Since 2001 Nate Ihara has been writing, recording, and performing songs that have captured a large audience in the Washington, D.C. metro-area. After leaving the popular and now defunct band Welbilt in late 2007, Ihara laid low for the following year planning for his reemergence to the local music scene with songs more the singer/songwriter vein.
In early 2008 he was asked by another popular local band, The Blackjacks to play bass. Which pulled him back onto the stage but this time behind the spotlight.
"It was a welcome invitation," he says. "Getting that gig was exactly what I needed to ease myself back into performance mode. It was like a vacation from the frontman thing which I think I desperately needed."
As luck would have it Ihara didn't stay low key for long. Soon after joining The Blackjacks, the band landed some fairly high profile shows. They spent the spring and summer of 2008 sharing the stage with several national acts. The experience was a familiar one as he had had plenty of stage time with larger acts earlier in his career, and it only made him thirsty for the frontman position again.
His debut solo performance was in early 2009 at DC 101’s Local Lix Live, one of the area rock radio station’s local music shows. He played to a sold out crowd and from that point it was clear that he had reinvented himself. He was ready to move forward with his new project.
In early May of this year Ihara was asked by the owner of one of the area’s most esteemed clubs, Jammin’ Java, to open for the Texas based band Fastball. The show earned him new fans and attention from other local artists and venues.
“It’s been a slow and arduous process starting over from scratch,” he stated. “The Washington Area music scene is still alive and well, maybe more than ever and the people in it are all about helping each other out.”
Nate has spent this past spring in the studio with area songwriter and producer Todd Wright. He has been recording with various supporting artists including members of The Pat McGee Band, No Second Troy, and The Blackjacks. He is planning to put together a full band and eventually start touring again. His debut EP is scheduled for release in late August of this year.
doing an adventure series kind of based on the buddhist temple that josh visited. it's hard, i'm used to writing screenplays and now all of a sudden i have to describe every little thing instead of just dialogue, but it's been pretty fun so far! this is the furthest i've ever gotten into writing a piece of fiction, i'm excited! i know what you mean though, i could never imagine being able to have time to write while being a mom, there's so much to do nonstop!
Hey Nate! Your name sounded familiar, so I checked out your page. Duh...you're the Welbilt dude :-) I've got their EP...good stuff! Wish I'd seen you guys live, but I have caught Buddy with Shane Hines and the Blackjacks (and apparently you with the Blackjacks lol). Solo stuff sounds great! You're friends with Todd Wright and Butch Walker, so how could it not? ;-) So you'll be at the Scott Simons show Tues? My wife & I are there...and back in July to see you with Shane!
Hey! Thanks for adding me! You’re a true gem! If you wouldn't mind, I'd love it if you could take a couple minutes and check out my tunes. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think! And it would be much appreciated if you could spread the word about me! If your feeling my tunes, don’t hesitate to add me to your top friends! By the way, I love your style! Thanks a lot!
I heard you on DC 101's Local Lix and couldn't believe you were only a local artist... I love "Heatbeat" and hope you get it on your player sometime soon so I can add it to my profile :D
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