It's rare to find a group as dedicated and determined to succeed as Down North, an alternative funk/soul band. These talented musicians are trying to bring back the Seattle music industry to what it used to be -- alive and thriving. While there are many exceptional performers in the Seattle area, the support and opportunity are just not what they were in the '90s during the booming of the grunge era.
Anthony Briscoe, the frontman and vocalist for the band, is anything but boring. He's definitely the life of the party on stage and off, so much so that his current band members were shocked to see his moves during their first show together. Bassist Brandon Storms is not only Down North's backbone for getting the audience moving, but also plays guitar, sings backup vocals and is the sole member to see the band through the entirety of its evolution.
After years of looking for the right guys, Down North finally came together in 2007 when Briscoe answered a craigslist ad and blew away Storms with his confident performance, leading to the recording of their first EP, which was done all analog. The most recent addition happened just a few months ago with Conrad Real, one of the top drummers in the Northwest whose solid and hard-hitting style doesn't interfere with his grooving on the throne. Guitarist Nick Quiller is one of the best musicians in Seattle, hands down. While his persona is somewhat quiet and relaxed, hand him a guitar and he'll blow away the audience every time. Keyboard player Jon Preece never seizes to impress with his complex, yet melodic solos and plays a vital role in making the band the best it has ever been, according to Storms.
While the band is in search of a label, they refuse to settle and let money alone dictate their actions. According to Storms and Briscoe, Down North puts a lot of effort into live shows and to them, music always comes first. They're looking for a label to help them on their journey and also allow for quality production time, instead of just concentrating on distribution numbers.
According to Storms, Down North has always been about the show and captivating the crowd. Briscoe said that whether it's five or 5,000 in attendance, they all get the same performance. Overall, the band just wants to create something that they can be proud of 20 or 30 years from now.
The most recent video Heartbreaker, directed and edited by Bob Suh of City Arts Magazine, will premiere sometime in February, along with the release of the No Retreat EP; visit downnorth.net to find out exact date and time. The new EP features guest guitarist Jabril Jimmy James Williams, who according to Storms, is the "best guitar player that's not in our band."
"He embodies what Seattle's music scene could be if everybody was as real as he is," said Storms, who was very impressed by Williams's solo, which was done in just one take. Fernando Labarthe recorded the band at the Art Institute, which seems to be a popular choice for local musicians and a consistent source of quality products.
Down North's most recent tour to Los Angeles opened up the business side of the music industry and inspired them to keep pushing for their dream and not allow for dismissal. They hope to see more promoters and managers actually come out to shows at different venues and seek out talented musicians. "If we all work together, we can make the scene so much better," Storms said.
This is one band that's not afraid to say what others are thinking and go after what they want. Storms hopes to see Seattle become a little more nurturing toward new bands, and invest in projects like a monthly showcase to welcome the musicians to the scene and give them a chance to show what they got. Briscoe hopes to see some chances as well, saying, "There's a lot of bands that represent Seattle that are not getting represented back."
To young bands out there, Storms said it's important to get out and tour, create a buzz and then come back. It's one of the best ways to get respect and recognition, and has to be done to win over Seattle. "Be prepared to sacrifice your comfort," said Storms. "Be prepared to risk everything you got."
Caring and respecting each other is also key to succeeding. To reduce tension between band members, they hold what Briscoe refers to as planned arguments, where they discuss whatever issues the musicians might be having on and off stage, as well as share their visions for the band. "Not only do we want to succeed at an art together, but it's our lives. And if you don't care about the people you're in the band with you're never going to truly succeed or have a long-lasting career," Storms said.
To get updates for upcoming shows and listen to some great music, check out downnorth.net, reverbnation.com/downnorth, or facebook.com/downnorth.
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