Archive for October, 2010

Eric Himan / Eric and the Adams

This summer, I discovered a new singer. Now when I say “new”, I mean new to me, not new to the scene, because he has been making incredible music for years now. I don’t remember now where or how I heard about him, but I’m oh so glad I did. I’m talking about Eric Himan.

Eric HimanEric Himan is so grassroots, his face is green. Though his music tells a different story. Without the help of record labels, booking agents, publicists, or management, Eric Himan is touring to more places, getting great press coverage, and still has time to run his record label, Thumbcrown Records, home to his six studio albums. He just released his newest, Resonate, and has five years of solid touring in the US under his belt.

To describe Eric’s sound, I would say it’s like if Maroon 5, John Mayer, and Tracy Chapman got together, had a baby, and gave that baby a guitar. It’s been a long time since I’ve found a singer whose music I identify with as much as I do his. Over the course of 10 days, I downloaded and devoured all the music Eric had to offer, loving every bit of it, and that’s when I saw something else…

He had a band! Eric and the Adams

Eric and the AdamsIn August 2007, upon moving to Oklahoma and getting offered a local gig requiring a back-up band, Eric met the Adams duo (Jimmy Adams on bass and Angel Adams on drums) in Tulsa after performing at an open mic on the same night. Eric joined his experience with the Adams’ explosive creativity. Their differences in styles of music have made it fun to put together a sound that is unique only to them. They started performing locally and word caught on. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

 

 

 

Angel AdamsAngel – By day, she’s an art director and graphic artist. By night, her superhero persona is Drummer for Eric and the Adams. Spending many years traveling overseas serving with humanitarian aid and missionary organizations, she started that work at 14 years old and hasn’t stopped. “I LOVE to travel and love that I’ve been a part of helping in the lives of so many people. I did my very best to have at least one ‘Indiana Jones’ experience every trip I’ve been on…I have LOTS of stories to tell.” Currently, she lives in Tulsa, OK with her incredibly supportive partner (and high school sweetheart) and their 5 (yes, 5) gigantic dogs.

Jimmy Adams

Jimmy – Plays bass in the band Eric and the Adams. He’s married with 4 boys is currently attending college and runs his own landscaping business. Growing up, he spent most of my time outside building forts and climbing trees…which also could be translated into breaking a lot of bones. He’s spent a lot of time in casts from trying to defy gravity. That same “kid” creeps in every now and then, showing up in their live performances. He describes his influences as bands like Sublime and Incubus…but making room for everything else from Kelly Clarkson and Gwen Stefani to Bach and Chopin.

 

If you want to find out more about Eric Himan or Eric and the Adams, click here and here.

*****The Music*****

As I said, I really connect with the music of Eric Himan and Eric and the Adams. Their music travels the gamut. Always crisp, clear, and deeply soulful, it is at times emotional and touching and at others fun and upbeat. In their catalog, there is something for everyone. And so you can appreciate it too, below are some videos showing you their undeniable talent. So watch, listen, love it, and enjoy!

Eric Himan – There’s Gotta Be Something

Eric Himan – Little Boy Blue

Eric Himan – 7 Song Cover Medley

Eric and the Adams – Every Move

Eric and the Adams – Keeper of the Secret

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It Gets Better

If you’ve been near a newspaper, tv, or the internet over the last two weeks, you’ve no doubt heard about the gay suicides across the United States due to bullying. Some of these kids were 13 and 15 years old. Just children. Starting puberty or starting high school. This is the most difficult time in their lives. This is the time when they start really developing their personality, discovering who they are, and carving out their identity. And to think that they felt their life was so hopeless that they had to do something as drastic as taking their own life… well, it just breaks my heart. I feel like I need to say something. Share part of my story. Something. Because what is happening CANNOT be allowed to continue. As a society, we need to be teaching love and acceptance, not hate and intolerance. The younger generation learns from our actions and behavior. We must be the example.

I would love to think that someday we’ll live in a world where bullying doesn’t exist, but this is the real world, and there will always be bullies. Dealing with a bully is never fun, but there is always a way. There is always hope. Hope survives, even in the darkest of times.

Growing up gay in the rural mountains of West Virginia was not easy. I did my best to hide what I was, because at that point, I myself didn’t really understand it. I knew I was different, and I knew the feelings I was having were not the same ones my friends were having. In a town of 2000 people, there’s no such thing as a gay role model to look up to. And there weren’t gay characters on tv and in movies like there are now. So I completely understand the feelings of confusion and lonliness. And I had my share of bullies. No physical violence or anything like that. But nasty names and rude comments, yeah, I dealt with that. Personally, I used my quick wit and sarcasm to deal with bullies… to the point where the bully was then the odd man out and getting a dose of their own medicine. Is that the right thing to do? Maybe not. But that was my defense mechanism, and it worked for me.

For the gay youth out there, in the end, what I’m saying is that there is always a way to deal with what you are going through. Sarcasm and a quick wit worked for me. Maybe for others there is the support of their friends. A family that loves them. A trusted person to talk to. Something. Anything. Never give up. Suicide is not the answer. EVER.

The most important thing I can say is that yes, it does get better. So much better. Once I was honest with myself and my family and friends about who I was, things got significantly better. I had a support system. I was able to surround myself with people that liked me for me. Right now, teenagers just want to be normal, and I completely understand that. But as you get older, you’ll realize that being normal is boring. Being different is amazing! Embrace your indviduality! You are special. You are amazing. You are loved. And you deserve to see all the wonderful things life has in store for you.

But if you need someone to talk to, there is help. There is hope. Contact The Trevlor Project. Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-866-4-U-TREVOR

Below are some videos from people with the same message for you that I had. First up is a song/video from a dear friend of mine that she wrote for her son, but it applies to all. Listen to their words and know “It Gets Better”.

Sherry McCamley – “My Beautiful Boy”

The Trevor Project – It Gets Better

Ellen Degeneres – An Important Message About Bullying

Kathy Griffin – A Special Message

Chris Colfer (Glee) – It Gets Better

Eric Himan (Singer/Songwriter), featuring Angel Adams/Jimmy Adams – It Gets Better

Jay Manuel (America’s Next Top Model) – It Gets Better

Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) – It Gets Better

Tim Gunn (Project Runway) – It Gets Better

Todrick Hall – It Gets Better (song and music video)

Joel Burns – City Council from Fort Worth, Texas – Personal Story for It Gets Better

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