Press Pass checks in with subjects from the past to see if they’re thriving, diving or heading for a tragic VH1 special. Fortunately, this batch is most definitely thriving. 
Press Pass checks in with subjects from the past to see if they’re thriving, diving or heading for a tragic VH1 special. Fortunately, this batch is most definitely thriving.
Val Emmich: The multi-talented Emmich finished up a short stint on the ABC hit show “Ugly Betty,” playing the role of a musically-inclined love interest. Next up on the acting front is an appearance in “Fighting Fish,” an independent film due out in late 2009. Not to be pigeonholed as merely a musician/actor, he also completed and copyrighted his first novel. And not to be labeled a slacker, he immediately started writing another.
He’s also entering the studio to follow up on the release of Tiny Daggers, the album that caught our collective ear. To keep tabs on his progress, visit valemmich.com.
Secondhand Serenade: Remember that sweet story from our first run in with up-and-coming songsmith John Vesely about how he stopped playing the bass and took up guitar so he could show off to the girl who would become his wife? Yeah, they’re divorced now. But as is often the case in the music world, that just means new fodder for songwriting. Vesely expresses the turbulent time on A Twist in My Story, which has now gone platinum after debuting the single “Fall for You” on MTV’s “TRL.” He spent the summer recording his next LP with The Fray producer Aaron Johnson, with a release date set for early next year. Updates can be found on hit site, secondhandserenade.net.
Luke Brindley: When we last checked in with the local artist, he was drowning in a flood of new material, having penned 40-plus songs for an upcoming new album to be financed by his fans. On the fundraising front, Brindley has
gathered about half of his $35K goal through the support of his many benefactors despite the dismal economy. If you’re interested in donating, visit his site, lukebrindley.com. Now he’s beginning the lengthy process of paring down his material, which is slow-going at this point. Checking in on Tuesday, Brindley said he had whittled the potential tracks down to 25. But his tough decisions are a win for fans, as he claimed in July that he felt the material was some of his best yet.
Brindley will be performing live Nov. 1 at Jammin’ Java as part of the monthly singer-songwriters circle (also featuring Shane Hines, Anthony Fiacco and Todd Wright) and returns Dec. 3 on a tour with fellow singer-songwriters Rosi Golan and Peter Bradley Adams.
The Influence: The Virginia Beach-based band just completed recording its third full-length album at Lowwatt Studios in Raleigh, N.C. last week with producer Ted Comerford (who has worked with local outfits Honor By August and Juniper Lane). While the LP should be ready for release in early 2010, the band has prepped a new single, “Old Bones,” in addition to the LP that will be released ahead of time.
According to band manager Dave Cogan, that track is based on the illustrated novel, “Earth 2100,” and the band hopes to craft a music video with the illustrators to coincide with the single if they can get the budget worked out.
Maintaining its Eastern Seaboard touring route, the band makes frequent stops in the D.C. area at IOTA, Jammin’ Java and The Red and The Black, though no shows are currently scheduled. Keep a close eye on their Web site (theinfluenceofmusic.com) for updates.
