Adam Payne / 2ADAM12

"Acoustic singer-songwriter Adam Payne...should appeal to fans of Ben Harper and newcomer Ryan Shaw. That means it's neo-soul with a jam band vibe..." -Boston Globe WHO IS ADAM PAYNE? The problem with rising acoustic talents is that a lot of them sound the same; but there is no mistaking the sultry sounds of Adam Payne. With a smile and sound as big as his afro, Adam entertains full crowds with his fusion of Funk, R&B, Folk, and Acoustic. Theres no denying his musical talents so the question is, who is he? Adam is about as eclectic as his sound. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts to an Italian mother and African American father. In the late eighties, Adam and his family moved to Sarasota, Florida. By the age of 8, Adam drew his musical inspiration not from haughty music teachers, such as Mozart or Beethoven, but from Saturday morning cartoons, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario. Adam picked up the piano as he mimicked the music from cartoons and video games. During his senior year of High School he took on the drums, and later in college, he picked up the guitar. Although music is a major part of who he is, there's much more to him than that. Adam earned a B.A. in Psychology with a Minor in Statistics and was a founding father of the Eta Psi chapter of Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Central Florida. He continued on to earn a M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. These days, Adam works at Bentley College by day, and by night, can be found vibing out solo, or with the full band, 2Adam12. Recently, Adam was twice-featured on CBS Channel 4 Boston's 'Sundays with Liz Walker' and he was also generously recognized in the Boston Globe. "Recognition is not something I strive for..." says Payne - "Connecting with the audience and putting on a good show is more important to me than that. But, it's always nice to get a tip of the hat from people whom you respect." So who is Adam Payne? He'll make you dance, make you smile, and help you with your homework all in one day. He's the Northeasts resident father of Soul Rock and he's coming to a venue near you. -Amanda Crump 2ADAM12 [Pronounced "TWO ADAM TWELVE"] "Are you ever clicking too fast on your iPod, hit play on the main menu and end up playing the first song from the first artist in your iPod catalog? I end up doing this at least once a day...That song is “Stop” by 2Adam12...While parts are highly reminiscent of Science-era Incubus — including the impromptu rap stanzas — there’s also some fabulous Trey Anastasio-worthy guitar riffs here. 2Adam12 have a bright future, and until another number 2 band graces our iPod catalog, we’ll think twice before hitting stop on this group in the future..." Perfect Porridge; Minneapolis, MN "At the border which separates Funk from Rock, there sit 4 gents who come together and deliver a cross-section of something exciting, fresh, and nourishing to the ears. Their name is 2ADAM12..." R.E. Cheshire, CT "...2Adam12 brings the same kind of expertise to their music as the Neville Brothers. Which is to say, everything is focused around the groove, which is the paramount ingredient that makes all the other elements work, no matter how disparate they may appear to be" -Jay Miller, The Patriot Ledger "The self-titled debut is a musical manifesto for the band's huge sound... The album features a slew of embellishments that brings each track to its highest level. From the chilling Hammond organ on "Passive Aggression" to the ultra-funky horn ensembles on the "If You Want to Love Me," the album utilizes every available tool to heighten the band's sound. While many tracks features guest spots from outside musicians, most of the band's complexity comes from its core." -Patrick Walsh, The Vanguard 2ADAM12 was formed when Adam Payne crossed paths with guitarist Adam Dehner at an open mic in Jamaica Plain, MA in 2005. The two struck up a friendship, and began experimenting with some of Payne's songs. A month or so later, drummer Mark Purrington and bass player Mik Mersha were added to the mix, and the ease in which it all came together suprised everyone. They mastered Payne's repertoire of 30+ originals and a select mix of eclectic covers in no time... Obviously the chemistry was working. Their debut at Bentley College in early March as The Adam Payne Project was well received by a large crowd and immediately garnered press. Every show since has seen larger and larger crowds as their fanbase grows and they continue their quest to bring their mix of soul, funk, hip/hop & jam-inspired rock n' roll to the people. www.adampayne.biz