The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

“Brendan James”

Shows like American Idol and America’s Got Talent are immensely popular in the U.S., and they’ve kick started many singing careers over the past nine years. Music fans across the country can simply sit in front of their televisions and watch as different artists try to win votes with their voices. There’s no denying that the shows consistently bring talented artists to the attention of the world, but the music fans in our country need to know that there are many other talented musicians out there doing it the old fashion way…one venue at a time. They’ve chosen to bypass the fast track of reality television, and instead, head out every morning on a long drive to a different city in the U.S. They arrive at the venue…load-in their gear...do a sound check…then grab a bite to eat before they go on stage. It’s a lonely, challenging lifestyle, but one that they choose. 

Unfortunately for them, most of us between ages 25 and 55 don’t have any interest in heading to a smoke filled venue at 11pm on a Tuesday in hopes of discovering a new musician. So besides reality television, how might we discover new artists? One way is through iTunes. You can search endlessly through the different genres and artist’s links until you find something that appeals to you. The down side is that it can eat away hours of your time, time you probably don’t want to give up.

So that’s where I come in…a simple music fan whose hobby is finding talented artists out there who aren’t really known. I’m so passionate about it that my wife and I started our own private concert room where we showcase the talented artists that I find. This room is in the basement of our home, and every so often we invite our music friends over to enjoy a night of intimate live music. What started out as a cool way to gather with friends and introduce them to new music; has now evolved into us being a favorite spot for touring musicians. Go figure. Since this room is in our home, we are very selective with who attends our shows. Over the past seven years we have connected with other passionate music lovers across the southeast and these are the nice people who fill our seats.  We now have over 500 on our Downstairs Live email list.

It’s pretty amazing…once I announce a show to the list, the seats are reserved in mere minutes. This dedicated following has convinced me that there are lots of people out there who share our taste in music and want to hear it in a quiet listening room atmosphere. Currently our email list is full and we are not adding any more names, but we do stream our shows live over the Internet, hoping to share these concert experiences with other music lovers around the world. If you would like to be notified by email about future shows being streamed live, go to Downstairslive.com for more info.

One of our favorite Downstairs Live performers has been Brendan James, a singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles. One listen to his songs and you’ll be a lifer. His heartfelt lyrics, songwriting skills, and soothing vocals make him my all time favorite. Yep, I said it…ALL TIME! I would love to suggest a few of his songs, but I honestly can’t narrow it down…I love them all! He has two CD’s to date, “The Day Is Brave” and “Brendan James”, and is currently working hard on his third. During 2011 he’s toured the country a few times, been on the Rachael Ray Show, and had his song “The Lucky Ones” used on an American Idol commercial. He is definitely a rising star and we’ve been blessed to have him on the Downstairs Live stage five times since 2008. 

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

“David Ford”

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

There I was, 2:00am on a Sunday morning surfing through iTunes ridding one of those, “listeners also bought” waves. My eyes had grown heavy and I vowed that this would be my last click before turning in, when suddenly I heard it…one of the most distinct vocals ever. That’s the moment I discovered the amazing Serena Ryder, a Canadian sensation and three-time Juno Award winner (Canada’s Grammy), but virtually unknown in the U.S

The next day I checked out her website and discovered just how successful she was up in Canada. In 2008 Serena won her first Juno Award for Best New Artist. Then in March of 2009 she won another Juno for Best Alternative Album, and was nominated for Artist of the Year, up against people like Bryan Adams and K.D. Lang. In 2009, her song "Sing, Sing" was selected for Music Monday, a special event to highlight music education in Canada which saw nearly two million Canadian schoolchildren singing her song in class.  I realized at the time that an artist on that level would not be interested in driving to South Carolina to play in someone’s basement, but I didn’t care…I went for it anyway!

After looking at her tour schedule I saw that she had a few days open while near our area; and by the average size of the venues she was playing, I might just have a shot if the stars aligned properly. I sent out an offer, they bit, and the rest is history. Serena Ryder played Downstairs Live on June 5, 2009.

The day of the show I was sweating, scared as hell, and pacing like a Pac-Man caught between two ghosts. I was worried that she might show up, realize she was playing in a “house”, and then loose interest. When she finally arrived around 4pm, she got out of her car, smiled, and gave me a good Canadian hug…So far so good. She then said she looked at our website and was excited about playing our room...Feeling much better now. We walked to our porch area and started looking around at all the different things that make Downstairs Live unique. I could tell by her reaction that I worried for nothing, and she was totally fine with the whole “playing in a basement” thing. How cool is that? This girl is a music superstar in Canada…was a feature performer at the 2008 Juno Awards, and she was now getting ready to play a basement in South Carolina...and she was excited about it. That makes her so awesome! I had only been around Serena for a few minutes, but that’s all it took. I was hooked…captivated…smitten…whatever you want to call it.

Her appreciation for our little venue grew stronger as she stepped inside our music room. There is a vibe that emanates from that room that cannot be described or explained…only experienced. I’ve tried to describe it to agents and managers over the years, but words don’t do it justice. Everyone who has ever entered it has felt it. So when Serena finally made her way through the door, she looked around and became overwhelmed. She kept saying, “I’m in love with this place…it inspires me.” Her appreciation was amplified even more an hour later as she did her sound check and discovered the amazing acoustics of our room. The mojo was now flowing and we were all set for another great music memory from Downstairs Live.

When Serena took the stage that night, her passion, candor, and talent amazed everyone in the room. She showed ninety Americans why she was a superstar in our neighboring Canada. To see some video of her performance, go to YouTube and search Serena Ryder…Downstairs Live. Another great live video is from the Handlebar in Greenville, SC. Search Serena Ryder…“Live in South Carolina…part I & II”. If you are interested in buying her music, I suggest her CD titled “Is It OK.”

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

“Brian Vander Ark”

 In the summer of 2005, after only putting on five shows in our basement, I saw where Brian Vander Ark was scheduled to play at a little coffee shop in Columbia, SC. If you don’t remember Brian, he’s the front man for the late 90’s band The Verve Pipe. They’re most noted for their smash hit “The Freshman” in 1996. I was intrigued by the notion of this huge rock star heading to the Jammin’ Java to play a show. We’d been there many times and that venue seemed too small for someone of his stature. I did some research and found out Brian was pursuing a solo career, which was leading him toward much smaller venues.

            I took a listen to his “Resurrection” CD and loved it. I immediately made contact with his manager and explained our Downstairs Live history, mission, and proximity to Columbia, SC. After exchanging a few emails, we were able to book Brian for Downstairs Live show. A few months later Brian was playing our room in front of a packed house...literally. I crammed 102 people in the room that night. I remember setting up a recliner in the back of the room for my good friend and old baseball coach Ed Turner. I propped it up on cinder blocks so he could see over the people in front of him. We’ve come a long way since those days.

            About five minutes before Brian took the stage, I was talking to him outside. He was pacing and a little fidgety, so I asked if he was okay. He replied that he was nervous. So I laughed and said, “About what?” He pointed to the house and said, “It’s that room, dude…and that vibe. You can tell your guests are really into it.” I said, “But you’ve played in front of 100,000 people.” He said, “That’s true, but your room is different…you can feel it.” I simply smiled.

            Brian played for seventy-five minutes that night. After his performance he went upstairs, did a meet and greet, and was totally blown away with his entire Downstairs Live experience. After everything died down, he packed up his car and headed up the driveway to start his long drive back home to Michigan. On the way, he called his manager out in California and shared the story of what he just experienced. Three days later I was receiving emails from different agents inquiring about their clients playing our stage. Brian and his manager became a strong voice for Downstairs Live, and they both started spreading the news about what we had to offer touring musicians.

            Since that night in 2005 Brian has returned to our stage three times. His gift of telling a story through song is always impressive, and his music always seems to tap into the emotions of many of our guests. His song “Another Good Man” had many of us crying in 2008, while “Suppertime” made our cheeks hurt from laughter in 2009. He’s shown me over the years that he’s not only a talented artist, but also a devoted family man. When he traveled down to play our room in 2009, he toured with his Airstream camper. He did this because not only was his wife the opening act, but also because they wanted to keep the family together while daddy was on tour.

            His wife is Lux Land, a wonderful singer/songwriter with the voice of an angel. Weeks before they started their tour to the southeast, she contacted me and informed me that she and Brian were hoping to play quite a few songs together at Downstairs Live, and asked if I knew of a babysitter that could watch their daughter during the show. It just so happed that one of the guests coming to that show had a twelve-year old daughter who went to my school. Claire was an amazing fifth grader and would be a perfect choice to watch little Evie during the hours of the show. I arranged it and it all worked out great. Brian and Lux were worry free and enjoyed the entire night, and Claire earned $40 for her help. When the crowds left and it was time to call it a night, Brian and Lux were able to walk 30 feet over to their Airstream, kiss Evie goodnight, and go to bed as a family. How cool is that?

            Brian just released his fifth solo CD entitled “Magazine.” You can check out all of his music on iTunes. He and the other Verve Pipe guys have also gotten back together and have created a cool kids/adult CD. It consists of rock type music and is great for a family of music lovers. The CD is called “The Family Album.” Lux has three CD’s to date, and we love them all.

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

“Ryan Star”

The date was February 3, 2010 and I was running my full court press to get Serena Ryder back on our stage. Her 2009 show left us all breathless and we were jonesing for another intimate performance. Calls were made, emails were sent, and eventually a date was nailed down. Canadian pop star Serena Ryder was heading back to Downstairs Live.

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

“Angel Taylor”

            Most Saturday mornings in our home are met with one theme….Sleep Late! I’m talking 10:30. The long days of trying to inspire students wears us out, and rest is the only cure. But for a few months in 2010 things were different. I was up early every Saturday morning rushing to the TV. No, not because of cartoons, but for something much more embarrassing...VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown. Please don’t judge me.

             My brief VH1 Countdown addiction started in December of 2008. I was surfing the Internet for new music and came across a young girl named Angel Taylor. The moment I heard her voice, I knew I had to have her on our stage. I did a little research and discovered she was based in L.A. and was very new to the music world. She was so new that YouTube had not one live video of her performing. I made contact with her agent and was able to book her for a January show.

            The night of her show I was a little worried because I had never seen her perform live. The only thing I had to go on was her music on iTunes, and the fact that Columbia Records believed in her. Even though she was signed by this major label, some artists get nervous (especially inexperienced ones) and they just can’t transfer their music in a live setting. So I was sweating.

            I made my pre-show announcements and introduced Angel to the sold out Downstairs Live crowd. I took my seat, crossed my fingers, and hoped for the best. As she began her first song, “Chai Tea Latte”, the stress left my body like a demon on “Supernatural.” Her voice was incredible, just like her recordings. As usual, I worried for nothing. The rest of her show was amazing, because not only can Angel sing, but she is also one of the most engaging artists we have had on our stage. To see some footage from that show, go to YouTube and type in Angel Taylor…Downstairs Live.

            We were extremely grateful that she was able to play our room, especially knowing she spent the weeks prior to our show opening for Grammy winner Adele. Over the next year she toured with many top artists, made an appearance on “Ellen”, and in January of 2010 her video “Like You Do” was featured on VH1’s “YOU OUGHTA KNOW.” For the next seven months that video made its home on VH1’s Top 20 Video Countdown, peaking at number 8…and starting my addiction.

            Like a teenage girl, I would get up early on Saturdays to watch the countdown in hopes that Angel’s video would rise a few spots. I was even going onto the VH1 site and giving my…..well I was actually suggesting……really I was kind of…..okay…..I admit it….I WAS VOTING! There, I said it! I was voting for Angel’s video on VH1. I couldn’t help it! I was just so excited for Angel and what she and her production team had created. This video was cool because it was so “her.” She has always loved coffee shops, and her first gigs were in coffee shops, so they stayed organic and created a very entertaining product that represented Angel perfectly.

             So for the first half of 2010 Angel was a hot topic and her video was being seen around the world. It was probably a bad time, but I was thinking about trying to get her back in our room. I knew from our conversations that she really liked her experience at Downstairs Live and wanted to come back, so I made contact with her agent. Angel was starting a tour with The Barenaked Ladies and was kind enough to take a day off from that tour to come play Downstairs Live. We were honored. Do yourself a favor and check out her incredible CD “Love Travels” on iTunes. 

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

“Bain Mattox”

            His name was Lee Chomskis, and he could throw a football a country mile. Lee was three years older than me and was the neighborhood’s athletic phenom when I was a kid.  Little did he know that his encouraging words to me when I was twelve would help guide me towards my childhood dream of professional baseball.            

It was 1975, and we were playing a pick-up game on the giant hill in front of Berkman Apartments. After fielding a few grounders and throwing the ball around, Lee simply said, “You’re pretty good…you should play baseball.” His words resonated in my brain and lit a fire inside my soul. The amazing Lee Chomskis thought I was good!

            A few years later, I started my career at Westside where I fine-tuned my baseball skills under legendary coach Gerald Barnes. After graduating, I attended Augusta College and was drafted by the Atlanta Braves at the end of my junior year. I remember the magical phone call informing me I had been drafted and the overwhelming feeling of euphoria that took over my body. I jumped in my car, turned up the radio, and flew down Washington Road faster than Ricky Bobby! I don’t remember where I went…I just went! I couldn’t believe that I had finally fulfilled my childhood dream.

            Those baseball days are long gone, but the people who helped me along the way are always in my thoughts. They inspired me to continue the process and pass it forward, and I now have a burning desire to help others reach their dreams. At Downstairs Live one of our main goals is to help talented artists get their music into as many ears as possible. 

One of our favorites has always been Bain Mattox.  Over the years we have tried different avenues of sharing Bain’s music with new listeners. Back in 2003 Bain was scheduled to play The Soul Bar, and I remember calling countless people trying to build an audience for the show. Then I made 50 sample CD’s of his music and handed them out during First Friday. A few weeks later, I was hounding Joe Stevenson about playing Bain’s music on his Sunday night radio show “Home Grown.”

            Why so passionate? Because his music moved me. Literally! My usually supportive wife was hesitant to stand next to me when we went to Bain’s shows because I was “THAT GUY!” You know...that obnoxious guy whose getting into the music...a little toooo much. I couldn’t help it. The dude’s music pushed my buttons and I couldn’t stand still. Songs “Slumber Plane”, Shotgun Pageant”, and “Peripheral People” were my favorites early on, but then came his “Prizefighter” CD in 2007.

            As a PE teacher, I use music in my gym every day, and some of Bain’s “Prizefighter” songs quickly became the overwhelming favorites of many of my students. During one of our activities, I noticed that many of the students were singing along with his song “Slowpoke” as they played. So I quickly paused the song and listened. To my surprise the entire class was singing the lyrics word for word. As weeks went by I saw different students walking around the halls singing his music. So at our next A-B honor roll sock-hop, I played “Slowpoke” in between dance favorites “Cha Cha Slide” and “Cupid Shuffle.” You would have thought Justin Timberlake walked into the room. The entire lunchroom started screaming and singing the lyrics. The next week I asked the students if they would like to have Bain come perform a concert at our school…I got a unanimous, “Yes!”

            We called it “The Spring Bash.” Bain and his band came and set up in our oversized lunchroom and performed an amazing Thursday night concert for over 350 students and their parents.  Thirty minutes before the show, the crowd of students grew larger and louder as they took their places in front of the stage. Glow sticks around their necks, wearing their coolest clothes, and their hands in the air...our students were ready for the school’s first rock concert! Bain and the boys took the stage and put on a great show, and ended the night with the crowd favorite “Slowpoke.” As he purposely paused during certain parts of the song, he could only smile as hundreds of kids sang his song back to him.

            In 2009 Bain took a step back from his personal music career and became a businessman when he opened a neighborhood gathering spot called Normal Bar in Athens. Then a year later he started a few more businesses…vintage clothing store Rock Paper Scissors and Bain’s Soda, a bottling company specializing in his bar’s signature soft drinks. He also continues to play music as the bass player for rising folk/country artist Lera Lynn. But by far his most impressive accomplishments…he’s a dedicated husband and a father of two. Check out Bain’s music on iTunes.

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

“The Rock Boat”

In late 2000 we were hitting shows around the southeast and started hearing about this cool thing being planned called The Rock Boat. The idea was to have concerts on a cruise ship while sailing to different destinations. This proposed “music festival at sea” was created by Sixthman, a company out of Atlanta that thinks outside the box. We were intrigued, so we took a chance and booked a cabin aboard the inaugural Labor Day Rock Boat Cruise of 2001.

            There were 400 of us “Rock Boaters” mixed in with the other 1,600 regular cruisers, and we spent four days partying and doing excursions; but on the final night we were treated to a concert featuring Sister Hazel and Dexter Freebish. The experience was amazing, but it got even better the next two years.

            In 2002 & 2003 the Rock Boat story was making its way around the country and more fans were becoming interested in booking cabins; so instead of reserving a portion of the rooms, Sixthman stepped it up and booked the entire Carnival “Sensation.” They filled the ship with 2,000 music fans and scheduled 37 artists to perform, which made for an incredible atmosphere! Everyone on the ship had the same taste in music and loved hearing it live. Needless to say, the alcohol was flowing and the vibe infectious. I had never seen an event where 2,000 people were drinking and living large, yet no one was obnoxious or fighting. Kudos to all those Rock Boat guests and the way they represented themselves.

            We barely slept for the entire cruise, up twenty hours a day because we were scared we'd miss something. The Rock Boat philosophy…we can sleep when we get home! Someone like Sister Hazel’s Ken Block might start the morning off by doing a 10am solo set by the pool, and the music would continue throughout the day, ending sometime around 2:00a.m. We would get the day’s music schedule and map out our plan like we were preparing for a day at Disney World. Amazing moments could have taken place at any time, and we wanted to be ready.

            One night when all the shows were over and most on the ship had gone to bed, musicians from different bands started to gather on one of the stages. Before long an impromptu jam session had started. Lucky for us, we were there to see it! Till this day, those images pop into my head and make me smile.

            Fortunately, we went on these cruises with our concert partners Wayne and Darlene. We shared hundreds of music memories with them over the years, and when we get together, those stories always come up. A bit of advice…if you go on one of these cruises, be sure to have at least four in your group…you’ll thank me.

            We stopped going on the cruises in 2004 because our brand new mortgage took priority. But that’s also right about the time we started holding the concerts in our home. The atmosphere of our shows and the fact that many of our music friends would return for the next show made me think that we had something very similar to the Rock Boat…we just didn’t float. So I have referred to Downstairs Live on many occasions as our stationary Rock Boat. Sixthman provides music fans across the world with a one of a kind music experience. My goal is to do the same with our Downstairs Live events.

            Since those early days of the Rock Boat, Sixthman has pioneered the way with other music theme cruises. Currently they have 12 different ones throughout the year and have hosted more than 30 full ship charters since our first boat ride in 2001. They are America’s fastest-growing travel company, and people who go on one of their cruises have a 60 percent likelihood of returning…pretty amazing. If you are into music and would like to go on a one of a kind vacation, check out Sixthman.net and start making plans 

The Best Music You’ve Never Heard

“Needtobreathe”