Calling yourself a songwriter doesn?t mean it comes easy ? a fact that singer/lyricist Justin “Quade” Brashear knows all too well.
As the lead vocalist/guitarist in local acoustic rock band Stealing Grace, Brashear?s primary responsibility is creating lyrics. “It?s a constant struggle,” the 25-year-old Parkville resident said. “There are great songs we haven?t played out yet, simply because I?m not satisfied with the lyrics, or they are nonexistent.”
But that hasn?t stopped the band ? Brashear, drummer Chuck Michael, lead guitarist Bobby Zengel and bassist Andrew Wheat ? from scoring gigs at Baltimore venues like Rams Head Live, Fletcher?s, Sonar and the Recher Theatre in Towson.
Stealing Grace?s first incarnation began as a classic rock cover band in 2004. The band ran its course and broke up. Brashear was playing covers around town when Zengel persuaded him to start a new group, resurrecting the name Stealing Grace.
“In the beginning, I already had a handful of songs written, so I was mostly teaching them to the other members. Now I have a band to bounce ideas off of,” Brashear said.
But it?s not just Brashear?s ideas that are heard. “I think one of the greatest attributes of Stealing Grace is our ability to be open-minded of everyone?s input while writing music together,” Michael said.
Brashear points immediately to “What?s Best For Me” when asked which song reflects who Stealing Grace is as a band. “It?s the first song that came out of SG with all of the current members? input.”
The guys cite different musicians among their influences ? Dave Matthews and the Beatles for Brashear, Led Zeppelin for Michael, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Billy Corgan for Zengel, and Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix for Wheat ? but at the end of the day, what comes out is authentic Stealing Grace ? from the upbeat, hook-laden “Chance” to the acoustic, emotionally raw ballad “Back on the Shelf.”
And while the band wouldn?t mind a little fame and fortune, Michael sums it up best; “No matter where this band ends up, I couldn?t think of a better group of guys to take this journey with.”
IF YOU GO
Stealing Grace with The Chase, The Deep Search and Bittersweet
Where: Recher Theatre, 512 York Road, Towson
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Tickets: $7
