Act of Congress concert at the REP Theater. WOW!!
When I first got the word from Merchants of Seaside Events Coordinator, Adam Shiland, that he wanted 30A Radio to help promote and present several events at Seaside, I was quite pleased. I have always thought Adam had great taste in music. He is a former DJ at 30A and we still miss his show “Mo Better Music”.
Then he sent us a MySpace link to Birmingham band, Act of Congress, and I was immediately hooked. I am an extreme audiophile and a shrewd judge of musical talent. I found AOC to be a group of exceptionally talented musicians, singers, songwriters, and song arrangers. Their attention to detail and dedication to song crafting is second to none.
I prefer not to interview artists because it takes much preparation and research to do correctly. But after listening to the CD “Declaration”, I was so hooked on the band that I actually asked if I could do one with them. This is something I have never done with any act since I began working with 30A Radio. I usually turn down interviews because I tend to be brutally honest with the subjects, and have a difficult time interviewing people who make music that is not to my liking. The interview with AOC was the easiest I have ever done.
30A Radio, The Merchants of Seaside, and Adam Shiland did our best to promote the free Valentines Day event at the amphitheater. It was the season’s first such event. The band also generously consented to do a “teaser” performance on the porch at Sundog Books/Central Square Records. We were sure it was going to be very successful. The problem was…RAIN…more rain than we’ve seen in Seaside in several months. We thought we were sunk, literally and figuratively.
We thought about doing a live radio broadcast from the station’s studio, but I just knew it wouldn’t be the same as witnessing a real live, in the flesh performance from this band. I had watched all of their videos posted on YouTube and knew what a treat they would be for Seaside.
When Craige Hoover and Kevin Boyle of the Seaside REP heard of our plight, without hesitation, they graciously offered the REP’s theater to host our event. We will be eternally grateful to them. We couldn't have done it without them.
Adam, my wife, and I were privileged enough to spend the day with the band as we watched their performance on Sundog’s porch and talked for a couple of hours over lunch at Pizza by the Sea. The conversation allowed us to get to know just what a kind and dedicated group of people these four actually are. We enjoyed it immensely.
Later that afternoon, at 5:00 p.m., around 100 people filled the Seaside REP Theater for a phenomenal unplugged performance. All seats and the balcony were packed with an enthralled crowd. The band performed most of the songs from their album Declaration, plus many others. Many thanks to those who attended and made this event so special. What a great audience you were!
The nearly 2 hour performance was flawless and compelling, to say the least. 30A Radio is expecting big things to happen for this group of wonderful young people in the future. and it was a Valentine’s Day my wife and I will not soon forget.
Visit their website, Act of Congress, for more info and to listen to and purchase their extraordinary music.
Danny Burns,
Operations Mgr.
30A Radio
P.S. We have posted a few pictures on the 30A Radio SoWal profile as an album: http://www.sowal.com/bb/members/30a-...-congress.html Many of the pictures we took were not viable as we were trying not to distract from the intamacy of the performance with a bunch of flashing.
Then he sent us a MySpace link to Birmingham band, Act of Congress, and I was immediately hooked. I am an extreme audiophile and a shrewd judge of musical talent. I found AOC to be a group of exceptionally talented musicians, singers, songwriters, and song arrangers. Their attention to detail and dedication to song crafting is second to none.
I prefer not to interview artists because it takes much preparation and research to do correctly. But after listening to the CD “Declaration”, I was so hooked on the band that I actually asked if I could do one with them. This is something I have never done with any act since I began working with 30A Radio. I usually turn down interviews because I tend to be brutally honest with the subjects, and have a difficult time interviewing people who make music that is not to my liking. The interview with AOC was the easiest I have ever done.
30A Radio, The Merchants of Seaside, and Adam Shiland did our best to promote the free Valentines Day event at the amphitheater. It was the season’s first such event. The band also generously consented to do a “teaser” performance on the porch at Sundog Books/Central Square Records. We were sure it was going to be very successful. The problem was…RAIN…more rain than we’ve seen in Seaside in several months. We thought we were sunk, literally and figuratively.
We thought about doing a live radio broadcast from the station’s studio, but I just knew it wouldn’t be the same as witnessing a real live, in the flesh performance from this band. I had watched all of their videos posted on YouTube and knew what a treat they would be for Seaside.
When Craige Hoover and Kevin Boyle of the Seaside REP heard of our plight, without hesitation, they graciously offered the REP’s theater to host our event. We will be eternally grateful to them. We couldn't have done it without them.
Adam, my wife, and I were privileged enough to spend the day with the band as we watched their performance on Sundog’s porch and talked for a couple of hours over lunch at Pizza by the Sea. The conversation allowed us to get to know just what a kind and dedicated group of people these four actually are. We enjoyed it immensely.
Later that afternoon, at 5:00 p.m., around 100 people filled the Seaside REP Theater for a phenomenal unplugged performance. All seats and the balcony were packed with an enthralled crowd. The band performed most of the songs from their album Declaration, plus many others. Many thanks to those who attended and made this event so special. What a great audience you were!
The nearly 2 hour performance was flawless and compelling, to say the least. 30A Radio is expecting big things to happen for this group of wonderful young people in the future. and it was a Valentine’s Day my wife and I will not soon forget.
Visit their website, Act of Congress, for more info and to listen to and purchase their extraordinary music.
Danny Burns,
Operations Mgr.
30A Radio
P.S. We have posted a few pictures on the 30A Radio SoWal profile as an album: http://www.sowal.com/bb/members/30a-...-congress.html Many of the pictures we took were not viable as we were trying not to distract from the intamacy of the performance with a bunch of flashing.
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Thanks Danny!Posted 02-16-2009 at 10:36 AM by kurt
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