Artist description Authentic Tube Driven Texas Style Rock

Music Style Blues/Rock

Musical Influences SRV,Trower, Hendrix

Similar Artists Stevie Ray Vaughn

Artist History Formed in the spring of 1990, Flash Flood has been a Syracuse favorite for many years. Founded by guitarist Dave Williams (Roosevelt Dean Band) and Paul James (JP Project, Heavy Blue) the band focused on performing the songs from their debut CD “Calm Before the Storm” along with crowd pleasing cover songs by the likes of, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix and Robin Trower. In late 1996 the band decided to go their separate ways, each member perusing a somewhat different musical path. Drummer Mike Overbaugh began playing with Penny Jo Pullus and eventually helped form Railman with former Trailer Trash members Rick Mosati and Noel Ebner. Bassist Mike Ryan continued his endeavors in the mid-west where he began an acoustic based solo career under the mentorship of Karen Newman in Detroit, MI. Paul James continued playing sporadically around the Syracuse area, but his main focus over the past few years has been his career in the rivers of Pulaski where he has been a well-known Salmon River guide for over 10 years. Williams, on the other hand, has stayed in the thick of the Syracuse blues scene playing with the likes of Built for Comfort, Joe Bonamassa and The Roosevelt Dean Band. Anyone familiar with the local blues society is well aware of Williams’ prowess on guitar. This brings us to 2002. With all original members back home and ready to play, the inevitable was bound to happen. The “Sammy” nominated debut was re-mastered and mixed to CD and the band has begun writing material for the long awaited follow up to Calm Before the Storm. Hopefully the faithful “Flood Victims” will come out of the woodwork along with fresh faces hoping to find the diamond in the rough of the Upstate NY music scene. Flash Flood will be playing the Syracuse area clubs and vying for some of the old glory they once knew in areas such as Toronto, Detroit and all of Central New York.

Group Members Michael P. Ryan-Bass, Paul James-Vocals, Mike Overbaugh-Drums,Dave Williams-Guitar

Instruments Fender Guitars/Amps ,AMPEG amps, Sonor Drums

Albums Calm Before the Storm

Press Reviews The debut CD from Flash Flood, "Calm Before The Storm" gives you nothing but straight-up "Texas-Style" rock from this collectively talented Central New York foursome. It was produced by the band itself and Robert Aquaviva of Acqrock Studios in Utica who did an outstanding job and succeeded in bringing out this bands best sound possible. All the tracks were musically written by the mega-talented guitarist Dave Williams who has showcased his versatility with the likes of Joe Bonamassa and The Roosevelt Dean Band. The CD begins with "No More Jules". It's easy to hear the Jimi Hendrix influences on more than one of the band members in this song. It's a great opener and a very catchy tune complete with awesome guitar effects. The CD's title track "Calm Before The Storm" most definately sounds like something the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughn would have loved to hear. His influences on this band easily comes through on this cut. The third track "Hey You" (Listen To The People) is a very smooth yet fast paced tune. These are two qualities that these guys easily capture during this song and it continues to abound throughout the CD. Next you hear "Midnight Caller", a slow, bluesy and seductive love song with some inviting guitar work and Mike Overbaugh's outstanding drumming. Add in Paul James'passionate and heartfelt vocals and the song nearly bursts with emotion. "Falling Water" is a contagious instrumental tune which lets your mind wander to a more carefree time and place where happiness is. Complete with good solid hooks and Flash Flood's totally unique sound. Track 6 "Ease To Please" shows the deeper and darker side of this foursome with totally ass-kicking, blazing guitar work by Williams and really succeeds in showing off Paul James deeper vocal range with extremely pleasing results. "Outside Looking In" again puts these guys in their own musical genre with vintage, funky guitar sound and heavy, yet bluesesque tones. Again, the throaty vocals of James stands out against the solid percussion work of Overbaugh. By the time you hear "Love Letter" you've already been on a musical adventure that you don't want to stop yet. Just when you thought you've heard everything these guys have, bassist Mike Ryan adds his background vocals and soaring harmonies to James' lead vocals to create an explosive and emotionally pleading song. "Funky Business" is a straight out at you bass attack complete with unbelievable BASS SOLOS. It's sound has a funky and trippy quality to it that is further enhanced by the percussion prowess of Mike Overbaugh. The end of the disc comes with the combination song "Tritone Boogie" a mid-paced instrumental which flows smoothly right into "Slow Down Woman", a solid and jammin guitar tune which only the phenomenal Dave Williams could pull off as easily. When you are done listening to this unbelievable CD, you can't wait to hear more. The bands versatile nature makes this CD really stand out. Don't worry, these guys are furiously working on the follow-up disc which I personally would not want to miss hearing. Make sure you do yourself a big favor and pick up a copy of "Calm Before The Storm" at one of their upcoming shows.

Additional Info Yahoo Groups

Location Liverpool, NY - USA

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