Schiavone + We Were Kings + Against Grace January 20, 2011

So it all started for me quite unexpectedly. Growing up in a large military family in rural King George, Virginia, I realized at a young age that music was the one thing that gave me true peace and happiness while sharing space with seven brothers and two sisters. I can remember having one of the first generation “walk-man” radios and singing quietly to the latest hits on the radio. I couldn’t seem to catch a baseball to save my life and getting crushed every time the football was passed my way wasn’t my idea of fun so I found my friends on the radio. KISS,Parliament Funkadelic, The Jacksons, Zeppelin, Aretha, Elton, Prince, The Stones and later U2 and The Clash. Whatever came across the airwaves at the time, I was off somewhere by myself singing it. It became an early passion, this singing thing. I eventually gathered the courage to sign up for a talent show at my school.I would race home every day and secretly rehearse for the show. I can remember not telling anyone I had signed up for the show until I walked onto the stage. The place went crazy when I took the stage. I walked away the winner that day and the seed was planted.

Music was my motivation from that point forward. That motivation got me a music scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and I was soon approached to be the lead singer of an upstart band called Boy O Boy (BOB). We quickly gained a following, and toured the East Coast playing many clubs, colleges and well anywhere that would feed us, pay us a little cash and give us a place to catch a nap before we were off to the next town.

We changed our name to Fighting Gravity some years later, and found ourselves signed to several major labels and sharing major stages with many awesome bands, too many to name actually. We toured much of the continental US and around the globe on several USO tours that took us to places such as Japan, Puerto Rico, Honduras, and Singapore. It was an amazing and exciting ride, and what I most appreciated was the many positive friends that those travels brought into my life. Many of whom are still a part of my life today. As Fighting Gravity came to an end, I stepped away from the music industry for a few years in order to find a different inspiration.

However, I found myself drawn repeatedly back to the fire. The desire to get back on stage again was overwhelming. This desire led me to begin work on a life-long dream and this time I was going to do it my way and tell my story. With the help of co-writer and producer Chip Johnson of the rock band The Alternate Routes, this dream has finally come true with the Fall 2010 release of my solo CD titled My Only Secret. This music is personal. Layers were stripped away and barriers were removed and I wanted to tell a simple story of my life, my love and share it with my family and friends. It is a reflection of where I am today. It is about realizing the better side of life and those you choose to share it with. It is my hope that you will be able to draw the same inspiration from listening to the music as I have had in sharing with you.
http://www.schiavonemcgee.com/

We Were Kings was formed in 2010. Three years in the making frontman Nate Ihara has pieced together his solo turned group effort with songs, band members, and producers one by one. Ihara formerly fronted the now defunct D.C. based band Welbilt before picking up the bass guitar for The Blackjacks, another popular band from the area currently by way of Nashville, TN. With himself fronting the project, the unofficial lineup additionally consists of Mike Smirnoff (No Second Troy and The Blackjacks) on drums, Cal Stamp on guitars and keys, and a small cast of a revolving members from various local and national bands.

The group's debut EP is projected to be released in early 2011. The songs are inspired by a variety of influences ranging from Sting and The Police to Elvis Costello, Brighteyes to The Black Keys, Ryan Adams, and One Republic. While the band itself is young it's members are all veterans of the music scene on both the local and national level.
http://www.facebook.com/wewerekings

Against Grace is five piece alternative/pop rock band from Richmond, VA. Since their debut album release in September 2008, the band has shared the stage with many regional and national artists such as Anberlin, Saving Abel, Safety Suit, Hollywood Undead, Mae, Bayside, Thriving Ivory, Parachute, Matt Nathanson, and many others.

Against Grace's track, "Radio" just garnered an honorable mention award in Billboard's World Songwriting Contest, and receiving airplay in the UK.
http://www.againstgrace.com/

Official Website: http://www.jamminjava.com/