the understudies were born simply and without ceremony over a pitcher of beer and a short prayer. Following a Gospel Church revival in downtown DC, three friends, Mike Tenney, Laura Van Duzer and Ryan Hehman decided to move on from the random jam sessions and open mics where they had honed their skills and start a full fledged band. The almost immediate addition of Jarrod Jabre on drums turned the three into a diverse quartet self-deprecatingly named “The Understudies.”
The group sets out to challenge not only current notions of what popular rock and roll should sound like but also what Christian musicians can write, sing and be about. Self-described as “music too Christian to be secular and too secular to be Christian,” the band writes to fill the void that much contemporary Christian music leaves between religious experience and our shared human experience – the nitty-gritty of life, love, loss and everything in between.
In their short life-time, the band has already cultivated a diverse style that smoothly and naturally incorporates soulful and bluesy melodies, driving guitar riffs, catchy hooks and a touch of the transcendent. This last feature is no doubt a product of the band's extensive and varied musical experience in ecclesiastical performance - leading worship at Catholic Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and praise and worship services. As a result, they are able to craft a rich musical experience in a variety of settings. But they feel most at home wherever they can simply find a listening ear - which has recently taken the group to bars, restaurants, outdoor events, and to Catholic Undergrounds in Philadelphia and Arlington.
Although they boast a song-style that varies as widely as the venues they can play - from straight up alternative rock to jazzy ballads - their passion and energy ensures you that every song has been thoroughly lived.
hey! glad to see you are still pursuing music, too. I live in d.c. now (moved back about four months ago) and I work at a music school (Swweeeet!) let's hang sometime.
Fellas, your stuff sounds really good. You should lay it down for real. We'd buy a copy...By the way, thanks for the add. Make sure you keep your eyes (collective) peeled for our new CD coming out soon!
that really is a glowing review! good for you! and thanks for making me one of your 8 coolest friends. pokey, i didn't know you played the banjo. when did that happen? are you coming to the march for life? hope to see you there--give me a call. ryan go write your thesis:)
hey pokey...my name is sam. you probably don't know/remember me, but i went to cyfm and moved to NC this past summer. fiona, liz, gina, and brianna came down to visit me and they played your cd for me, and i just wanted to tell you that i really like your music :) you'll def. have to sing some of that stuff on Appalachia over the summer!
hey pokey puppy!!! Your music is awesomeful...i like all your stuff but rachel's song is my favorite. i like lakeside dreamer too but thats not on here. :( yeah so when you're famous i'll be able to say that i was an original supporter :-P good luck at cyfm for the rest of the year and good luck with the music stuff. later skater!!!
