongoing narratives, the band says it’s more song to song. But the first track, and the title track, off their most recent record, Hope Dies Last, is about the band Steiner said. 

“It’s about us. I mean, we’re all older guys. We all have day families and day jobs. We’re not trying to do this for a living, but we’re still doing these shows and festivals because we still have a little bit of hope,” Steiner explained. 

The single, when it was released, got radio play in Canada and the United States (U.S.). It also charted in both countries. “It hit #66 on the Canadian charts and I think #171 on the U.S. charts. But whatever, we’re on a chart,” Luke Thompson, the band’s drummer said with the rest of the band cheering. 

On Edmonton, Thompson said “[Edmonton] embraces us way more. We couldn’t get pissed on even if we were on fire in Calgary.” Steiner added that “the crowds are crazy” in Edmonton. 

As of right now, the band is set to hit the writing board this fall for their next record. And it’s the fans who’re keeping them going. “When we go up on stage, it’s the fan’s reactions that do it for us. It just wouldn’t be worth it without our family base,” Steiner said.