ValiantAdam
CONTACT

SEEKING

Band to Join.

ABOUT

Music is my second career, so I'm definitely looking for a regular paying gig. Weekend band work (with limited travel - prefer greater Houston area) performing with accomplished musicians is fine.

I'm currently performing with an exciting 8-piece band "Working 4a LIving" (see web site with this name - no spaces - click pic at top to launch demo) that presents a tribute to Huey Lewis and the News, featuring a three-piece horn section. Great show - fun gig!

My primary role in bands has been playing multiple keyboards and singing backup vocals, and I can optionally also play some accordion. For 8 years I was a bassist in a show band. I can also play a C valve trombone (as well as other brass instruments), plus some harmonica and recorder.

My other skill is performing as a professional singer, as a baritone or bass - excellent reader, pro experience, a cappella a specialty. I also have professional experience as a vocal director. I'm currently performing with the Kingwood Chorale as bass vocalist.

* I am always looking for a skilled tenor vocalist in order to put my a cappella quartet back on stage. Also need an alternate soprano vocalist (or take over the position if your schedule permits). Must be able to read and memorize parts and learn by ear from recordings. Christmas show requires memorization of 50 songs exactly as performed - a very satisfying and usually lucrative seasonal gig! Potential for year-round work.

In addition to performing secular music, I am an experienced contemporary Christian worship director with a lifetime of experience, including over 30 years as a paid professional with long-standing positions at two congregations. (Currently serving on a voluntary basis at a Houston area church.)

I used to be at the heart of the entertainment industry in Orlando, and now I'm enjoying a growing network in the Houston area.

My preference is a PM/Weekend regular part-time gig as a keyboard player or bassist, and I offer excellent backup vocals. I use a Roland AX-Edge keytar and rack-mounted synths to emulate any kind of bass. I am also playing piano and keys in bands and praise teams, have led both, have arranged and directed, and I sing with excellent pitch as a backup in any range (up to mid-tenor), or as a baritone/bass soloist, or bass in quartet/choral work. I do multi-track and live recording, mix-downs and CD mastering, and I can publish music and lead sheets. I read lead sheets/chord charts better than manuscript for band work, but I read vocal manuscript very well. I have worked steadily for years in a couple of very successful bands playing both country line dance and classic rock/pop, I have sung professionally for years, and I have performed as an opener for, or as backup with national acts.

My work on the accordion is coming along - lots of fun! Currently developing a solo act, but I have played parts with a band. I have 3 different accordions for different sounds, two with pickups for PA (see Equipment list).

Note about Bass = I use Roland's most modern keytar with wireless remote to rack-mounted sound modules. This worked great in a show band for 8 years when the variety of music demanded many different types of bass sounds. I do not yet play an actual bass guitar on stage (but working on it and hoping to get there soon!). I can be up to speed almost immediately on a whole show of bass music - it's faster and easier for me than the more complex keyboard parts, but I do keyboards professionally, too, and can give you all the sounds you need to fill out your music, including sampled sounds.

Screen name:
ValiantAdam
Member since:
Mar 21 2005
Active within 24 hours
Level of commitment:
Very Committed
Years playing music:
40
Gigs played:
Over 100
Tend to practice:
2-3 times per week
Available to gig:
2-3 nights a week
Most available:
Nights

Influences

Classic rock and disco, alternative rock, contemporary Christian, folk and Americana, progressive metal, classical music, country - pretty much any kind of good music, except I'm light on the jazz thing.

Instrument experience:

Vocalist:
Expert
Vocalist - Bass:
Expert
Vocalist - Baritone:
Expert
Background Singer:
Expert
Keyboard:
Advanced
Piano:
Advanced
Bass Guitar:
Moderate

EQUIPMENT

Acoustic piano, Roland FA-07, Roland VR-730 combo, and Roland AX-Edge keytar synth keyboards, plus Roland Integra 7 in the rack. Two complete Bose systems: L1 model 2 with B2 bass (and/or B1 basses) and T1 ToneMatch. Multiple Mackie mixers, multiple Behringer mixers, QSC Touchmix 16 digital+remote mixer, QSC K8.2 powered speakers and a pair of the original K8 speakers, QSC CP12 powered speakers, multiple Behringer 210D powered speakers (as monitors), Mackie C300 PA speakers, Crown XLS 1500 class D amp, bass drum mic and other mics, other amps, Roland KC-500 and KC-350 key/bass combo amps, rack effects-EQs-compressors, stands, full range of cables and cases, and a Ford Transit Connect for transportation.

I also have IEM earphones, besides my stage monitors, and a path to blend the house monitor feed with boosted key sounds into my earphones.

Current accordions: Brandoni (musette) with pickups, Scandalli Intense Piano Accordion (LMMH 37 120) with pickups, and a Hohner Concerto III N (classic German sound from the 1980s).

Current brass: C valve trombone, C euphonium, Bb euphonium, CC tuba.

I have a complex, computer-based home studio that can record up to 20 digital tracks at once to hard disk, with a virtually unlimited total track capability. It's fully integrated with analog audio and also MIDI. The QSC Touchmix 16 is able to record 20 tracks at once from live or studio. In addition, I have (2) Presonus audio interfaces (44VSL and 1818VSL) for PC or laptop recording - although the QSC Touchmix is now my main tool, and a Tascam 2-at-once digital (SD card) recorder with 8-track playback/mixdown. I typically use Cakewalk/Sonar (X-versions and older) for mix-down/mastering, and sometimes the latest Band-In-A-Box app for background track generation.

For video I use a Panasonic HD 5.1-sound camcorder. I do video editing in my home studio and can overlay a live video capture with mixed-down audio from my QSC Touchmix 16 mixer's recorder (or from other audio sources). This technique is good for producing pro-level promotional clips.

MUSIC