Edgehill Avenue is a place in Ashland, Ohio, the birthplace of
Drew Perkins, the principal songwriter and lead singer of the band. An aged
brick road where his grandparents lived in a great stone house, occupied by the
mayor in years past, surrounded by interesting people who shared breakfast in
the back yard nearly every morning in the summers. A place where kids played in
the half-circle drive that surrounded the house. Somewhere people enjoyed one
another and kids could be kids.
Initially
as Drew Perkins and Mike McLaughlin found themselves playing together at a
Shelbyville, KY coffeehouse in the summer of 2006 there were no big plans. After
a few informal jam sessions they agreed that it would be fun to work up some of
Drew's songs. Shortly thereafter booking their first gig as an acoustic duo at
Louisville's Rudyard Kipling they were pressed for a name. Thinking back, Drew
offered up Edgehill Avenue
Who knew it would stick as the duo evolved into a band finding bassist John
Poole (formerly of Monorail and several other Louisville bands) and drummer Lamont Melson (formerly of LA Groove) within a few weeks of each other as they were
looking for new challenges and direction. This project was never really intended
to be anything more than a fun side distraction. Fantasies about "breaking it
big" in the music industry were a distant memory, this was about having fun and
expression. Music, and especially live music, is about creative energy and as
the band found themselves filling in for a cancellation in November of 2006 at
Lisa's Oak St. Lounge they discovered that others shared their enthusiasm for
the music. That music blends the styles of the members into a style that is
essentially rock but has been labeled by others roots-rock or alt.country.
With that same passion in mind the band booked studio time on a low budget in
February of 2007 with the goal of getting a snapshot of their progress. After a
short weekend of recording they had seven songs. Songs like Bittersweet, about
the loss of the closest of friends, and With These Hands, about the angst and
struggle for the attention of a lover, can be found in regular rotation on,
among other outlets, WFPK 91.9.
As the summer of 2007 unfolded, highlights included a WFPK 91.9 Live Lunch performance and a slot at the Rock the Water Tower Festival. The band continued to play live shows, working up a fan base and working out new (and old) songs with an eye on preparation for a new, larger budget recording. Now with the recent of addition of Paul Nevitt (French TV) on keys that recording is underway and scheduled for release late in 2008.
Edgehill Avenue is:
Drew Perkins - lead vocals/guitar
"Hurricane" Mike McLaughlin - lead guitar
John Poole - bass
Lamont "Phatbeat" Melson - drums
Paul Nevitt - keys