The Aveys accomplishments, written down, are nothing compared to witnessing a special moment between just these two. Midst their personal photo-shoot, I watched a couple go from happy, posed smiles for the camera, to singing a duet in a brick alley wall, illuminated by a single lamp, and seeing only one another. Their voices, rich and lovingly haunting when melded together in a duet, melt your heart and express a love only music can put form to. Their story alone will warm a heart, but when shown through their passion for music, one can understand how they've come so far, and be inspired to follow what similar dreams they harbor in their own hearts.
Please to be sure to catch Eric and Kate out at their next show. Seeing their magic live is more than anyone can put words to. I hope this article captures enough of their story and their essence to drive you to help them further their musical careers. Thank you.
Eric and Kate Avey. Local Musicians from Waynesboro, PA, involved in several traditional bluegrass and acoustic bands.
Strung Tight. The Boro Boogie Pickers.
The Reckoning. Mountain Ride.
Bluegrass, acoustic, solo, duos, bands
encompassing up to seven members.
Local venues. Free gigs. A nine-state
tour.
Eric and Kate Avey
are an inspirational musical couple from Waynesboro, PA, involved in
a variety of bluegrass and acoustic bands spanning the local area,
and they allow passion to drive them in all their dreams. From the
day they met, music has been the central focus of Eric and Kate's
lives. Married four months after meeting one another, they met
through a band practice (Eric on drums and Kate spectating) and have
spent the past thirteen years of their marriage being guided by the
magic of music they've both been involved in since children.
Eric,
who is experienced in instruments including the guitar, bass, drum,
keys, banjo, mandolin,
and many more, is self-taught in all his musical career. Although he
was never a part of high-school band or similar, he's been into
creating music since he listened to his first Grateful Dead CD, and
his mother purchased him his first guitar. Kate has had a talent
with harmonious vocal tunes and several instruments, including the
saxophone, since her days in the school jazz band and singing for the
church choir.
She reflects back on her childhood days, recalling, “I would help
my father work in the barn, and there was always good music playing.”
Additionally, her mother not only put her up for the church choir,
but gave her the saxophone she herself played as a kid. Nowadays,
Kate hopes to pass the same saxophone on to her children, where
already music is a driving force in the Avey family.
“Our
dining room contains a piano, a drum set, and a table,” Eric
describes. “Our living room is filled with music memorabilia. And
it was only in recent years we got cable; our kids were brought up
with music.”
As an active family of five (Eric, Kate, and their three children),
there seems to never be a dull moment for the Aveys. From camping and
hiking, joining in at festivals, and the kids attending every
all-ages show and even being brought up on stage to sing along, love
and music is in abundance within the Avey's circle. This is not only
shared among family, but spread across their wide circle of friends.
“It's
the people we've met that we consider a part of our biggest
accomplishments,” Eric and Kate share. “Friends come out to our
shows, and meet our other friends, and the circle grows. We're
surrounded by good souls.” It's the community with the passion that
drives the Aveys, and above all, they say their number one goal, “Is
to inspire. To be role models.” Which is not hard to imagine,
considering what they've accomplished so far in their careers, and
where they are going.
A year ago, at Kate's urging, Eric quit his day-job to focus on music
full time. They began booking shows bit by bit, and now play at least
25 shows a month across the span of four bands: Strung Tight, the duo
between Eric and Kate; Mountain Ride, their traditional bluegrass
outlet; The Reckoning, a seven piece acoustic band inspired by the
Grateful Dead album, “Reckoning”; and The Boro Boogie Pickers, a
bluegrass/string band made up of six native musicians from
Waynesboro, PA.
Additionally, Eric created and maintains aveymusic.com, blogs daily,
records music at home, and contributes much more to the
accomplishment of all of his dreams.
“We
know what we want, and we go for it,” Kate says. “There's some
fun to be had in doing something everyone says you can't.”
Already Eric's blog averages 150 views a day, with a steady fifty
regular readers. Starting from having Kate edit his posts daily, to
now being approached and complimented as a writer, Eric continues to
learn and grown in his field. As an artist, his knack for design goes
hand in hand with his talent, as he self teaches himself not only
instruments, but web design, writing, the handling and workings of
recording equipment, and more.
Between the bands and their personal projects, the Aveys stay busy,
and they like it that way.
“It's
the diversity that comes with so many bands,” they agree they
enjoy, although at heart Eric and Kate agree that playing bluegrass
is their favorite genre of choice, followed closely by acoustic.
“It's the unity. Anyone who knows bluegrass knows it universally.
You can sit in and play and it's like you've been playing together
for years. We've met talented bluegrass musicians from the ages 19 to
65.”
In the end, though,
they live to play live – no matter the genre. To be surrounded by
positive energy, and to share it. To be welcomed by a venue, greeted
with hospitality and friendship. To have a stage awaiting them, not
just a dark corner in a bar. They say their dream is to do this full
time, with a crowd waiting for them, merchandise to sell, a street
team, a crew to set up their equipment, and free drinks. Just
recently concluding the end of a nine day tour, where they traveled
2,238 miles throughout five states, including areas of New England,
with the band Mountain Ride, the Aveys got a taste of what it is to
travel for music, and it's spurred them on even more so to
accomplishing their dreams.
From where they've
began, the Aveys said they've always had this outcome, and more, in
the back of their minds. “You want it, you visualize it, you make
it happen. Either you do it right, or you do it twice. Life's been a
whirlwind, but we're just doing what we've wanted.”
The tour, inspiring
people, and so much more have all accumulated into an inspiring story
of what people can accomplish when following their dreams without
compromising. Enjoying the pride and humility of playing sold-out
shows, of writing the first original song (which Eric contributes
greatly to Kate's encouragement), of selling albums and seeing people
in the crowd sing along to their original tunes; Eric and Kate find
more to reflect on in their musical careers, and how far they've
come.
“In
the beginning we were at bars, passing out demos. Now, the work is
coming to us.”
Outside of playing
music and being with their family, Eric and Kate's goals include one
day owning their own venue/eatery, focused on the music, the quality
of the food, and the ambiance. They hope to be fully self employed,
and Eric has admitted to considering opening a booking agency to
further his involvement with bands in the area.
“It's
about finding your right scene,” he shares. “The right venue for
your music. You can't play jazz at a bar that attracts punk-rockers.
It's hard, but find what's right for you.” Eric also advises on
having a product; not just t-shirts and stickers, but a CD for fans
to share, for that is the way music gets shared. Through one person
listening and another person hearing, the cycle continues.
“We've
seen the in's and out's. We've learned how to book more efficiently,
and how to use our time more wisely. The more professional you
present yourself, the better people will take you. It's the little
extras.”
Eric isn't just
professional, however. Him and Kate are both personable people. Kate
admires Eric's talent for evaluating a crowd at a show, and having a
song for everybody, in order to give them what they want when they
come out to a show.
“If
I have to free-style for the guy in the corner who looks like he
likes hip-hop, I will,” Eric says.
From paid shows to
free shows, the Aveys admit every show counts. “It's great to play
a free gig, and get booked for three paid gigs through that.” They
also never let anything knock them down. After every show, the couple
reflects on the good and the bad, how to improve and what went well.
Constantly in sync, they flow together in their goals and ambitions,
leading their dreams to come through effortlessly.
Music
is everything to the Aveys. Without it, they would not have their
family, their friends, each other, or their dreams. Without their
instruments and their ability to play, they say they would have
nothing; constant communication, the determination to not compromise
their goals, and their respect for one another and the scene around
them help them to power through. Throughout
their life they hope to stay who they are as parents, friends,
lovers, and musicians, doing what they love and going higher.
In the future, Eric
and Kate have plans for several of the bands. Mountain Ride is
currently seeking a full time banjo and mandolin player; the
experience so far with Mountain Ride has been a rewarding learning
experience, and now they're ready for a dedicated band membership.
Coming up in 2014 will make the appearance of CDs from Strung Tight
and Mountain Ride, although no official dates have been announced.
They would also like to thank their friends and family, a special
shout-out to Roy Pitz (who owns a brewing company in Chambersburg,
PA), and Jerry Rigged from Chambersburg, PA. Additionally, the Aveys
send a thanks to any venue that ever debuted a bluegrass show
featuring them, and giving the music a chance.
“You
just have to get out there, and have fun.”
Eric, Kate, and
their bands can be found at the following links, as well as official
contact for booking and comments:
aveymusic.com
facebook.com/eric.avey
twitter.com/aveymusic
instagram.com/aveymusic
reverbnation.com/aveymusic
Upcoming Show Dates
Include:
09/05/13 Strung
Tight at JoJo's in Frederick, MD
09/06/13 Strung
Tight at Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church, VA
09/07/13 The
Reckoning at Opera House Live in Shepherdstown, WV
09/08/13 Mountain
Ride at Taverna 5450 in Fairfield, PA
09/11/13 Strung
Tight at Always Ron's in Hagerstown, MD
09/12/13 Eric's
Open Mic at Taverna 5450 in Fairfield, PA
09/13/13 Strung
Tight at Pete's Old Towne in New Cumberland, PA
09/14/13 Strung
Tight at Porch Fest in Hagerstown, MD
09/14/13 Strung
Tight at Paddy's Pub in Charles Town, WV
For a
full list of tour dates up through 2014, please visit:
http://aveymusic.com/upcoming-shows/
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