For many artists, there comes a time when the music life becomes overwhelming, almost too endearing. Many great bands had it all, but never quite made the next big step of gaining a great recording contract, despite solid fan support.
Although the life in the music biz can be tough, some artists manage to breathe new life into their work, forging a new identity and pushing solid ground. With the freedom of the Internet and technology in mass media, many artists from the area have come back to stake their claim on the growing rock scene in the area.
Anthony Wayne has done just that.
Older and wiser, Wayne has brought positive energy into the scene, taking audiences towards a new light?the light of inspiration.
Back in the days of the budding mid-to-late ’90s Murfreesboro rock scene, Aggy Coloured Karma was the band to see. Wayne was a vocalist and percussion player, and the band had a large following across the area. But Aggy slowly lost its focus and Wayne was left to go on his own.
“We got really popular right away on a local level, but my role has changed now,” Wayne said. “As I got older, I wasn’t afraid to open up to other kinds of music instead of just working with one certain style.”
After taking some time away to work on new material, Wayne has progressed to becoming a proficient writer and guitar player, developing his acoustic-driven rock style. With a new album being recorded by Brian Carter at Paradox to be released in the spring, Wayne has been fortunate enough to play on the album with the likes of keyboardist Jen Gunderman, whose credits include playing with the Jayhawks, and songwriter/guitarist Shawn Byrne, who recently wrote a song for The Ducks.
Wayne’s latest work displays his overpowering musical talent, pushing his soulful voice to the breaking point, delivering his poetic words with precise timing. Backed by the talented upright bass player “J” and the steady hands of Steve Wolfe on drums, Wayne takes his music to intense heights, bringing together folk, rock and blues styles with a rhythmic fury.
“J and Steve bring a lot to the sound. Their talent and knowledge make things easy for me. I couldn’t be any happier,” Wayne said.
The sound is smooth and melodic at times, yet very percussive and intense at others. His style is well-rounded, drawing upon influences ranging from Tom Waits, Steve Earle and Wilco to Blind Melon.
In one of Wayne’s latest songs “Messages Meant For Me,” the lyrics are heartfelt and meaningful: I’m still looking for people a little less like you. This line is not cocky or arrogant, but a reminder that we are all searching for somewhere we can feel our best, being surrounded by people who look at life in a positive manner.
“At different times in your life, there are certain people who hold you back or try to build you up,” Wayne says, talking about some of the topics within his songs. “People sometimes spend so much time judging other people that they forget who is standing in front of them.” Wayne’s use of language and words seems to be chosen very carefully, giving the lyrics a poetic effect that leaves you in a web of philosophic and contemplative trance.
Wayne has been playing Nashville and Murfreesboro steadily, and is branching out to other cities from Chicago to Knoxville while working on his album. All the while Wayne is busy working on a side project idea, Crescent Revolution, spawned by helping fellow musician friends get back into playing.
“I want to get people in and play different tunes and instruments. If you are a guitar player, leave the guitar at home and pick up a drum. Just create and have good time,” Wayne says.
This positive attitude says a lot about a talented musician and writer that has come back to take on the biz.
jeffrussellmusic@yahoo.com
Check out myspace.com/
anothonywaynemusic for show listings.
