Adam Scott-Wakefield: Piano, Hammond b-3, Vocals, Acoustic Slide Guitar
Alexander Montgomery Rankin: Guitar
Marshall Chapman: Guitar, Electric Slide Guitar
Joe Martone: Bass
Spencer Brown: Drums
Dave Finell: Trumpet
Mario D'Ambrosio: Tenor Sax
Influences
Allman Brothers, Muddy Waters, Gospel Music, Funk, Marvin Gaye, Earth Wind and Fire, The Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bobby Blue Bland, Little Feat, Ray Charles.
Sounds Like
Allman Brothers combined with the Meters, Marvin Gaye and Little Feat.
Old Man Brown has from their first downbeat in 2001 been seeking the source of Soul, real Soul in American Music. That part of a song that transcends any one chord, melody or lyric to touch people in a place that can only be enriched by rhythm and harmony. OMB’s material whether it be Blues, Funk, Rock, or Gospel music all has one tie that binds, Soul.
The majority of OMB’s repertoire has been written by the two founders of the band, brothers Adam and John Scott-Wakefield. While their songs have a soulful southern sound to them, surprisingly Adam and John grew up in a rural New Hampshire town. Having musically inclined parents from the Hippie generation, they grew up surrounded by the sounds of The Allman Brothers, Little Feat, The Meters, and many more. Both grew up studying Jazz but harbored a deeper longing for music that was closer to heart. So after the brothers had both dropped out of music School, (Berkeley College of Music, and The New School Jazz and Contemporary Arts program), they reunited to pursue their true calling, with long time friends Marshall Chapman (guitar), Paul Lewis (bass) and Alex Rankin (guitar).
The guys gathered on a farm in central NH, owned by Chapman’s stepfather, Peter Brown, aka “Old Man Brown,” who opened his house to the band and cleaned out a “studio” in the barn for jamming. Thus was Old Man Brown born. The band moved to Baltimore to start looking for gigs in the MD/DC area and start on their first LP. After completing only three rhythm tracks the band was hit with a catastrophic blow. John Scott-Wakefield, died suddenly one morning from Asphixiation. The band completed the three tracks and released the CD as an EP.
A new drummer was found, another musician friend who grew up with the group, Benjamin Woodbury, to play on their first LP entitled “Return.” “Return” was recorded in a Nashville studio owned by musician/songwriter Johnny Neel (The Allman Brothers Band, Deep Fried, Blue Floyd). Johnny heard about the band from a mutual friend and produced “Return.” He also sang and played on many of the tunes . “Return” has currently sold more than 3000 copies and frequents most of the college/independent station playlists in the MD/DC area. Since releasing the LP in 2007, OMB has been playing a rigorous local/regional show schedule. In 2008 Paul Lewis left the band, but having gained a significant amount of respect around town, Old Man Brown recruited what would come to be the best line-up of musicans to date. Within 6 months local Baltimore bassist John Aversa (Jay-Jay, Kelly Bell Band) and drummer Spencer Brown (The Kelly Bell Band) had joined the group . Old Man Brown’s album keeps on selling and regional momentum is picking up for these young men from the back woods of New Hampshire.
Old Man Brown has appeared on stage with: Canned Heat, Levon Helm, The Derek Trucks Band, Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk, Dennis Chambers, and more.
OMB displays an infectious commitment to innovation built on hard work and an unswerving respect for their music’s roots. They envision the birth of a music revolution firmly founded on those principles, and have fired the first shots.
Adam Hope all is well.Looks like your busy ( thats a good thing ).We got to get together and catch up and btw,still got da hat.Keep rockin and maybe cya soon.
to my spencer..good seeing you and to adam who i just met thanks for the bobby bland..totally the key to any girl..or my heart :) see you guys soon i hope
Hey boys! Word on the street is that you guys were in these parts not too long ago. Wish i could have met up with you. any shows the weekend before thanksgiving?
Thanks for the add!!! It was a pleasure mixing you guys at the Fells Point Fun Festival on Sunday. Like I told you after the show, I've been around a long time, and you guys are on a very small list of bands that includes nothing but the best!!! Keep on rockin, and if you ever need and engineer, it would be an honor to mix you guys again! Peace
Hey guys! Thanks for having me up to play with you at the Waterfront on Saturday! You guys were great and I would love to do it again sometime (though, sober ;-) ) --Cyndi