A breath of fresh air in a drowning
world
Armed with an afro and a guitar, Adam Payne (lead singer) encouraged his audience to stop their incessant worrying and throw some color into their lives. Lyrics like "Don't worry/ 'cause the world keeps on turnin'/ don't you carry all your burdens." Normally, people really don't enjoy being lectured or given life lessons from someone they've never met. It's a hard pill to swallow, however, Adam's medicinal words took the crowd to an unearthly place that solved life's problems and turn pumpkins into coaches. These positive messages were reinforced by face-melting jams that would put the Allman Brothers to shame. If Seismographs could paint pictures, Dehner, on electric guitar, painted Munich's Scream with the quaking and wailing of his wah-pedal. Mersha, on bass, skated around the fret board like a dreadlocked Michelle Kwan. And Purrington, on drums, rollicked with his hi-hat more than Seuss' cat. The band was three songs into their performance when the once reserved and unresponsive crowd erupted. People started dancing, drinks started flowing, warm towels were worn and $20 bills found. How many bands out there can evoke this kind of cheer in 15 degree weather? As midnight approached, the Cinderellas began to leave for home. Adam took the time to thank each one for coming out to see his band play. As some people left there was still a slow trickle of people coming in. Not wanting to miss out on a moment of interaction he continued to banter with the remaining crowd as well as newcomers throughout the night. I would dare to say that this is THE feel-good band of the year. Their efficacious stage presence coupled with potent lyrics, will leave you with a smile that'd make Steven Tyler jealous. Honestly, this review doesn't do justice to how good the band really is. Check them out for yourselves at www.2adam12.com. -Sung (Johnny) Noh Sung Noh is part of a team of college students blogging Millennium Music Conference for Go!
For those ignorant of the Bentley music scene over the past several years, 2Adam12 is the band of the Multicultural Center's Assistant Director Adam Payne. Formed just two years ago, Payne (vocals, guitar), Adam Dehner (guitar), Mik Mersha (bass), and Mark Purrington's (drums) blend of R&B, funk and rock has been a staple of the Boston music scene. While the band's sound has evolved from its humble beginnings as Payne's sparse acoustic tunes, it's only now that the quartet has been able to hit the studio and commemorate their hard work. The self-titled debut is a musical manifesto for the band's huge sound. Though many of the tracks have been standards on Payne's acoustic sets for years, they have never been played on such a grand scale. The album features a slew of embellishments that brings each track to its highest level. From the chilling Hammond organ on "Passive Aggression" to the ultra-funky horn ensembles on the "If You Want to Love Me," the album utilizes every available tool to heighten the band's sound. While many tracks features guest spots from outside musicians, most of the band's complexity comes from its core. Dehner concocts fantastic leads by channeling classic blues playing with a contemporary twist, Purrington never misses a beat on the skins, and Mik Mersha heightens each song with his simple, crisp bass tone. And then there is Payne who loses none of his patented vocal exuberance in the studio. Whether singing falsetto on "I Will Wait for You" or delivering hip-hop lines on "Totally Hands-Free Man," Payne takes charge of each track. None of this is to suggest that this is only a group of musical technicians. At the heart of the album, underneath all of the instrumentation, are Payne's soulful songs about life, love, and relationships. Though many of his lyrics are rather deep, he also has a knack for ironic humor. On "The Way it Goes" he sings, "You see every day is a little bit different whether you are eating caviar or a basket of chicken." 2Adam12 can be proud of their first album, which they will be promoting during their upcoming gigs. Though the group isn't for the musically meek, there is plenty here for most music fans to appreciate. Clearly this is a band that is in control of their gifts. It was Stevie Wonder who once famously said, "Ya gots to work with what you gots to work with." In the case 2Adam12 there seems to be no shortage of these musical tools. -Patrick Walsh On album debut gig, 2Adam12 gets reinforcements and spices it
up 2ADAM12 played at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge last night. I went to a rock concert and a fiesta broke out. Which was just about what I needed to salve my Patriots depression. 2Adam12 is a quartet, half from Lynn, half from Dartmouth, which produces the kind of music you'd expect if the Red Hot Chili Peppers took a long Caribbean vacation. Together since 2005, the quartet released its debut album last night with a show at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge. Set times were pushed back to accommodate those glued to their TVs for the Patriots' playoff game, and the band managed to nearly fill the small room with about 100 enthusiastic fans. 2Adam12 - the name was concocted from the fact that the group includes a pair of Adams, with just a passing reference to the old TV cop show - was expanded to a sextet last night. Percussionist Yahuba added plenty of spice with congas, bongos and especially with steel drums, while Eli Winderman provided keyboard textures. The core group includes singer/songwriter Adam Payne, who plays acoustic guitar; lead guitarist Adam Dehner; bassist Mik Mersha; and drummer Mark Purrington. The group began when Payne and Dehner jammed together at a Jamaica Plain nightspot. Payne, who has a graduate degree in industrial psychology and teaches management at Bentley College by day, has been writing and performing his own songs in the Boston area for several years. He released a solo album, ''Just Me,'' in 2006. The band has mostly played Boston, Cambridge and North Shore clubs, with nary a show south of the city, a situation they hope to change soon. Last night's showcase gig caught fire with the easy groove of ''Passive Aggression,'' a polyrhythmic feast that featured tempo shifts and neat interplay between Payne's acoustic and Dehner's electric guitar. The Caribbean rhythms and Yahuba's intoxicating steel drums made ''Give It'' a delightful bit of fun with an underlying reggae foundation. That contrast between the two guitars was particularly effective on ''Ride,'' on which Payne's delicate acoustic lines were followed by Dehner's fast-paced funk-rock chords, making terrific use of the wah-wah pedal. The way Payne barked out the lyrics here could be compared to hip-hop, yet the tune ended in blazing guitar solos. If all that cross-genre mixing sounds confusing, in actuality 2Adam12 brings the same kind of expertise to their music as the Neville Brothers. Which is to say, everything is focused around the groove, which is the paramount ingredient that makes all the other elements work, no matter how disparate they may appear to be. ''Totally Hands-Free Man'' is an homage to the band's manager, and again Payne's singsong delivery makes it seem like hip-hop, but with tasty funk guitar shadings from Dehner. The panoply of styles and rhythms in ''Stagnant'' belied its title, as surging organ and guitar lines atop what seemed like an army of percussionists turned it into a tour de force. 2Adam12's final song was more in the classic soul-rock vein, with Payne's vocal on ''I Will Wait for You'' reminiscent of Jeffrey Gaines. But then Yahuba's steel drums turned it into a chugging locomotive of rhythm and an accelerated guitar coda found Payne, Dehner and Mersha all doing an impromptu unison pogo dance. The new album, called simply ''2Adam12,'' features all those songs and more, with spotless production and a guest spot from the Boston Horns on one song, too. It can be ordered through the band's Web site, 2adam12.com. Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion finished the night for their pals, with Yahuba staying onstage with that sextet. Kearney manages to blend edgy rock with polyrhythms and Latin flavors, too, so the night's fiesta theme continued unabated. 2ADAM12 Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
J.M. http://cbs4boston.com/video/?id=26025@wbz.dayport.com The Vanguard, Waltham MA While the show featured a minimal amount of 2ADAM12 originals, the guest musicians more than made up for it with their considerable talents. In addition to being skilled at their respective instruments, both Vazquez and Hall proved to be talented vocalists as well. Vazquez showcased his voice in the style of Cuban Salsa music, while Hall lent his vocal chords to some Bob Marley covers, including a particularly excellent version of "No Woman, No Cry." "It was really interesting to hear them do so many different styles," noted one audience member referring to the versatility of the show. The repertoire ranged from Payne's soulful originals, to Cuban Salsa music, to Reggae - with all of the different pieces fitting together seamlessly. This stands in stark contrast to the usual Pub offerings of formulaic heavy metal and punk rock bands, where musical diversity is non-existent. While the show was a fun treat, 2ADAM12 plans on getting back to doing what they do best: taking Payne's soulful originals and elevating them by means of their considerable musical talents. Just check out the excellent live version of "The Way It Goes" on the band website to catch Mersha's super-funky bass lines, Dehner's superb lead playing, Payne's powerful vocal embellishments, and Purrington's air-tight drumming. The band has also never been shy about trying new things, evident by their willingness to bring in guest musicians such as saxophonist Nigel Wolovick. For now the group will continue to mold their sound, play out, and have fun. The band expects to put on a northeast tour this summer with plenty of dates for fans to get their fix of soulful music. A complete list of upcoming shows is available on the group's website. Additionally, the site has a bunch of other cool features such as free streaming-audio, bios, and an upcoming merchandise section. This writer hopes that an Adam Payne replica afro will be among the items offered there in the future. Notheast In-Tune Magazine Adam Payne With four choices of performance lineup, the possibilities are endless for Mr. Payne. As a solo artist, he covers vocals, acoustic guitar and keyboard. With the lineup of some of Massachusetts' finest, named “2Adam12”, Payne is accompanied by Adam Dehner on lead guitar and background vocals, Mik Mersha on bass, and Mark Purrington (as well as a host of other special guests) on drums. The slightly lighter North Carolina based funktion, “The Bizzle” features Devin Klein on bass, Beecher Denton on drums and Kevin Verlinden on lead guitar. “AdUpBeat” showcases the beatboxing talents of Adrian Reid. Each group provides a solid foundation for Adam Payne’s songs, and adds its own unique flavor to the performance. Adam Payne grew up in Lynn, MA and Sarasota, FL. Apparently quite the smart cookie, he earned a degree in Psychology with a minor in Statistics, then went on to a master’s degree in Industrial Psychology. Music caught his attention early on. Payne learned, largely under his own power, to play piano, guitar, and drum set. He dabbled in writing his own music at 16, and it stuck. Today he sounds quite comfortable with his instruments, particularly his velvety, soul-ready voice. He is quoted in his EPK as saying, “I've been performing in front of people in some way ever since I can remember. I enjoy doing so, and I believe that I will continue to do so no matter where life takes me.” We can only hope so. I had the pleasure of listening to about six songs total from Adam Payne’s press kit and Myspace website. The selection gave me a pretty good feel for the scope of Adam’s music. There is so much going on in each song that I can’t imagine the audience or the musicians getting bored at a show. Among my favorites was “On My Way”, which was recorded live with 2Adam12. It features some excellent improvisational saxophone by Mr. Wolovick. The percussion in “On My Way” has a busy, salsa feel to it, perfectly appropriate for dancing to. Another exclusively from the Myspace website was “No Regret”. This is a pretty, fairly sad downtempo song, which really shows off Payne’s vocals, complemented by gorgeous harmonies. Lastly, I must mention “Get Over Yourself”, recorded with AdUpBeat. This quirky, R&B flavored song contains not only beatboxing, but a whistling solo. Adam responds quickly and helpfully to e-mail. So I would recommend that anybody interested in his music contact him directly, and I would highly recommend that he make his websites a bit more cohesive and thorough. Technical babble aside, Adam Payne is a very talented musician and songwriter. Anybody into acoustic music, modern soul, or Jason Mraz minus the geeky whiteness would enjoy him immensely. Check him out at his websites! The Vanguard, Waltham MA Everyone's favorite Resident Director/musician is shaking things up a bit. The last time that we checked in with Adam Payne he was kicking it solo. Now a full band of fellow funkateers is backing him. With Adam Dehner on lead guitar, Mark Purrington on drums, Mik Mersha on bass, and Payne wielding the acoustic guitar and covering vocals, the newly-formed Adam Payne Project played their first gig last Thursday in the Pub. Playing before a packed crowd, the act was received very enthusiastically. "These guys really rocked hard," quipped Pub-regular and music fan Haig Berberian. The Project began when Mark and Adam met at an ill-fated Open Mic night last year. "Adam [Payne] brought more people than even musicians showed up," remembers Dehner. The two clicked and began working together, before finally hooking up with the other two members. They are a band of diverse musical backgrounds. "I grew up in Ethiopia, so African music has really influenced me," says Mersha. "So I come from a little different place musically." Dehner, who was initially influenced by virtuoso guitar players like Eddie Van Halen, moved on to other styles and actually met Mersha playing in a Cuban Salsa band. Purrington, still a high school student, considers drummers from across the musical landscape his influences. Though he is still a youngster, you wouldn't know it based on sound alone. He is capable beyond his years behind the set. And then there is Bentley's own Payne, whose songwriting and style, as loyal readers will know, lends itself to everyone from America to Outkast. Described by Dehner as "soul rock," the band's sound will appeal to fans of jam bands as much as the rock and soul crowd. Part of the wide reaching appeal comes from the foursome's ability to seamlessly combine many different styles of music into their own funky concoction. The band is very proud of this versatility. "We can tour with anybody and be comfortable," says Dehner. When the guys come together, they accomplish the feat of sounding both original and familiar at once - the "new-old" sound as some call it. They are also as tight as O.J. Simpson's gloves. With Payne's soulful and powerful voice, Dehner's funky and dazzling lead guitar, Mersha's creative bass grooves, and Purrington's tight drumming, the band becomes one mind with eight hands. Though the group has the lofty goal of being able to support themselves through music alone, they are as easy-going as they come. "We just want to be able to play music," says the reserved Purrington. They seem to be off to a good start. The guys are playing a slew of local venues, including the Skellig on April 13 in Waltham, and Bill's Bar on April 29 on Boston's Lansdowne St. "We're one member away from a starting five," proclaims Dehner, who thinks that the band is just one step away from competing on the pro-circuit. Though the band is not quite sure what instrument their fifth member will play, they do know what it won't be. In regards to adding a kazoo player, Payne jokes, "If we get a kazoo player I'm quitting the band tomorrow." The Vanguard, Waltham MA While most people learn to play music with formal lessons or self-teaching books, Bentley's Adam Payne learned using a bit of an unorthodox approach. "I learned to play by listening to the songs in cartoons and video games", says the part time musician and full-time Resident Director here at Bentley. An early protégé with the great works of Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario, he discovered at a young age that he had a talent, and has been writing songs and performing ever since. Adam, who inherited much of his musical talent from his mother, has a very distinct afro and a voice equally as big and soulful. Drawing his influences from a wide spectrum of music, he ceaselessly fuses rap, folk, and R&B into his own unique acoustic style. Within the span of a few songs he can sound like anyone from Bob Marley, to Lenny Kravitz, to Jamiroquai; all the while maintaining his own style and voice. This versatility is what makes him such an exciting performer. On the love song "Want You Madly", Adam goes for a more calculated and folk-influenced style; with a minimal amount of vocal adornments. On the other end of the spectrum is a more embellished song like "The Way it Goes", with heavy hip-hop and R&B influences. Using all sorts of resources like free-from lyrics, bongos, and even a friend named Adrian "Beatbox" Reid, Adam is able to wildly transcend the acoustic solo-artist genre to which he belongs. This unique and versatile talent has not been lost on listeners. When Adam was living in Charlotte, North Carolina, he was drawing triple digit crowds. His success and his love of performing have tempted him into becoming a full-time musician. "It crosses my mind a lot", he says with complete seriousness. Such a decision would be a big leap for Adam, who, whether earning his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Central Florida, or working on his M.A. in Industrial Psychology from the University of North Carolina, has always had to juggle music and work. "During my time at college I wasn't at an accelerated rate [musically]. I was trying to be a good student, so it took a toll on my musical growth." For now, he remains a full-time Resident Director and a self-proclaimed planter of "the fro seed at Bentley." Recently he helped plan a talent show at the Pub, and was very impressed with the musical talent at Bentley. "Honestly I didn't have really high expectations, but these kids blew me away. There are some really talented people here at Bentley." Adam Payne is certainly one of them. The Wine Vault, Charlotte, NC His musical style is soothing and fun, and at times brutally honest. With the talent of Jimmy Hendrix, the smooth sound of Al Green, the grace of Alicia Keys, and at the heart of it all- the funk of James Brown, Adam’s popularity has exploded into a cult-like following here in Charlotte. He has a beautiful voice and an incredible talent for writing the most intimate, multi-faceted lyrics that can only lead me to believe I’ve been blessed with a peek into his inspiring journey through this life. He is a most honorable man to work with and someone that I am glad to know. The Profusion Initiative I’ve seen a lot of performers come and go, including many amazingly talented musicians and songwriters, but Adam is definitely one of the best and most unique I’ve ever had the good fortune to experience. His songwriting during his time in Charlotte grew with leaps and bounds, as his technical proficiency on the guitar increased as well. His vocal range and personal tastes can take his sets from old school folk and classic rock to hard-core acoustic hip hop like you’ve never heard, and then veer into penetrating originals with a depth and a focus that will stop you in your tracks. His jazzy voicing on the guitar brings a breath of fresh air, even to an often stale I-IV-V format, and his uncanny ability to freestyle and improvise at the drop of a hat often has the audience rolling with laughter (if they are able to stop and catch their breath from so much dancing). And just when you thought he’d expended his array of talents, he’ll bring out the keyboard and rock the house with that as well in a completely different way. While here in Charlotte, Adam performed with three different projects: a four-piece electric project with him fronting on the acoustic guitar, a three piece acoustic project (guitar, djhembe, and a beat-boxer) that had more sound than most full five pieces, and his solo gig. Every one of them was phenomenal (to my tastes, the three-piece was by far the most unique and attention grabbing), and each one rapidly developed the same aura and power that Adam himself tends to ooze. In other words, this performer is a front-man from the cradle and it’s only a matter of time before he settles into a comfortable combination of location and surrounding musicians before the world will have to take notice. While briefly walking around the campus of UNC Charlotte the other day to visit some friends in the music department I still saw three students walking around in Adam Payne t-shirts, though it’s been months since he’d moved to Boston and I was on campus for all of fifteen minutes. All I could do was laugh. This is a musician that touches people, and he’s a performer not to be missed. |