Lee Coulter
[sws_picture_frame2 src=”https://breakroomconcerts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Lee-Beach.jpg” title=”” alt=”” align=”sws_frame_left” lightbox=”” album=”album” video=””] [/sws_picture_frame2]San Diego based Aussie, Lee Coulter, sings deeply lyrical songs reminiscent of classic thematic songwriters of the 40s and 50s, while in the form of modern acoustic indie-pop. It’s Cole Porter meets Jack Johnson in Motown. Lee and Sharisse Coulter, a husband & wife creative team for the past 9 years, have recently embarked on a 6 month 55 city tour of the U.S. with their 4 year old son to share their respective passions.
With Sharisse acting as manager, publicist, photographer and more, the couple were able to get Lee’s music from the coffee houses of San Diego to the popular Coffee House channel on Sirius Satellite Radio, where he has now been heard on a national level for almost two years. In 2011, he was named the “singer-songwritter discovery of the year”.
The Reserve: Javier Mendoza & Jim Peters
[sws_picture_frame2 src=”https://breakroomconcerts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Thereserve.jpg” title=”” alt=”” align=”sws_frame_left” lightbox=”” album=”album” video=””] [/sws_picture_frame2]The folk-rock collective The Reserve was formed in 2013 by longtime collaborators Jim Peters and J. Mendoza. The Reserve combines elements of laid-back storytelling with moments of white-knuckle guitar acrobatics, filtering all of this through a pop sensibility with just a touch of twang.
Mendoza and Peters have played music together since 2001, touring both the United States and Europe. They have opened for such artists as Willie Nelson, Los Lobos, Ben Folds, and Chuck Berry. Vocalist/guitarist J. Mendoza has released several acclaimed records as a solo artist. Guitarist/vocalist Jim Peters was a member of the alt-rock group The Upright Animals when not appearing with Mendoza.
The collaboration started with Mendoza hiring Peters as lead guitarist for his band in 2001. A musical brotherhood had begun, and through the years it has grown into The Reserve. This dynamic duo has put the focus back on gritty stories, acoustic guitars, and lots of raw emotion. The bilingual Mendoza brings a Spanish flair to the proceedings. This influence is shared with Peters, who also brings an extensive background in blues, rock and country. These are brewed together to form The Reserve. Folk’n Rock’n Roll.
The Reserve is gearing up for lots of touring and an EP release this year. The art of storytelling is alive and well with Mendoza and Peters…
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Josh Bonas
[sws_picture_frame2 src=”https://breakroomconcerts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Josh-New.jpg” title=”” alt=”” align=”sws_frame_left” lightbox=”” album=”album” video=””] [/sws_picture_frame2]Joshua Bonas is a professional musician. He is currently residing in Encinitas, CA and plays several weekly shows in the San Diego area. Josh has over an hour of originals and over ten hours of covers spanning artists over the last fifty years! Joshua’s love of Popular music, country, soul, folk and rock have inspired him to play a diverse array of artists from Willie Nelson and James Taylor to Sting and Dave Mathews.
Joshua’s childhood was spent in Nashville with his Mother who has a Country Music Billboard and was a well known studio singer. Growing up around the stage, he was singing along to his Mother’s songs by the age of two. Expanding on his love of singing, he settled on the guitar as his musical instrument of choice.
Joshua’s own talent has landed him great music opportunities; from being a member of the 2002 Winter Olympics U.S. Ski and Snowboard House Band to opening up for such famous hipsters as INXS and G Love & Special Sauce.(among many other notable acts)
In addition to rockin’ out big venues with original bands Sauteed Mushrooms (co-fronted by longtime songwriting partner, Billy Horenburg) and Astoria Forrest, Joshua honed his acoustic guitar set by playing fine dining and solo acoustic shows for the last ten years. From bars to weddings and everything in between.
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Sean Coray
[sws_picture_frame2 src=”https://breakroomconcerts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Sean.jpg” title=”” alt=”” align=”sws_frame_left” lightbox=”” album=”album” video=””] [/sws_picture_frame2]Think of the Oscar winning movie, The Blind Side. If you replace “football” with “music” you’ll have an idea of Sean Coray’s story. Throughout his tough upbringing in St. Louis Coray tenaciously refused to let circumstances break his spirit, but used them instead to strengthen his character and determination.
In 2008, he took every last penny he had saved, bought his first guitar and began bringing his songs to life. Influenced by John Mayer, Gavin DeGraw, and legends like Herbie Hancock and Ray Charles, Coray’s sound is a sweet mesh of acoustic, jazz, rhythm & blues and soul.
Last year, Sean released his first album and is on his way in the industry.
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Special Guest: Grant Korgan
[sws_picture_frame2 src=”https://breakroomconcerts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Grant.jpg” title=”” alt=”” align=”sws_frame_left” lightbox=”” album=”album” video=””] [/sws_picture_frame2] My name is Grant Korgan, and on March 5th 2010 while riding in the Sierra back country, I burst fractured my L1 vertebrae and entered the world of spinal cord injury recovery. Before the accident, life was simple and beyond complex…
As president of Nanolabz USA my occupational duties required that I split my time between three offices, balance the extensive travel requirements, and survive the intense fabrication and R&D cycles that required months of focused lab time down on the Stanford campus. As a newlywed to the queen of my universe, all I really wanted to do was spend endless time with my bride and plan the life that we dreamed to spend together. As for most people with our lifestyle, the trifecta life complexity came in the form of a love to whitewater kayak, a love to ski, a love to mountain bike, a love to climb, a love to backpack, a love to fly, a love to ride moto, a love to travel, and of course a love to ride snowmobiles. Between the many activities that were in constant play, the work to be done, and a soul mate that I wanted to spend 25 hrs a day with, life was simple and beyond complex…
One morning, about 10 days after the accident, I woke up in the Renown in-patient rehab facility with my first flash of awareness. For the first time, I was awake – completely awake, and I knew what I needed to do. Without a complex plan of recovery, a guaranteed method to mobility, I knew I needed only one thing – Positivity. My path of recovery began with complete loss of feeling and zero movement below my belly button. Refusing to take “no” for an answer, my wife and I began a non-stop lifestyle of exercise and positivity that has, in one short year, taken me from the wheelchair to walking. Currently I can feel down to my knees, and am able to move with the help of two arm crutches. I am always looking forward (never backward), and in the coming months and years, I will make consistent strides toward my eventual goal of 120% recovery.
Life is about experiences, and choosing to see the good in all things that happen for us (not to us).