Echo Chamber album did not come without bumps along the way
Two young musicians are celebrating the release of their band’s first CD, an accomplishment that did not come without some unexpected hurdles.
Singer and guitarist Adrian Stover, 22, and drummer Drew Dupree, 29, make up the band Echo Chamber. Together, they play heavy, yet melodic rock influenced by their preference for ‘90s alternative music.
“We grew up listening to Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, all these ‘90s bands, so we went in that direction,” said Dupree.
“I’m very much old roots as far as rock ‘n’ roll goes. My very first favorite band, in fifth grade, was Bill Haley and the Comets. I also love the ‘90s stuff, and I really don’t listen to a lot of modern stuff,” Stover added.
The two teamed up with producer Robin Salmon — singer and guitarist for another Ellijay group, Surrender Hill — to record Echo Chamber’s self-titled debut album released on Salmon’s Blue Betty Records.
“I thought it would be a lot of fun to make this record and it was. It’s a neat punk rock record with strong songs,” Salmon said.
As a teenager, Salmon fronted the rock group See No Evil, which toured the country and released two albums for Epic Records between 1989 and 1992. He’s since made good as a producer, a solo artist and as one-half of Surrender Hill, a roots rock combo with his wife, Afton, who provides background vocals on Echo Chamber’s CD.
“Throughout my career, I’ve had so much help from so many people. I thought this was a good opportunity to pay that forward a little bit,” Salmon said. “Adrian and Drew both have an undeniable passion for music and performing. There’s nothing like that feeling. I sure do see myself in these boys. I envy their youth, and I hope they don’t live up to the adage, ‘youth is wasted on the young.’”
In a live setting, the group might occasionally expand to a three-piece, but the charging, full band sound heard on Echo Chamber is made by just Dupree and Stover, who plays both guitar and bass on the album. Instead of conveying negativity or disillusionment, there’s a good bit of positivity and hope in songs written by Stover.
“Even if it’s not what I imagine love to be, I can write stuff that, maybe, will reach out to somebody who’s had a weird relationship with someone else, and they can relate to that and understand it,” he said.
Unexpected detour
Just before recording sessions were scheduled to get underway last September, one of the worst things that could happen to any band happened to Echo Chamber. Multiple pieces of equipment, including Stover’s electric guitar and speakers, were stolen from the band’s warehouse practice space.
“Everything I owned musically was in there except for (one guitar),” he said. “It definitely put a dent in the process.”
With the unexpected event detouring plans for the recording project, the producer and band had to improvise. They set up shop at Stover’s house to record the album’s basic tracks, which were later finished at Salmon’s Blue Betty Studio.
“He knows his craft. You can tell that through his music,” said Stover about Salmon’s work as a producer. “He’s very welcoming but (also ) no bull, more like let’s get in there and get it done. (He told us), once we start recording, that’s it. If you don’t have something figured out, don’t do it.”
Fortunately, local police were able to recover the stolen equipment. Stover said some of it had been taken to a Rome trading post before eventually making its way back to him.
“They found all of my stuff down to the last item. I got everything back,” he added.
Kicking it into gear
Stover and Dupree both grew up in Gilmer County and began playing an instrument before they were teens. They’ve gigged around the north Georgia area the past several years in various bands and combos.
Stover said he started out in a cover band called Shadow Ape, then was a member of another local band called Fiction. He’s played in a band led by singer/guitarist Dwight Sanford, and, most recently, has been a mainstay performing at local wineries, pubs and restaurants.
Stover said his dad, Rene, bought him his first electric guitar at age 9 from Ellijay Pawn Shop, owned for years by his former bandmate, Sanford. He’s been playing ever since.
“I piddled around with it at first and figured out what strings make what sounds. Then, I picked up a couple of songs to play like ‘Wipeout’ and ‘Smoke on the Water.’ I played my first show when I was 11, with Shadow Ape, in Murphy, N.C., at a place called Chevelles 66. We only played four songs, but that was my first live performance,” he said.
Dupree started on the drums around age 12 and later began playing with a local cover band. After that, he drummed in the group Creek Don’t Rise, which found a following with its original material and regular gigs locally and in Dalton and Cherokee County.
Dupree said, when he was younger, he got some pointers from Steve Stone, guitarist for Atlanta Rhythm Section and a friend of his dad. His cousin, Jarrett Johnson, is the guitarist for country artist Jacob Bryant’s band, he said.
“(For) our whole family, music is a big thing,” Dupree added.
Stover and Dupree have been playing together for about five years, with Echo Chamber their latest endeavor.
“In 2015, we (started)tossing the name around and decided we wanted to start an alternative rock band. We’d been working on these songs and never really got them together until just recently,” Stover said.
The two will celebrate the CD release with a performance at Emily’s Bar and Restaurant Tuesday, March 30, at 6 p.m.
“I’m really going to try to kick it into gear (with this show),” said Stover.
Stover said he appreciates the proprietors of several local venues helping to get the CD project off the ground. He’s glad to see it finally come to fruition despite the difficulties involved.
“We’ve already been rehearsing for our next album,” he added.