The Storm Windows, the Paper Garden Records recording artists known for their self-styled 'Power-Folk' genre, have released a new live video for the track 'All I Want to Do (is Rock).' The performance was captured before an enthusiastic audience at Tank Studio in Burlington, Vermont, on November 1, 2025, and is part of the band's recent live album. The release matters because it provides a fresh, visual document of a band that critics say is redefining the boundaries between folk and rock, and it gives fans and new listeners an immediate way to experience the trio's lauded stage chemistry.
The live recording features The Storm Windows Trio: Rob Mathews on guitar and vocals, Don Mathews on upright bass and vocals, and Erik Anderson on drums. Their sound has been described by Spin Magazine as the 'Folk Ramones,' a tag that underscores the high-energy, stripped-down approach they bring to folk-rooted songwriting. Top reviewer The Musical Road noted that the live music 'captures the raw, immediate energy of a band fully in its element.' That assessment is significant because it suggests the band's studio work only tells part of the story; the live setting is where their interplay and intensity come fully to the fore.
Audio for the track was produced and mixed by Ben Collett and Julia Rangel at Tank Recording Studios, while the video was directed by Drew Fahle. The collaboration behind the scenes points to a deliberate effort to preserve the immediacy of the concert experience rather than polishing it into something more sterile. For a group that plays both showcases and bar gigs, that authenticity is a core part of their identity. The Storm Windows take their name from a John Prine song title, a nod to musical heroes and to the idea of veteran musicians who have weathered storms but are still standing and singing about it.
Critics have labeled their music 'New Americana – a blend of folk, rock and even jazz laced sonics.' The new video and the accompanying live album, the band's first release on the PGRoots label, serve as a statement of intent: The Storm Windows are not simply revisiting familiar territory but are actively expanding what folk-based music can sound like in a live context. The availability of the full album and the studio version of the single gives listeners multiple entry points, from the rawness of the stage to the more controlled environment of the studio.
For those who want to hear the complete live document, the album can be streamed at https://open.spotify.com/album/36WCOPG5eBEYaKv4RuEDKn?si=51NSUay7T_Kjv0bmfISmlg. The studio version of 'All I Want to Do (Is Rock)' is also available at https://open.spotify.com/album/4e3PcMUNHkhaXIusNwJtqW?si=_XVQHBSiSHCAVkDS3xb9CA. These releases matter because they offer a dual perspective on the same song, allowing audiences to compare the immediacy of the live take with the precision of the studio recording.
Ultimately, the new video and the continued push behind the live album signal that The Storm Windows are in a productive phase, building on their reputation as a compelling live act and broadening their reach through digital platforms. The move also highlights the ongoing vitality of independent labels like PGRoots in supporting artists who defy easy categorization.
