There were so many men to choose from, that it was like going to Willy Wonka’s Candy Shoppe, if I wanted I am sure I could have filled up the entire issue with talented men of all different ages, from every genre of music. Instead I had to choose just five men for this month’s column. It was heartbreaking, when there is so much eye candy, and great music out there. Finally choosing my five from all genres’ and just about every age group, the column felt right. Some of these men get many hits to their pages every single month, others hidden gems. Just waiting to be found, dusted off and waiting to shine just as brightly as their music. They come from every genre of music.
Brent Grunrow/Rock/NYC, NY
www.myspace.com/brentgrunow
Brent may look as if he is cut from the same cloth as many of the rocker’s form generations that came before, from the folk rocker’s of the late 60’s and early 70’s to the hair bands that emerged and ruled in the 80’s. While that may be true in some ways, Brent is a young male artist unlike many solo rockers seen in many years; he has his own definite look, style and wisdom that betray his 26 years. With the social consciences of folk rock singer’s of the 60’s like Bob Dylan, that can be heard in songs like the socially relevant Just Want to Come Home and Rich Get Rich. While still standing by his rocker roots in songs Can’t Escape, Push and Pull and other songs which use the themes of love, heartbreak, and confusion like the great rockers of the 80’s did with their long hair flowing, tight jeans, and Animal Magnetism. All the qualities Brent possesses right now, except with wisdom and a soul that seems to transcend all space and time. Physically, he is Rock! With his long dark hair, Sensual mouth that can make women from 18 to 60 just go insane, and eyes so soulful you want to get lost forever. He is Rock N Roll, and One Male that can make the girls swoon, and males go purchase his CD, because he is good and has real depth and talent. Known on the east coast for awhile, he is slowly catching on across country, in September of 2007 he was part of the Arby’s Music Sweepstakes with Collective Soul which exposed him to an audience of 15 million people, in the same month Brent appeared on the CBS Morning show live. Doing both of those things made him realize that his dreams where being actualized and just kept feeding the thriving monster drive he already had, making him work harder to make his dreams become a solid reality. Though you can draw comparisons to him visually and what seems to be is Brent’s soul, don’t be mistaken he is his own man, and knows how to use the gifts he was given growing up in his small Michigan town, where he was surrounded by music from all genres. He has something distinctive and special, Excitement and talent, that is now being seen and heard, more from Brent is just on the horizon.
Karl Vasey/Acoustic/Rock/Nottingham, UK
www.myspace.com/karlvasey
Karl may look more like a leading man from an A list movie than a musician, the direction he always knew he wished to take in his life. Even as a young lad growing up in the UK, he knew his persistence would pay off eventually. He spent years eyeing a guitar that just lay in a corner in his childhood home, waiting for the day it would be his. Finally at the age of 12, he broke down his family, the prize, an old grimy and used up Zenta guitar that was just lying around the house collecting dust bunnies. Once he had that guitar in his hands, music began to flow. Though Guitar lessons were given in his school, he chose to cut classes in favor of learning on his own. Now breaking into the music industry; he has penned over 100 songs with lyrics and arrangements. His versatile movie star good looks lures people into his My Space page with well over 100,000 hits, but it is his talent and real and at times heart wrenching songs about love lost and found that keep his fans coming back for more. In the emotionally charged song Cry, about two lovers coming to an end, but holding on for dear life, you can hear the pain as he sings from deep in his soul. In his newest addition you’re the Greatest Feeling, he shows his range as a vocalist, as well as the lighter side of love. With over 100 songs in his catalog a CD coming out, a band forming behind him, a heavy female fan base and International recognition of record executives taking notice, it may be only a short time before Karl strikes like his fellow British mate did a couple years ago, James Blunt. It only take 1 song to ignite a rage in the music industry, he has many songs of high quality that could be the next flash point that can be major commercial hits.
David Sha/R&B/Hip Hop/Soul/Huston, TX
http://myspace.com/1dibidi
David’s vast talents seem so hard to box into one little neat little neat little package and tie with a bow, the fact is in one song he sound like he is singing inside a southern church leading the gospel choir pouring his entire soul out before the Lord. The next as showcased in the song Voodoo Child he has the true essence of Jimi Hendrix wrapped up, as he sing’s, I could feel the soul of Jimi move through right through me. Suddenly, this young master crafter will enthrall you with his mastery of the use of his words, and pull out smooth vocals reminiscent of the late great Marvin Gaye; making you not only believe that he has not only channeled the fallen young superstars, but somehow embodied their souls. David is a soul in voice and motion, with all lyrics and much of the musical arrangements by David. In his Hip Hop songs that are made along with Sky Blue they take all that is good from the world from Hip Hop, mix it into the world of David’s church roots which have deep rooting in Texas and Louisiana, and bring a positive force to today’s Hip Hop market. Performing close to home, for reasons that dumbfound me, this young man with long lanky features, and a Marvin Gaye aura, needs to be seen by the entire world! He is something special. Though his My Space page has only had a little over 7, 000 hits, don’t let that fool you into thinking that he has no talent. I believe that he may just not know how to draw people to his page. He is a must VISIT, and once there, you will stay and never leave. He is smooth, versatile, and a man of depth, something so very rare in today’s R& B scene that he is a must see and hear. An artist, maker of his own future, and sight and sound to behold, Remember the name David Sha. He is simply remarkable and unforgettable with soul that will catch you where heart lies.
Scott Joseph Phares/Acoustic/Pop/Indie/ White Hall, Illinois
www.myspace.com/sjpmusic
Scott was born in the late 80’s but his soul is wise beyond his twenty years, it is like he has lived many lives previously and carried a piece of each life along with him, to become who he is in his present being. A good old Mid-Western boy, his music’s beauty stems from the roots of growing up in a small Illinois town, where on a beautiful day his crystal clear blue eyes, match the color of the never ending skyline that tends to last forever in the open countryside of the mid-west. Introduced to Elvis Presley by his grandmother as a very small child, he never lost his fascination for music and the power music holds on artist and music lovers. It seems that music ability runs in the family as his father was a drummer, and Scott himself took six months of guitar lessons and decided to quit, finding that experimenting on his own was much more stimulating and productive to what he is doing now. Much of the themes of his songs tend to thread around the ups and downs of love, tight friendships, and the struggles of growing into adulthood, all without sounding like bubble gum pop. The songs have depth beyond his years. Scott has been working since he was a young boy at writing and composing his own music, and shows a wisdom that goes beyond his years. In songs like Dreamers, Much to Lose, Amanda, and Season, you can feel his heart being poured into the music as he changes tones and moods from song to song, which will only improve like a fine wine with maturity. Without realizing it, he has the ability to cross to the mainstream and all demographics since many of his songs have no barriers, they are timeless themes that can be relevant to many. He is also extremely approachable, his My Space page pays homage to his fans, making sure to include them in various ways, and responding to almost every post. Though he has not ventured much out of the Mid West for gigs, he has had play on college radio stations, and has his first Cd out for purchase. He is making strides, and just needs to venture beyond the Mid-West, to really test his chops, but with close to 280,000 hits worldwide, the chance may be well worth the leap of faith.
Cody LePow/ Roots Music/Americana/ Blues/Folk/LA, CA
www.myspace.com/codylepow
Cody is a true craftsman whose music is part of the fabric of what music in the last 40 years has been all about. He has written so many songs that many are just floating around on paper in his Los Angeles area home. His quiet being speaks to you through song as if he his music has been specifically written for you, that is how intamite his music feels. He can meet a person just one time, look into their eyes, and see their entire life; what they have lived, where they are in that moment, even where they are going. He is so intuitive that it feels as though he knows your life story before a word is spoken, and he has already written the soundtrack to your life within minutes of meeting you. When I first ran across him, it was at a small studio with a small audience and a few musicians. With his prized guitar, and a white light around him, he just played, spooling the audience into his web. He can take you into various eras and places; from the Appalachian Mountains in the song I Will Crossover, to the Beat-Neck clubs of the 60’s. His song Angel with Broken Wings can reduce any female to tears, as it often does to me, because no one comes out of this world unscathed. While he has not had the volume as hits on his My Space page as other artists, it may just be because he is out living life and savoring every moment of it, receiving his inspiration from his everyday experiences, rather than sit at his computer. He has put out several Cd’s and Ep’s, has worked with or shared the stage with artist like Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, X, and performed with various members from bands like the Eagles, the Pointer Sisters, Dwight Yoakum to name just a few. He has won songwriter awards, and seen a few things here and there, to sum up Cody LePow I will refer to a few of his songs for that; he is a Truck Drivin’ man on a Fast Train and Any day now the Love Junkie will come give you an Education on Love to fix an Angel With Broken Wings. I say Amen to the man with a thing for words!
