Artist description Boy band, you know...like NSYNC, but with instruments and good music

Music Style Southern Progressive Groove Rock

Musical Influences Santana, Miles Davis, NSYNC - (not Backstreet Boys), Medeski Martin & Wood, Herbie Hancock, Ozzy, R.E. Keen

Similar Artists Allman Bros., Widespread Panic, older R.E.M., Divinyls, Kam L. Toze

Artist History The seeds of Sidewalk were sown in the fall of 1996 when Nathan, Jack, and Adam played as a trio for a house party at Hampden-Sydney College. Dave caught Nathan's acoustic act at a coffee show shortly thereafter, and swapped numbers with him. Where the Sidewalk Ends was the result of this collaboration. Nathan switched to bass guitar, as Dave fronted the new group with his Jim Morrison-like baritone and acoustic guitar. Dave brought more of a roots influence which found it's way into the song selection and direction of the band. With this lineup in place, the group played their first college show at Sweet Briar College as the "Dr. Smooth Quartet." After settling on the current name and a style which East Coast Entertainment termed "Southern Progressive Groove Rock," Sidewalk added the percussive talents of Tim Campbell (Beaver Traffic Jam) in February of 1997. The classic lineup played in clubs and colleges from New Jersey and Pennsylvania to North Carolina, garnering a reputation for having as much fun as its crowd. The band recorded its debut album in Richmond's legendary Sound of Music Studios in the winter of 1997. The eleven-song, all-original album, "Jahnked!" received mild radio attention with "Manderville," and was described by singer / songwriter Dave Ball, as "a collection of songs about growing up, searching for the meaning of 'home', learning about relationships and celebrating humanity." College crowds distributed the album in a grass-roots effort which still amazes the members of the band. "It's funny how many places I go where there is a copy of that album in someone's CD collection, says guitarist Jack Shannon. Living together in what the band lovingly refers to as "the Summer of Flail," Six musicians lived in a house in New Kent County outside of Richmond. Adam, Jack, Tim, and Nathan were joined by bluegrass musician / sound engineer Hunter Merritt, and drummer Justin Bohorfoush. Dave was living in Richmond at the time and the group spent many long hours playing and writing together. The band grew more confident and begin to move toward a different musical vision. "That was the best and worst summer I've ever had," says Nathan (the only member of the household with a day job.) In the following year, Justin Bohorfoush would find himself in the drummer's throne. As Nathan, Jack, Adam, and Justin finished their last year at Hampden-Sydney college, the band began to play in new markets. "Those were some tough times," Adam says, "We were playing some of the better venues around the state, but in places where people didn't really know us." Wearying of three and four gigs a week on top of school and work, the band began to lose momentum. "The music we were playing was the best music we had ever played," says Tim, "but it was time to give the band a rest." So in May of 1999, with the graduation of four of its six members imminent, Where the Sidewalk Ends called it quits. Dave was moving to Texas with his soon-to-be bride, Jack was beginning to teach Latin in Farmville, Adam had accepted a job with GE in Lynchburg, and Nathan was headed to Korea to teach, Tim was spending much of his time in the Richmond Center for the Emotionally / Mentally Handicapped. It was unlikely that circumstances would ever get the band together again. In the fall of 2001, however, Adam and Jack began discussing a reunion. "We weren't sure if anybody would be interested, but when we found out Nathan could do it, we couldn't pass it up," says Adam. Alley Katz in Richmond played host to over 250 friends and fans--far surpassing the expectations of the band. "This is the kind of reunion I wanted," said Dave. "It would have been great just getting all of our friends together again even if we hadn't played." "For a band who hadn't played in three years, we did pretty well," admits Adam. "I think all of us were overwhelmed by the fact that everyone in the crowd still knew the words," said Jack, "we couldn't have asked for a better night."

Group Members Adam Stockton, drums; Tim Campbell, percussion; Nathan Kouns, bass/vocals; Jack Shannon, electric guitar/Rhodes piano/mandolin/vocals; David Ball, acoustic guitar/vocals

Instruments Drums, percussion, bass, guitars, mandolin, Rhodes piano

Albums Jahnked! - (Loon Music 1998)

Additional Info Second Passage Productions secondpassageprodictions@yahoo.com

Location Farmville, Virginia - USA

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