Biography
"This is a song about oatmeal raisin cookies, smooth jazz, and life after death," Adair was heard introducing one of his songs recently at a show. Whether due to an overdeveloped appreciation of the dialogical method or an underdeveloped sense of hidden logic, it's no more than you would expect from an economist-turned-computer-programmer-turned-singer-songwriter.
A native Texan, Adair grew up in Houston in a family of six that apparently had a bigger impact on his music than the locale. "For almost 12 straight years, everybody was yelling and nobody was listening. That forces you to get creative."
It could very well be that this was the latent inspiration for his sophomore release, "Ostrich," released in May 2008. Calling to mind artists such as Death Cab, Damien Rice, and John Vanderslice, "Ostrich" straddles alternative singer-songwriter and indie pop. To help craft his sound, Adair was joined by producer/engineer/guitarist Billy Harvey (Bob Schneider, Steve Poltz, Kacy Crowley) to collaborate on the project. The result is a series of imaginatively crafted narratives exposed through artful and textured productions. Lyrically, his themes range from the joy of vacation to the ethics of fidelity, from the invincibility of youth to the geometry of attraction. Yet any perceived thematic weight is happily offset by his creamy, airy vocals. "I always wanted one of those gruff, nineties-era rock-n-roll voices," he admits. "But you can only hear 'Thank you for your time, Ms. Adair' from nameless phone solicitors so many times before realizing you have a problem with self-perception."
His 2004 debut, "Pieces," not only introduced him to Austin but landed him regular gigs at some of Austin's favorite venues, including the Saxon Pub, Momo's, and Central Market, as well as live performances on Austin's primary AAA radio stations and Fox 7 News. In addition to his band's local performing and regional touring, "Pieces" saw significant success on the national college/non-commercial radio circuit, with adds at more than 130 stations nationwide, including over 40 stations with heavy rotation.
Now he alternates between solo acoustic appearances and tasteful collectives, having cut his teeth with multiple residencies around Austin, as well as tours through the South, Midwest, Northwest, and Northeast.
In terms of accolades, Brent has his share of ribbons, including a "Paste Recommends" nod from Paste Magazine, grand prize in a songwriting contest that landed him a slot opening for James Taylor sibling Livingston Taylor. Other notable opening performances include Bob Schneider, W.C. Clark, South Austin Jug Band, and 54 Seconds.
Look for Brent on tour in support of "Ostrich." And eating oatmeal raisin cookies.
Instrumentation
Brent Adair - Vocals & Guitar
Derek Morris - Keyboards
John Leon - Pedal Steel
Jeff Botta - Drums
Tom Benton - Upright Bass
Discography
Pieces (LP) - 2004
Ostrich (LP) - 2008
Links
| http://www.brentadair.com |