The Brian Odell Band
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The Brian Odell Band

Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States

Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States
Band Rock Singer/Songwriter

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This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

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"The Brian Odell Band Live Review"

The show started with a very hushed set of solo acoustic songs by Mr. Odell himself. He blends his set with a kind mix of original and cover tunes. The man absolutely nails his covers. He's got the voice, and the guitar talent. I was impressed with his proficiency with the loop station to fill out the rhythms for the evening. Any comparisons made here are only complimentary, but the man seemed to graduate out of the Dave Mathews Band School of the Performing Arts.

Once the rest of the band rounded out the performers corner, the sound took shape. The bass player and drummer held down solid grooves. What I really liked about the mix in the band was the man spinning the turntables in between his duties on percussion. It threw a fresh flavor into an already well known sound, as if one of Mr. Odell's former professors may have come out of Sugar Ray (that may or may not be complimentary as some of you may going, "who" but it's meant well". As I watched the set progress I realized I had seen this guy before. That's always a compliment in a town where every other neighbor has a weekend gig. This guys sound and vibe stuck with me.

All in all The Brian Odell Band delivers. The strong fan base shows it. It's tough to get your friends and family, or even your dentist, out for every show, so I know these fans go deeper than just that. - Pacific Northwest Music Scene


Discography

RISE ABOVE IT ALL (2007)

Radio Airplay in Portland, OR on KINK FM 102

All tracks available online at the following sites:
Apple iTunes
Napster
Amazon
AudioLunchbox
BuyMusic
Interia
MP3tunes
Ruckus
Verizon
Inprodicon
MusicIsHere
PayPlay
Tradebit
GroupieTunes
rVibe
MOL
GreatIndieMusic
Muze
Liquid Digital Media
iMusica
Bitmunk
Mix And Burn
Last.fm
PassAlong
Txttunes
Amie Street

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Bio

Brian Odell first picked up a guitar in the fall of 1995 during his sophomore year of High School. He had been actively participating in school choirs since grade school but this was his first experience with an instrument. With no previous experience and only minimal instruction from friends, Odell has become a self-taught guitar wonder boy. His style on the 6-string is aggressive, percussive and can very easily stand on its own. Brian developed his signature guitar style over years of performing anywhere and everywhere for anyone that would listen. The music comes from his soul, with honest lyrics that strike deep. “Whatever song I’m singing . . . I try to remember the feelings I had when I was writing it . . . I try to bring those emotions out in my performance”. With influences ranging from Dave Matthews Band to Green Day and James Taylor to Jack Johnson, Odell has created a musical lifestyle and future for himself. Brian has recorded two independent CDs and has sold a little over 2000 to date. His song topics include love, heartbreak, internal struggle and good times with friends. With his laid-back, trusting and sensitive manner he presents a serious and engaging stage presence that continues to capture each audience he finds himself performing for.

Gregg Ritchie has been playing bass since he was 9 years old, beginning in the strings program in the Lake Oswego schools. Being trained in classical music all his life, he performed overseas with the Portland Youth Philharmonic then went on to study bass at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Since then he’s been playing as a freelance bassist around Portland, enjoying all styles of music that the bass plays a part in. Now, as a member of The Brian Odell Band, he continues to play on his Warwick Corvette electric bass and his 1899 German flatback upright bass. Gregg’s bass and musical influences include Edgar Meyer, Charlie Mingus, Lawrence Hurst, Zoltan Kodaly, Chris Thile, Les Claypool, Jeff Bradetich, Mary Goetze, Curtis Daily, Dave Matthews, Stefan Lessard, Ludwig van Beethoven, Herman Jobelmann, Larry Zgonc, Susan Brumfield, Sting, Jason Harrod & Brian Funck, Rich Mullins, Ray Brown, Ken Baldwin, Elvis Presley, U2, Serge Koussevitzky, Flea, and Aaron Copland.

Josh Hackett started drumming near the beginning of 2002 after an informal “jam session” with some friends on a plastic bucket. Shortly after picking up the drums, Hackett started studying under the instruction of Charles Neal of Quivah. His major influences include Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Carter Beauford of Dave Matthews Band. Josh’s musical influences include The Police, Counting Crows, Coldplay, Dave Matthews Band, The Postal Service, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Nick Clearwater, a.k.a. "The Soulshaker", grew up with music as a keystone to his childhood. He could often be found banging out the rythms on the nearest pot, pan, and table top. Around the time of his sixteenth birthday his parents finally decided to give him a more traditional forum. With his first full drum kit in his possession, Nick’s interest in music reached new heights. He started listening to more electronic music from artists like: Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and Prodigy. Shortly thereafter, he found himself enjoying the offerings of the house music scene and DJ mixing. Nick finally acquired a pair of turntables during his junior year at Linfield College in McMinnville, OR. Initially, he focused only on mixing house music. When he began offering his services as a DJ to the numerous house and frat parties he became more exposed to hip hop and Top 40. Nick found himself adapting his style on the turntables once again after graduating from Linfield and being introduced to Portland, Oregon singer-songwriter, Brian Odell. The two started experimenting with mixing two musical styles that aren't normally combined. As the two polished their sound, "The Soulshaker" began performing shows with Odell at various Portland venues.

The Brian Odell Band was born from numerous informal jam sessions between mutual friends. Odell and Ritchie had performed together on numerous occasions between 2001 – 2003 which helped form the foundation of the new band. When "The Soulshaker" and Odell started collaborating, there was now more of a sense of urgency to finally put together a new, unique band. After a few discussions on who to enlist as the drummer, Nick Clearwater helped recruit Josh Hackett. After a couple of admittedly questionable jam sessions, the sound of The Brian Odell Band came together. Mixing the tried and true formula of the singer/songwriter with infectious drum rhythms, funky yet melodic bass lines and fresh flavor of turntableism puts The Brian Odell Band in a genre all it’s own. You’re sure to find something you love about the sound and style of a band that is a welcome breath of fresh air to the Portland music scene.