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Downplay | Contagious Til 4 | Shallowtail

Downplay: Downplay originated in Salem near Youngstown, OH in 2002. Soon after, the band moved to Ohio University in Athens, where two members were attending school. In 2006 the band moved to Columbus, OH, where they are currently writing a third album to be released in 2010. In the past year alone, the band has opened for such nation acts as Filter, Days of the New, Taproot, Candlebox, and Jimmy’s Chicken Shack. In December 2009 the band released Rise. Fall. Repeat.

Contagious Til 4: We started like a lot of bands…just getting together to jam and have a good time. In August of 2005, we were hired by some great friends, Laurie Vermeer and Rusty Green, to play for the Vermeer Memorial Fund raiser. At the time we hadn’t decided on a band name yet. We put a bucket out and asked for suggestions at that first show. The only one that we didn’t hate was “Contagious Til 4″ When asked how they had thought of the name they said their son had been sick and visited the doctor a few months earlier. When they asked the doc if their son should return to school he replied “He’ll probably be Contagious Til 4″ Rusty and Laurie thought, “That sounds like a band name.” Well, now it is. It ended up turning into something great and we’ve been playing all over Ohio ever since, including annually for 5 years running at the Vermeer Memorial (one of our favorite shows).

Shallowtail: The original band (formerly known as Wednesday Night 12 Pack) was born on a September day in 2008 in the spare bedroom of drummer Michael Staudt’s suburban Columbus abode. The band name originated from the tradition of bringing a 12-pack of brew….er, Diet Coke, to each Wednesday evening practice. Originally consisting of Staudt on drums/vocals, Josh Smith on guitar, and Brandon Lewis on guitar, the three began as a once a week jam session to let loose from the monotiny that is a 9-5 and a windowless cubicle. Andy Shipley joined quickly on bass in an effort to leave behind the boring corporate charicature he had become and follow his ambition of becoming a rockstar. This rounded out the original lineup of the band. Over the next year WN12P developed a solid foundation to become a successful cover band, however something was still missing. Fast forward to October of 2009 and the addition of lead vocalist Art Piatt and the birth of Shallowtail. With the roster of the five man band now set, Shallowtail is ready to rock bars, private parties, weddings, and bar mitzvah’s with high energy shows, a diverse set list, looks to melt your eyes, and a sound to melt your ears.